The Portland daily press., 1874-05-22
Washington News and Gossip.

OF PUBLIC wORKS-IMPORTANT STATEMENT
OF AN ENGINEER.
A Washington dispatch says that the testi-
mony of Adolf Cuss, Engineer and member of
the Board of Public Works, was examined by
the District Investigating Committee Wednes-
day, is the most important yet given. He
states that as member of the board he was
never consulted as to contracts and prices, and
that Gov. Shepherd, as chairman, had a sub
engineer who made estimates and measure
ments as Shepherd desired Measurements
were mere guesses and work was done which it
was not necessary to do The following ex-
tract from the testimony tells its own story.
Witness testified that Oertly, Ia sub engineer
of Shepherd's) made nearly all the measure
ments for John o. Evans. 1t was his wit
nessO duty to designate who should make
measurements, but Oertley told him he was
acting under Mr.. Shepherds orders, and he
must not be blamed for what he did, He often
did not see Oertley for week. He would ask
where he was and found usually that he was
engaged in some Government measurements.
There was never any vote passed officially by
the board that designated to what contractors
should be paid the Government appropria-
tions.
Question-Who measured the work of the
Evans Concrete Company?
Answer-Mr. William Forsyth
Question-Who designated him?
Answer-I did not.
Question-Dd you object to him?
Answer did not know anything about the
designation until the work was measured
This work amounted to about one million dol
lars, and was certified to without my know
ledge.
by Forsyth.
A.-Frequently. When l took charge 1
found an error made by him of 1000 yards in
the Degalier & Mcclellan measurement He
tried to bully me, and said his figures had new
er been questioned for 25 years and should not
be now. told Gov. Shepherd, and he re-
quested me to go over the work, which I did,
and corrected the mistake. Forsyth made an
excessive measurement to Frank M. Smith of
1000 yards on the M street wood pavement.
l corrected that measurement also. There was
a case with another Smith on b street, between
I'd and Sd streets, of an over measurement of
400 square yards l Insisted that another man
be designated to make these measurements. /
then secured Mr. Barney A. Goodman
Odd Mr. Forsyth make any measure
ments after that?
A.-Not under my direction. He did under
somebody else and measured Government
work. Witness then explained the discre-
pancy of certain grading on Massachusetts
avenue. He said a final award of 105, 900 yards
was made. He thought 5000 yards would cover
all the grading done. The prices paid for flag
ging witness thought too much. Contracts
were frequently signed after the work was
commenced. 1t was generally the rule to have
the contractors sign contracts and then the
Board signed them at their leisure in bulk.
Witness testified that an average price for
sewer work chargeable to the government
would be $40 per foot, instead of $40 as
charged. Witness computes the cost of good
wood pavement laid in Washington street at
81 per square yard; to this he would add 20
per cent for profit. The board paid $3.50 per
square yard.
Q.-Do you know anything about the grad
ing on 18th and 18th streets, near the War De-
partment.
A.-The District has paid for the grading
So, 09540. The Government is charged $685.
175.
Mr.. Glass was examined with reference to a
tabular statement submitted by him. He also
submitted the voucher of John o. Evans for
18th street. where 1900 yards Of filing is
charged at 40 cents He did so to show that
the bill was in different handwriting, and
that when he signed the voucher he did not
know these amounts were included. The fig
ures are in the handwriting of Oertley. 1t
would be Mr.. Barney's duty to fill up the
voucher, but Oertley, acting under special
orders to measure John 0. Evans work. filled
up these amounts, and Mr.. Barney is not res
$2125. They have charged the Government
$S195 for the sewer. The grading on Mary
land avenue between LIST and 18th streets cost
the Board $S5, 1855. The United States has
paid $25, 02083.
GLOW do you account for this?
Al cannot account for it. L have taken
the accounts and made up the statement. In
North Carolina avenue the amount charged to
the United States Is $31, 3O667. The cost to
the Board is $9821.70.
Q.-How do you account for that discrepan-
Al cannot account for 1t. I have taken
the records of the Engineers offices for the
statements.
Q.-On Connecticut avenue the cost is $16,-
$3.50. The United States has paid over $21,-
600. Howis that accounted for?
Al know no reason why it should be so. I
have taken the records.
Witness read from the journal of the Engi-
neers office certain applications made by Al
bert Gleason for grading work on certain
streets in the southwestern and other portions
of the CITY, He found that five days after
this application was made Assistant Engineer
Oertley, without the aid of instruments, rod
men, or anybody to help him, had made an es:
innate OF all the streets, which was delivered
to Mr. Gleason by order. The voucher is for
$148, 230 IL. Asked Oertley how he did this,
and be said must not blame him, as he was
following out orders.
On looking the case up he found that another
voucher was passed which was concealed from
him of about $4,000. Could not see how
twelve streets could be measured in five days
without instruments or rodmen, or assistance
of any kind. Witness stated that Mr.. Shep-
herd appointed all the Street Superintendent,
that they had not been paid for several months
and they would generally sign anything as cor
rect. That last summer 40 Superintendent
were employed, and that had they been ap-
pointed and controlled by the Engineers De-
partment, as they should have BEEN sixty good
men could have done the work more satisfac