The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-03-28
$3.50 20


uln $3.50 20
The estimated value OF tins farm was only
$4,000; and yet here we see upwards OF $xoOO
Maid for gravel taken from less than half an
acre. But this is not all 1t appears that Wander
WORT did not own the very farm from which the
gravel was taken. On this point the committee
says-
isppssrs from certificate of the Clerk Of the Coun
dsrvoor conveyed this farm to Stephen White, Of Bos
ton and that there 10 record OF conveyance from
who occupied this farm that they occupied under
written lease from White 10 them. from 1885 10 lSl2
as Mr. vandsrvoort exhibited to the COMMITTEES deed
from master in chancery dated the 9th day Of Feb
rusry 1874 and acknowledged Feb 18th, 1874 for this
farm. and recorded the same day. Why the Master in
deed until long after s date and why Mr. Whites
nants kept possession under him until ls<s 10 unsxplan
We, sumc,Sn' 10 sxnip me h =. ~ ~
Oct 1881 to the 9th Of Feb ls&l during which time
neorly all the gravel paid for was tsken Mr. Wander
WORT had not any title to possession Of the land
which il taken. ,4.r
From the testimony, II appears that there has been
contractors and by individuals for individual purposes
as has been taken by the State and the committee think
examination Sf the premises. in stating that all that ha.
been taken would not exceed half six feet In
DEPTH yet the State has paid for double this amount The
47 yards paid for would exceed half fourteen
feet in depth Thus the conclusion 10 that the State has
paid exorbtsnt price for at sss four times the amount
hrs paid Douglas and Simpson for $50 yards Of this
quantity at the rate Of dollar per yard and to this
State paid v.ndsrvos for til: sane gravel and subse
qusntly the same measured and included in the
awsrd az the committee believe and that Stephen White
on his representation still have uusatshsd claim
Tor nearly all this gravel already several times paid Tor
Instances are numerous where the classified.
tons Of excavations were altered from those Of a
low price to those of the highest. Thus, in one
case, "blue rock" was altered to "solid rock" In
that case a MIR. Parmele testified that this change
in the classification of the blue rock" from "slate
rock and shale" to "solid rock" took from the
State treasury and put into the pockets of Buel
and Douglass, contractors, So, 900 to $40, 5000, up
to the time when he, with Mr.. Barrett, examined
the books in the engineers Office. Another wit
ness, Mr.. Tay, testified that
The whole amount OF blue rock excavated under that
contract - s94 95 100 yards The whole amount OF
solid rock was 81 500 % ZOE yards, and 1878 ~ 100
70 100 yards of which Is SCI o. 100 was Of the blue
Iock!" This statement containing the whole Of that
kind OF excavation would include what was done after
Mr. Parmele and Mr. Barrett made the computation from
the engineers books, as mentioned by Mr.. Parmele
Taking this statement Of Mr. Fay as the guide and tho
account would stand as follows
1884 ssOo yards at 81 % per yard. .$ss s04 90
Do. Do. 0C do. 24ll5 SO
Showing loss to the State and profit to the
contractor Of. $l4,779 VI
ON this single contract, and arising from this
mode Of corruption.
Numerous instances like the above are referred
to in this report The whole forming a volume
Of matter proving conclusively the inc fficacy oil
the system under which our canals have heretofore
been managed. To each one Of the committee
who have compiled this report, the thanks of the
community are due. Never was there more
searching investigation instituted, and never were
proofs more concusively furnished that legisla.
ton in this part of the State government is impe.
riouslv callsd f0r