New-York tribune., 1903-07-29
REPORT JUSTIFIES WORK.
MORE TINE GRANTED.
For Jerome Park Reservoir Com pIe-
tiOn-Mayor NettIes Mcdonald.

appointed by the Mayor to report on the coudf-
tion OF the walls and the need OF a thicker con-
crete bottom for the Jerome Park Reservoirs
yesterday submitted a report which is regarded
by Controller Cirout and the members OF the
Aqueduct Commission as a complete justilca-
uon Of the judgment Of the Finance Depart
ment engineer ana ex-Chief Engineer William
r. HILL of the Aqueduct Commission. The COM
mission declares that the work done by McDon-
aid & Onderdcnl is first class that the thicker
bottom for the reservoir is needed as suggested.
and that whatever cracks there are in the reser-
voir walls small and can be easily stopped
up by applying fresh cement and pointing up
the cracks as the contract specifies.
The report was not signed by Rudolph Herring.
the third member of the commission because hs
is in California
The report which read at the meetine>os
the commission yesterday. said that a detailed
examination was difficult as the bottom Of the
reservoir was covered with debris. Three areas
of one hundred square yards each were cleared.
and it was found that in spots the rock bottcnA
was disintegrated and that In others assures
had appeared while deeper depressions had
been caused by the blasting than had been ex-
pected.
The report recommended that the west basix
be cleared Of rubbish so that 1t could be CARE,
fully examined. and that II this examination
should, as expected. show tendency to hssuret
recommended that such portions OF the bottom
of the reservoir as showed a weak foundatior.J
be covered with an eight-inch concrete founda-
ton.
Controller Grout said after the report had BEEN
read that he believed it was a complete iusti-
ication OF the work as done by Mr.. Mcdonald.
1t seems to me-" said Mr. Grout that II 10
only right to call attention to the fact that ths-
recommendations contained IN this report are a.
pOr 1DIaf ID
the contract. In other words. this commission
Of most eminent engineers has disagreed with
the engineer Of the commission. Mr. FteIey. who,
prepared these specifications. I do not say this
IN derogatOn Of Mr.. Fteley. because subsequenr
developments have shown that the plans as Mr.
Fteley prepared them are not plans which, il hss
We're now alive. he would himself adopt
Much discussion has arisen over every sug-s
gested change. 1t has been the practice Of sornsi
people to put Mr.. FteIey's original plans which
were tentative, Up a sort Of fadism. ann
peculiarly gratifed at the report from these
engineers. which shows that there is no basis
for criticism. 1t is also matter Of gratiica-
tion to to have this report. to the effect that
these walls are soUnd-sound as can be expected
in the present stage Of progress I say that be-
cause the engineers in my department have
watched this wall from day TO day, and have re-
| peatedly called my attention to the fact that
| Major Mclean, OF the Department or
| Finance. is quite as eminent an engineer as
/ any OF those who have undertaken to criticiss
| this work I am gratified that he has been sus-
| tanned by this commission of engineers In
| other words. I regard this report as a completes
| Justification
The report. in part, is as follows:
WHAT THE COMMISSION FOUND.
The two most important subjects are the treat
inatIon of the or sidewalks OF the reservoir
ae9Gy az @ crrsn % TRc6 & nave Peen f tRe , SOe 5
tom) appeared close and dense IN texture, but al
point the rock is much broken and assured and
contains badly. disntegrated spots. The depres-
sions in the rock made by the blasting. and shOwI
at these cIear1nSs, appear 10 De deeper than conf
We therefore recommend that the entire rock sur
face be thoroughly cleaned by removing ali quarry
chips or other debris, sand and loan; that water
grated portions be removed and that ali loose
fragments be barred out and the rock surfacs
washed clean. The crevices and assures revealed
by this cleaning should be filled with rich cons
crete containing nothing larger than one lncE
Over the entire rock portion OF the bottom pre-
pared in this manner We recommend that there bs
that at no poiHt Shall its debtb be les tfa foS3
inches, except where high points OF ledge rock may
project into II not more than one inch
be excavated eight inches below the grade pre-
crete The details of 6Ittng mis- % entr lS,1 cf Ge
bottom IN place other than those already specified
neer Of all the conditions attending the work
Obviously. IL is not possible for 10 state pre-
terror OF the completed wall. but on our visits 70
in progress on the southwest SIDE Of the Vest % d.
vision has been Of excellent quality. one member
OF the commission has made FREQUENT exarinafions
OF this work. and every occasion of his inspec-
ton that work has been found satisfactory.
entire credenCe to the cracks having been OF such
large dimensions stated We do find that any
of the walls need other treatment than that OF
extending the trenches filing them with water
marking the points where the leaks appear cutting
out the mortar joints around these cracks. as re-
quired by the specifications and carefully refII!uz=
them and pointing all joints not yet complete
1t is TO be remembered in connection with this
part OF our work that IT IS practically impOssibls
TO build hubble walls OF the dimensions OF these
with the head of water behind them in the usual
manner OF constructing such masonry. which viii
be absolutely watertight
The results OF the examination OF the fine screen
tngs at the Jerome Park reservoir s>|~v that ie
may be properly and satisfactorily used In place OF
sand for that work. both in mortar and concrete.
MAYOR EXAMINES MR. MDONALD.
The Mayor asked Mr. Mcdonald about the,
work at the easterly section OF the reservoir
The Mayor said he had confidence in Mr.. Nc
Donald. but nevertheless he wanted him to face
facts. Mr.. Mcdonald must have known OF the
conditions facing him when he assumed the con-
tract If il took him year TO finish the west
erly section. even allowing for the coal strike
and other delays. ne could not see how Mr..
Mcdonald could complete the easterly section
in a years time.
Mr. Mcdonald was forced TO admit that he
could assure the completion of the eaSterly
section within a year. The Mayor pointed out
10 Mr.. Mcdonald that he would have tJOosD
cubic yards Of rock and SJ0.UO cubic yards or
earth TO remove from the e&sterty section. 50
that at the same rate OF progress made on the
westerly section he could not see how the east
erly section could be completed in less then
Mr McDonald. looking somewhat nettled. ad-