New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-02
Local Intelligence.

SuEILTNG THE CITY.-The Teiteratlon N
Yesterdays Picap,1ae of charges Of fraud in
the purchase of shells for the use OF the
citv, made i'll preceding issue, have in
duced us to thoroughly investigate all OF
the contracts made by the city with parties
furnishing shells for the last six years. At
no time within this period have shells been
so cheaply purchased as during the present
administration. At no time has the IN
terests of the city been so securely guarded,
or more precautions taken to prevent fraud
or injustice The Picaytne has evidently
made it's charges without investigation, and
has taken no pains to ascertain their cor
yectuess. Had it done so, it would have
seen that as far back as August |, 1856,
under a Democratic administration, and
wien cash was paid for shells, as high as
:ortv-eight eonts per barrel was given to
contractors, as shown by the following con
sracts, sold to the lowest bidder. after ad-
yertisement and with competition:
August ], l866-H. S. Armstrong, $4,000
Barrels lake shells On.the levee. at forty
eight cents cash.
GELS lake shells on the leVee, at torty-elgAt
Ients cash. 49,
nells lake shells on the OLD and New canals,
at thirty-fve cents cash. $500
February II, l87I-William Henry. $500
Barrels lake shells on the !evee and canals
ct fOrty-two and half cents cash. .
February II, l87l-Wllliam Henry. 1000
Barrels oyster shells on the levee. at twenty
Seven cents cash.
rbaIIs ON Invpn and canals. at
:wenty-four cents cash. ooo
july IA, I87I-WiIliam Henry, 10000
Barrels lake shells on the levee ana canals,
at sixty-two and half cents certificates.
December %, IS7i-J. H. Irwin. 5U,D90
barrels lake shells on the leveeg at fifty tYe
AZ to the benefits derived by Mr.. J. II.
Irwin by reason of his contracts with the
city. they are such as he would not vii
!ingly receive again. His loss on the con-
trace was over $1,000; nor could he be
induced to take the same contract again.
The Picay,Gne forgets that these shells
are paid for in improvement bonds worth
fifty cents on the dollar.
AS to the inquiry as 20 the quantity 81
che shells used, we haveto say, that II addl-
zion TO the shell reads, the battUres shelied
on the river front equal twenty-five mles
81 she'll roads. An area OF $4,000 super
Gcial feet having been filled up last year IN
extending thcnew wharves, $1,000 barrels Of
eleLs were required to cover that one 3oot
chick, which was done. Never have the
shell roads and shelled battures been IN
such good condition as they are st
present. The length Of shell roads through
cut the city is thirty eight miles,
1t will therefore be readily seen thai no
ordinary quantity Of shells will suffice for
This work; nor does the Picayet'1e possess
any reliable data by which the quantity Of
shells shipped to the city can be estimated.
Schooner loads are frequently landed and
hauled to the roads or battures during the
same day. No account Of them is taken by
commercial reporters. The only place
where the account is kept is at the City
Hall. Had the Picay,uec's account Of these
transactions been made from this data, its
gross discrepancies would not have &C.
cured. Its persistent attempt to make
mountain out of mole hill' will not sue
coed. We have still additional information
TO give in a succeeding issue.