This objectionable feature here exists because of the combination of a stone dam and an embankment , while it could not exist in either a continuous stone dam or , on the other hand , a continu- ous embankment and core wall . As to the second chan- nel by which the water could reach the wall there is also little doubt , for it would be afforded freer access through the refilled material of the great pit , than it would have

=== seq 7 ===

Pamphlet 462 21 13861282 ES MODIFICATIONS OF THE PLAN OF THE NEW CROTON DAM . BY WILLIAM R. HILL . The responsibility of the engineer in charge of con- structing dams and reservoirs , is but vaguely appreciated by the public . In view of the many disastrous failures that have occurred , due to faulty plans and poor con- struction , it is made imperative for the engineer to exercise his best powers to insure proper and substantial struc- tures . There is , perhaps , no other field of engineering that develops in the course of construction so many new conditions and unexpected obstacles , and when the en- gineer finds it necessary to make radical changes in the plans , even though involving heavy expenditures and sub- jecting himself to severe criticism , it is his bounden duty to make these changes . The writer had the honor of being Chief Engineer of the Aqueduct Commission of the City of New York , from January Ist , 1900 , to October 14th , 1903. During his incumbency the new Croton Dam was under construc- tion . The purpose of this paper is to explain , as briefly as possible , the original plan of this structure and the im- perative necessity of its modification , and to answer a general demand made upon the writer that would seem to indicate a very widespread interest in these rotable changes .