The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-12-01
rorrc-rc,deree g. die Pee fsrs,.

nlng ny VT. Drauley, VINO spoke, at two
sessions, about four hours-so the commit
tee has been bored with ten hours OF plea-
ding at the winding up OF the testimony,
one each by Messrs, Merrill and Redfeld,
and four each by Powers and Bradley.
OF courts | cannot give,nor you find space
to print, the speeches, in any way that will
do any justice to the speakers. But it
may interest you and your readers to know
something of the points in debate, and
what this investigation will, through the
Committee, bring before the Legislature
and the people Of the State.
Tho first point (the arrangement is mine)
is to ascertain the position Mr.. Silloway
now holds. The evidence is clear, and ad-
mitted on both sides that he was employed
at the outset, as Architect, to do the whole
work Of designing planning &c., for a
stipulated sum(2650 dollars,) by DR.. Pow
ers, with the advice ofthe Commissioners.
The DR.. claims that be found Silloway
incompetent, and dismissed him and en-
ployed another. Silloway claims that by
advice Of the Commissioners, Geo. 2.
Marsh especially, he insisted upon holding
his position, and has in many things pro-
tested against bad work. Mr., Marsh tes-
titles that he has had a long correspond
ence with Mr.. Silloway, amounting to 40
letters received, and he believes him to be
competent. Mr., Merrill said The whole
trouble grew out Of the fact that Thomas
K. Powers wanted to be corporal, Sergeant
Lieutenant Captain, Colonel, and Gen
eral."
The second point is the faults in the
work LIST, there is a crack in the wall.
In order to put a steam boiler in the base
ment of the East wing, the inside of the old
wall on the sides of the cellar, which was
uneven and rough, must be made even by
breaking of the projecting rocks with the
hammer. This work loosened the wall,
and afterward a crack, or cracks, were
noticed above which MIR. Marsh, Silloway
and others, attribute to the hammering
and loosening. The DR.. denies this to be
the cause of the cracks.
I'd. The boilers are dangerous. They
mag explode and hoist the Senators, in
the room above. Powers consulted the
Commissioners, and they said it would do
If men of practical experience should SO
say. Powers says he did SO get the ap
proval Of practical men. The other side
say he got only the approval of the Con-
tractor who is to put the boilers in.
Bird. The chimney. This deformity is
the work of the DR., alone. No one ad-
vised him, only Mr.. Richards. his new
Architect, assented to it. That's 1.-The
house that Tom built"
4th, Certain iron beams are too small.
They have already saggsd one half inch.
The DR.. ordered them on the affirmation
of the contractors for them that they
were large enough. SillOway says he ask.
ed to accompany the DR.. to New York
to advise in the contract for them, but
was refused by the Doctor.
9th. Wooden Stairs are used above the
second floor, where the Commissioners and
Silloway ordered stone or iron, that the
whole might be made fire proof.
9th. Burnt and patched stone are used,
against Sideways advice, as well as Mr..
Marsh's. They prevented, however, by
protest, (which the DR.. says never reached
him) more than a few being used. The
columns are patched, "to transmit" as
Mr.. Bradley said, "the civilization, taste,
and art of this generation to the genera
tions to come, in shellac and paste instead
Of solid granite Cornice stones, it was
also proposed to use. so cracked and bro
ken that it would be necessary to fasten
them in their places with iron bolts. But
these have not been used, as Silloway
claims. on account of his protest. 1t is
proper to stete here that DR.. Powers
claims that Mr.. Silloway has had no bust.
ness whatever with him or the State
House since last March. In coming to
Montpelier and interesting himself in the
work on the State House. he was acting
as "a prowling spy" MIR. Bradley re-
piled to this, "If Silloway was a spy, he
has had Geo. P. Marsh as an accomplice."
9TH. The trustees to support the dome
authorized by Silloway and prepared, have
been pronounced by men supposed to be
competent to judge, insufficient. and new
ones have been prepared. Dir. Silloway,
of course, claims that his are sufficient,
and has proposed to have them thoroughly
tested. This was declined.
9Th. The bank behind the house has
not been removed, as the Commissioners
ordered. This was to give space for the
steam boiler for heating the building.
OF curse if the boiler is to be in the
basement, no space is needed back there,
and the DIR. took the responsibility to
neglect the excavation testify
ing that he ibid not know what the Com
missioners did order"
l have given you as fair a statement of
these points as l AN able /; the feeling,
almost passion, | have not attempted to
give, nor the strong harsh words, used on
both sides. Yours, 4.
DouoLAs's ELECTION STILL IN DouBr.
The following paragraphs in the Chica.
90 Herald, November G.. an administra-
ton organ, will lead those who propose
uniting their fortunes with the new Doug
las party, to see the ~propriety of not hal
lowing until they are quite out of the woods
which event it appears may possible not
occur till 1850: