The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-11
GO
down WIN into Sewer.
Anxious to Find Cause Of Buck
ling Of Broad Street
Drain.
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TROUBLE NOW IN PARAMOUNT.
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Breaks Reported III Patent Lock
Joint Pipe Used
There.
TROUBLE NOW IN PARAMOUNT

At meeting OF the special subcon1-
mittcc of the Committee on Streets,
held in the Office OF the City Engineer
yesterday afternoon City Engineer
Boiling. Assistant city Engineer Jack
son Bolton and Inspector Holzback
were examined as to defects found in
the new sewer on the south side Of
Broad Street. The officers answered
many questions in regard to the al
legged imperfcctions and reported fully
the results OF their Investigations. The
subcommittee took no action. adjourn
ing subject to the call OF the chair
man.
Previous to this meeting Messrs.
Boiling, Bolton, Holzback and mem
be-s OF the subcommittee made an cx.
animation of tile work. going into the
manhole at First and Broad Streets,
where, by the usual test. that OF plac-
ing lantern in the pipe. they found
that the sewer had been pressed up
ward and "buclslcd.' causing stop
page. Though the committee has
taken no action as to placing the blame.
1t was found that this "buckling'' was
due TO the fact that earth above the
pipe in the tunnels had not been prop
crly rammcd.
Pipe Not Ccmentcd.
The theory is that the ppies, being
filled with air. are lighter than tho
wet, loose earth around them. and are
naturally forced upward and apart Mt
the joints as the dirt around them set
ties. 1t was found also that at one
place the pipe had not been properly
closed and cemented. The work was
in charge OF Sewer Inspector Atkinson,
and the committee is not yet decided
whether the whole blame for the defec-
tive work should be charged to him
or l. j. Smith & Co.. the contractors
for eXcavating and refilling. Mr.
Smith main aims that his company COM
piled with the contract In every way.
and asserts that the defects. II there
arc any. are due to poor work on the
part Of the city's pipe layers. As far
as their Investigations have taken
them. the engineers arc inclined to
think that the trouble is due TO the
joint negligence of the contractors and
the inspector. This will, of course, be
brought out in the subcommittee re-
port, to be placed in the hands OF the
full committee carly next week. All
defects found arc west of Third street.
Trouble In Fnirmount.
In speaking of sewer troubles yes
terday, City Engineer Boiling said that
defects had also been found in tho lock
joint system recently installed In Fair
mount. According TO tests made there
several "hair cracks had been detect
ed in the concrete pipes.
AS the department has not had time
to make a full Investigation. 1t could
not be said yesterday whether or not
these would really affect the efficiency
OF tho pipes. Instead of breaking
.buckling.' these hair cracks" run
horizontally. and 1t is hard to tell
without a minute examination whether
or not they run through and are of q
serious nature. Those discovered are
about the thickness Of a knife blade.
Mr.. Billing said yesterday that In
any event the city would loose no
money, as nothing has been paid to
The contractors and none will be paid
to them until a thorough test had been
made. As to the grades. he declared
that they had been tested and had
been found to be absolutely correct.
This is the first time Richmond has
made use of the lock joint pipe, al
though 1t has proved satisfactory in
other cities. Mr.. Boiling has not gone
lar enough into the investigation to
make a report to the committee. If
he deems such a report necessary it
VIII be placed as soon as possible in
the hands of the chairman OF tho Com
tnittce on Streets.