Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-25
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Progress of the Examination.


Cancellation Yesterdays Proceedings
After our report of the District investigation
closed yesterday Mr.. John o. Evans, who was
on the stand, stated that the avenue pavement
cost him about 50 GO per square yard. That he
had not and no one for him had ever given any
| money TO any member of the Board of Public
Works for the purpose of securing any con-
tracts. Never had any arrangement, implied
or expressed with any officer OF the District gov
eminent regarding contracts. Did not know and
never had known OF any fraud or corruption on
the part of the board or its employees
His contracts with the board require that ali
the patent payements laid by HIM should be
kept in good repair for three years. There has
never been any loss to the District by any
payemeDts put down by him beng out of re-
pair. Considered three years ample time 10 re-
quire guarantee tor pavement. \ bad con-
crete Will show within six months. In answer
to question from Mr.. Stewart, the witness de-
scTibed the difference in the various grades OF
asphalt.
relation to the letter written by Mr.. Kllbourn
in regard TO the So called paving ring"
The witness answered that as TO his having
any advantage in obtaining paving contracts
he knew of none, unless the fact of his having
the best pavements made the advantage. Ia
making his purchases o asphalt and other ma
terial he had taken the advice of Mr.. Scharf.
the pateDtee of what is considered the best con-
crete pavement. The contracts obtained by
himself, Clephane, and kilbourn were by no
means the majority Of such work. There were
large number given out, far exceeding what
they scored.
MIR. Wilson examined the witness and ques
toned him as to the number of contracts he was
engaged in-thOse with Teemyer & Co, Gle
plane, himself, and the Metropolis Paving
Company.
Witness said he had never at any time any
pay on any contract in advance. Was glad
enough to get the pay for them after the work
was done.
taken up, and the witness explained the work
he did, consisting of tagging, asphalt walks,
&c.
Mr.. Wilson called the attention of the counsel
for the District to a discrepancy in regard to
charges for the work around the circle. 1t APP
peared from the 1872 report OF the Board of Pub
Tic Works, and the answer of the Governor to
have beer paid tor twice.
Mr.. Harringt0D.-We will explain that mat
ter entirely 10 your satisfaction.
Mr.. Wilson.-All right; am only seeking in
Governor Shepherd, in reply TO a request,
stated that he would furnish to-day the present
scale OF prices for work allowed by the Boar!
of Public Works.
Mr.. George b. Abrahams was next sworn
Have been employed for years in laying down
concrete pavements; in New York was foreman
of the SchaTf Patent Pavement company; came
here to work for Mr.. John o. Evans; worked
hrst on the pavement on Pennsylvania avenue
opposite the Presidents house.
In answered. Mr. ChriSte's question to state
the character of the material used in LAYING the
pavement, the witness said the asphalt was of
an inferior character at first; that he h al used
New York, which was one pound of asphalt to
one gallon OF prepared coal tar.
In answer to a question as TO how the avenue
pavement would compare with the pavement
IN front of the Arlington, the witness said he
could hardly express an opinion, as he was not
here when the Arlington pavement was laid.
The hack stand, in front of the hotel, he CON
,idered very severe test OF pavement. The
pavement in front of the Presidents was the
drst Mr.. Evans had laid. At first it was bad,
but ii had been resurfaced and with all the
Il n
now in first rate order.
Mr.. Christie.-Do you know the extent of in.
formation which Mr. John o. Evans had in lay
ing concrete pavements when he got his CON
tracts? A. do not think he had any.
MIR. Stanton.-That is the reason, Mr.. Chris
tie, be procured skilled sub Jrdinates like MT
Abrahams and others.
In answer to a question OF Senator Stewart,
as to how John %. Evans pavement compared
with the pavements laid by g. +. Evans x Co,
he witness said John .. Evans was decidedly
the best. The witness then described the action
OF sulphuric acid on coal tar.
In answer TO question of Mr.. Harrington,
witness said that he had been discharged by
VT. John y. Evans, but not because in the
preparation of the material for the south side of
the avenue he had overheated it. In answer to
tquestion as to what the witness thought would
DE the cost of a pavement similar to that on
the avenue, he replied, about 81 % a yard, not
including the grading, which was worth thirty
or forty cents. Had seen Thornton Smiths
pavement; it did not amount to much, and
would not last month on Pennsylvania ave-
nue..
TO-day's Session.
The committee was called to order this MORN
ing at ten minutes after 10 O'clock.
Counsel tor the District government not hay
ing arrived the committee retired to an ad ioin-
ing room for consultation, and returned AZ
twenty nye minutes of IL O'Clock.
MT. Alllson.-The committee understood
couhseI 1or District government would have
their answer ready this morning
r,H HARRINGTON 20
morning. Counsel were otherwise engaged last
night, but will try and be ready to- morrow
Judge Mesrick requested that counsel for the
memotlahsts be allowed to have access to Ger
tain grade books.
Governor Shepherd replied that noobjection
10 their doing so was interposed b v any member
Of the District government.
MI Harrington said if charges were to be
predlcated on false measurements he would
veyOr, the memOrialists another and the cam
mittee the third.
Mr.. Allison said the committee directed him
10 say that they had the question of the al.
continent OF an engineer under consideration.
lie called for all the contracts and measure
ments connected with the 18th charge, which
sets forth that false measurements were made
on certain streets. When the committee receive
these contracts and measurements Hereunder,
lhey Will definitely decide upon the appoint
Gov. Shepherd said he would furnish the in
i0rmati0n asked for, as well as the proiiIes OF
the grades.
Mr.. Christie said all the evidence for the first
charge was IN, except transcript of the regis
ter OF the Gilsey House, which he woali here
after submit.
Mr.. Harrington said at the present time the
District government would not introduce re-
buttiDg testimony.
Mr.. Christie entt red motion for a subpoena
10 issne for o. ii. Quimby, OF Dixon, Illinois
he desired also to have subpo.nas duces tecaBt
Issued for certain witnesses residing in the CITY
OF Chicago Mr.. Christie said he would pre-
pare ms form OF showing, and present 1t after
recess.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN COLLINS.
james Collins, swJrn.-H ad a verbal contract
with the Board OF Public Works to do certain
work In the First Ward; was to be paid q per
centage on the gross amount; the nature OF the
work was soddiDg, terraciDg, and such details
as were Impossible to arrange under formal
cohuact; the steps put up on terraces were
purchased from the Maryland Freestone com
Psny-on my work, / presume, / purchased
SaoOoo or $40 600 worth of stone from that COM
pany want to state that the per centage ar
rangement was not carried out; the work was
aIteIN ards measured by the Board of Public
WORKS, and was paid at prices established by
lnem. witness explained at length the quality
VI the Dflck ne took up from sidewalks.
by Mr. Wilson:-What was the amount of
your contract? A Between $50 900 and 500 900
commenced my work In 1872; stopped in the
IAN OF 1913; never completed the work-it was
done by other psrties.
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