Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-16
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION
Proceedings before the House Com.
mitfee To-day.

cf argos against the Board of Public Works and
the new District government was resumed this
morning before the House Committee on the
District of Columbia.
Alfred W. CroreR, sworn.-Is civil engineer,
and resides in New York; had charge of certain
pubhc works in that city prior TO 1858, for nine
teen years; has seen concrete pavements in
Paris and London; never gave the subject his
special attention.
MIR. Green.-I am sorry I put you to the
trouble OF coming here, sir, but your name vas
given TO me by a member of the committee as
being familiar with the subject.
witness resumed.-The best concrete pave
me mt be ever saw was in Paris.
Nr. Green.-That is all want, sir.
BY MIR. Eldridge:-ls now a consulting engi-
neer.
MIR. Eldridse stated that he thought before
summoning a man OF MIR. Cravens character
seine inquiry should have been made as to what
information was wanted, and he could have an
sweTed by letter, instead of being put to the
trouble of coming here.
Witness resuming, said he had examined the
subject of tide sewers in London; the system
used there could not be adopted here, on ac-
count OF the tide not rising high enough; thought
the one IN Charleston worked with partial sue
cess; the tide OF Charleston is about five feet
knows General George 5. Greene, now engaged
here; his experience in all branches of engineer
ing Is valuable, and he is a man of ability; his
experience in concrete pavements in New York
was after witness resigned his position in 1868;
no man stood hi CHER than GeneT al Gree ne; he is
a man of thorough scientific education and
practical experience; thought wood payements
expensive, and not lasting on streets for heavy
travel; they would do well for streets In which
there were dwelling houses only; had examined
the wood pavements in Chicago; thought wood
Iavements at s. per square yard, lasting ten
years, would be very cheap; s4.25 per square
yard was paid in New York, has been a long
time out OF active service and not as well posted
Oh those subjects as some other gedtlemen.
Jesse Seligman, (of New York; sworn-wit-
ness produced copy OF the
ADVERTISEMENT
which appeared in Frankfort paper, Germany,
with editorial notices
The advertise being in German, Mr.
Green wanted a translation OF IL.
Mr.. Eldridge.-"Uncle George Gideon is here
and he will do it.' Laughter.
Witness resuHed.-The loan sold in Frankfort
at 81 = gold, counting the dollar at 2n forms;
the bonds sold in Frankfort at 102. III 100; the
commission allowed TO his house BY the syndi-
cate on the other side was n per cent; postage
and insurance was per cent, advertisement
and brokerage , per cent, making a total of
four per cent expenses. Witness paid 96L for
the bonds. In London the syndicate had
margin 2h though only a small portion of the
bonds were sold in London; they sold there at
103A currency; witness bought OF the First
National Bank of New York, one and half
million ofdOllars in District of Columbia bonds
OF two and a half million more at the same
price; witness did not buy them of the Governor
BY Mr.. Chander:-The net profits of the
syndicate in Germany were l.62 100 on the
bonds; the entire expense OF the sale of the loan
to the District Government and the syndicate
was between five and six per cent; thought
that very reasonable price; United States
bonds ale known all over the world, and have
a market value, and at any time money can be
procured On them anywhere; District bond is
entirely new, and in case of a panic money
could not be raised upon them; reputation for
the District bonds must be established. as i'm all
European markets they were new; European
investors in a great measure rely upon the
character Of the houses where they purchase,
nj h0n Enr nharn
where they have to stand godfather to the loan
for number of years; the expense OF adyer-
Using the loan to bring it properly before the
transaction with the District Government and
none OF the District officers had received any
benefit from the negotiation.
by MIR. Eldridge:-The Governor OF the Dis
trict, nor any one Connected with the District
government, mad anything to do with getting
up the advertisement which appeared in the
foreign papers. WITNESS here read traDsla-
ton of the advertisement from German paper,
in which il was stated that the population OF
the District Of Columbia is 49, 900, and the tax
able property valued at 100 goo 900 forms.
By MIR. Chipman:-Never authorized any one
to say the loan was endorsed by Congress. The
object of the advertisement was to show that the
District OF Columbia was authorized to issue
such bonds, and so far as witness knew purcha-
sers SO understood it; did not believe any OF the
purchasers were deceived by false statements
witness had notified the First National Bank of
New York that he would take the other TIVE and
a half million of the bonds.
4. II. Shepherd, recalled:-The Board of Pub
lie Works claimed no authority to make
CONTRACTS
until authorized to do so; the first contracts
were made under the $500 900 lOan no contracts
were made before the passage OF that act; the
canal work and the M street work were in pro-
gress under previous laws, and the work on both
was trans ferred TO the Board OF Public Works.
WITNESS here read the $500 900 act authorizing
Improvement and repair of streets, sewers, SCI
The street Improvement was authorized by
the old corporation of Washington and cOntin-
ued by the Board of Public Works; the average
OF letting contracts has been more than
TWENTY PER CENT. BELOW
the original estimates in the general plan; those
estimates were based upon old corporation
prices, and the Board of Public Works i'm all
instances pay less than the old cOrporatiOn if
the estimate should be for q graveled road, and
1t should be subsequently discovered that q
wood pavement was necessary ,e the board had
tor the graveled road; the board had paid ten
cents less square yard for foot pavements than
the old corporation, and one dollar less per
square yard for wooden pavements; the whole
cost OF
THE TIBEI CREEK SEWER
would be inside OF the estimate; Mr.. Bartlett
knew nothing about the size Of the sewer at the
upper end; Gen Greene is the only man posted
in regard to that; the whole Tiber sewer would
be built for less than 800, 900.
Q.-What is your opinion about the size OF
Tiber Creek sewer at the upper end?
Al dent know; that matter, is one of cal
culation by proper engineers, and not a matter
Of guess work.
MIR. Combs-Mr. Magruder said nine feet
Mr.. Shepherd do not know, sir.
MI. Magruder.-I did not say that, but tina. il
would be within nine feet.
Mr.. Shepherd.--f it is your desire to ascer-
tain about Tiber sewer, will send down to the
Office and get all the plans made by General
Greene.
Mr.. Coombs.-I would like to see them
MIR. Shepherd then sent messenger tor the
papers.
Witness resumed 1T is the intention to build
an interesting sewer to cut of those rivulets
running from the east and west into Tiber creek,
and drain them into the Eastern Branch and
Rock Greek; witness paid out Of his own pocket
for the parapet walls and stone Gaping in front
Of his property on F street; thought the prop-
erty- holders should pay for those walls; the
board pays fifteen cents per cubic yard for filling
up the canal; thought the District of Columbia
able to bear the expense Of these Improvements;
look upon it just as l would upon property
if had q house out of repair and not habitabie
l should think 1t wise policy to borrow money
70 put It In repair and make 1t fit to livesin; it
would then be benefit to the community, a
btneht to the tenant, and benefit to me;
believe 1t good policy to borrow money to repair
THE OLD CORPORATION,
me only good portions in it were the schools
tire department and police department, one
nalt OF the expense OF the latter being paid by
the District on none of the streets are ali of the
improvements being charged to the owners of
tne property; the mayor made certain contracts