Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-01-18

that he should require materials which
could be obtained only at distance of
several hundred miles from the work,
when in fact he intended, in case his
schemes of favoritism should succeed, to-
accept materials that could be got within
ifteen or twenty miles of the canal. He
has also overruled, for the benefit of these
same relatives, the orders Of his assistant
engineers, requiring the work to be done
in substantial manner, capable OF re-
sisting the action of the frost and the
breaking up of ice, and in consequence of
these special favors the work constructed
gave way. Now it may be said that the
engineer really believed the work was
strong enough; if SO, it proves that he
knew less about the business than his.
assistant. The same anxiety to take care.
of individual contractors was maHifested
in his refusalto agree to an increase OF 5
the wages ofthe laborers (on the summit
division we believe)when they struck fol,
slight advance. He preferred rather
that the work should stop than add twelve
and half cents day to each laborer's
pay. Some of the contractors proposed
to give it, but he was afraid it would in.
jure Others, and he would not permit it..
He lost nothing by it. 1t prolonged bis
term ofservice and put more money in his
purse. What was it to him whether the
canal was ever finished! He has also
been in the habit of borrowing money Of
the contractors. In the state of New York.
and we believe in other states, this prac-
tice, when detected, invariably subjects,
the engineeF,to immediate removal from
office. No matter how spotless his car
acter may be, this act alone is considered
good ground ofremoval. and it cannot be
averted by proof that no act of fayori;e-
ism has grown out of this relationship
between the engineer and contractor. In
the case of our engineer there is evidence
that he has been influenced by his rela.
8 tionship, and that contractors have been
induced to lend him money to secure off
cial favors, All these acts appertain ex.
clusivelY to the engineer, as engineer,
and not to his Office of agent of the foreign
trustees, who have Empowered him to act
for them. Should I'VE see proper to GO
into his acts as agent, we could few
items unfold which would not compare
: unfavorably with bis administration as
engineer. We will, however, give. him
the benefit ofthe plea of want of indepen.
dence, and pass on 10 look into the char
acter of the man, whose pet he is--Mr.
Leavitt--who seemed to think that he
himself was on trial when the conduct of
{ Mr.. Goodiug was undergoing the er parte
investigation to which we have alluded.
(The Register here enters into an e1-
} animation ofthe character of Mr.. Leavitt,
and states that he has manifested much
zeal in behalf Of illinois, but more in he
half ofhimself," and exposes his fruitless
attempt to bride two senators of the Leg
islature which passed the canal loan, bill,
knowing that his pockets would be "seri-
ously compromised by its failure.)
In conclution, we will say in reply to
the charge made Ivy Goodings' newspa.
t pers, that the quarrel between him and
Oakley is personal one, is false. Every
body at Chicago knows that neither Mr..
Goodihg nor any of his subs would give
MIR. Oakley any information in relation to
! canal matters. Mr.. Oakley entered upon
the duties Of his office comparatively ig-
norent ofmatters connected with it, and it
r was his right to have access to all the
books and papers, and twas the duty of
the sub officials to exhibit them. together
with such verbal information as would
S afford him thorough knowledge of the
r situation ofcanal matters. The Journal
, of this city attempts TO make it appear that
Mr.. Oakley is not very smart. No wan
der that he is regarded as dull when he 10
in his own office surrounded by such vio-
lent enemies.