In the spring of 1920, W.G. Devereux, a consulting engineer was hired by a San Francisco construction firm, the latter was interested in submitting a bid for Leon Bly’s tunnel at Eagle Lake. Not only did Devereux inspect the proposed tunnel, he examined Merrill’s old tunnel. This would prove somewhat beneficial of the geological formation. He stated that had Merrill’s tunnel been completed it would have been a complete failure, as it was so poorly planned.
As to the Bly Tunnel, Devereux wrote: “The proposition is feasible and while under the present high price of labor and material the work will be expensive. It can be constructed within a reasonable time and the people interested in getting the water on their lands are very fortunate in being able to secure these proposed works at the price per acre agreed upon.”
His observation was a bit off. One it took a lot longer than expected to construct it, only to discover different geological features not found in the Merrill Tunnel.