Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-03-18

The Committee on the District Of Columbia
OF the House Of Representatives resumed, on
Saturday, the investigation into the ehatEes
against the Board Of Public Works, Mr.. W.
= Chandler reapPcarlng for the city govern
menL
Alfred W. Craven sworn: Was resident
Of New York; by occupation a civil engineer
had charge Of all the public works In that
city for nineteen years; had given no aitsn-
ton TO concrete payements 10 that city, but
bad seen several Of them In Europe, pArtleu-
larry Ia Paris. ....
M. Green. am sorry that put you to
the trouble Of coming here. Your name was
given 10 me by q member Of the committee,
under the superstition that you knew all
about that klnd Of pavement.
By Mr.. Eldridge; Resided At present In New
York. Had eTamiuvd the subject Of tide
sewers. They were put down on the plan Of
Hush boards, being used TO back up the water
and when the tide fell TO allow the water
10 ruah out, aud thus clean out the sewers.
Had known George 8. Green. the engineer,
nlneteen years. He was q mau Of remark
able ability and culture and great deal OF
experience. He had given particular atten-
tiOn TO sewerage, and would be able 70 furnish
better Information than himself Witness
knew no man that atood higher In the knowl-
edge Of engineering than Mr.. Green, and
more able and eompotent He thought that
wood pavemenu were very expensive. They
might do for streets occupied only by DWELL
ing.houses, but would not be desirable Tor
business streets or those on which there was
a greal dealef travel Experience had proved
his statement 10 be correct He nrst observed
the wood pavement on Lake street, In Chi
cage, In 1887. A visit whs made TO the West
cru cities especially 10 examine these pave
"a a9sNl AL
aame hind 10 New York city. II . Nicholson
pavement would last ten years without any
substantial repairs that had been laid At Is
per square yard, Il would be q very good
pavement and last aa long a. any stone pave
meat.
jesse sellgman sworn, Prosecuted copy Of
the advertisement Of the e4,000, 900 loan Of
the District Of Columbia which appeared In
q payer OF Frankfort, Germany.
Mr.. Eldridge suggested that uncle George
Gideon translate Il Tor them.
Mr.. Sallgman. The bonds were sold at elH
gold, counting the dollar AZ ~ forms. The
exchange was not 10 per cent, but ~;
A horin was about 20 CENTS ~ would
make the American dollar. IN London the
syndicate had = margin OF az, though
only q sman portion OF the bonds were
sold there. Those sold for 10sh 10 cur
rcucy. The average In London the year
through was probably about 10 per cont
Witness was banker, and familiar with for
eign loans. Witness made a bargain with
the First National Bank OF New York 10 pur-
chase q, 600, 900 District bonds at 06IIf, with
. tho privilege OF ~, 500 900 at tho same price.
I By Mr.. Chandler The net profit BY the
syndicate In Frankfort was 81 .62 on the bonds.
| The eutire expense Of the sale Of the loan TO
the District government was between and Q
per cent, aud Thought u vefy dealrable
bond. Tie United states bonds were known
all over the world, and money could DO pro-
| cured upon them anywhere; while this was
something new aud dlfiicnlt 70 negotiate, and
In case Oi a panic would be Of no use, A
reputation fof the District has nrst TO be es-
tablished, rs In all European markets they
were new. A general thing, European In
yestors rely upon the character Of the houses
where they purchase, aud the banks charge
a good per eentage where they arc compelled
TO stand godfather for tue loan for number
OF years.
By Mr.. Eldridge, The District government
had nothing TO do In any form with geting
up the advertisement OF the loan that APP
peared In the foreign papers; had house In
London; did not think that house ever sent
cable telegram 20 Gov. Cooke announcing
that the bonds had been placed In the market
at 8TiS.
By hr. Chapman They were very careful
In putting out this loan 70 avoid saying that
I
Unlted States; the object OF the advertise
ment was TO show that the District Of Colom-
bla had the power 10 Issue such honda; bad
heard no dissatisfaction expressed by those
who purchased the bonds that they had been
deceived by false statements.
By Mr.. Darralli Had notified the First
} National bank that they awaited themselves
! OF the option 10 take the balance Of the loan
whether IL was within one or five years.
A. H. Shepherd recalled The Board OF
Public Works claimed no authority 10 make
contracts until an appropriation had been
/ made. The arst contracts were made under
the s5Oo, 900 loan. Ihe canal work was In
/. progress, and tbs M.street work also, before
} The appropriation passed, hut that work was
= Transferred 10 the Board Of Public Works by
! act Of Congress. The work on street was
4 commenced under an act OF the old corpora
! ton. Witness believed that the average on
Z | the letting Of contracts had been more than
: % per cent below The estimate on the origi-
! nal plan, That estimate had been based on
| old corporation prices, and In many cases
' the board was paying less than corporation
: prices. II the estimate had been made for a
travelled street, and ltshonld be found subse-
4 quenny that wood pavement was requisite,
: then tho board had authority to change the
estimate; There YES no doubt that the n.
4 mate; II decreased In size as the upper end
wa approached. Mr.. Williams knew very
: llttlo about Il. General Greene was the only
I. man that vas thoroughly oonyersant on tn,
!. subject. The entire cost Of the sewer woult
be less than $4,000 Did not know Its riE'
At the upper end would give no opinion OF
the subject. Il was on the books at the office
and correct answer could be obtained there
a Mr.. ooomhs. Then you cannot give the &c
II Nj. Shepherd. Mr.. coombs, II Ith reall,
i. your desire 10 obtain the facts CONCERNING
the Tlbcr-creek sewer, win send to the ofiici
n and get Gen. Greens report.
Mr. Coombs. would like TO see II.
. Tho report was sent for.
!, Mr. Shepherd, resuming; Il Bas the inten
/, lion 10 run the Tiber sewer ~ far a. ludiAni
I ayenua, there have Il cut on and connec
with the streets BY lateral sewers, and thu
cut of the riyulets cast aud west that hay,
run Into IL heretofore, Witness paid for III
p stone steps aud parapet walls on street gu
70 Of his own pocket aud was Of the opinloI
d, they should DO paid for by the properly
e holders. The board pays about Is cents pc
d. cubic yard for dlling up the canal. Though
70 the people OF the District were able 10 bea
% the debt brought upon them by these I'm
Y proTemsnts- He looked upon II In the sam
70 light as owning q piece Of property GU
g Of repair, and thought Il would Do n wis,
policy 70 borrow money ~ At Il up ant
make Il inhabltable, a benOlt 10 the oom
muuity and himself. On none OF TIL
o streets being Improved was the entir
a expense being charged 10 property. holders
4 when the Board Of Public Works cant
i. Into power there we're several contracts un
" der way that had been lot by the mayor. Tb,
4 board thought Il best To permit the contrac
, tors to go on and fnlfh the work, instead 0
i stopping them and give them an opportunity
l. 10 Involve the District In litigation. M
d shinn's contract was nrst made out on tn
18th OF September. and signed by him, bu
when the board came 70 sign II the engineer
said II was imperfect aud took charge Of 4
10 make corrections. He was taken sick AND
:, mot able 30 hnish II until a few weeks snee,
when II WIS signed. Thought the assess,
4 msnta 10 the District, as general thing,
\ were below the cash value Of the property
= Had never heard Of any member Of the Board
y OF Public Works attempting 10 exercise any
= influence over the ASSESSORS.
The plan Of the improvement Of the Tlber
creek sewer was here submltted, and cram
ined by the counsel and the committee.
Mr.. shepherd, resumingi Took q part II
{ 4 The plan for the Territorial government, and
D ehdeavored 70 Socpre The passage Of the Bill
: before Congress twb yoars 9go, He considered
: those men at the heads OF the dlgeront bg
9 rsaus o. practical men, able and competent
r While lhaAs Improvements have bean going