The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-16


vestgatng frauds referred to committee Adjourn
ID 70 Thursday.
HOW THE TAXPAYERS ARE FLEECED.
STANDING COMMITTEE ON FRAUDs-CLosE OF THE
FIFTY SECOND STREET CAsE-ALLBGED FRAUDS ON
sEvENTY'NINTH STREET GONE INTO.
The Adermens Standing Committee on Frauds met yes
terdsy-Adermen Adams, Owens and Tucker present
The Chairman Alderman ADAMS, said that they would
voceed with the Fifty second street case, and directed
". j. Brice Smith 10 call his witnesses.
WV. A. DooLY sworn and examined-I am one OF the
assessors who made up the assessments connected With
the Fifty second street case Mr. Mcneil was the person
who made mp the assessment lst-at least he SAYS
@ But your 70 III A. That Ia usual; the work
apporuoned to two or three of US.
@ Does the clerk do any part Of the calculatonsS A.
When We are hurried; don't know TO this
O. Il your habit 70 sign lists without examining them2
A. would be impossible for every assessor 10 examine
the work of the Others consider correct when 10
signed by the other assessors.
O. Have you seen that assessment roll SINGER A. have
not saw by the papers that II was stolen.
JOHN P. DODGE sworn@ was the surveyor on this job
attended to it myself and certify that the return made
i correct
O. Have you any memorandum of your survey A. Un
doubtedy have; always keep the notes from which
make out my returns, but have not got them with me
q TO the items OF wall and cuvert referred know
nothing about the prices in the Street Department.
O. Who WAS the contractor A. don't know; 1t Is not
CHAIRMAS-wen we don't know that, but want all
the information you give. When you appointed
on this work. A. A little more than year ago.
y1u ssS 70 TIC
O. Did he 90 the work. A. II appeared to be done
under him; sometimes say him there
How often were you there yourseiY A. Twenty or
q When you employed on work is II no. usual to
know who the contractor isS A. We not officially
tiled; we called by the parties sometimes.
g. Who called on you in this csseY A. Mr.. Farley.
O. Did you know any thing OF the contract made by
NcGrane9 A. put his name the back Of the roll;
told by Farley that McGrane was the contractor
few weeks previous the closing Of the work; think
put the name Of Acrsne on the book as do that OF the
@ How long after IT was finished dill you make your
List outY A. Within week or ten days
O. Were you informed by McGrane that he was the
contractor A. think not Mr.. Farley mentioned TO
me- was not requested by any one to make my return
O. At whose request did you make the last exanina-
tonY A. No one requested IT,
O. Did Farley inform you that he declined the conracU
A. No he merely said that Mcrane the contractor.
O. In the preliminary survey, did you make accord
ing to the specifications A. No; made return OF the
work as found it; it is usual to do So
up all you and without reference TO specuca-
tonss A consder it my duty to measure all the work
@ There $500 feet of wall not in the specifications
A. Yes, returned it.
JOHN J. sxRx-I Of the surveyors on this work
prepared to report.
Eins s YoUSG-I was the inspector in this case.
Q. How many days did you serve? A. About $50,
think; was paid for 100 days.
Q. At how much day? A. 81 SO.
O. Bow many days were you the work. A. Almos,
every day except Sundays stormy days in the
O Who was the contractor A. und srstood Farley
him there about half dozen times; don't know Mr.
AcGrane; the work finished in June, and made my
certificate through Mr. Colvin did not understand the
plan certified that the work done according
fvac ~ he haStn f unvk DOvV
Q. Did you have copy OF the contract A. Ne.
How did you know IL was done according to contracR
A. went by the surveyors return.
Q. Then you didn't know whether II was correct or
nor A. Nothing more than the Surveyor staked out;
that good earth and stone we're used.
@ You did just you we're told by the Surveyor A.
Yes; never inspected work before.
Q. What did You think your duty was when you went
CiAIRhAS-ro follow the directions Of the Surveyor
you cont recoect whether any rock left theref A.
/ do moi, think il was all cleared away.
CHAIRMAS.-It stands up some feet thereY A. The
earth might have sunk around IT,
Q How was the cuvet builts A. Of stone walls with
W. s. PIscKyYY, examined-Had you anything 10 do with
making up this assessment rolf A. Only the lng in Of
list which viii produce at the request Of the
committee. mr. Pinckney then went 10 his office, and
turned stating that locked up, and he could not
The Seventy ninth street then taken up.
Mr.. EDwARDs appeared for the property holders, and
said he would 20 right into the proof He then called
M GEoRox fu1rox. who was sworn and examined -
foiiows-i am property owner IN Seventy ninth street,
SsSo,. nts e was pu, saw sny
Gags there but they have been SINCE the broken
curb Is there still.
Alderman Owus-rhen you can't complain Of H.
Mr. sDwARDs-But when We know that what Is done is
Alderman TrcKKR-The contract does not seem TO be
complied with In any shape as understand the property
think this the proper time TO get redress for the
Wusss-When arst saw them working on the job
they were excavatng the depth Of from two 70 four
feet and filling up aesia With dirt; they went four
she survey They took the stuff 10 the river an wasted
when they had rock enough.
come 70 that They excavated sky feet In 'front.' Of me
and used the earth Broadway, and then oiled In with
rock they did this both the sidewalks and CARR age
way the street Ii full OF holes, deep az
three feet that II borse got his leg 10 one would be
broken they took earth from the adjoining lots leaving
large hoows there which III ed with water and may
make the place unhealthy the tagging Is raised 70 follow
the rock the sidewalks 70 the best OF knowledse
Mr. Epw lRp-Tbere should be two feet clear OF earth,
instead Of rocs according 10 the specifications.
U Then you claim that you have beeu injured by the
way the work is done A. Yes; The roeks can be seen
stop that the had hard job he seemed rather
10 favor the contractor.
CHAipsss-You will have opportunity, Mr.. Dodge,
when yoa are examined no one must interrupt The wit
nesset.
wnSrss-Near Twelfth avenue the rock is even
with the surface, when ought 70 be two sect below IT,
and In other places there Ne lad ct all under
che tagging they 6ied in from the lots and raised the
sidewalk about two feet then the flags right in on the
fresh mud the gutter stones are all sunk and the curbs
hanging edgeways.
John o'NKI examiped-1 worked as foreman under Mr.
Farley this work until got up Eleventh avenue
O. IL done according 10 CONTRAST IL the rock blasted
A. Well began TO work according the stakes were
set At Twelfth avenue had - feet nng 70 do, and
went on grew less, and came 70 be next "
nothing: the cutting commenced towards Eleventh ave
the Surveyor told us 10 keep low and would be
paid for anything extra took out about this time las
year got down that the water would splash up
our faces sent for the surveyor and he had fresh
stakes laid down Ia different places, and told OIL up
certain places with loan and 10 cut away others there
and Broadway.
y. Is the rock pear the surface thereS A. In some
places is.
ent of Mr. Fulton alive " the rocks being within
inches Of the surface, instead Of two feet, below
specified the contract and also the fact OF there
As.a nd .ntnI tho aaIEinr