Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-26

engineer % yeIrs; has been in this city as e T.
gIneer since 1868. The data in the report O
1872, of the Board of Public Works, were m de
by an assistant engineer upon which estimates
were based. / made the measurements upon
which the District government was reimbursed
for work done for the general government; 1
circle; 1 made three measurements: the first
was made il December, 1872; 1T might possibly
have been early in January. Witness submit: .
ted plan OF p street circle, and explained the
measurements Of grading, curb;ny, &C., and
showed where carrlageways were made, ed
ding done, &c Witness said he believed all
the measurements were correct; that the est
mates were really less than ne work actually
done; is willing to risk his general reputation
as q civil engineer that the meg urements are
CO. rect; never was asked u favor any contrac-
did rot know he contractsss; Gov. Shepherd
Int yer asked " l.ness to favor the board in any
way, nor did Gen. Baocock; no alteration. were
made in witnes measurements: couldrot have
been without his knowledge; all his measure
n,ents were made honestly and flirly u he
best OF his knowledge.
By MT. Wilson AS understand you, you
were sent to the street circle to u AXE these
measurements in anticipation of an appropria-
ton by Congress. Do you know what that an
preparation was? A. One million and some odd
collars. Witness then described what tagging
Was laid, the dimensions of the circle, &c, and
said there was Is, 4 50 feet Of tagging Dy mathe-
NAUTICAL calculations; his measurement Of II ,i90
feet was arrived at BY actual measure ment.
ging was the grading done? A. 1t must have
been, because the digging was distributed.
Q. How did you tell how much grading had
Mr.. Forsyth and Mr. oertIsy. 'ne estimates OF
Q. Then you are willing to stake your reputa-
ton IS an engineer on estimates furnished you
by o'he-s? A. Yes, sir; when the same car not
be al..ved at in any other way.
woaK ABOUND THE GovERsMESr RRsRRvA-
TONS.
Q. Do you know OF reservation No. II? A.
Q. What did You find there? Had the Board
of Public Works done any tagging there? A.
don't know whether they did 1t or not.
q. IL they never did any tagging, and never
b: We, your charge against the government ,Or
SUCH tagging Is incorrect, is it rot? A. can't
state that the Board Of Public Works did auy
work, Of ny own knowledge. When Mr.. Oer'ly
which tney said the board had done around
government property, measured the same aud
twas charged up to the United States. In dc
ter%ining what grading was cone had to take
q. Did you measure reservation in front Of
Wallis Opera House? A. Yes, sir.
q. Who pointed that out to you as q govern
meut reservation? A. MIR. Forsyth.
Q. Are you familiar v 18th the plats Of govern
ment reser vatiOns in this city? A. am not,
oriy know OF my own knowledge that the large
parks are government reservations
Mr.. Harripgton.-The reservation was orr
ginally little piece Of Iand-trian, alar in
shape. 1t was improved; it va q part Of the
avenue. The Supreme Court has decided that
the avenuc, in this city belong to the Uri' d
States, and hence the triangle being made Ifom
a portion OF Pennsylvania avenue it became a
government reservation.
sewer? A. Yes, sir; don't remember the
amounts charged up to the government Tor the
work; the Be ard of Public Works gave the
prices; have nothing - do With he prices; 1
orly make the NEE urements.
By Mr.. Merrick:-Is it the practice of the
general government to pay .or earth excavat:d
and fap,ed to another street, and then IA
ply TO- the deposit on that street? A. don't
know.
MIR. Christie-There is payp emit for filling
the canal, from what sources did that earth
come? A. / don't know; 1 did not inquire.
z. On Massachusetts and Maryland av snues,
between 4th and 9th g.. GETS east, there Is a
charge for gre ling. Do you know where tina.
earth was taken! a. have not the sughte-.
idea.
Q. How did you get at our prices? A. I took
the hgpres OF the engineer of the board; 10 sde
the original estimates for Rawlirs Square; there
was decided mistake in the first estiTsts;
measured the same when six inches of Stow IVES
On the ground; l measured for asphalt paw.
ment, and Mr.. Forsyth informed me mo de q
mistake; that Two OF the STIR cts lie lding II the
square were cobble-stone pavements; General
BabcOck then told me to make q new measure
ment, and the amount of difference was covered
rs Sc on az it was discovered, and before
any publication concerning 1t appeared in the
New York papers.
J
EXPLAINED.
q. Did You make the estimate With regard to
Wirder's building? A. did. The calculations
we're me- de ON actual measurement: think
they are correct % reported by me. The work
inciud 3 iIOm 18th street - the mergin Of the
c,ral. The designation "Winder's building"
q an arbitrery designation Of he locally; it
aiong 18th street. The excavation proper ex,
tends from Pennsylvania avenue to Executive
avenue.
9. !, Explain DE to the committee Why it was that
measure what was not done? A. gave the
tagging, which was not LAID, and kept / sex
the carria geway, which was laid, because l
hagging-ten times as much. wanted - keep
on the safe side. In making my returns - Gen.
Babcock l re1e return rs ii the work was
actually do-e.
Mr. Wilson then read the law by which Con-
sress authorized the Board Of Public WORKS =
Do reimbursed for work done around govern
o. Did you make YOUR return as so much i'm.
prove ments that had been made? A. L cid.
Q. Had 1t been made? A. deducted suffi-
cient items out of the estimat to make 1t cover
the appropriations.
By Mr.. Hrtrington:-The asphalt pavement
in the P-street circle wss all finished except
the top dressing; In mailing the measurements
hsd to depend on some data on which to 20.
relied on MI. Forsyth where The work would
Mr.. Wilson ssked the witness to give the SUI
10 ce covered by wood pavement on Penrsylys-
mia, betw en- 1st and 9TH streets east, when he
c,me again.
Mr.. Harrington suggested that the que ,s'on
Of me ssurements should not be taken up until
that spec 'hcati0n IVES reached. He s?id IL any
member OF the committee would indicate q DE-
sire for any information on the subject OF me: =
urements, the District government would ,ur-
r'sh plats and oil the iDfoi nation desir d.
ME-. Wilsor.-That il just what asked the
question for, IN order to secure plats and Ia'l
information.
Mr.. Harrington. will Re forthcoming.
MIR. Christie sf id he deeired information ss to
where the dirt it'll which the canal was filled
was procured, and in what manner payments
were made, 60 far as they affected the Dis,lict
government.
At qusIter past 70 O'Clock the committee took
Q recess until 2 p. m.
AYTYR RHCIee.
The committee reassembled at two O'Clock.
Mr.. Allison stated that In Q day or two the
committee would designate an engineer TO make
measurements for their guidance, and that the
District government could have An engineer, IL
they desired. accompany him in going over their
MT. Stanton then read the following answer
- the charge Of mem0rialists. He said all
charges were thus answered except the two
last, which would subsequently be answered:
ANSWER TO ADDITIONAL CaARGBe YILED BY
COUNSEL YOR NBN0RIALIeT3.
The Board Of Public Works submits the fol-
lowing snswer . the additional chsrR and
specifications Of the memorisfsts, signed by
their coCnsel:
hrs disregarded the laws Of the United Sta.ee