New-York tribune., 1908-09-05
EVANS AT WATERSHED
SEES 4SHOK4N DAM SITE.
Rear 4dmiral Greatly Interested an
Big Engineering York.

Browns Station the sCatskills where the Asho-
kan dam is be. had visit from Rear Admiral
Evans recently He went over the preliminary
work being done by the. Macarthur Brothers Il
Winston COMPANY Mr.. Winston, WING has charge OF
the great work went with the admiral The foun-
dafion for the DAM which viii back up the waters
of the Esopus and tributaries for the of this
city beginning TO assume shape, and the town
where the workmen housed has now about one
fourth of the population it will have when the
work is in full swing.
Admiral Evans was profoundly interested in the
new town. He wanted TO know whether it was
worth while TO care for the in such thor
ough fashion. The town is rectangular with side
walks and as clean Fifth avenue in this city.
The sewer system with disposal works, has been
completed and has the town water supply. The
houses are fitted with bathrooms and other con-
<eniences. and there is a town marshal who, with
his assistants sees that the rules and regulations
making for perfect sanitary conditions and the
best of order are obeyed. Mr.. Winston explained
that the men were better able TO do their work
wren well cared for. II cost great deal to build
and equip the town. but it made for economy.
Then the work of building the reservoir was of
such Importance from a hygienic and sanitary
point of view that his company was determined TO
take no chances.
Mr. Winston had charge of the building of the
Cross River dam near Katonah. in the Croton
watershed and The Tribune's demand that sani-
tary conditions be observed induced the contrac-
tors to house the employees al Browns station ana
ne under way for several years, in a way to pre-
vent any possibility of trouble Mr. Winston was
surprised by the knowledge of the impoundng of
waters possessed by the admiral He said yester-
day:
Il knew something about the admiral salt
water expert bat know now that he has an inti-
mate knowledge of the great engineering problems
of reservoir and aqueduct building. He remained
for luncheon and did not return TO Lake Mohonk
until he had been conducted over the whole WORKS
sh fS u-l7e- Is age
IN preparing for the foundation of the great
Ashokan Reservoir, which will impound ABOUT
17a 0O000eO gallons of water. covering an area OF
10o12 acres it was necessary in many instances TO
go down eighteen feet to reach the rock strata
Stone so,Iarres have been opened up and the great
cable towers are being put in place From these
will be stretched the wire cables on which the
travelling derrcks will run. The material Tor the
manufacture of the concrete blocks for the dam is
being assembled The yard for this work has been
laid out In fact everything is in such shape that
the building of the dam will now proceed without
a hitch until the last block has been swung INTO
place.
The village of West Shokan will have TO be razed,
and MANY farmhouses and stables will also have to
go and there is a good of regret in the length
and breadth Of the dam bed At first there was 3
good deal OF anticipation of big prices by the own
ers but since has been learned that value is to be
given value, with. perhaps, little margin only
the feeling has changed. In West Shokan there are
many pretty homes and prosperous stores. 1t Is
more than likely that the village will be rebuilt on
higher ground Perhaps a bit Of work, almost as
difficult as the building of the dam, will be the
change of route by the railroad which now runs
through the valley. II has already secured its
right of way many above its former grade,
and the approaches from Kingston will have TO BE
elevated to correspond
When Mr. Winston showing Admiral Evans
around the contractor. who is the engineer of the
company. explained the municipal arrangements
made for the control of his men. and the admiral
with his years of experience with the enlisted man.
was able 10 give much valuable advice Mr.. Win
ston said that the company had about eight num-
dred men on the pay rolls who had been with the
contractors for many years. Their continued en-
ployment was due to good treatment. he said And
1a nre6icted that there would be no difficulty in
getting the thousands of that will soon be
necessary TO continue the work. He asked the ad-
rnral whether he had had much experience in keep
ing fntoxicants from men. The admiral said that
in the navy this was not difficult when on board
ship Ashore the enlisted man often was a ready
victim. Mr. winston said that liquor of any kind
was not permitted in the camps, nor In the terri
tory controlled by his company.
lust before the admirals visit of the foremen
of a gang reported half of his men unfit for
their work Their quarters were searched, but no
uuuor was found there bottles in evil
dence One of the men was put through a mild
kind OF third degree and confessed that pedier
yho came into camp the day before with fruit, had
sold cocaine TO many Of the men. Pedlers viii not
be permitted IN the camp in future. The watershed
ratrornen employed by the Board Of Water Supply
viii work In harmony with the marshals 10 keep
drugs and liquor out of the camp in future. The
regular physician will be the only person who will
have the authority &c dispense drugs or alcohoi'
and Mr. Winston believes that his employees will
not be able TO transgress again. The work on the
dam will not be held up by the rigors of the Cats
Kill winter.