The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-10
RESERVOIR DELAY DISCUSSED.
MDONALD ANSWERS MERCHANTS
ASSOCIATION CHARGES.

Question Of Changing Plans Referred
TO the Special C0mmissi0n-New
York CentraI's withdrawal From Its
Agreement Reported by the Mayor.
There was public hearing before the
Aqueiuct Commission yesterday In the
matter Of the charges made by the Mer-
chants Association that the commission
plans to put a thicker concrete bottom
IN the Jerome Park reservoir and to use
heavier piping are unnecessary and waste
full, and that the wall OF the reservoir leaks,
On behalf OF the Merchants Associa-
ton an opinion by Alfred Craven who
was an engineer in charge Of the work on
the reservoir for several years, was read
Mr.. Craven declares that it was unneces-
gary TO spend $40 900 to cover large sec
ton of the bottom with concrete eight
inches thick and that to anchor the pipes
would be cheaper than using heavier pipes
and would give as good results.
The Mayor moved that any changes in
the original plans be referred to Prof. Burr
and Mr.. Herring and Mr.. Freeman, the
special commission, and this was done
The Mayor then announced that the New
York Central Railroad had withdrawn
from its agreement, made some time ago
with the city, whereby the work OF con-
strlicting abutments, bridges, DC. to
carry the tracks Of the Mahopac branch
of the Putnam division over the flooded
territory, was to be done at a stipulated
figure. As the agreement had not been
put in writing. the city could not hold the
railroad company to 1t, the Mayor said.
The company represented that the in
creased cost of material made it impossi-
bic for it to carry on the necessary changes
at the figures to which it had agreed.
communication from John B. Mcdonald
was read in which Mr. Mcdonald said
The contract for the construction of the
reservoir was signed on Aug, %, 1905. and
the estimated quantities of earth and rock
to be excavated we're over 7,o00,O00 cubic
yards which is nearly two and half times
the total excavation required on the rapid
transit subway now under construction.
perry y ali nS 10 be
swamps at Pelham Bay. four and cne-hnlf
miles beyond the reservoir lines,
The principal cause of all delays occurring
in the construction. and the only reason why
the reservoir was not finished within the
contract time. was that neither the A9ueduct
structine, operating or maintaining this
5ailroad The contractor .' Was iei,. there.
corporate right to build the railroad or CON
denim property for such purpose, and was
obliged to buy private property and to OBJ
m men ' 81 fRsrEs and the Department. Of HIN
ways
II was the contractors intention to, prose-
cute this great work by night as we'll ~ by
day. but his right to maintain and operate
the railroad was attacked in the courts and
the courts prohibited night work
Mr. Mcdonald called attention to the
act OF 1902 which made an eight hour day
compulsory on the reservoir work and to
the supplemental contract entered into az
result Of this he says
| am quite sure that all parties intended
that the supplemental contract should 60
begin work until Oct. Is, 1902. The delay
was not my fault. and feel that am entitled
Aug t. when the agreement was drawn up.
and Oct. Is. when | was ordered to begin
work: md also for the unavoidable delays
anthracite region.
Mr. Mcdonald said personally. in an
swer to a question by the Mayor, after his
communication had been read, that he
expected to finish the western section by
the bottom Of the reservoir in couple OF
weeks
Nr Cra vap who was also present said
in answer r. "a c,Iest;nn from the Mayor.
that tho escapa Of water through a seamy
r,oL s,,cb o. tbet ,t tha reservo;r Was ~
III III saon 90 VIC. ao wy 10 ", " go
shGn as 10 DE iihiraterlai anu tiiat ON
crete bottom was as nuch Tor the purpose
OF having clean Hoorng Tor the reservoir
as anything else. He thought great deal
reservoir was ,,nnecessary and baselcss
Iftar Two r,nhEc Roo r;3o the commis.,on
..o' ',,e pupnaN IT H 'i:s WV I'M .oi .
received from Chlet Engineer hi'l report
on Messrs North and bogert CRITICISMS
Of All earlier date and ordered it forwarded
to the Mayor In It Mr. Hill said that those
men had apparently made no tests and
seemed to have had no facts on which to
base their criticisms az to the sand used in
the mortar or plaster in the reservoir wall
The sand used was ground rock, and Mr.
Hill pointed out that sand was rock crushed
either naturally or artifcially
The board holds its next meeting on
y Mol Uipaer pf the