Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-02-08
CONGREsSgONAL XNyENTIGATION
OF DISTRICT MATTERS.
Proceedings Before the House Com.
nsftfee H6.day.

anu tht he" DislIlCt government was resumed
This morning before the House District Com.
mittce; McsSIs. Crane, CoOmbs, and Green rep
Ttsenting the Crane Severson 'me morialists, -
and Mr.. Chandler the District government. Mr..
ltlGdie did not appear to-day in behalf OF the
nemoriasts."
The first witness sworn was PAUty kedrHss,
virn testified that he resides on street, between
2Cth and 2Ist; produced "a communication which
he had received from the Board of Public
Works in relation to
sLAsH-RUN SEWER,
on l. street, between 2lst and ed, stating that
the contractor was reforming the Work IN &C
cOIdsnce with the rules and regulations, and to
the satisfaction OF the board; witness thought
the work was not being wen done, as some OF it
had fallen in; thought the work would be n
great cost TO properly holders; Mr.. GAS had
told witness that he CO. was discharged by the
Board Of Public Works because he did not get
the kind OF stone to suit them; witness did not
know who was contractor for the sewer; a man
named Brown was inspector.
BY Mir. Chandier:-Is not a mason; did not
think there was one shovel full OF cement 10 FIVE
OF sand; thought One-third OF the mortar should
have been cement; witness was ordered away
from the work once; and
TOLD TO MIND us BUSINESS;
the sewer is being constructed ON street, be-
TIVE en- 2lst and 22d and at least 80 yards fell I'M;
the portion OF the sewer which fell in had been
rebuilt; did not examine the sewer after II had
fallen in; never had any difficulty with the
Board of Public Works; had never been en-
plOyed by che board; did not know the size OF
the sewer; men were not at work upon the pOr-
ton OF the sewer which fell in ut that time; sam
Strong said he had the contract for the sewer;
he supplied the mortar and sand; did not think
any one about there knew who had the contract.
BY Mr.. Eldridge:-Witness had never mixed
mortar; two thirds of cement and one of sand
would make good mortar; one barrel of cement
10 two barrels of sand was the best; did not
think mortar made of cement entirely would
make good wall.
John Norman, swOIn:-Resides at 1I01 10Th
street; had been employed on the Slash run
sewer; il was rot halt built; only pitched in; did
Ea no ca
was managing the work; men had complained
that they were not furnished with proper NOR
tar and material; they were dismissed for COM
plaining;
WITNESS WAS DISMISSED
on that account.
By Mr.. Starkweather Witness worked on
the stone work only; did not know who attended
TO mixing the mortar; thought about thirty
yards of the brick work fell; it was rebuilt i'm
mediately.
By Mr.. Chandler Witness was employed bv
Mr.. Strong, only worked there a day and "A
quarter; discharged by Strong, who told
witness he was not putting in stone enough; four
masOns were engaged in laying the stone work;
Mr.. Brown was working with witness; one other
mason was discharged for complaining; the ce
ment was mixed in the bottom of the sewer:
could not swear what were the proportions of
CT menr ana sand; there was but little sand; il
was mud; had been working since, but not for
the Board of Public Works; witness saw there
was rascality in constructing the sewer, and he
walked OFF.
BY Mr.. Chipman:-The mortar was mixed
very little; just shOveled about little.
John BrowR, sworn, and testified that he had
worked on the Slash run sewer; a portion of IL
fell in after the work was done; the cement was
very poor; water was running through the
sewer while it was being built; witness was
mason, and understood how to mix cement:
made no complaint about the cement; was not
discharged; left there himself; worked there four
days; told Mr.. Eusk, the foreman, about the
it was; men on the work agreed with witness
that the mortar was not good; did not know their
names; would know them if he should see them;
the water run through and washed out the
cement; witness left the work because he had "a
difficulty in getting his pay; Strong pledged his
word that witness should have his paw on Sat.
urday; when Saturday came witness did not get
his pay, and left; got his pay the middle OF the
Eext week.
Mr.. Green said he desiredto put in evidence
THE BLANK FORMS OF THE CONTRACTS
Of the Board of Public Works which had been
furnished them; they had not been furnished the
contracts which they asked for.
Mr.. Chandler replied that he had furnished
the list OF the contracts, and the blank forms
used. He had not furnished the memOrialists
with the original contracts, but Mr.. Stanton,
Secretary OF the District, was here Yesterday
them again when wanted. of course the original
papers could not be given TO the gentlemen rep
resenting the memorialists.
The Committee decided that the memorialists
had list OF contracts and could call for any
particular one, but il was not the unde rstanding
that they should have the original papers.
Charles SfOtf. SWOTE.-Hal examined
THE MISSOURI AVENUE SEWER.
The Sd street, Az street and 9th street sewers
were 10 empty into the Missouri avenue sewer;
the new sewer is not yet open; did not know
what portion of the city the sewers above
ferred to drained; had no knowledge OF hydraul-
les and hydTostatics; doubted if the Missouri
averue sewer would answer when completed;
thought in time of fool or heavy rains Ill CO liars
on the low grounds would be OverfiOwed; "a
sewer in the alley between Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and Missouri avenue, 81 and AZ streets, now
drained his property; had no need OF the Mis-
souri, avenue sewer; did not know the capacity
of the sewer in the alley; Missouri avenue was
Obstructed by the construction OF the sewer 50
that carriage had not passed along ii for three
months.
BY Mr.. Cbandler:-Had known the water to
be on Missouri avenue often in case of flood or
high tide; had regarded the canal a disadvan-
tage TO his property; would rather il iled up:
did not consider himself expert; did not
know the ordinary rise and fall OF the tide here ;
the canal had not been productive of disease:
residents OF Missouri avenue considered il a
healthy street.
Horace S. johnson, swOrn.-Resides on Mis-
souri, avenue; had frequently examined the
sewer there; it appeared to be perfectly fat; is
two thirds full OF water now; did not know what
sewers were to empty into it; did not think the
sewer would answer, being perfectly fiat: wit
ness had good sewerage now by the alley sewer:
did not need the Missouri avenue sewer; thought
in case OF high tide the cellars would be filed.
By Mr.. Chandler-Had known the canal to
overflow frequently and Hood the cellars; had
the canal could have been properly dredged and
sewers might have emptied into it; did not
think the canal had affected the value OF the
property near il; four or five years ago the ca
nal was used for commercial purposes.
By Mr.. StarkweatheT:-Believed If the canal
had been dredged to its original depth it would
have answered every purpose for drainage, and
would have answered commercial purposes be-
sides.
BY Mr.. Chipman:-Thought the construction
OF the sewer on Missouri avenue was more ex-
pensive than making one in the canal; had never
made any calculations on the subject; knew
nothing of tide sewers.
b. OeTfiy, recalled:-The price for macadam-
izing is VI 80 per square yard; on = street from
the canal to the arsenal, there was ~ 600 square
yards; knew that Mr.. Cullinane had begun work
on the sewer on = street; had no charge of the
work; made his reports from official papers in
his office; knew Riley A. Shinn; he is building
sewers in Georgetown; the work being done by
him is not included in the estimate submitted
had no estimate OF the water mains laid; did not
know when the laying OF the wood pavement on
i4th street was commenced; thought the work
was by virtue of an act OF the old corporation;
had made no estimate for paving q street, from
nth to I'D; had access to all the papers OF the
Board OF Public Works in regard to contracts
Adjourned until Wednesday next at 10 o'clock
The CENTRAL CATHOLIC TEMPERANCE
UNION held its regular semi monthly meeting
last night at Carroll Hall, Rev. Father Me Dewitt
presiding. The report Of the secretary showed