, 1874-04-08
Report Of the Board Of Engineers on the
James River 4 Kanawha
Canal Route.
Cost of the Work Estimated at
$60,OOO,OOO.

$6O,OOO,OO0.
Debate in the House on the Currency
Bill.
TEE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Special Dhpatch to Yhs Chicago Tribune.
THE RESULT SUMMED up.
WASHINGTON. D. O., April III the disclos-
urea nude boforo tho Congressional Committee
Investigating the affairs of the District of Co.
lumbiA fail to convict tho officers Of tho Govoru-
ment and tho Board Of Public Works OF fraudu-
lent PRACTICES, they certainly will tend to prove
the uttor un1tneas and incompetcncy Of tho ma
jority, at least, Of those officials to administer
tho affairs Of city like Washington. Up to
tho
PRESENT STAGE OF THE INVESTIGATION,
the testimony against tho official integrity Of
ox-Goy. Horny D. Cooke, Col. Magruder, William
A. Cooke, and Col. smno is worry damaging, and
will require something moro substantial thnn
those meu's donial 10 convince the world at 1arge
that thoy are tho pure md upright gentlemen
they 30 IN uch des!re to be considered. It was
the intention OF the Commfttoe to have glyon
Ex,~0ov. COOKE
al opportunity to-day to purge himself Of tho
i,npu:ation that :sy~swblle Goynvnor Of the Dis
trict, and, taking advantage Of TINT position,
entered into Interpretations In connection
with moubors Of Congress and others, and Sign
cd contracts AZ Governor after the expiration Of
Ills term OF Office. etc, but lie failed to anBWer
tho Summons. When he does put in an appear
anco he will be Afforded an opportunity to ex-
plain great many affairs connected with his
administration Of the Office Of Governor. Col.
samo hnB published statement concerning tho
check given him by the contractor Strong, but 1t
does not receive the crodenoe Of tho public gon-
orally.
WILLIAM 4. COOKE
hold up his hand ngain to-day to explain his con-
noction with The 1000 check loft in his charge
10 nnceremontously BY the lboral- minded
Strong, hut it is doubtful II hs statomont proved
( satisfactory oven to such Btaunch friends Of the
| District as Senator Stewart and Representatives
Indian Agent Frank II. Smith. whoao improper
connection with cortain contracts much effort
| has been made to conceal, was unexpectedly un.
| enrthcd to-dny through tho fundamentally OF
| @. II: Bliss civil engineer. 1t will bo romem-
! bored that fow days ago man nnmed Colton
| teatitied that Smith had nothing to do with
THE FENCING CONTRACT,
which netted profit OF nearly $50 600 on m
Investment OF loss than a20,000. To-day Bias
|
him for d }argo amount Of lumber to DO used
| for fencing, and informed the witness that ho
(Smith) Ind contract with tho Board OF Public
| Works to do tho toucing around tile parkWayB
| of tho city. So much for tho Indian Agent.
| THE EVIDENCE or JOSEPH FLETCHER,
an ox-grocor ard contractor undor the Board OF
Public Works, given this evening, proved quite
interesting. It appears from the statement OF
tue witness tlat about ycar, 49, finding ting
his bank account growing smaller by degreoa
and beautifully less, ho called On well-known
Bewer-cont, actor named Williams: and requested
him to uao hs influence with tho Doard OF Public
Works to got him {Flctcher) i contraot. He
suggested to Williams that there was nice
ittle lob for an idle person like him (Fletcherj
lying around tho Botanical Gardens, consisting
in tic contract for laying the tagging. Williams
| promised his; and, In very few days, Elotcho,
was in happy possession of
| THE MUCH Priced CONTRACT.
His agreement with the Board WAS to trim
match, IND 10y tue tagging, and to to receive to- o.
furnish tho material. Both parties went t.
work. Tho Doard laid down on tho grount
1000 or 10000 foot OF now but very ipforiol
tagging: and 49, oo0 Or 20, 900 feet Of old bnt OK
Fletcher that 10 muBt, in addition to putting
} down tho tagging, also do to packing. 10 th
l,o objected, aud, aftor good deal of trouble,
new contract was drawn, allowing him moro pay
but including tho packing. Under this urne,idet
contract. Fletcher went ahcaJ, aid completed
tho greater part Of tho work, but he
NEVER GOT GENT FROM THE hoAHD
for tho labor. Ho bus not, up to tho l'resen
| day, been ablo to make eottlomont with them
All this work hns boon measured and accepted
The Government Of tito United STATUS stand
credited with tho payment to tho Board Of Publ
Works on the 18th ot September last Of sl.a5
tho Botanical Gatdcn. It - upon THU last po!n
that the Joke come In. Mr. Fletcher toBtltle