The sun., 1903-07-29
AOUEDUCT WORK ALL RIGHT.
EXPERTS DON'T AGREE WITH
THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.
Tho Burr Commission Turns Down Their
Charges and suggests Few Changes
Mayor and Mcdonald in Another
Spat-The Latter Gets More Time.


Charges and suggests Few Changes
Mayor and Mcdonald in Another
Spat--The Latter Gets More Time.
The long-expected report Of William b.
Burr and John r. Freeman, the engineers
appointed to investigate the work on the
Jerome Park reservoir, was received yes
terday by the Aqueduct Commissioners.
1t vindicates the Commissioners and the
reservoir contractor, John B. Mcdonald,
and ignores the charges made by the Mer-
chants Association. that the work was not
being properly or honestly done.
The report on the treatment OF the bot
tom OF the reservoir is based on the exami-
nation of three different areas Of 100 square
yards each. To carry out the Recommended
tions Of the experts relative to the bottom
Of the reservoir some notifications OF the
original plans will be necessary. Those
notifications we're ordered yesterday by
the Commissioners.
The report stated that the entire rock bot
tom is composed Of gneiss, varying in
texture, but for the most part dense and
sound. This class of rock, the report says,
is likely to be flssured and to be subject to
serious leakage. 1t is recommended, there
fore, that the entire rock surface be thor
oughly cleaned. and that the crevices and
assures thus revealed be filled with a rich
concrete containing nothing larger than
one-inch stone, or II they be small, with
cement mortar.
The side walls already built. the engineers
report, are well built, and thoroughly salts
factory. Mention is made OF several leaks,
but attention is called to the fact that the
stone work. where these leaks are, has not
yet been pointed.
Referring to long list Of cracks furnished
by the Merchants Association, the report
says:
From present appearances, We are unable
to give entire credence to the cracks having
been OF such large dimensions as stated in
this list. We have. as a matter of eIpe-
rence, often noted the tendency to over
estimate the dimensions OF cracks. There
Is no present appearance OF continuity In
these cracks to Indicate that they are serious
wall. '' VI INC
In q supplementary report the e1perts
declare that she fine crushed rock screen
ings, from the rock excavated on the reser-
voir site, used in the mortar are as satis-
the complaints of the Merchants Associa-
tion.
After the reports had been read, Comp
troller Grout said:
] am particularly gratifed at the report
from these engineers, which shows that there
Is no basis for criticism. 1t is also n matter
of qualification to me TO have this report to
the effect that these walls are sound-sound
as can be expected In the present stage of
progress; l say that because the, engineer.s
In dom ri fINA hA nj hnI 80 rnn
from day TO day and have repeatedly called
my attention to the fact that they believed it
to be sound wall. In other words, regard
this report as complete Justification.
Contractor McDonald's request for an
extension OF his contract tims from Aug
1 Of this year to June of 1904. in which to
finish the west half OF the reservoir was
not granted by the commission at yester-
days meeting. The Commissioners, in
stead. passed a resolution, prepared by the
Corporation Counsel, extending the time
in which the west half must be finished to
Dec. 80, 1903. and giving the contractor
until Dec. 20, 1904 to finish the eastern half
Before that resolution was passed the
Mayor and the contractor had another
set-to.
Il don't believe" said the Mayor, that
you can finish that work inside of three or
four years. You say that if you can have
until next June on the west half you will
finish the other half a year later. In the
west half you have only $4,000 cubic yards
of rock and 10000 cubic yards of earth
to excavate, but in the east half you have
100000 cubic yards of rock and $50 900
cubic yards of earth to get rid of. If it
is going to take another year for the less
excavation how are you going to finish
in the time you say?'
There are more hills in the east half
than in the west, said the contractor "and,
therefore, there are more points of attack
at which the excavation may be rushed.
l am going to increase my plant and work.
ing force and work nights"
4 don't believe you can do II, was the
Mayors final reioinGer.
II. D. Dumont was the only representative
Of the Merchants Association at the meet
ing. He didn't have anything to say.
The next move of the Merchants Asso-
citation will he probably to go before the
District Attorney of Westohester county
and start its typewriters at the Croton
Dam.
District Attorney jerome, who got back
to town yesterday, said that the investiga-
tion into the charges against the Aqueduct
Commission had not been dropped, but he
would not say what the next step would
be. Others said that all the testimony
taken will be presented to the July Grand
| jury and that thai body will be asked to
| inspect the new Jerome Park reservoir.
1