New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-20
THE NEW CoURT-McUsE INQUIRY.


The further investigation into the charges Of
extravaganza by the Special Committee on New cOnrt
House. In the matter Of constructing the New County
Conrt House was continued yesterday before the Special
Committee Of the Board Of Supervisors; present.
Supervisor Fox and Quoram.
Mr. f. s. Winston was the first witness examined
for the defense and testhed-Am President Of the Gu
tual Life Insurance Company Of this city and have
been putrng ap new iron building in Broadway for
the Company; the Messrs Cornell furnished the iron
asked for the building; witness contracted win tb
firm August g ls63 there We're others VINO desired &c
ia. kson & Co. and the Architectural Iron WORKS Co.
Offered to do the work. Iessrs Cornell were t:e lowest
bidders; the entire cost OF thai building vas sSigp
of this amount about S24j0Co r tie iron work on
the building; tho firm OF Cornell & 90 were pail
per pound for iron window frames and - 10 per
foot for illuminating tiles; pad te m 70 eehls per
the Cornels did on the building was credtahe 20 mem
and gave satisfaction to the Insurance Company repre-
scented by witness; when the cosiraet was made ior
this work the price II iron RAPIDLY advancing
Crossexanined--M keilln mas the architect ior
the buildings the iron for the building was purchased IN
lsGf.
Re-drect-Mr. KellIm was paid, as architect Oh lie
building, three per cent.
Mr.. James G. Burnett testihet--Am partner OF ths
firm Of Geo. X Jackson Burnett Co has iui isGoi
iron window frames and trimmings for building daring
the last TWO years at 2Jc Y n, and other iron
work ranging FROM LOG. to 2Je. y it-hs includes non
rooing wrought iron gratiass &c. Drougt a re 70
the Architectural Iron Works have furnished tr.m'
mings to WITNESSES firm during the last two months en-
member Of the Board Of Iron Founders; hls oieahi'
zaion had formed scale Of prices 10 March, 1861.
Mr. Anthem objected to the reception Testimony as 10
the prize Of iron except it was anterior to March s
The Committee decided THAT TIE testimony was rele'
want.
Examination resuned--The Architectural Iron
Works belonged 70 tho Board Of Iron Founders; IN
September. 1868, the market for iator and materials
4t.Ia tofn In 40 An
and iron and labor had advanced very much; mas eJ'
anined the Court House, and 80 far as the iron work
goes il is good job; DO person eoaid form an estimate
for the work on the Court House without seeing the
pans without filling short ofrym 30 70 IS pcr cent any
person who would make en- estimate in ls6 fol tlelron
work the Courthouse which was no: casei upon
the probable rise in the price OF icon and labor, would
fall far short OF the actual cost Of the saw the
estimate when the witness put IL in for tie iron work Of
the building, ard thought 1t was ressonaolei wisness
trade Gin 1863 person receiving the contract would
have bought some OF the iron, and would have oEht
until the de ais were given him BY the archtest II
any person Lad laid in all the iron he could get at that
time ls63 Il wond have eaten up the greater portion Of
his profits even If he could baye got all the from i
would have required considerable quantity or capital
TO have laid in that quantity OF irqn.
Crossexamined--Nr. Jackson and witness made q
the estimates from 1868 10 1854 Labor yaaced sOwtJ
but surely; there was STRIKE anong the MECHANICS
at that tine iron advanced about September le6S
and between September 1903 aud September, le6i the
price Of iron advanced 100 per cent? the Iron Founders
Association was formed Tor 6epresery 2tion Tue o0
ject Of the ocation to tx the prices Of wors
done. - . llEe 81 sec' .fH l1 LOS
Mr. James r. Whitney testified am dealer IN
iron and have been IN the trade 40 years. IRON ad
vanced In le6i the rate Of advance nom September
ls6 September, 1868 was about 60 per cent; up
January s6i 100 per cent up TO July, 1864, toe ad
vance was about 2e2 per cent. u n I'D -Asf
Cross. exanlined-Betxeen September and Nov onber.
1863 there advance Of iron between 81 and IN
per cent. - > ~ ,.l e','l
Mr. Charles n Field testifcd-Am In the employ d
the Brothers Cornell as book keeper; have been -
about l5 years; the firm has done the iron work fsd
several large buildings for various amounts ranging
from s 900 TO $50 coo; during the two last years The
prices which the Cornells have received for ircawos
on private account and for the New CourtH House bayt
been about 90 per cent higher on private account thar
they have received from the county account on Neg
Court House; the price named tho contract for seal
ing plates should be IS cents per square foot, and -
per u the Cornells have employed over 400 meo|
their establishment. 'el -3c, -
Cross examined-I In 1863 the firm employed about ~
mem has the prices for Of the iron work IN eoS
such stairs landing, sealing plates, arches doors
and folding shutters; took al the memorarua wnies
he found on the books for 1863; do nN mink tht
CorRes lost money on the contract notwitbssssohe
that the prices since then have been beyond the con
tract; If the firm lost money ON one ifsm they ecu"
make II up OIL another item. .t--t
Adjourned to Tuesday at soclock p. m.