Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-15
SLOW As M0LASSES
Government Work on Exposition
Piers Way Behind.
BUT THIS IS OVERL OOKED
While Exposition Officials Catch It
Coming and Going.
Capt. Cosby Of Engineers Reports on
Matter-Doesn't Explain Ex-
tension Of Contract Time.

While visitors to the jamestown EXPOSE
ton have amused themselves and relieved
their feelings Raging the various officials
of the exposition company because Of the
incomplete condition Of the buildings and
exhibits. every one seems to have over
looked the fact that the United States
government is responsible for the greatest
delay Of all in the construction of the
government pier, which was to have been
the main feature, INTELLECTUALLY and
otherwise, of the whole show.
According to the terms of the contract
between the United States government and
the concern awarded the bid for construct
ing the pier, the work was to have been
finished on May of this year. Yet on
April &c, when the exposition was formally
opened, SO far as external appearances
went the pier had not even been begun. AT
present there is some scaffolding above the
water. where the pier is to be, and that
furnishes little convincing evidence that
the work will be- completed in time for
even the last of the visitors to the exposl-
ton having a chance to see the big show
in its entirety, as called for by the original
plans Incidentally, the War Department
doesn't seem to have much Of an explana-
ton on hand concerning the delay.
The statement was made to Star re-
porter today that apparently there had
been some indefinite extension of the con-
tract for the construction of the pier. Out
side Of that the department could furnish
little information except from resume OF
what should have been accomplished by
now.
Capt. Cosby's Report on Work.
Capt. Spencer Cosby. Corps of Engineers.
L.,
Ing the two piers at the exposition grounds,
for which Congress appropriated 500,
has made a report to the War Depart
ment According to this report the present
project was adopted by act Of Congress
approved June 80. 1906, and provides for
the construction Of two piers extending
from the exposition grounds into the wa
tiers of Hampton roads. to be connected by
an arch sufficiently high to permit small
crafts to enter it into a basin or harbor to
be dredged to a depth of twelve feet at
mean low water.
Plans and specifications were submitted
by the jamestown Exposition Company In
September. 1906 and were approved by the
Secretary of War. The work was adver-
tised September y and bids were opened
October q. contract was signed No
yember 1 with the Scofield company of
Philadelphia, providing for the completion
of the piers in $50 days. The date for. the
commencement of the work was November
ID and the date for completion May z, 1!O7.
Although the report does not say SO, the
time for completing the work evidently has
been indefinitely extended.
Capt Cosby says that during the month
of May carpentry work was continued on
all the light structures and large amount
of staff work was placed along the shore
end Of the piers. He says the walls OF
each pier were completed and t. e sidewalks
AMI fill were nearly completed. The con-
crete was placed in the west abutment of
the arch and part of the concrete in the
east abutment. The arch centers, he says,
were about 80 per cent completed the 1st
of June. Dredging was continued curing
May, says Capt. Cosby, and good progress
made. He adds that the pile driving Is
practically completed and the work as
whole was about 81 per cent finished on the
LIST of June.
Regarding probable operations during
June Capt. Cosby says: Work on all I'M
finished portions of the piers will be con-
tinued and the entire work except the arch
approaches should be available for use be-
fore the end Of the month.
Dredging Now Under Way.
In connection with the building of the
piers, a channel is being dredged from deep
water in Hampton roads to tn piers and
as1 in Bush creek to accommodate the
needs of the life saving exhibit for oh
dredging Congress February 0, 1907, appro-
priated So, 600 Capt. Cosby says in his
port that the available funds are being ex-
pended under a supplemental contract with
the Scofield Company. and otherwise, in
dredging a channel of approach twenty feet
deep at mean low water and not less than
POO feet nor more than 300 feet In width
from deep water in Hampton roads to the
exposition piers and dredging basin in
Bush creek with a channel Leading thereto
for the accommodation of the life saving ex-
hibit. The work in Bush creek Is being
done by the hire of dredges in the open mar
ket.
Capt. Cosby says that this dredging
work was assigned to his office February
IA last. A survey for the work was made
and a supplemental contract made with
the scofield Company. for dredging the
proved March Il. 1907. About 5000 cubic
yards have been removed, says Capt.
Cosby, and an eleven-foot channel has
been cut across the outer bar and an eight
foot channel has been cut to the piers.
THE work on the channel of approach"
says Capt. Cosby, was greatly delayed
during May by rough weather. The amount
of material removed was 1900 cubic
better progress should be made during
June than was made during May. 1t is
hoped to complete the work in Bush creek.
but due to the difficulties encountered and
the excessive cost it will probably be i'm
possible to dredge a channel of approach
to Bush creek"
Trouble on Historic Island.
Capt Cosby has also made report re-
garding the difficulties attending the cree
ton of permanent landing pier at James
town Island. for which Congress appro-
priated $4,000 by act approved June 30,
1906 Negotiations for purchasing the ex-
listing pier. belonging to Mrs. Louise ].
Barney" he said. were entered into as
soon the work was assigned to this Of
flee. but were finally given up in November.
1906 it found impossible to come to