New-York tribune., 1907-03-27
NEW AQUEDUCT PLANS
CHANGE IN CROSSING.
HM Go Under Hudson at Cold
Spring-Metz Holds Up Contract.

The route Of the Catskil aQueduet on the
west bank Of the Hudson has been changed on
account Of the failure Of the engineers to find
rock bottom under the Hudson at New Ham
burg and Marlborough. and II IS now planned
to cross the Hudson fifteen miles further down
stream. at Cold Spring and Storm King. just
above West Point
The change will probably mean a saving Of
$1,C0e0O0 in the construction Of the aqueduct.
The new route will probably run the aqueduct
under or just back OF the city OF Newburg and
also back Of the village OF Cornwall.
These facts developed yesterday when the
Controller held UP temporarily contract be-
tv cen Crawford & McNamee and the city, un-
der which the city is to pay the contractors
S45o,OOO for making borings and sinking shafts
at Cold Spring and Storm King Mountain pre-
paratory 20 the building Of the aqueduct under
the Hudson. Controller Metz says that he is
not satisfied that the Board OF Water Supply
has authority 20 award a contract Of this size
without public letting The board has let similar
contracts as special agreements" under the
section Of the law that authorizes survey work
without public letting He doubts whether the
commission has enough money for the work. as
he has been unable 70 sell its bonds
Aside from the controversy over the legality
Of giving out the contract without public letting
the work planned under the contract is one OF
the most interesting experiments in diamond
drilling that has ever been attempted. u is
planned to sink a shaft on either side Of the
Hudson at Cold Spring and Storm King about
hrteen feet square 20 a depth Of about nve hun
dred feet The preliminary bcrIngs and the re-
ports OF the most eminent geologists warrant
the belief that there Will be found AZ a depth Of
nve hundred feet az this point a rock bottom
under the Hudson that win extend from bank 20
NrllP ryfeh
bore is done and the water is turned IN there
win be no leakage and no danger OF a break
from the tremendous internal pressure.
When the shafts on either side OF the river are
at depth diamond drilling outfit win be set up
IN the bottom OF either shaft, and then VIII begin
two object lessons in lateral diamond drilling
that will keep the engineering world interested
for many months. The attempt Will be made
70 bore under the Hudson. and meet midway
with dip TO the drills that will make reason
ably certain that when the bores are completed
the holes will be beneath any possible assure
IN the rock formation. II the bOrings show that
the bottom at that depth is composed Of solid
rock impervioUs to seepage. the aQueduct will
follow substantially the same levels as the drin
holes, although the big tunnel may be put nftv
or hundred feet lower to make sure Of getting
It below possible assures. II the first boriugs are
not satisfactory doubtless the drilling outfits
will be set going at a lower level or at a differ
ent location, as the engineers have got to keen
on trying until they find the right sort OF rock
bottom for their bore
Two estimates have been furnished by the
Crawford & McNamee Company OF the length Of
time necessary to complete the work. Under one
estimate the board has allowed lac working
days. and the contractors think that they can
do the work IN sixteen days less. Under the
other estimate. involving heavier work the
board allows 2SS days. and the contractors
figure that they can do IL in 233. In case they
beat the time allowance they to receive a
bonus Of $400 day.
not develop until yesterday is that the plan OF
stripping the ground TO depth OF eighteen or
twenty-fOur inches over the entire area OF the
AshOkan reservoir at an estimated cost Of
S4.OO0.O00 or $5OO0OO0 may be entirely aban-
dOned. and in place OF IL the board is likely to
water. IL seems that stripping the soil from the
surface is necessary in many instances, on ac-
count Of the nature Of the ground. and in order
20 insure the continued purity OF the water.
equally satisfactory and much cheaper way. It Is
said. Is to aerate the water by running over
cascades and waterfalls. Commissioner Chad
wick said yesterday that the latter plan would
cost about SS0o,000. and that the city would
save perhaps S4,O0000O BY the change
Commissioner Chadwick iwas asked yesterday
about the holding up of the special agreement
with the Crawford & McNamee Company by the
Controller. EFT will be only temporary he
said I'VE are acting strictly within the spirit
and letter Of the law. The boring work is part
Of the survey work, and Is specifically authorized
by the act. We cannot go ahead with the under
taking I'm the absence OF precise data More
over. are acting in accordance with the in
structiOns of Corporation Counsel Ellison and
his predecessor, Mr.. Delany.