These boats had all been designed for lighter work than they were here required to perform, and a large amount of breakage occurred from the start.  In order that the contractors for the excavation should be unhampered as to method of loading, the contracts provided that they should pay for all damage done to the scows in loading, other than ordinary and usual wear and tear, all other damage being at the expense of the contractor for the disposal.  A rigid system of inspection was necessary to determine and record properly the damage for which each contractor was responsible; and, as much of the breakage could not be noticed from the exterior, a thorough examination of the interior of each scow was made before and after every loading.  In order to keep proper records, the bays of each scow, formed by the cross-trusses, were numbered, beginning aft with number 1 and going forward to the bow, and the longitudinal bays formed by the main beams were lettered, beginning with “A” on the port side.  A beam broken in “1-A,” therefore, would be an intermediate beam in the stern port corner bay, and a beam broken in “10-A-B” would be a main beam at the bow end on the port side.  The underside of each plank was marked with a number beginning with 1 at the stern and increasing by unity to the bow.  Fig. 11 is a diagram of a scow in accordance with this system.  In addition to recording the date, location, extent, and party responsible for each damage, in a book kept for that purpose, the injured member was marked with paint, the color of which indicated the party responsible.  The repairs were made by the contractor for the disposal of material, and the cost was assessed according to the marking in the boat.

The careful inspection of the damage done to scows and the cost of their repairs enables a fairly accurate statement to be made of the amount at different points, and it is here given on the basis of cost of repairs per cubic yard, barge measurement, of material handled.

Cost, in cents
per cubic yard.

Repairs of damage done in loading material
from the terminal site 2.00
Repairs of damage done in loading material
from cross-town tunnels 1.32
Repairs of damage done in loading material
from under-river tunnels 1.77
Repairs of damage done in transporting and
unloading material from all points 1.81

The above figures do not include the expense due to scows which were overturned or sunk while in the service, which amounted to 0.4 cent per cubic yard, additional.