The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-10
FEEDER WALL TOO
NARROW AT BASE.
Experts Assign This Cause, and
Superintendent Boiling Frankly 4
Admits Mistake.
REST OF WORK APPROVED
Actual Loss Will Be Only About
$4,000 Out of Total Expenditure
of $4oo,ooo.

After n careful and thorough ex-
animation OF the construction, tho
three experts employed by the city.
submtied report to the Council
effect that the collapse OF part OF
the feeder wall mt the settling basin
was due 10 the fact that the base was
not of sufficient width To- withstand
the high water pressure. Recommen-
dation was made that the remaining
part of the wall he strengthened. The
entire cost VIII amount to $4,000, al
though the actual loss to the city was
only $4,000. This seeming difference
IL explained by the statement that the
structure should have been made moro
secure at the time 1t was built the
cost OF which would have been sl2.-
900.
Report Correct, Says Mr.. Boiling.
The total cost OF the feeder wall.
exact measurement of that part which
fell down was 425 feet The settltna
basin as a whole involved an expendN
ture Of 100000 and the plans were
prspared by Superintendent Boiling.
With the exception of the feeder wall,
the experts reported that all speciG-
cations made by Mr.. Boiling were
sound and correct. Councilman Mills.
at the meeting last night. said that
there was nothing especially alarming
about the loss Of $4,000, adding that
the results were altogether favorable
when 1t was remembered that the ma
jor portion OF the work was cxceIlently
planned and perfected
When the report which was mainly
technical, had been read Snpcrintend-
5ent Boiling stated that the findings of
the experts were correct and proper,
and that he did not attempt or desire
to shirk responsibility for an error
on his part.
Before the report had been received
nc made calculation and satisfied
himself that the foundation width was
too too narrow This was due to The fact
h.. hlh rot Inn f.,I tl.<.H a.
higher elevation than it subsequently
proved to be. No blame was attached
to Winston & CO.. the contractors.
Most Of Work Excellent.
The experts were Engineer Scar
borough. +. |. Cabell, engineer mainte-
nance of way of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway. and Engineer f. h.
Engineer Frazier. As stated. they re-
ported that the feeder wall base was
not OF the necessary width. and that
secure. Otherwise. they found evl-
dence of first-class work by Air. Boil
ing, which they approved, as follows:
IT Inat The plans and designs We're cor
walls at the upper end of the basin,
me wall separating the coagulatir.:
and settling basins. all walls border
ing the coagulating basin division
walls In coagilating basin. ana walls
at the outlet of the chamber at the
east end of the coagulating BASIN
In other words the experts approved
all masonry and connections with ti.e
basin except the feeder wall and
found 1t properly designed and con-
structed Out of a 100000 ontrnct
the committee did not regard da,nage
amounting To $4,000 as serious.
Ran on Narrn,y Margin
In statement to the committee
Mr.. Boiling said that the findings OF
the experts were impartial. that the
wall at the base was not u su.ii-
cient width to withstand the water
pressure. and to that extent his design
was faulty.
On the night of the collapse the
river was unusually high. He as
sumed that the feeder was briInful.
and with no exit the water poured
over. thus increasing the weight
against the structure Mr.. Boiling cX-
planned that he was working on q
narrow and economical margin. The
city has no consulting engineer, and
for that reason he had to work alone.
though he did not mention that fact
to persuade the committee that he was
In any way relieved of the RESPONSE
bility.
a resolution Will be sent to Coun-
Gil for an appropriation of $4,000 to
rebuild the broken wall and strengthen
the part now standing. Mr.. Boiling
says the work can be completed inside
OF two months and before the con-
tractors have completed the settling
basin flume.