Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-11-17
ONE OF THE TIMBER OPERATIONS.

WASHINGTON, October 9, lS5o--Accordlng
to the accounts which have reached this place,
your ssDemocratic'' State Central Committee
must have had a lively time at the st. Nicho-
las on Wednesday last. An attempt on the
part of Mr.. Buchanan to reward one OF his po-
litical friends for financial services rendered
in PENNSYLVANIA in the Presidential campaign
of 1856, by giving him, against the establish
ed rules of the Navy Department. contracts to
supply quantity of live oak timber, was the
subject of discussion, and was censured In the
strongest terms and it was agreed upon that
certain gentlemen should visitW ashington, and
wait upon the President and Secretary OF the
Navy. and demand explanation, lnasmuch
as parties from New York aud Maine who fair
ly and legally obtained the contracts to furnish
the timber, by bids under the proposals issued
by the chief of the bureau of construction,
have been unceremoniously set aside to give
place to Mr.. Buchanan's favorite. The New
York and Maine contractors were the lowest
bidders, while Mr.. Buchanan's friend was the
highest bidder. The fact alone is considered
sufficient to warrant an investigation into the
subject. The details are as follows, and not
without interest, especially to those who are
ignorant of the niodus operandt OF President
making
During the Presidential campaign of 1856,
a gentleman from Massachusetts,, heretofore
unknown in the political world, entered the
contest in Pennsylvania, in favor of Mr.. Bu-
chanan He was actuated, il was said, by s'pure
and patriotic motives" lie contributed lib
orally, very literally for disinterested per-
son. as he was declared to be. He soon became
popular with the leading ssDemocrats" of the
State. He frequented Whcatland as the guest
of Mr. Buchanan. After, however. realizing
his hopes in Mr.. Buchanan's election, II was
observed that he frequented Wheatiand less
and Washington more.
Within one month after the Inauguration of
| MIR. Buchanan. find him in the Navy DE.
/ .-..l, I,Ia of n InnS N
| live oak. which he offered 10 sell TO the Gov
| ernment, amounting to one hundred and fifty
| thousand cubic feet. He procured an intro
| duction from Mr.. Buchanan to the Secretary
| of the Navy, also TO the Chief of the Bureau
! of Construction. The latter officer deciding
| favorably to the purchase of the timber, the
! Secretary of the Navy was about to seal the
| contract when he was informed that he could
not legally buy open purchase unless the
| timber wanted for immediate use. Such
| was not the fact, the timber was not wanted.
/ To advertise for sealed proposals would pro-
woke competition, and perhaps defeat the sale,
| as other parties, with less spatriotism, might
have the audacity to bid for the contract. Ad-
vertising, however, was finally resorted to as
| the only means of settling the matter; but the
/ advertisement, singular to say, described al
most eraetly the kind Of timber trhieh the con-
tractor offered The Government at pirate sale
The time for receiving proposals expired, and
reason the Presidents Massachusetts, friend
and supporter was declared successful, and the
contracts were made with him, dated July L.
1857, for 1o0, 900 cubic feet of live oak at pri-
ces ranging from 81 % to ST 40 per cubic foot.
amounting to S225 $40, and on the 30th of the
same month, tcithout advertisement or chance OIL
competition, another contract was made win
him for an additional quantity, at prices rang
ing frsm 81 so to 50 per cubic foot: Inc llne
allowed for the delivery of this timber extehds
to July lst lS59-two years from the date OF
! the contract. Contrast this fact with another
about to be stated. The contractor proceeded
at once to fit out an expeol.ion 10 procure .pe
timber which he had previously represented
ON paper as already cut. In the Spring of the
nresent year he commenced delivering the
timber, when he was notified that the timber
he was delivering did not answer the descrip
tion advertised for and which he contracted tc
furnish. This condemned timber, however
was allowed to remain in the yard, when, to ths
ute. astonishment Of every one acquainted