Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-30
Ware ADMITS
BAD WORK AT
ISLANDP PARK
Walls Demolition to Make
Way for P ark Practically a
Confession to Faulty Con-
strucuon.
"Safe Bet No Dynamite Will Be
Needed to Tear Them Apart,
Veteran Building Wrecker De-
clares.

Senator Edwin II. Ware who con-
s.ructed the near concrete walls in
League Island Park at a cost of more
than S25O0Oo to the taxpayers, which
three noted engineers condemned, has at
last confessed his work was faulty. BY
his orders squads of laborers have torn
down practically the entire structure.
Only small parts Of the cracked wall
are still visible. Expenditures for the
park thus far have been about S1,5eoNn
Iaborers in the park frankly admitted
today that demolishinE the wall wasn't
difficult job. one man Nentured to de-
clare the job was the easiest he had
encountered in years because OF the
faulty material with which the structure
was built.
Less than four months ago. after a
hoard of experts assigned by Director
Cooke, Of the Department Of Public
Works, had submitted a report which
stated that the wallis were worthless
because OF many cracks. assures and
holes in them, Senator Ware made this de-
fepse:
"The wall is . handsome structure and
thcre IS nothing wrong"
Ia face % conclusive proof furnished by
the experts, composed Of such men as
Frederick w. Taylor. Of this city, for
rlerlv consulting engineer Of the Midvaie
Steel COMPANY, Richard L. Humphrey,
president Of the American Concrete In
stitute. and .Nllen Hazen. OF the firm Of
Eazcn & Whipp.e consulting engineers
Of New York, Ware issued emphatic de-
mails OF their grave charges,
Lator the Senator employed a corps of
enGinoers whose Identity he refused 10
make public. The engineers were de-
tailed to make an Inspection OF the near
concrete walls" The report Of the Sem
ators private investigators was never
made public
Tie Senator has made many trips in
his automobile down to League Island
since tho work of razinE the walls was
begun The demolition. which many res
ideuts in South Philadelphia declare is
a diSGrace to this city, was begun last
JULY ~
From his automobile, workmen de-
o!ared today, Senator Ware no doubt had
an excellent chance n view the cracked
walls made OF impurities. He also could
see the worthless walks from thar van
taga point,
DYNAMITE NOT NEEDED.
In the group Of worknen detailed in
the park this morning was veteran
building wrecker and aIl-around laborer
This man, who has worked on many
municipal construction jobs, frankly de-
clared that. owing to the poor gravel
used, it was 4 sure bet that dynamite
wouldn't be needed
THE fellow who had the contract for
putting these things up-I mean those
wans-certainly must have seen his blum
der by this time. Any man who has
eyes and knows a thing or two about
concrete will say that there IS some
thing wrong with this job Only a blind
man couldn't tell the difference"
Senator Ware has the contract for pro- |
seeding with the work in the park. H.
was given the contract last June, be-
cause his bid of $500 0OJ was the lowest.
Ii vas learned toady that one OF the
nrst discoveries by laborers and others
detailed TO tear down the walls was that
the structure around the lagoons was
defective This fact was also pointed out
by the experts in their revelations.
The three investigators, who condemned
the structure as a piece OF patchwork.
also brought forth proof TO show that for
concrete the contractor used an unwashei
gravel, fairly well graded but full of I'M
purities, which tended 10 impair the quail !
ity OF the concrete made from IL. Another
interesting feature % the investigators
disclosures was that the gravel contained
wood, Jumps of clay, pieces Of coal and
some verv fne material, part Of which
was organic matter.
The walks also show signs Of poor
workmanship Many of them as con-
Etructed by the Senator will have 10 be
rebuilt because they are defective.
RUSHING PARKS COMPLETION.
Everything IS now being done by Dl-
rector Cooke 10 bring about the COM
pletton of the park which will be Phra- F,
delphia's future recreation ground FOR
children and adults. It is expected the
park will be ready for use by next sum
mer
The new contract awarded 10 Senator
Ware calls for tree plants. roadways. .
pavements, mauholes and also solid side
walks, but not the kind he constructed
when the near concrete walls" were
put up. Grass banks. better walks and
other improvements viii he constructed /
IL is also planned 10 have a wadinE pool .
where girls and BOYS can have fun m
the summer
Following the disclosures made last
spring By the Investigators, the entire |
matter vas later referred 70 District |
Attorney Rotan for the purpose of as
Certaining whether criminal or civil pro- F.
ceedinss could be Instituted against ]
those who we're responsible for the /
D. scandal. District Attorney Rotan re-
piled that he couldn't act because Of the !
statute OF limitations
League Island Park for many wears
has been a haven for Organization con- .
tractors and others. Actual construction .
work was begun under the adminlstra- .
tIon OF Mayor AshDridse. In the four
years from 1899 10 1909 Si76 277 was an
propriated in eight items, including slG00
a. a prize for competitive designs of
these amounts S34l379 was paid out
Another sum amount To $4,000 was % .
proprlated In 1873 A contract with sem
Rtor Ware was entered into for Bigs 900
A supplemental contract was made In
August. 1910 for S7lS.Hup. and a second sup z
Elemental coutraCt ON June o. 1911 for .
SsSsOoO Later the supplemental con-
tracts we're declared ileEa. by the SUI F..
preme Court, following an attack by F.