New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-14
The New Courf-House Inquiry.

The New Court-House Investigating Com
niirce held another meeting on Tuesday-present'
Supervisors Fox, Blunt, Hayes and Bleakiey.
Mr. James L. Jackson the first witness, testified that
ne was member of the firm Of jackson Co. of this
city: he was familiar with the price Of iron, and the
cost Of iron buildings in 1863 in September 1863 the
price of iron windowirames and trimmings was about
10 cents y ID. less according TO the labor on
them; in that year the prices for iron sairways and
wrought iron Orders were l. cents y 10; for beams
10 cents y 70 anchors for stonewOrk y cents 2 ID
be would have been willing to take contract fo-
The work at the prices set forth in his eSii'
mate sent to the Mayor: this firm was not
invited TO put in proposals for the CouriHouSe iron
work; in 1863 there were half dozen hrms IN thls
city that could do the work the Court House; II
either Of them had received the contract II 1868 they
would have had to build a foundery or have the
foundery work done outside witness could have cat
RED out the contract if il had been awarded TO us firm
be- lad spoken to Supervisor Weissnan about the con-
tract before II was given ont he had had no converse
ton with Cornell Co.. nor Jackson d Co, IN REFER
ebee 70 it. between 1863 and 1850 there was an advance
in the price Of iron OF abou u per cent and during the
Winter OF 1904 it advanced - per cent.
Cross.examned-Tbe Mayor by letter asked witness
80 make estimates for the work the object in making
Che estimate not 10 secCre the contract AZ the
time the estimate was made, witness supposed they
were be used 20 assault the contract which had been
rvcs out prudent man receiving tins contract
would have bought in good stock of iron u do the
work: did not know whether prudent man receiving
a contract Of such large magnitude a. this would lay
IN a large stock Of iron Witness estimates did not
COY or SO graa advance ia the price OF IRON after
ward occnIrcd the estimates based on the price
OF iron at thai times in the OF some mechanics,
the price of labor had advanced double what it hid
been if witness bed taken the contract or tho innate
sent IL the Mayor be would have lost heavily ny II,
taking into consideration the alvarez III the piee of
iron AID labor; he thought tle contract would have
been loss on every item in the estimates II he had
expected to have received the contract wheD he sent IN
tie estimates be would not nave sent them In
Nathaniel Cheney testified that III ie65 The pree OF
iron doors 10 lie. per pound; Wiouebi'iroh
girders l0c. rollediron beams Sc; iron dome-irame
aud support OF ceiling (cast IRON, &C. per pound
On erossexaminaor, witness stated that If his firm
bad received the contract at those prices they would
have money by it, he had estimates sent IL 20
the Mayor By his company, but be did not know VINO
made them; he thought II Mr.. Reed. tlc illumi-
mating tiles reierred 10 in the estimates were set down
&C.; for the last two years his company he'd charged
s. 20 for the same work he knew thar Mr. Reed was
bad terms with Mr. Cornell zone Of the contraetors
ID. ID. Badger, President of the Architectural Iron
Works. testified that in 1868 the price oi stairs aud
wlinseotng Ice; foi wr0ughtion gifGers. TO
l0c. roll beans, 10 &C.; iron dome sni supports &c.
The Committee adjourned al to da! az o'clock p m.