New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-10
THE STOW PAVEMENT JOB.

MEETING OF THE CONTRACT COMMISSIONERS
MR.. BRYAN ON THE MERITS OF HIS OWN
WORK.
The contracts of j. Bryan for laying the
stow foundation pavement in Maiden-lane and Eff
feminist came up for final hearing before Commits
oners Sutherland Van Worst and Jaques in the room
OF the Board Of Aldermen, yesterday afternoon.
The contracts involve over 100000 part Of which
the city has paid; but this amount is
not yet due Mr. Bryan for OF his contracts have
not yet been fulfilled His absence has caused consider
cradle delay in the settlement Of the case although he
states that he was only out Of town at the advice OF his
pbyscian, and should have been here before had he
known that his presence was considered necessary.
Mayor Hall said that he had insisted strenuousy upon
having this closely examined, because he intended
20 show that there fraud the face Of the awards
which Mr. Bryan had obtained from the Common Coun-
ell Not that Mr.. Bryan himself had been personally
guilty of any fraud, but that improper means were re-
sorted to the purpose Of procuring the awards The
awards were granted too hastily he wished to have
Mr. BRYAN take the stand and tell what he knew of tie
matter.
Mr. Bryan testified About oct. 4, 1870, there
ordinance passed by the Common Council to pave Maid
en-lane with the Stow foundation pavementi short
time afterward filed application for paving several
other streets as considered my pavement meritori-
Gus article: did make personal application to the
Common Council for paving Whte-st, from Broadway
to West Broadway; made personal application for
any of my awards; the first knew about
them was that 1 read in the papers
that had received the awards; had valuable patent,
the merits of which wished to test the Mayor said that
he could give me a street which u test the pave
ment; was introduced to Alderman Farley at Long
Branch, and spoke to him about procuring street;
he invited me TO come and see him when
he returned TO the city; / also met a
gentleman there, who, after inquiring about
Inc merits OF the pavement said that he would help
get street said would agree TO give him much
Tor a square yard by the resolutions I paved about
$4,000 yards Ia this manner; had talk with this same
gentleman, who had considerable wealth and influence
among politicians and told him that in order to make
this a success must build mill and have per, FOR
could make il pay IN small way; he said that he
would help NE all ne could, and would see that got
sufficient awards from the Common Council
TO warrant in proceeding TO manu-
facture tue wooden blocks, OF which the pvement
is made, large scale; received several awards;
would never have taken hold of this payementf had
not thought that it the best pavement in existence
to-day believe that there is not pavement used that
equals il for durability and beauty; the resolution
fayOring the awards signed by nine OF tie Alder
men, and your Honor then vetoed II Tor some reason
despite this veto Of my pet scheme, which,
need not assure you, almost broke my heart, the
Board of Aldermen carried the veto over your head,
aud il became ordinance; short tine after
my friend procured the passage OF an ordinance giving
me the power TO lay my pavement In se1era other
localities this Of whom have spoken, who pro-
cured for me all my needed legislation is gentleman
who lives in this city; he has not now, nor has he
ever been, in any way connected with any official
post, being simply retired and influential merchant.