The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-21
CITY OF WASHINGTON THURSDAY MORNING. APRIL 81. 1853

"a
| of IT, ~ P'op'isS
Ihe Commissioner makes some very grave charges in
reference TO The marble and The marble work but VIII
are not 10 accordance with the facts He SAYS m the
greater portions of the marble delivered are in blocks
OF than 30 cubic feet but were cut
into blocks of less than cubic feet that il is pre-
sumed they were paid for The largest price !" and that
I" such proceeding would be fraud on government"
90 lar IRON the greater portion of the blocks over 80
feet beng blocks of less than 80 feet as far as
my own knowledge and my own orders GO nor one Of
them $50 eu j. however. thought il best to ask The con
tractor who has particular charge OF the marble cutting
nr Alexander Provost whether any such thing had been
done without my knowledge. He says that there is no
one Instance OF The kind and that he stands prepared 10
testify 10 this effect.
shall give full OF the contract for the
marble when come 10 consider the testimony of Rob
liar charges
The contract for cutting the marble is likewise msrep
resented by The Commissioner, but shall reserve the ev.
idence have 10 give in this case also for
al The same time, as desire 10 all the charges wh
documentary evidence; and the accusations of Mr.
omlh cover all That has been charged in reference 10
these contracts, the proper time 10 meet them will be
| when consider his testimony.
In reference TO the efforts of Mr. Strong TO obtain
contract tor laying The bricks, the Commissioner saws
that he (Slrong) sail him, We could get The con
tract at hive dollars thousand for laying the bricks
that he architect said to him that he might well have
dollars per thousand they cost much more at the
Patent Office" This looks though was regardless
OF The public interests but truth n the asset
uon--l never made such a statement The Commits
lT,
The best evidence that can be brought disprove il is
letter OF The 26th OF July last, from under Mr. Strone's
own hand, which TO show that such view of the
matter was taken ny me. II the authority was good in
one case, II IL good in the other
shall now refer to the testimony Of Robert Smith
Mr. Smith surmses tina, there uniairness in dis.
posing OF The bids Tor marble work and materials after
they were handed in. Such not the case
The proposals were received up TO o'clock in the
to the advertisement. There were one hundred and
three offers for the various portions OF the work. which
II would require several hours read and examine
the opening was, therefore, postponed until the next
morning. al 20 o'clock and in order TO prevent all
suspicion OF unfarness, the Secretary of the Interior
sealed them up putting his official seal upon them which
own private seal upon them for additional security Al
the appointed hour, 10 O'Clock next morning ,bey
were opened in presence of the Attorney General the
Secretary OF the INTERIOR the chief clerk of the depart
men, recording clerk, and myself Here then is sui
cisnt proof OF the fairness of the transaction, should
still be doubted
Mr.. Smith says but this contract was not consum
aed although there is TO believe it would
not have been, had II been offered n good faith" In
order to disprove this allegation, and many others of
kindred character, made hined at IN the testimony of
The said Robert Smith, will give you a succincl history
OF all the transactions connected with this contract adduc
Ing documentary proof 10 establish what NAV say
| When the bids Tor the marble work were submitted
they were accompanied by twelve different specimens al
marble, exhibiting great diversity in character and ap.
peaance, as the samples which still retained in my
ohce viii show. reservation made in the adyeT
usement expressly spulaling that, in deciding on the
ods regard Will be had TO the quality OF the materials
Offered. and the responsibility OF the bidders and the
right will be reserved 10 accept such offers may be
deemed most advantageous 10 government" as will be
by referring 10 the advertisement Had the re beer
any desire the part OF those had the giving of the
contract 10 favor any of the bidders il would un-
doubtedy, have been Immediately awarded 10 such
favored party hence the tedious and prolonged the
inveslga into the relative merits OF the samples (of
which delay Mr. Smith compains,) the stronger is the
evidence that those upon whom devoved the awarding
OF the contract determined promote the best inter
I ests oil government, irrespective OF persons
On the 81 OF November, 1851 ust thirteen days after
the bids were opened received from the Department OF
the Interior letter. which directed to submit, al
the specimens offered 10 commission consisting of Gen
eral IT, Ioten, OF the corps of engineers Professor
Henry, OF the Smithsonian lnstituon; Mr. Thomas Ew.
bank, Commissioner OF Patents; Mr.. A. J. Downing
and myself, with instructions TO submit them to scien-
tho tests.
These experiments occupied about even pe,ks and the
copy OF which is appended my annual report of The
past year, which is herewith submitted BY reference
TO The table attached TO said report you will observe that
the hst tour specimens possessed density, specific
gravity, and resistance TO crushing force far beyond
any OF tue remaining marbles, and this account the
commission recommended them suitable for the work
These samples were furnished by Masefion & Smith
IRON the quarries East Chester, New YORK; John
Bard, from Lee, Massachusetts; James G Wilson, from
Hastings, New York and Provost, Winter, and Syming-
ton, from Baltimore Maryland being the small crystal
marble from their quarnes.
The East Chester marble presented resistance 10
crushing force tnfe higher than the rest and the Lee
marble the highest specific gravity and the greatest
density; while the Hastings marble offered much less
Resistance 10 crushing orce but exceeded in specific
gravity and density only by the Lee marble The R.lt-
more marble the lowest of the four all these partc-
ulars No oer however, made for this last marble
as II could not be obtained in sufficient quantities for
work for the truth OF which refer 10 The bidders them
selves Messrs. Provost, Winter, IL Co. The marbles.
therefore, which decided to be suitable for the
by the commission, alter the most aborous testing
tuus, in effect, reduced to three.
The follow the prices at which these three bid
ders rgnay offered Tor the enle work and materials OF
the exterior OF the extension OF the Capitol;
James Wilson, Hastings, N Y. Sl697 069
Masiersos & Smith, East Chester, N. Y l,OoSo52
John Bard. Lee, Mass. $685. 365
Up to this time the original bids had remained unacied
upon, and II any iavortsm towards the bidder tor the
Lee marble had existed has been asserted, the way
would have been clear give him the contract he
marble was greatly preferred over either OF The others.
But the contract not awarded. The President
decIdedhai it would be Unfair 10 act all on the
bids, nasmuch The experiments made subsequent 10
The bidding had in effect ruled out all the bids but three
and that the only Just would be to separate the
material from the orkmanshlp and obtain bids from The
OF the approved quarres for the material alone
Orders were accordingly gwen 10 By The Secretary OF
the Interior to this edtc', the 3oh OF December 1851
and addressed letters 10 these persons the day
all precisely the words, and received Their
sweIs containing their proposals Tor the material alone
but nasmuch there appeared 70 be doubt whether
all the bidders included the cibbng rounding OF the
column blocks at the quanies, this being OF con-
siderable Importance government was instructed by
letter under date OF The 10Th OF January 1884, by the Sec
rotary OF The INTERIOR write to the bidders and nq uire
il they each included said sc,bblng, which did on the
day, and received their the atf rmatye
which placed the offers all on the footing | then