Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-18
The Sene ca stone Investigation.

and Grounds, who are charged with the invest
CATION into the character of the work already
done on the new State Department building
and who were directed to make special inquiry
why material known as Seneca stone was
USED in the foundation walls of said building
met again this morning; Mr.. Tyaer acting as
chairman in the absence OF Mr.. Hilsey. 1t was
expected that Mr.. Mullett would be before the
committee for cross examination, but Mr. Platt
stated that he had been called to New York on
important business.
been a stone work contractor for forty eli ght
years; was employed for eight years ON the
Treasury building; Major Bowman sent him up
the Iiver to examine the Seneca stone work on
locks built near Great Falls on the Virginia side
i'll the year 1858; found 1t in Tad condition ami
much of 1t rotten; don't know how long the
stones had been laid; atmosphere and water
probably caused the injury to the stones; saw
the Seneca stone quarry wLeI it was FIRST
opened in 1928; this stone Is ugly stone to
make good work of; some is very hard and some
very soft, the quality is not uniform; Seneca
stone cannot be dressed with great saving 10
the government as has been stated; III he had
had the Seneca stone on hand for the State
Department he would have considered iC
more economical to throw it aside aud
use Port Deposit granite; he might have
used it in the upper, but not in the
stone absorbs great deal OF moisture; witness
has heard of gum shellac being used to stick
broken piecesof Seneca stone together; has used
gum shellac himself in Cementing granite: the
Seneca stone would not stand any chance at ali
if it came into legitimate com petition with other
building stone; knows OF no persons who are
specially interested in pushing Seneca stone
when on the Treasury Department got ~ 30 per
day; never heard of boss granite cutter get
ting As high as SIC 000 per year; the plan of put
ting Seneca stone into the State Department in
opinion Of witness, is San open and shut game"
mechanics working for the government by the
day generally make their work last as long as
possible; the government would save money il
all its work was open to competition and done
by contract.
At the conclusion of Mr.. G etz's examination Mr..
Tyner proceeded to examine the witness, who
stated that he did not know of his own person al
knowledge that the stone in the locks referred
to in his previous testimony came from the Sen
eca quarries or not, nor did he know how long
the locks had been built; could not tell whether
the stone had been affected by the frost: il the
stone i'm the locks had been in q wall where il
was rot so much exposed to moisture it would
not have been damaged so soOn il frost could
not reach Seneca stone in the buildings it prob
ably would not decay; knew OF Seneca stone
being used in the foundations of buildings in
the District, but don't know how il has stood the
weather; exposure to the atmosphere hardens
Seneca stone; had not closely examined the
foundation walls of the State Depart mgnt stone
Of all kinds brought less i'm 1858, when witness
placed Port Deposit granite in the Treasury
Depar ment building, than ii does now.
BY MIR. Getz:-NO Seneca stone was used in
the extension OF the Treasury building.
The government paid So per ton for Port
Deposit granite delivered at the wharf: stone at
$40 per cubic yard g 40 pOuntls) would not be
cheaper than stone at $3.50 per ton; is not posi-
tive on this point; Seneca stone, in opinion of
witness, does not make good work; has no
interest whatever In the Port Deposit 1uarries;
knows of no gum shellac being used i'm cement
ing Seneca stone at the State Department.; be.
Geves that certain architects are interested IN
Seneca stone, but does not know that Mr.. Null
lett or any officer Of the government is inter
ested; the Seneca company is very influential
witness would now expect about SIS per dav
instead OF "a for stone werk on government
b1ildinCs; the progress OF stone work depends
very much on the boss workman o. superin-
tenuent; the p 'esent system OF making cOntrac. >
for stone work is more expensive to the govern
ment than 1t formerly was; if the perinfendent
is good man, he ought to be able to do his work
we'll and speedily; prudens contractor would
rot probably take contract for cutting stone
for tss than fifteen per GEN..
Examined by Mr.. Platt:-It has always been
common for contractors to cement stone with
gum shellac in some cases where pieces were
broken of; the Seneca company has been or
ganized about six years; their stone has not been
used in any public building for six years past;
never knew MI Mullett to advertise for bids for
Ser eca store; the contractor who cuts the ston.
generally furnishes the stone; the pIics now paiG
to granite cutters is about "a % per day: don't
know of any yards where the men are rated ac-
cording to the work they do and paid in propor-
ton; contractor for cutting stone has some
risks, aad Is liable to have bad luck; know that
contractors have to give lease on the quarries
to the government for the faithful pertormance
OF their contract. have seen rough Seneca stone
lying about the State Department, but don't
know whether 1t has been rejected or not; wit
ness would not row accept $3.50 per ton
for Port Deposit granite delivered at the
wharf; 1t cost fifty cents per ton to trans.
port granite from the wharf to the
Treasury Department i'm 1855, making the total
cost Of this Port Deposit granite IS per ton:
have no idea what the work already done at the
State Department ought to cost; would rather
think $50 900 too much; think it could be done
with Port Deposit stone for S15, 200; don't know
whether any bids for Port Deposit stone were
ut in; 1t is the custom to accept certain bids
when hey are opened, and not to go outside for
other nrouos-'s.
nv Mr Tynar ave never myself worked
the Seneca stone; it can ."duehtiy De cut as
cheap as the Port Deposit stOn,, out would
generally prefer the latter can't tell e'ner
the Seneca stone l saw lying about the Stal
Department would cost more or less to dress
than other stones; believed the government a
better employer than private individuals; don't
know that Mr.. Mullett has been in collision
with the person or persons who furnish the SEN
eca stone for the State Department.; his remark
about 1t being an "ppen and shut game" va,
guess work merely.
By Mr.. Platt:-Don't know of any other
building in which Mr.. Mullett has used Seneca
stone.
By Mr.. Getz:-Think it a great mistake that
it was used at all in the State Department
building.
Adjourned until 10 a. m. Wednesday.