Evening star., 1938-11-13
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star
The following is an extract from tes-

timony in the investigation of charges
I,I.-L that the so-called Lydecker
tunnel, built as part of the
o""e' Districts water system, was
inquiry constructed improperly and
fraudulently. The account of the inves-
tigation, which was we'll under way SO
years ago, appeared in The Star OF
November 7, 1888. Andrew Dorsey, a
bricklayer, was the first witness, who told
the court about the bad packing and
about vacant spaces over the arch in the
Champlain avenue heading. He was the
ment by the brass buttons and glittering
epaulets of the officers present. His
testimony was followed by that of anoth-
er bricklayer whose story was much the
same concerning the nature of workman
ship in the Howard University heading.
Next came Fred Kendall, another brick
layer, who testified that:
I'm the Champlain avenue east head
ing fully 80 per cent of the packing was
dry in the side walls. Above the arch
there were spaces left in the packing, but
the sides of the arch were generally filled
up solidly. When 1t. Townsend came in,
which occurred about once a week, the
work was we'll done. Two bays would be
keyed up, few stones thrown in, and
then when the third bay was keyed
bulkhead would be built to the roof. The
spaces varied from 2 to 10 feet long
Iyo ND ~, f1o
tunnel during large part of each day.
He never saw the spaces left, but would
not have allowed it if he had. He would
allow the dry packing. John Fenall was
foreman of the gang and would tell wit
ness how much work to do. Fenall often
keyed himself.
"All this applied to the Howard Uni
versity heading, after which witness went
to Champlain avenue east. Lucas was
inspector here and the packing was laid
in cement all around. Only one bay was
keyed up at once. In discussing the quail
ity of the mortar used, witness said it
varied, and that when too much sand
was used the mortar would not set. The
arch work was two-ring work. At Rock
Creek the arch was sometimes built with
three rings because the roof was so high
that the packing was too heavy. Kirlin
decided when the change should be made.
1.-THE packing done under Lucas in
Champlain avenue heading was good
From Champlain avenue witness went to
Rock Creek. In some places the packing
over the key was bad. Mcnamara was
inspector and often saw the bad work
being done. AS rule the middle bays
were left without sufficient packing.
Mcnamara was the only foreman and he
gave all the orders. Often he has called
the packers down from the key before the
packing was completed. The frequency
of this depended upon who was present.
times a day and was aware of the bad
work. He used to chat with Mcnamara.
After Palmer had gone McNamara would
call to the workmen to pack everything
solid. Then witness told about the work
in Rock Creek west where there was no
difference in the character of the meth
DDS. Whenever there was a chance,
when Kirlin was not around, vacant
spaces would be left. Mcnamara was
inspector.
Upon examination by Col. Hodges,
witness said that the inspectors gave Or
ders to the workmen. The coming of
1t. Townsend was always made known
in advance by colored man or by the
inspector. Witness always knew when
the lieutenant was coming and he was
the only officer he ever saw down there"