New-York tribune., 1874-12-05

almost He roers TO contract recently
made for afhxng the designations of streets and
certainty OF the plan, with tho Capitol tho initial
point with letered streets running east and west ana
north and south may DO verson % Illus
trious In the history OF the Union commencing VIII
letter.
TRICKS OF THE CONTRACTORS.
Tho prccaution Of requiring contractors to guarantee
their work for term Of years was taken by the Boar
OF Public Works and under this provision no had se"'
notices contractors that repairs were needed ou'
majority OF these instances attention paid to the
charge t TO he contractors. Provision should be madc
for dong large portion Of this work aud suits na'
be brought to recover the amount expohdea Hoi '"'
delinquent contractors or their sureties -
Lieut. Hoxie compliments the Parking Comtnlss'oh vi
ous have been we'll cared for aud under inc sino nc
gont supervision viii soon become ono OF the ,hys;
assumed. with estimated cost OF completion anu saS
work he has provided for Ia the estimates WIN oavo
necessity for further Improvement OF certain @
In order restore them TO the condition In wlc tnoy
were found. Ths IA the IN contracts "hIsh no n
provide for replacing the anu r. ,Vo ~ eces
sary TO provide for repairs or existing work. ahd tue
tension Of sewerage. the latter as sanitary n
ments have not been estimated for.
The Engineer furnishes estimates for the hsca years
ending June 3o 1875 and June 90 1876 Dec
1874 For completion OF contract OF me aro in
Public Works now In operation H.S.oOo' pn1 pad s ubcn
are VI doubtful obligation, upon which he otdet VI su5
pension has not been revoked II allowed 70 ~ nve
about $si4os 81 In 3G5 bonds In addition 10 tne ooVo
claims nave been presented and rejected TO the amount
OF $i3I,ll3 =. ,.o co.. oro
the following items Repairs Of wood pavement 10 DC
charged contractors. $64o Il; concrete sioiv,'
repairs to pavements not chargeahe, 30 W oyi 4Iu
tiona work required for year ending June 80 oo aoou
s77 900 0Co for rebuilding sewer III Eghth-dVe ana
81. 900 for extension OF sewerage. . ~ ,o-, ~
Current expenses for year ending June 3d. 1870 re-
pairs to wood pavements cbarseaoi' 10 m @
sos So repairs to concrete, S23j7 repairs on Woou
and concrete, n0t,chargeabc, s358 sweeping sIIerl
$SO 900 lighting streets. g., s09S CO. WHICH, WIN otei
items foot up $i23 22G IL Eimates are added Tor eA
tension or S33j4 Tor completion OF wOrh oh
streets under contract $l5oOO additional work Tor per
fection OF streets left incomplete by contract not
or resumed OF doubtful obgatiOnl $590OJ
making u total OF over $9l6,GOo.
DRAWBACKS OF TIE CONTRACT SYSTEM.
The engineer notices tho lack OF zeal displayed by
contractors after receiving a contract which Is ac-
counted for In part by tho depreciation OF the Board
paper upon which they unable to realize Gasiac-
tory compensa satlon on cost to raise money for the
prosecution OF their The difficulty was enhanced
by the di.contnuance OF the practice OF purchasing anu
furnishing the the materials Tor MS WORK
The difficulty of making their hrst measurements was
also disadvantage to them, aud Iurtner CAUSE Vi
delay the habit Of obtaining contracts TOT tho pu
pose OF subletpg them. and this was cOmllcaed Ny
the financial embarfassments OF bOth cohtrlc'ois t
subcOtractors operating to deter parties from MAXIM
bona fde contract To do WOrK Win otner5 "bo noli
the right ana unable to secure profitable margin
for themselves.
The working Of the contract system has been pretty
thoroughly tested in the improvements OF the capital,
and I'm the light OF present experience IL does NOT appear
TO advantage. When contracts are advertised 10 DC Ict
70 the lowest bidder it Is difficult 10 discriminate IN
favor of responsible persons and the work Is ape
sighting the work to make up tho loss on thrr Dd in
such cases tho sufciencY OF the securities Is not
work be Wy organized force directly under he
Commission.