m the sums necessary for meeting outstanding liabilities for work done up to the te at which that appropriation became available, and for defraying the necessary penses of engineering, superintendence, and contingencies during the progress of work. It is further understood that this agreement is to become operative only when apoved by the Chief of Engineers and the Secretary of War, and if not so approved it to be void and of no effect whatever. In witness whereof the undersigned have hereunto placed their hands and seals the te first therein before written. WASHINGTON, D. C., June 28, 1886. SIR: We most respectfully call your attention to the expiration of our contract with e Government for the construction of the new Washington reservoir on July 1, 1886, d ask that the same be extended for one year. Various exigencies have arisen to event our completion of this work, and to the inclemency of the weather is mainly tributable our failure, the excessive rainfall interfering with our designs most seously, the basin being flooded some half dozen times this spring. Again, it would impossible to complete the reservoir on account of material for tunnel being in our ay. Regretting the circumstances which compel us to ask this extension, and trustg our petition may meet with your approval, we remain, Very respectfully, Maj. G. J. LYDECKER, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. MALONEY & GLEASON. Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. Under the original ontract this work was to have been completed by June 30, 1885. The time for comletion was extended one year, to June 30, 1886. The failure to complete on time (so r as possible under the present appropriation) is, in my opinion, wholly due to a ck of vigor in the prosecution of the work, and in no sense to the violence of the ements or any exigency beyond the control of the contractors. For this reason I n not authorized by the terms of the contract to make the additional extension of me herein requested. The balance of funds available for "the construction of reservoir and gate-house" at he close of the month will be about $30,000. Of this amount $20,000 should be reerved for the gate-house, leaving only about $10,000 available for work on the reservoir nder the present appropriation. An estimate for an additional appropriation of 160,000 is now before Congress, and the proper steps to be taken for the completion f the work after the present appropriation is exhausted must depend to some extent n the action taken by that body. I would therefore recommend that the contract ith Maloney & Gleason be extended to July 31, 1886 only, by which time the sum ow available for work on the reservoir will probably be exhausted, and action by Congress in relation to the additional appropriation may have been taken. G. J. LYDECKER, LETTER OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY. Washington, D. C., July 7, 1 SIR: The letter of Maloney & Gleason, of 2-th ultimo, requesting extens time for one year from July 1, 1886, for completing their contract for construct reservoir, forwarded to this office by your indorsement of same date, having submitted to the Secretary of War, with recommendation that the contract » tended to July 31, 1856, as proposed by Major Lydecker, has been returned appr By command of the Acting Chief of Engineers. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. G. L. LYDECKER, Corps of Engineers. H. M. ADAMS Captain of Engine LETTER OF MESSRS. MALONEY & GLEASON. WASHINGTON, D. C., July 16, 1 SIR: Your esteemed favor of the 8th inst., extending our contract until Je 1886, duly received; and for reasons already referred to in our communication of 28 last, would respectfully ask your still further extension to July 1, 1887. Very respectfully, your obedient servants, MALONEY & GLEAS LETTER OF MAJOR G. J. LYDECKER, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. OFFICE OF THE WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT, GENERAL: In further compliance with instructions contained in Department le of the 9th instant, I have the honor to submit below a project for expending so u. of the sum of $555,000 appropriated in the general deficiency act approved At. 4, 1886, under the heading "Increase of the water supply of Washington, Districi Columbia," relates to the reservoir. My project for the expenditure of that por applicable to the tunnel was submitted in my letter of the 11th instant. Of the sum above named $160,000 is appropriated "to complete the reserve This amount is named in my last annual report as that estimated as necessary work that must be done before the water can be introduced and stored in the res voir with due regard to security and purity, and for the auxiliary structures nees to take the water supply from the reservoir into the supply mains. This involves the completion of the earth-work of the reservoir, and of paving and sodding slopes, and the completion of the masonry conduits; (b) the construction of circ ing conduits on the bottom of the reservoir, through which the water supply, as emerges from the tunnel, will be conveyed to the three corners of the reservoir m remote from the effluent gate-house; (c) the construction of the gate-house and e nection with the new outlet main; (d) the construction of keeper's dwelling, fene etc. The work involved in the first item above (a) is provided for in the contract w Maloney & Gleason, dated October 30, 1883; this contract expired June 30, 1 but the time of completion was extended to June 30, 1886, and again to July 31,1 and the contractors are still on the work, engaged with a small force in finishing st parts as are liable to damage by the weather if left in an incomplete shape. The contractors have given us, in the main, work of a satisfactory character, but the have been dilatory, and have at no time carried on the work with that degree of vig and such extensive plant and working force as were called for by their contract the most vigorous prosecution of the work on the reservoir were now a question vital importance I should not recommend any further extension of their contrac But their failure to make the requisite progress has not affected the interests of Government adversely, further than by increasing the cost of inspection, and it is at all likely that other parties could now be put on the work to finish it any soon than the present contractors can, considering the delays incident to a reletting her parties and their arranging for commencing operations; I am also of the opinn that a reletting would result in increased cost to the Government. The work that can be done under the present contract is estimated as follows at ntract prices: 7,000 cubic yards excavation, at 30 cents. 4,000 cubic yards puddling, at 40 cents.. 1,000 square yards sodding, at 20 cents. 5 cubic yards cut-stone masonry, at $15.. 6 cubic yards brick masonry, at $9 200 cubic yards concrete masonry, at $5.50. ) cubic yards rubble masonry, at $6.. 3 square yards trap-rock lining, at $1. 000 cubic yards broken stone lining, at $2 5,000 square yards paving, at 28 cents linear feet coping, at $5. $32, 100.00 14,400.00 4,000.00 112.50 2,304.00 6,600.00 480.00 753.00 12, 000, 00 9,800.00 435.00 82,984.50 In relation to these prices, I would observe that at the original letting fifteen bids ́ere received (see abstract of proposals printed in Report of Chief of Engineers for 584, pages 2308 and 2309); of these three were below the contract price for excavaon, one being 24 cents, one 28 cents, and another 29 cents, and the remaining eleven inging from 33 to 41 cents, the average of all bids being 34.4 cents; but there remains nly about 100,000 cubic yards of such work to be done, the larger part of it at the pper end of the reservoir, calling for the longest haul and giving the least margin f profit, so that any bid as low as the contract price can hardly be expected at this me. As to puddling, however, it is not unlikely that a lower price than 40 cents ight be obtained, as we originally had six ranging from 11 to 39 cents, two at 40, nd seven ranging from 66 cents to $2.50; the average price, exclusive of the pheomenal one of $2.50, was about 52 cents. The average price for sodding was 31 cents, our of the bids being 20 cents, but none less than that. The contract price for pavg (28 cents) is exceptionally low, all others ranging from 50 cents to $2, and averging 88.8 cents. The average price for broken-stone lining was $1.904, six of the ids ranging from $1 to $1.75, two at $2, and six ranging from $2.10 to $2.60. The items above enumerated cover the bulk of the work to be done, aggregating a value $72,300, out of a total of $82,984.50, at contract prices. The contract price is a each of these items, except stone lining, below the average bid, and gives in the agregate $31.928 less than the average of these bids would. It is in view of this fact that am led to the opinion that a reletting of the comparatively small proportions of the work that remain to be done would result in increased cost to the Government; nd, further, there is considerable dead work to be done in trimming and dressing uninished slopes, for which the present contractors will receive no additional compenation, but which would constitute an item of cost to the Government if other conractors should go on the work to finish it. In view of the above considerations I am of the opinion that it will "be most promotive of the interests of the Government" to do that part of the work now in quesion-comprising, in general terms, the earthwork on the reservoir, paving and sodding lopes, and completion of masonry conduits-under the contract heretofore made with Maloney and Gleason. This work may be properly carried ou pending action pon the report of the Board of Engineers on the questions to be submitted to its onsideration, as required by the act of appropriation. To that end I recommend he extension of said contract to December 31, 1886. If their prosecution of the work p to that time should prove satisfactory a still further extension-say to June 30, 7-might then be made; if, however, progress should not be satisfactory, it would robably be better at that time to put other parties on the work to complete it, arangements to that end being made during the winter months, so that operations ould be promptly commenced in the spring, thereby avoiding any loss of time in the avorable working period of the year. The other portions of the work that will be required, such as the construction of he gate-house, circulating conduits, keeper's dwelling, fences, surface gutters, etc., hould be deferred for the present, until the Board of Engineers has made its report, nd until most of the work contemplated by the contract heretofore made has been ccomplished. Their execution will not take much time. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. G. J. LYDECKER, [First indorsement]. OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY. Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. August 25, 1s The within project of Maj. G. J. Lydecker, Corps of Engineers, for the appl of so much of the appropriation contained in the general deficiency act appe August 4, 1886, as relates to the reservoir, which may be summarized as follows. Completion of the earth-work and of paving and sodding slopes and compietse masonry conduits appears to be in accordance with the provisions of the act. recommended for approval. The work now proposed may properly be carr8. previous to the receipt of report of the Board of Engineers on the questions subm to its consideration as required by the act approved August 4, 1886. Respectfully returned to Major Lydecker, Corps of Engineers, inviting attention the preceding indorsements, by which he will be guided. After such record as u. be necessary has been made this paper will be returned to this office. JOHN G. PARKE, Colonel of Engineers, Brt. Maj. Gen., U. 8. A.. in Charge of Ox t LETTER OF MESSRS. MALONEY & GLEASON. NEW RESERVOIR OFFICE, Washington, D. C., December 16, 1586 SIR: Noting the fact that our present contract expires December 31, 1886, we wou respectfully ask that the same be extended to such a time as may in your judgme seem proper. The very unseasonable weather, together with a short season, and numerous delays causes us to make this request. Very respectfully, Maj. G. J. LYDECKER, MALONEY & GLEASON. Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. [First indorsement.] OFFICE WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT, Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. This application is for a further extension of the contract for constructing the ne reservoir for the local water supply made in October, 1883, and calling for the com pletion of the work by June 30, 1885. The time was extended to June 30, 1886, and finally to December 31, 1886, pursuant to recommendations contained in my lettert the Chief of Engineers, dated August 16, 1886. I then stated that "the contractor had at no time carried on the work with that degree of vigor and such extensive plant and working force as were called for by their contract." There has been no in provement in these respects during the period covered by the last extension, but recommend, nevertheless, that the contract be still further extended to June 30, 1857 because I do not think that new contractors can be put on the work in its present condition with any advantage to the Government. G. J. LYDECKER, Major of Engineers. LETTER OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY, Washington, D. C., January 22, 1887. SIR: Your recommendation of the 19th instant, that the time for the completion of the atract of Maloney & Gleason for construction of reservoir for increasing the water pply of Washington, D. C., be extended to June 30, 1887, is approved. By command of Brigadier-General Duane. Maj. G. J. LYDECKER, H. M. ADAMS, Captain of Engineers. Corps of Engineers. REPORT OF LIEUTENANT C. MoD. TOWNSEND, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. OFFICE OF THE WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT, MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations for increasg the water supply of the city of Washington during the fiscal year ending June 30, 87: The plan adopted for increasing the water supply of the city of Washington con sts (1) In raising the dam at Great Falls to an elevation of 148 feet above mean high le at the navy-yard, and extending it across Conn's Island and the Virginia chanel of the Potomac River. (2) Connecting the distributing reservoir, with a new reservoir which is being conructed north of the city and east of Howard University, by a tunnel with a normal oss-section of 82.5 square feet reduced to 76.4 square feet where lined. (3) Building this new reservoir, which is to have a capacity of about 300,000,000 allons. (4) Connecting this reservoir to the existing system of pipe distribution in the city y large water mains. DAM AT GREAT FALLS. At the close of the last fiscal year the dam had been completed with the exception f about 192 linear feet of coping. This was laid during the months of July and Auust and the work finished August 21, 1886. TUNNEL. On account of a lack of funds work was suspended on the tunnel February 1, Se6, at which time the east and west shafts had been lined, 18,538.2 linear feet of the unnel had been excavated, and 1,489.6 feet lined with brick masonry and dry-stone acking. Connections had been made between all the headings with the exception f those from Champlain avenue shaft east and the east shaft west. The work of excavation was resumed August 30, 1886, and the tunnel "holed" uly 1, 1887, the length of tunnel excavated during the year having been 2,154 near feet. About 400 feet of the rock encountered is a compact hornblende schist, early amphibolite; the rest of the rock is a talcose schist, readily disintegrated by he action of water and will require lining. Timbering was required for a distance f 371 feet. In the section of the deficiency bill approved August 4, 1885, appropriating $395,000 > complete the tunnel, the Secretary of War was directed to "subinit to the Board or Fortifications and Harbor Improvements whether any changes are demanded or reasons of safety or economy in the method of lining said tunnel heretofore adopted nd pursued," etc. The question having been submitted to the Board it indorsed the se of brick for the lining, but in place of the dry stone filled in between the brick nd rock, recommended that "such places shall be filled with rubble laid in cement r with fine concrete packed solidly around larger stone which are to transmit the ltimate pressure to the rock in place," etc. In accordance with this recommendaion the use of dry-stone packing for lining was discontinued, and under supplemental rticles of agreement approved by the Secretary of War October 26, 1886, the work of ning the tunnel was resumed, rubble masonry being employed in the place of the ry-stone packing, at a cost of $4.75 per cubic yard; 6,110.5 linear feet of the tunnel ad been lined at the close of the fiscal year. |