National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-09

tomorrow
MR.. SHOWERS RECALLED.
By Mr.. Wilson: Q. Have you examined the
blocks of Bridge street, Georgetown: A. 1 did
last evening.
Q. Have those blocks been treated or nQt'
A. Yes, sir; by the ironzing process; very poorly
though.
O. Show the committee the block If you have
it. (Witness produces three or four dinerent
blocks.)
Q. Have they been treated by the zinc pro-
cessi A. Yes, sir.
o. That is the burnetizing processi A. Yes,
By the Chairman: Q. Have all those blocks
that you have produced here been treatedf A..
Yes, sir.
been treated by the Robbins process, one by the
burnetizing process, and the other by the iron
izing process. :,
Q. Were they all taken from Bridge street,
A. Only the one; the burnetized.
By Mr. Wilson: Q: You say these blocks on
that street have been treated A. Yes, sir.
Q. State whether they have or have not been
treated according to that process of treatment2
A. According to my judgment this block is
not properly preserved by that process.
By Mr.. Mattingly; Q. Why do you state
thati A. You see, gentlemen, that the color
of this block-it is only about an inch or an
inch and quarter from the head of the block.
The centre Of that block is marrow-the fiber
of it is all green lumber.
By Governor Shepherd: Q. Please take apiece
out of the centre and see If you do not think 1t
is properly treated (Witness does as he is re-
quested.)
Witness, (handIng piece of the block cut
out to Mr.. Mattingly.) See if you can taste any
zinc In that; can't.
Mr.. Mattingly. taste something in it. L
don u know whether it is zinc or not.
Q. Suppose you cut it down at the edge and
see If it is not the samel A. 1t is different In
color.
Mr. Mattingly' Yes; I know there is q diff
ference In color. l am not talking about that.
By Mr.. Wilson: @. Your only criticism upon
that block is, as l understand it, that in the
inside of the block the zinc or whatever wa!
used does not penetrated A. No, sir.
Q. But the block had been put through that
processl A. Yes, sir.
O. But not sufficiently so to get the zinc into
the middle of the blocki A. No, sir.
Q. That is all the criticism you made upon
itl A. Yes, sir.
Austin p Brown, being called and moi
responding, the clerk was instructed by the
chairman to deduct the per diem of the witness
during such as he has not been in attendance,
he having been called at different times with
out responding. The chairman stated he would
also make this order in regard to other wit
nesses who failed to be in attendance at the
time they were wanted.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN W. WRIGHT.
John W. Wright, witness, was called, but
did not respond.
Mr. c. E. Evans being called, the chairman
ST lated that a telegram had been sent to him,
and he would probably be here tomorrow
morning.
Mr. Christy I am informed by the Sergeant.
alarms that the other witnesses from Chicago
will probably be here tomorrow morning, and
in the absence of those witnesses l would sug
gest that the committee adj ouru.
The Chairman. May 1 ask you if you have
closed your case with that exception
Mr.: Christy. No, sir; and for this reason we
have called for certain responses in regard to
the materials used which have not been furn-
ished. We desire to direct testimony to that
subject.
The Chairman. Do you know, Governor
Shepherd, when Mr.. Magruder will be able to
furnish the information that is desired by the
gentlemen?
Governor Shepherd. 1 think, to-day. The
clerks have been diligently at work number
of days preparing the statement. There is a
vast amount of work to be done In getting out
the number of feet of pipe which have been
used in this city since we have commenced our
operations.
The Chairman Mr. Christy, have you closed
your case with the exception of this matter
and the examination of the witnesses from
Chicago!
Mr.. Christy. No, sir; we have several wit
nesses whom we will examine at the first con-
venience of the committee.
The Chairman. On other topics.
Mr.. Christy. Yes, sir; on the general subjects
of the case. We desire, for instance, to call
Columbus Alexander and certain other gentle
Il. .4Al I.,N,
The Chairman. Why not call them at this
timer
Mr.. Christy. am informed by Mr.. Alexan-
der that there are certain papers which he
wishes to have with him when he gives his tes-
timony, and he has not these papers at the
present time.
The Chairman. Very we'll, only desired to
facilitate matters.
The names Of several witnesses were called,
and the witnesses were discharged.
TESTIMONY OF BENJAMIN SUNNY
Benjamin Sunny, sworn.
By the Chairman: Q. You live On the Seventh
street roadl A. Yes, sir.
Q. VIII you state what you know about that
roadl A. know considerable about its con-
struction and reconstruction. l lived there for
a good many years.
Q. Do yon know anything about its cost? If
so, please state? A. Nothing more than the re-
ports give; but know the amount of my as
seSsments.
Q. What does that amount to per footl A.
The first bill rendered was 500 and fraction
of cent, and afterward 1 had another bill
rendered, April 10, and that was about 97Z
cents foot, amounting to 81 ,225 or 81 ,226, l
do not remember which. 1t made my land
average about $40 per acre.
do not understand exactly
what the counsel desires with this witness.
You will please examine him.
Mr.. Merrick. Can you describe to us the con-
dition of that SeVenth-street roadi
The Witness. At present?
Mr.. Merrick. Yes, sir.
A. Well, 1t is in pretty fair condition at
present. It has been a very favorable winter
for country roads.
Q. How does it compare with the old Sew
enth-street road? A. As far as the grade is
concerned, it is far superior, and as far as the
width of the road is concerned, do not think
there Is any addition-or very little.
Q. No addition in its travelling facilitiesl A.
Only It is wider. You can shun all bad places.
Q. Is 1t thoroughly grayeledl A. 1t has been
grayeled with rather an inferior article. Part
of it has been macadamiZed.
Q. Is 1t well gravelsdl A. A part of 1t; from
my house down towards the city. It is well
graveled, and good material.
Q. How with regard to the other parti A.
MOI SO SOOO.
Q. Was any portion of 1t macadamizedl A..
Sixteen feet wide in the centre; that was
macadamized.
Q. All the way through A Yes, sir.
Q. And then beside the gravell A. Yes, sir.
Q. How does the work upon it compare in
quality with the cost A. 1t does not compare
fRvorably.
Q. What do you suppose would be the fair
cost of a road IN a condition in which that Isl
A. Well, 1 do not know that could state what
the road would cost, really; but 1 am not SAL
isHed with the labor performed. 1t was per-
formed very injudiciously; that is, not econom-
was performed by day lahorers, and great
deal of 1t since has been performed by day
laborers. l vii. simply state in that connec-
ton, that this past January, after we had quit
on the Fourteenth street road, the weather be-
ing bad--suspended there for the time being
was requested to do some work on the Seventh
street road, and they commenced there with a
gang of hands and carts; and right opposite to
my house there was another gang of hands,
under the employ Of the Board of Public
Works, employed at the same time. Our
hands commenced In the morning at half-p
seven. The other hands commenced at eight.
They would quit quarter before twelve, and
we would stop at twelve. At half-past twelve
we would commence again, and they COM
menced at one o'clock. A quarter before five
they would stop. We would stop at five. The
amount of labor performed, they had the same
number of hands, and the same number of
carts. My hands would load two carts, or