The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-24

Curious Dlsclosurcs about the Canal Con.
tracts-Brief History OF the Conaict and
Intrigucs OF the Barnburners-TOtal De.
feat ofthe Baxnburners.
ALBANY, Jan. q, 1852.
l can give you some further information on the
canal contracts that no one dreams Of. The state
Of things here, in regard to these contracts and the
promised investigation, is entirely different from
that set forth in the newspapers.
There is an evident effort to make it appear that
the investigation is levelled ct Folett and Mather
old bunker Canal Commissioners, on the accusation
of Lieut.. Gov. Church and Attorney General Chat.
field who are dissatisfied at the high price at which
the contracts have been made. The inyestiga-
ton will show that Messrs. Church and Chatfeld at
ono time, agreed to and advocated an allotment
by which the work was awarded at prices, in the
aggregate, several hundred thousand dollars higher
than it was finally let This was the FIRST pro-
grammc, which the clamor of the disappointed de-
feated In very many cases. at the special instance
of Mr. Church, this was demo at prices higher than
the engineers estimate, and in amounts larger
than any finally awarded to any one person or COM
pany.
That Messrs. Church and Chatield finally aban-
doned that all otment and with the aid of the Weed
advocated another allotment, at prices higher, and
in quantities greater, than the work was finally
let. After the most strenuous efforts to carry it
through tho Board, they finally abandoned this
second programme, and voted for the resolution to
submit the whole matter under certain restrictions,
to the Canal Commissioners, State Engineer, and
tao respective division engineers.
II will further appear, that when the list of co.,
tracts actually made was read off in the board,
Mr.. Chatfeld expressed himself entirely satisfied
with the allotments, and that Gov. Church ex-
pressed no dissatisfaction.
The resolution calling fer the investigation was
introduced by Canal Commissioner Mather, and
voted for by Canal Commissioner Folle.t. 1t will
further transpire that Folett and Ma.her
have 10 objection to the fullest investigation,
but that Church and Chatfeld, through
their friends, or personally, will endeavor to con-
hne the investigation to the subordinate board o!
which they were not members. The work was let q.
more than halfa million of dollars below the e.
innate Of the engineers and those acquainted with
the history of canal labor will perceive what all
who watch its future history will learn, that it is
low enough.
shall watch this matter, and the cry of "stop
thief shall neither excite my prejudice, protect
from scrutiny, or stife the exposure and denun.
ciaticn Of those who merit them. The FIRST allot
ment, or programme, was formed by q combina
tion Of the barnburners, hunkers, and silver
| greys, excluding the Seward party altogether.
1t created, when known, q terrible row, and it
was abandoned in fright. The second allotment, or
| programme, was q coalition of the barnburners,
| headed by Chatfeld, with the Seward and Weed
party and the silver greys. When this was known it
created terrible hubbub among the hunkers, AID
was defeated. The third and last allotment, was a
combination of the Seward wings, the silver greys
and hunkers, excluding the barnburners-and this
is the programme which now exists and creates the
noise All the three are alike in honesty and mo-
rality-but the last will stand. A. b. Z.