National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-08

Mr. Wilson, The difference between the two
would probably represent the certffcatesa &
Mr.. Msgruder. Yes, sir; about do It.. lean
come very near it. / can do that. --- e
Mr.. Christy. We desire to call now, Mr..
Bliss upon the subject of the Cotton contract.
ca. BLISS, RECALLED.
By the Chairman: @. What Is your business
Mr.. Bliss' A. Civil engineer and bridge
builder. =.
Q. You have some other business also, haven't
yous A. have been engaged in the lumber
business somewhat since, and in the wood bust
| ness.
| Q. State what you know about the purchase
of material for wooden fences. .-s
The Witness. l would like to say to the COM
mittee, before I give any testimony, that
have been wrongfully reported, and would be
very glad to have an opportunity to correct that
either now or hereafter.
By Mr.. Stanton: Q. What day were you ex-
amined, Mr.. Bliss? A. On Monday, the Soth OF
March.
By the Chairman. Q. Have you marked your
corrections? A. Yes, sir.
@. Just give us the page, and then state
what corrections you desire to have made. A.
On page 565 didn't wish to be understood as
stating positively that could identify stone or
| brick or curbing that was taken from Ninth
street to the corner of Eighth and Q streets.
Mr. Moler, the sub-contractor, could probably
do that.
On page SGT am reported as saying so cents
per cubic yard when I said s. Also, on page
571, am reported as saying two men working
| four carts. 1t ought to be four men working
two carts. They have got 1t transposed. Mr..
Stewart and Mr.. Allison will both probably re-
member they asked me several questions to
come to direct conclusion, but you always
asked me about one cart, when 1t required two
to carry out my proposition. Also, on page
573, where / said ga thorough cut, they have
| 90 MT - IL nDttrolv diffaranf
On page 572, speaking about horse hauling
200 feet. If he said two horses would have
explained it.
On page 574, 800 feet ought to be $500
average haul. That is all 1 believe.
NowI would be happy to submit some fig
ures, which hope will not be misconstrued by
any one, and which carries out to logical end
the desire that your honorable chairman and
Mr.. Stewart, believe, try to arrive at.
The paper was handed to the chairman, who,
on examining it, said:
This statement here calls to my mind several
questions that asked you on that day. re-
greet exceedingly that could not then make
you understand what wanted to have you I'M
derstand; but see now that you have figured
it out, and have given me what Ithen asked
| for.
The Witness. The only reason was, you asked
me for one horse, and It required two horses to
do the work-one going out while the other
| was coming in.
The Chairman. We were speaking of carts,
| and suppose they were one-horse carts.
The Witness. You know there were great
many questions put to me about one-horse cart
| loads
The Chairman. remember distinctly of ask
| ing you how many carts could be economically
worked A. Yes, and told you, but you did
not speak of two carts when wanted to re-
duce it.
The following is the statement introduced by
the witness:
| STATEMENT OF COST AND VALUE OF WORK.
Grading.
-Four men will shovel Is cubic yards per day
| each.
Wages Of two horses and carts, at s2.5o each, 90
Total cost for moving 90 cubic yards 200 feet SO 50
Value of 80 cubic yards moved 200 feet, at IS
cents per cubic yard. els 90
Proht on 90 yards, $3.50.
Profit on yard, cents 6-1o mills.
That shows the haul for yard of earth 200
feet = what Sixty yards will cost--the profit
on sixty yards.
wish also to submit this paper from actual
test by parties who are engaged by the Board
of Public Works, since my testimony, which
corroborates my statement within three or four
yards.
Q. Did you make the testl A. No, sir; but
by a contractor here in the city that made the
test, have confidence in. Instead of sixty
yards, he makes it ffty-two and half, think.
Consequently, my judgment is not so far from
the facts.
Q. Who made this statement for youl A.
A. s. Gleason.
Q. Is he in the cityl A. Yes, sir; he is con-
tractor under the Board of Public Works
Q. Is he not summoned A. He has made It
since was on the stand here.
Q. Is this statement made out by you? A.
No, sir; by Mr.. A. 8. Gleason, a contractor here
in the city, and he submitted 1t to me, and l
told him would be very glad TO present it to
your honorable body, as it verifes nearly my
statement.
statement handed to chairman
would like to present to you list of con-
tracts for paving during the administration of
Mayor Bowen, when l was city surveyor, Civ
ing you the prices not only of paving, but
sewerage, &C, kept in my office, and showing
the list of prices at that time,
Statement handed to chairman.1
Q. What book is that you have therel A.
This is book had in my Office that kept
there for my own personal contracts; copies of
contracts, &C., kept in my Office so as to |
always have them with me. The originals are
on file to verify my statements.
And another point wish to call attention to. |
Samuel Strong testified here, the other day, |
that had given him orders to move materials |
from the streets. Samuel Strong never had |
contract on the streets while was in office, to |
my knowledge. The only contract was a sewer |
where had left the material in the streets, and |
l merely required him to clear the street off |
Consequently that has no bearing on that sub
ject. so far as that is concerned.
By the Chairman: @. Tell US whether you
sold any OF this lumber2 A. A year ago this
month-month of April-Mr. Frank II. Smith
came to my house, during my absence, and
left word that he desired to see me. called
at his house, and he wanted to know If would
furnish him some chestnut lumber for railing,
as he expected to build great deal of railing
here in the city for the Board of Public Works.
Q. Who said thisl A. F. H. Smith. I told
him could furnish him the lumber, but did |
not know then at what prices. asked him how
much. He said, at present, fifty or sixty |
thousand feet as an experiment. Immediately
went to work-went to different places to see
could obtain the lumber on short notice,
and report to him. l had letters-I had writ
to different mills-stating to me what they
would furnish the lumber for. then, on the
9Th day of May, from the memorandum have
In my book at Mr.. Smiths house-in front of
his house-he ordered me to get out four
thousand feet ofposts four by four, four and
a-halt feet; two thousand feet three by four,
four and half feet; two thousand feet two by
TWO by fourteen, sixteen and eighteen feet.
z. Did he tell you what uses he desired to
apply this lumber TOT A. Yes, sir. He showed
me specimen of railing opposite his house
that he had been building, and he told me that
be expected to build something of that kind.
Q. This was the fencing lumberl A. Yes,
sir; and he told me at that time, too, that he
lid not know whether it would be one or two ,
Or three rails. He said they were negotiating
Tor wire in Philadelphia, and it had not been !
determined whether they would have all lum-
Der or wire. For which was to receive $40
thousand.
q. Did he tell you as to whether ANYBODY
Else had any interest In this contract other than
himself in this work. A. No, sir, he didn't. '
de didn't say that he had contract.
Y. What is It he said! A. He said he was
soing to put up some of that fence for the :
3oard of Public Works. asked him If he had I
written contract. think ut that time he q
aid he had not; that he had put 1t I'D on Y
riders. told him that didn't wish to furn- c
sh lumber and look to the Board of Public
Works for my pay. I told him If he paid for
he lumber, all right. He said that he didn't Z
ave written contract, and didn't consider
safe to depend upon the board for payment, i
told him that If he would be responsible / |,
Tould furnish him the lumber. Thought that II
rom the way he was situated, there might be 0
ONE slip in the contract.