New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-16
THE CROTOS AQOEDDCE.
A CARD FROM THE ENGINEER.

70 the BdftOr OF The TrtbuHs.
SIR: In this mornings edition OF The Nec-
York Times there is article headed, Gigantic
swindle-How the Department OF Public Works "a Con-
ducted-rhe City Treasury Robbed by OF Fraudu-
lent Pay-Roll.-A Subject which needs Investigation
Some Startling Facts" The Times has been imposed
upOn and statements it makes not facts. The
work alluded to ia the alteration OF the Cr0ton
Aqueduet from Ninety third 70 OIe-hundredand-
thrteenthsts.. which is being made in pursuance
10 special law OF the State This work by the terms OF
the City Charter under my direct supervision Before
commen cng IL selected assistant engineer and
general foreman TO have especial Of the work
selected for assistant engineer Capt George W. Dressor
OF the United states Army Capt Dresser Is grad
uate % the West Point Academy and does now bear and
always hiss horne the character Of hghtoned honest
gentleman and one entirely beyond all influence oi
sinister character He and ia personally unknown
to the ate Commissioner OF Pubic works.
selected for general foreman John Noe. John Noe
bas worked for me at intervals nearly years, dur
ing which time he has performed great deal OF work
under my directions lHd has always borne the charae
ter OF very capable energetic, fearless. and honest
man. and do not to-day believe that money can induce
him TO do a dishonest action. ! first employed
him FOR tni5 Department. IN 1910 90 super
tatend the lowering OF the largo main water
pipes on the Fifth-aye. Ssventeth-st. These
ha lowered In roekeutting without drawing
the winter Out Of them InJurng them in any manner
At the time OF his employment he was unknown to che
then Commissioner OF Public Works After the lowering
Of the waer-mans on the Ffth4ve put him in charge
Of the alterations OF the aqIeduct. have had the ap
pointment OF the engineers and general foreman the
other men have been appointed by the Commissioner OF
Public Works In every case the Commissioner sends
the person BE- employed with written note ID
sealed envelope to me- containing the name OF the per
son and nd Of employment he il 20 have II che seal OF
the envelope broken never accept the note nor Gun
poy the porou presenting it. Upon opening the enve
one nanire ul The hs name, ana II it agrees with
the ore in the note his then recorded together
with hrs rpsdence aud ne gets sealed note 20 the gem
eral foreman giving his residence, number OF ap-
pointment and kind OF employment When TINS note Is
delivered ut the Office the work the seal OF the enVs
ope unbroken. and the man gives the same description
OF himself IA that the note, he IS employed aud ms
name, residence, and number Oh ms appointments ars
recorded on the ume-edger.
record Of AL theappOintments 40 made IA kept IN the
Commssioners Office and another in my Office When an
employe voluntarily leaves tho work or IS discharged
from ii there u written notice sent TO my ONCE on the
san1e day giving the residence, number ana cause
for leaving copy OF which IL sen from my ONCE 10 tho
Comms,iener's Office When the pay rolls made out
they contain the number Of the man appointed
his name and residence. aud before being certi-
aas IN by me are examined 70 see that they
agres with the original appointment and that all men
bo have left or been discharged dropped from the
rols They also undergo another such scrutiny IN the
Commissioners Office. No discharge or change can be
made without the knowledge Of both Captain Dresser
and Mr. Noe. have no alternative hut to take the
name OF the employed he gives il TO me- but to In
sure the identity NJ the who ~ employed
Wa put down his number aud residence on
the payroll and no time i put On the roll IN
less the man representing tho number. name and
residence has performed the work. have no
money with which to employ detectives To investigate
each mans identity, but whenever ~ ia some cases. We
have found that a man working under wrong
name he has been Immediately disehareed. The system
OF swearing their identity and the work per
formed by them paying them has been praetce
On this work since the work first commenced, and
WA instituted TO prevent frauds. and believe II has
been n successful mode OF dOing Rotten becomes nece-
sary 10 ischarge employed on he work. ana nave
myself discharged than 300 ~ single day Tor
ueRlectng their work The authority tedisciarge IA the
only meaus IN my power insure fair amount 0f work
No man on the been asked 10 perrOrm an
nnreasopabie amount Of work, nor have discharges
mat Thought available has been adopted 10 prevent
fraud and NV impression that have been success
fnl When I heard OF the arrests alluded TO IN me
Times sent Noe inquire Of the pay master 2oou
Them my object being render any assistance couin
10 nroect the interests Of the CITY; but the paynaster
declined give information ON The SUBJECT ana
4 therefore dropped the matter. EDS ARD H. TRACY
Chef Engineer OF the Croton AqusduoI
SUNDAY Dec Is. 1sT2-