The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-11-21

contracts of this kind.
The fourth act OF fraud is the house rent.
first in the palatial mansion of Mrs Colonel
Brant, cousin of Mrs. Jessie Fremont,
rented to Gen. Fremont for headquarters
Of Major General, his private Secretary
and Chief Of Staff, at the rate Of $4,000
per annum. Other palatial mansions in
the neighborhood are rented at similar
rates. and occupied for Offices Of members
Of the staff
Large and expensive barracks have been
built ii the immediate vicinity. as quar-
ters for accommodation Of the Fremont
Body Guard. numbering GOO men. The
barracks will accommodate $500 men.
The cost of t'iese barracks and Benton
Barracks. capacious enough t. ec---:-v-
date 1000 men, will be about Sl5O,OOO
double the amount necessary to erect
precisely similar buildings. In the roof.
ing Of these buildings. which is upward of
5000 squares Of 100 superficial feet. the
COMMITTEES have discovered much fraud
The contract provides that the roof shall
be three ply. and put on with felt and
soaked in hot tar. and in substantial, and
durable manner. The Communities have
evidence that the superintendent and archi.
tect. A. B. Ogden, received a draft of
$500 on General McKinstry from Clapp L.
Co. provided he Ogden would obtain the
contract for them at their bid. which WAS
$3.50 per square of 100 superficial feet.
A Mr.. King, under oath. testifes that he
gave Ogden draft on McKinstrv for 81. Z,
500 for his services in getting him the
contract for S3.25 per square. TO each
OF these Ogden promised the contract.
The work was awarded to Almen Thomp-
son at $3.50 but whether any bonus was
given does not appear. The Committee
find that Thompson sold the contract for
advance of $4,000. and that the party
doing the work only put on one ply roof.
and that with felt dipped in cold tar. In
few places there were only two phys. The
facts were obtained by cutting into the
roof at various points. 1t is also in tes,i
mony that there were responsible bids at
SO for this same work.
Another fraud was in the contracting
with Z. w. Fox for the manufacture Of
picket pins at IS cents each. when Thomas
Hood. blacksmith with good security.
bid for the same at 25 cents per pin the
number to be made. $4,000 pins. Also
10 Fox and others. camp kettles at 35 cts.
when there were bids at 90 cents, nails.
axes, spikes. DC, at similar rates. Sad.
dies tLat were rejected by the Quarter
master were purchased by Fox a, low
figures and sold 10 McKinstry at increased
rates.
The building Of sundry tug boats and
chartering Of several steamers at double
their cost and value. particularly the char
iering of sundry boats belonging 10 the
Keokuk Packet Company. have been gone
into a, length, and much imposition found
to exist. The tug boats are being built at
cost Of SO. 500 each. when they ough. to
be built at S4. 500 each.
Other frauds in purchase Of oats, cloth.
ing blankets. tents. &c;the issuing of trans.
portation tickets and paying Of employees
in uncurrent funds-such as the Union
Bank and Bank Of ST. Louis, 35 cents
discount-ins,ead Of Government funds
DC, d.. are fully in evidence before the
Committee. but all on a par with those
given above. No frauds were found in the
Commissary Department. but the report
Of the Committee will exhibit the transac.
'ions Of The other departments in an OK.
1eed.nsly unfavorable light. As the
California Contractors are alleged by the
Committee with being largely interested
in many Of these contracts. we give their
names: Joseph Palmer. of the firm of Pal
mer. Cook IL Co.. Leonidas Haskell, E.
L. Bread. Major Selover. of the firm Of
Selover & Sintern, Real Estate Auc,ioneers
and |. c. Woods, manager of the Adams
Express Company.
Three OF these gentlemen are living in
ST. Louis in fine style. and two are on
Fremonts staff.
The committee could have continued
their Investigations further. but they be-
lieve they have sufficient evidence. and
have gone 10 Cairo TO examine a few wit
nesses there. They will then visit Louis.
vile and Cincinnati, and take evidence Of
any frauds existing in the departments of
those cities.
Naval Expeditions Past and I,rcs.
ent.
Tha No- vi.