The New York herald., 1864-03-16

Commissioner Gustavus W smith, voting against each OF
the propositions, and no majority Of the ~nlie Comms
and void appointments; that he had no right TO move
the giving Of contracts, or TO execute the contracts
daei October 10, 1860 executed on the Goth OF that
month, and under which S4Oi 600 have been pafd
out OF the treasury Of the county OF New York. that these
contracts, having been nearly wholly diminished on
the lat OF October 1901 which after the passage Of
the act OF April 1861, wherein and whereby $3.50 900
was the limit fixed, beyond which the Commissioners
could not go IN making contracts for the building OF the
Harlem Bridge; therefore all payments made beyond
that amount were unjust and Illegal Payments
Second-Ihat the contracts made aud entered into
with A. W. Van Cleye Thornton NJ Nven and with
Thornton 81 Niven and with John Roache and James
Edwards, by Fernando Wold, hayor OF New York;
wm H. Robertson, county Judge OF westchester, and
Alsop II. Lockwood, claiming TO be Chairman OF the
Board OF Supervisors or Westchester county we're ao
in0 void and Westchester county Is not liable for and
should not be compelled to pay one dollar for work as
sumed to be done service rendered under any Of the
acts Of the so.caed Harlem Bridge Commission.
Thtrd-lhat the boundary line on the Harlem river
between the counties or Westchester and New York,
which the line OF low water mark the Westchestcr
side OF the Harlem river is four hundred and eighty six
rect from the existing southern abutment at the
terminus OF tho Third avenue
Foarh-'hat in the opinion or this committee the
northern abutment OF the Harlem bridge now in course OF
line on the Westchester SIDE southery the
line between Westchester and the city of New York
fuh-That in the opinion Of this committee massive
and unweldy iron bridge Of the character o that which
now In progress OF erection ou h not to have been ado
ted by officials having the true interests of either the
counties or New York Westchester IN view That in
their Judgment bridge costing not $50 600 similar
in most respects to that known the Central bridge
formerly McCombs Dam, near the Seventh avenue OF
New York. was all that was required or necessary and
would have been much better Tor the convenience OF the
inhabitants Of the two counties. Such bridge might
have been constructed in about year. and would not
have cost over $50 000
Sirh-That there necessity for the employment
OF than engineer the Harlem bridge. and
that all payments for engineering services, saving and
except those to engineer were unnecessary and the
payments were improperly made.
Ssrenth--Ihat the work the bridge having 10 be
done by contract under tho personal Of
on the work was unnecessary, and all payments made TO
them improperly made that the charge Of tho 1--WE
Commss ones for their services Tor every day IN the year
except Sundays, OF three doors per day was Illegal and
unjust. that under no circumstances should they have
claimed or been paid more than for the one day service
per week when they in actual attendance in the
performance Of their duty.
EiQhh-That the payments made TO Roach and to
Roach and Edwards, amounting to over S30l 600
improperly and Illegally paid under the direc tions
OF the alleged Harlem Fridge Commission, by the drec
tion Of the Supervisors of the county Of New York
Ninth That the commissioners, for their neglect OF
duty in not having tho bridge more rapidly built and
finished, for their employment and payment OF unneces
uncertied bills Of Roach Edwards for their exactng
payments for their alleged services far beyond what
warranted by law, and generally for their non.
feasance If maeasance in office, deserve to be and
should b. forthwith removed by the Governor or by the
authority 10 act in the premises then that the action OF
the Grand ures Of the counties OF Westcheter and New
York should be invoked in relation TO the dongs Of this
Harlem Bridge Commission
AMOUNTS PAID IN PART.
John Roach paid for iron up TO jan g. 81
Roach X Edwards, paid for Iron up to Dec 81,
1862 oZ354 90
T. NJ. Fiven, paid under contract ISIS 46
Total. Observation-Disclosures. 80. 1904 1s1 -
commiss oners ...................... s,225 Is
Amount paid VIM. II. Mchaels Superintendent 2,o77 50
July, 1868. ....................... 6,472 45
to Dee 1858 .................. 400 90
Amount paid James Hough Jr, messenger 37s 81
Amount paid James I. Hough, messenger. 254 97
Total amount raid Fough family ........ SlO,236 26
siouers ........................ lsL37 90
Amount paid present Commissioners and for
Office rent up to Oct 81, 1853 s3......... 1902 80