National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-21
DISTRICT INVESTIGATION
CONTINUATION OF THE EVIDENCE
TAi6EN III THE COMMITTEE.

TIE CALCSLA1IONSA AND COMPARISONS F
GR-wRIGHT RIvRs-THE REOoLLECTIoSs
OF EX-&AYoR NJ, G. EMERY-THE RECORD
OF W. II. CLAGETT CoRRECTED-wHAT
ADOLF CLUSS HAS JUST REMEMBERED
THAT HE WAS FoT CONSULTED ABOUT,
&c, &c.
OF THE TESTIMONY OF WRIGHT
RIvEs.
By Mr.. Thurman @. Was there not come
work done after the date of the report of the
Board of Public Works in 1872 and before the
preparation OF the Governors answer, on that
ayenuef
The Witness. From Ninth to Frteenth
street,
Mr. Thurman. Yes.
The Witness. Not to my knowledge.
Governor Shepherd. l should like to ask Mr..
Riyes under what appropriation that s9l ,OCo
was paidi
Mr.. ThurmsD Perhaps the witness had bet
ter 20 on and make his statement before any
questions are put TO him. Witness resumed
the reading of his statement as follows:l
Mr.. Oertly in his testimony, page 1875, states
the total cost of the same be SS3, 1902 dfter
ence Of eos 247 81 from his former charges, since
he has stated in his testimony that be made the
charges against the United States, The amount
&l4 e37 As the amount sent to the President as
the true amount
PENNSYLVANIA avenue First to Seventh east
report Board-of Public W Orks 1873, page l5o; Gov
ernOrs answer, page AT. 1t we examine TINS
table we will find 43,ll2 square yards Of wood
contract No 5S3 pages go and 352 we see that the
contract reads, TO lay the wood pavement, de
Golyer) from First to Eighth street, and TO e&-
tend through and around reservation on PennsyL
Vania avenue and Z street southeast and that
there was paid for the same $3.50 sg2. Now there
should have been deducted from this 43-ll2 square
yards wood pavement, the amount from Seventh
to Eighth street, amounting to 5000 square
yards, and this is reasonable estimate Ieaving
- g 1TO 81 int n fah
private property was charged eli, 500 too much.
By Mr.. Mattingly: Q. When was. this pre-
paredl / only want to know whether It was
prepared after the explanation by GovernoS
Shepherd of the statement in the Governors
answer There is typographical error in the
answer, which has been explained by the Gov
ernor.
The Witness. have not seen that explana-
ton.
8, You have never seen that A. No, SIR
Mr.. Mattingly. That is all. simply wanted
to know whether you had seen the explanation
or nc.
r.he witness resumed the reading of his
statement, as follows:
But the United States paid for two thirds of the
5000 square yards=$l,ee7 Now, on page 81,
Seventh to Eighth streets east. the United States
is charged for 3,S6S square yards wood pavement.
through the square, at $3.50, Sl3.S3s, and this Is
l3Il2 square yards; United States charged with
SIS loOs0 for sewers two thirds OF this, Sl2
In table whole cost OF sewer 0354S, two thirds
of this, to,69Oe2; deduct this from the above, and
we have t6.4l6.Ss overcharged to United STATES:
New York avenue, Seventh to North Capitol
street, Governors answer, page IA, report OF
In table. whole amount Of curb, new and old,
S,elek feet; United States L, So. Macadam pave
nent, table 27,4l3 square yards. United States
,643 feet, at $40, 2l,S23lo: United States
charged with two thirds Of this, sl4,Sis:o7. But
IN report Of Board Of Public Works, 1873, page
States two thirds is o. .S30.75, deduct from the
above, and we have Se,Tl7.2 as oVereharged to the
United States.
No. 55-Inquisition.
June l. Is3O-Part Of 2 W. Il. So much Of said
tGs as ,rn th n9th 5 Size q a SsTsght Line
ured west on the southwest line OF said lot, from
the southernmost corner to point at the end of
60 ieet measured west on the northeast line OF
said lot from the easternmost corner thereof, and
the land belonging or appertaining to the said lot
lying next thereof, as recorded April s, 1880, in
W. B. s. folio 1875.
Record book in surveyors ONCE reads as fol-
lows: Square W. II, LOT 2; front feet; east, 20:
square feet, o,e17 w. b. Todd.
By Mr.. Bass: Q. All these items in regard to
sewers, as l understand you, are made up by
you with reference to this charge of $40, as
being a fair average charged A. Yes, sir.
z. And these items you have selected are
items where, in fact, the sewer has cost less
than S4.70i A. Every place took it took
the actual table OF sewers.
By Mr. Msttingly: Q. Have you taken in all
these cases in which the amount paid by the
United States per linear foot of sewer is con-
one Of that kind. Just took simply the sewer
tables, SO everybody can see 1t to be correct
and easy reference. did not gooutside at all.
New York avenue, Ninth to Fifteenth street.
Along this line three intersections: ]. Between
Tenth and Eleventh streets. 2 Between Elev-
enth and Twelfth streets. 8. The sharp angle in
front Of Gurley's church, between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth. These three spaces contain in all
about q, 900 square feet; but on page T. report
Board Public Works, 1878, items Nos. Z, s, Is and
16, the surveyor Of the District measures these
spaces and gums up total Of g. $50 square feet in
these three triangles and on page q Gtems Nos.
Il, a. 49 and W. L. Morgan, tax clerk apprases
these angles. nggregating value OF ground In
them OF SS7,Ss2 The board thus honOrs these
spaces with the title Of reservations while taxing
the main part Of street with funds under the head
Of Improvements Of avenues, 1.-TWO thirds OF whole
cost II leyies also from the General Govern
ment for improvements 10 front OF United States
property, aRd claims beside, ten mills for main
sewerage, BASED on the surveyors expanded
areas. The following charges are made, (see Gov
ernOr's answer, page sos y Reservation corner Of
New York avenue and church, 81. $50 reservation
New York avenue and Twelfth street, Il.ll.T5;
New York avenue and Tenth street, sTJO.4O: page
40 reservation at New York avenue. Thirteenth
and streets, Sol making total Of s26, 3s2 Is.
sl9,l4s; United States, $4,000, (sse table !,
street report Board Of Public Works, 1872 max
ing, in ell, t4sl9s56 The actual Of the newly
made reservations pays, TO begin with, tax of
g. 90 per square foot for pavement (see UertIey's
testimony, page 1914 along their frontage, no
sOdding or fencing being in the bill. This street
" OrEs Isf2, table XIV. We md The cost Of the
street figured up in table XVII. Wefnd full bill
Of sewers in this ayenns; aId . recapitulation IS
o. l73PO=Sl2l ,ETlsI This account t1overnor's an
sWer, page -. IL mixed up with other
PARE u we nsIuS. entlleis E1Is.onnecte1 from
meDt grOuLIs on one SIDE and Mount Vernon
Square - the other side. We part this amount
which two thirds is charged to the Cnited States
-spl, TlS.2O. From this deduct for former meas
urements under this head, page &l4. 81, eS9. -.
ansWer,) and we have t6s,TT5.75, equal to total
charge for the avenue, without claim for main
sewerage and for adjoining reservations as above.
e4e, 4S9.45, and We have slle,2i5.3O. according TO
this the United States pays two thirds, and pays
within &3,256.9 Of the total cost Of the street,
as stated in the Governors answer. But II
we compare the Governors answer with the
table, we will find that the United States has
paid the following amounts more than the cost Of
the same, as .tated in the table, viz: Sewers,
49, curb, sl456.ls; brick pavement, 81 s4 SO;
concrete, e, 29 o. sodding, S6S964 tar sidewalk,
$7l5.35; grading. q, S6254; making in all, sl7,-
$l4O47!e6. That is the United States has paid this
amount beyond the cost of the avenue to the
Board Of Public Works. Now, If we examine the
table we find that the Board Of Public Works have
collected from the property holders $50 81 for
the cost Of the street; add 1t to the above,
(sl4 Of7.9o,l and We have S47,e57.sS. That is to
say, that the Board of Public Works have col
lected this amount in money beyond the cost of
New York avenue, from Ninth to Fifteenth
street.
By Mr. Mattingly: Q. As gather from your
cursory reading, you say that the Government
has paid Sl4, 900 in excess of the cost of New
York avenue from Ninth street to Fifteenth
street, A. Yes. sir. j examined Mr.. Oertley's
tables. ] do not know whether there is any
use of referring to them, but will saw that
have gone over them and find he has left out
. good many things where money has been
paid. The length Of this street is wrong. He
has left out square west of Fourteenth street.
On Pennsylvania avenue, for instance, In the
testimony, page 1873, he has got 5,937 feet OF
private property. The total amount of private
property is 6 ,031 feet inches. / went over 1t
very carefully. / referred to the plat-book
published by Congress in 1852, and also the
new plat-book, which is certified to by Mr.. For
syth, and also examined the official records in
the surveyors Office.
By Mr.. Stewart: Q. Did you take the same
basis that he didi There was some testimony
here TO the effect that in measuring along the
streets they LEFT out property not taxable, such
as churches, lighthouses, &C., and charged
it to the other property. Now, how is that ar
SaRged so as to increase the number eff feet
preportionately TO make Il up 10 the number of
5eet- A. It increases the amount to the
foot.
n ma