The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-02-21

canal AZ BI.ck Rock near Buo in 1874 cad 1915 ut an
expense Of about slsoo wnSu. any ss,rTty - law
dures but that the Commissioners assumed powers be-
longing exclusively TO the Legislature The whole
wo.k AZ the above charged to the repairs of
Black Rock pier The committee state that the sxcava
ton of this new channel was made under pretence of
tSst about three fourhs Of the excavation common
EARTH and that none OF the stone procured OUT OF the
channel after 18th October, 1884, was used on the
The committee neIt refer to the construction OF the
dam at Tanawanda, where Mr. Vandervoor. was paid
over $4,000 for less than half Of gravel taken
from farm of $50 accres and which whole farm all the
witnesses concur in vauing at less than 81 600
estimates with reasonable certainty that there was i'm
properly paid to Buell. and Douglass the sum Of
fair and proper Construction Of the Of the contract
and specifications for work upon the double uer locks
at Lockpor This sum is made up Of several items Of
mates Of Chief Engineer Barrett with the
Of Commissioner Boughton, who then had charge OF the
work as acting commissioner. One item OF rising OF
SI6 coo was made by change in the classification Of
shale solid rock increasing the cost OF its excavation
tractors had by agreement with Barrett the chief epgi
neer (who originally classified 1t as .hale with slate
% S. ns no % other than shss
could Be properly applied to it, and that if 1t was called
solid rock there further application OF the terms
The decision of Mr. Hail. however, failed to the
amount the State, and it allowed and finally paid
Besides this the contractors allowed to use the
stone in the old locks without any payment for such ma
terial. Other abuses mentioned on ths work.
The committee show that O further improper payment
of over $1,000 was made to contractors by changing
the classification Of some detached rock excavation IN
the side hill If this be true the overpayment to the
These over payments we're made upon work DONE and
are exclusive the Of 746O4 8s awarded to them
by the Canal Board for their damages for suspsndng
their work under the contract Or in other words for
the profits which they would have made on the work re-
manning to be done Such work was estimated by Mr.,
to 1884 AIS S. This includes the work which the con-
tractors performed after the passage Of the suspension
The Legislature last May passed an ACT to provide
for pay ing Buell. for the work done after the passage OF
the act and until ordersd to stop, minus the damages
which had been assessed and paid upon it. Under that
act he received the sum of So 653 SO
The which have been paid to the contractors
for work DONE exclusive of damages, are a. follow as
appears by the estimates and receipts =
For work done, &c, up to the passage OF the
For work done, &C.. after the passage Of the
act, included in final estimate for work
Paid under act for relief Of VIM Buell., pass.
ed May 1916. ................... erooS W
Whole amount paid for work, So. S4ss,lol 70
Estimated cost of the work remaining to be
done, at actual prices ($254.6l6 IS, minus
the sum of $s,o6S 0e). ............... 24S s62 %
$685.. Sss 81
rginal estimated cost of the work, at con-
tract prices (said to beg .....,...... 6l9 900 90
Actual cost of work done, and estimated cost
Of work to be done, over the original est.
Upon the $a54 4ls So worth Of work to be done, the
contractors claimed damages or profits to the amount Of
$25 725 49, and were allowed and paid the said sum OF
4504 90.
These are only given as specimens of the frauds and
mismsnag practised by officers and contractors
The report is said to be the largest document pre-.
scented by committee to the Legislature 1t is of great
importance and will doubt meet with serious atten
ton unbiased, it is 10 be hoped, by party feeling.