New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-11
sEwER-BUILDING FOR PROFIT.
THE SYSTEM AS BAD As EvER-woRTHLYss PIPE
SUBSTITUTED FOR nIPORTED oNEs

THE SYSTEM AS BAD As EvER-woRTHLTss PIPES
SUBSTITUTED FOR nPoRTED oSEs.
The friends of the Brooklyn Board of City
Works and the apologiss for the acts OF the Special
Commissions have urged frequently OF late, that the
excessive charges made In the opening and paving Of
streets have all been LEVIED in the past that the old
Water Board and the present Board OF city Works
should be held responsbe and that the present mode
of opening and building sewers is unobjectona
bic aud free from jObbeTy and corruption. Many in
stances have been cited In the columns OF THB TRIBUNE
TO show that matters better. but rather
than they previously. and that William A. Fowler,
who was President Of the old Water Board is the drec-
tor manager and chief ITS successor the Board Of
City Works. the practices OF which similar to those
which made the old Board so odiOus
There process OF construction large sewer,
which, when completed, will unite the penentiary and
the other county buildings at Fatbush with the
OF Gravesend Bay. By act which passed the Legsa
ture on OF the last days OF its session, May a. 1872
authority was given for the building Of this sewer and
Commissioners were appointed TO take charge OF the
work The persons named as Commissioners were
Ephraim Roberts, baker, Henry Hawkes. plumber, and
r. S. Crooke.
Tue act provides that Commissioners shall receive
s. day for their services but IL makes requirement
in regard 20 how many days, weeks months they
permitted 10 serve. There s provision Of the law
that would prevent them from drawing pay for the
whole time the work Is being performed. The Commits
soners are authorized TO employ such persons clerks
surveyors and engineers necessary to carry on
the enterprise and empowered 10 draw for the pay
ment OF the labor. material and salaries, upon tho
Supervisors who directed to levy and collect the
amount called for from the propertyowners upon the
certificate Of the Commissioners. There is Limitation
expressed in the bill Of the TO be expended upon
the work. no particular instructions to how little
how much the> work may cost or how extensive the
masonry shall be. The Commissioners are allowed 10
expend 100000 100000 they shall elect and
stTuct the Of the 1pcnsYe of worthless
material AS might be expected, the present condition
OF the sewer and the amount already expended upon u
indicate that 1t Will cost not far FROM sjOJ0OO large
amount Of money was appropriated when the act WAS
passed. and the last Legislature added In its closing
hours an appropriation Of 100000 more.
Before the of the agreed upon three
routes we're laid out, and surveys made Of each and
matters were so arranged that the bidding WAS all
cOniDed 10 two OF the routes The contractor who
awarded work alone made estimate Of the Of
LAYING the the third route, thus avoiding
petition and securing the contract This person is
Edward Free che favored contractor OF the old Water
A. Fowler aud the Board OF City Works which the latter
controls The contract which Freel signed calls for the
laying OF imported Scotch pipe. This pipe has been
shown in The TRIBUNE, Is double the price OF the
defiance OF his obligations, Freel II now laying the
ordinary cement pipe, ~ and is inches In dspeter, and
furnished by Knight Wilson ut Hoyt and Unlonsts.
This than half the price OF the Scotch pipe
and less In diameter than the latter The Board OF
CITY Works which il careful 10 employ inspectors ~
localities where the proper sewer pipes are being lad
laid I'm this sewer and consequently the contractor 10
having matters all his own way. Edward Freol has
received since January 1862 frequently without com
petition contracts for laying sewers Tor grazing ana
paving, and for repairing streets 70 the amount Of
900 and has Just obtained the contract for paving
Myrtle ave, from FulOn-st. 90 Broadway.