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

| ago, was very superior quality OF gravel, but
what portion of the bed It came from do not
know. II was brought from the same place,
however-the same farm. ~
Q. Has the road been put under that con-
tract in the condition in which q road ought to
be put according to such contract A. Not
for the amount Of money.
| @. Now, with regard to assessments of prop
| erty-holders upon that road. Do you own prop
erty upon that roadi All do, sir.
| Q. State how the rate of assessment which
has been imposed upon you or other property
holders, If you know, compares with the CON
tract prices as made and reported. A. have
never figured that up yet
Q. VIII you state what would be the price oil
the roadl Have you estimated the proportion
ate amount of the charge which has been made
upon your property A. That would be impos-
sible for me to say now, unless went into 8
calculation. do not think could answer that
question. Pr. ..... ..as.E r. -. r--
| Q. Have you made calculation as to what
| was your assessment A. No, sir. My assess
ment, which took from that book, is fifty nine
cents and some odd mills per front foot; but
have never made an estimate In regard tc
| whether that was correct or not.
Q. What would be the cost, at the rate OF
ffty-nine cents, that you speak of, per front
foot upon your property What would be the
rate Of cost of the road at that rate of assess
mentl A. / never worked that out.
| By Mr.. Wilson: Q. What is the length Of the
roadi A. That I do not know. That is easily
told. You can simply get the length. of the
road. ... .. ..... 80.
By Mr.. Merrick: Q. Do you know the length
OF the road? A. think 1t is some thirteen
thousand and some odd feet. The road is stated
here-page IS, of the report of the Board OF
Public Works of 1S73-to be Columbia turn
pike, 24,121 feet s inches; that is, both
| sides.
By Mr.. Wilson: O. How much is 1t per front
footi A. Fifty -eight and ninety-six hundredths
cents per front foot. never made the calcu-
lation; suppose 1t is correct.
| By Mr.. Merrick: Q. That would be upon the
total cost Of SIS, S2R A. suppose so, sir; I
did not work that out.
Mr.. Merrick. Twas under the impression that
Mr.. Rives had himself made the computation
of the rate of assessment on his property as
compared with the cost.
The Witness. On property on that roadi I
thought the charges were excessive, too high.
commenced to examine and obtain informa-
ton for the purpose of going to the courts, and
have got Information Of that road, and have
worked 1t out; but 1t is for my own private pur-
poses and for the purpose of testing 1t in the
courts If the Bosrd of Public Works enforce
that payment. l have never told any one what
points have in 1t, because do not csre about
exposing my line of defense.
Mr.. Merrick. have called upon you, sir, for
the purpose of ascertaining, being informed
that you knew something about 1t, and know
ing you to be an Intelligent citizen, and resi-
dent out there, to testify in regard to these
matters.
By the Chairman: Q. Let me understand
you. You say you have made calculation
with reference to this road as 1t affects your
own propertyl A. Yes, sir; SO that, if they in
tend to force that payment, will let it go to
the courts and make my own defense.
@. You have not paid for it yeti A. No, sir.
Q. Have they presented billl A. Yes, sir;
year ago.
Q. We dislike to interfere with you, sir; but
we will be very glad to have you state to the
committee your grievances on that point. A.
Well, l think 1t is excessive, In the first place.
Q. State what you know about 1t now, as re-
sulting from your examination and calculs.
ton. A. will have to expose my whole line of
defense against the board.
@. 1t will do you no harm, trust. A. No,
sir: suppose not.
Mr.. Stewart. Oh, they cannot take any advan-
tage of the facts.
The Witness. Well, in the first place, pro-
posals, and this report of the Board of Public
Works of 1871 or 1872 will show that they sub
mitted estimates for that road, and submitted
them to the Legislature for 1913, 900 for that
road. wrote letter to the board, and saw
Mr.. Shepherd In person, who was then vice
president, and made a request that there be
something done to that road. It had been
turnpike road since 1919, and they had not ex-
pended, / suppose, IS, 600 on it in that time up
to the time the board went into power. There
is more travel on that road, with the exception
of Seventh street, think may be more travel
on the Bladensburg than On the Seventh
strickland that something should be done by
the road, as It was impossible at times; and
from that they submitted an estimate Of S23, 900,
approved by the Legislature, and instead of
costing S23, 900, 1t cost $50, 900 for two miles.
Mr.. Merrick, Fifty-two thousand eight hun
dred and twenty-fo dollars. and sixty eight
cents.
The Witness. It is $500 miles, the length
of the road-oyer $50 600 mile.
By the Chairman: Q. Your point Is . legal
one in respect to their right A. Yes, sir; that
is one. Then have derived other information
from private sources.
miles and little over which has cost S52,-
S24 SO, the repair of an old turnpike-one that
has been there for centuries. ...
Mr.. Mattingly. Just ask him about the re-
pair business.
Mr.. Harrington. 1t was not the repair of a
turnpike, 1t was the making of new road.
The Witness. Yes, sir; 1t was filled up 20
feet In some instances.
The Chairman. Mr.. Riyes, you may state to
the committee the character of that improve
ment as to grading, excavation, and filling.
Mr.. Merrick. And the extent and probable
value. To the witness. You are an engi-
neer, are you not; you had West Point edu-
cationl A. Yes, sir; that is part of my pro-
fession.
By the Chairman: Q. You can state whether
that road has been graded or not, or whether
it was simply a repair of an old turnpike road.
l think there is some question as to thati A.
The road has been graded, and some excava-
ton and cutting there's feet-and some
flling-10 or IL feet. The road, l think, could
be put in much better order than 1t is for q
greal deal less money.
@. Now, go on and state the other points
you desire to make with reference to this road.
A. would prefer to be questioned.
By Mr.. Merrick: @. We have asked you to
state in general terms, without specific ques-
TONS There is no need of that, except to q
reluctant witness. We have asked you now,
and 1t is therefore your duty to state within
that general interrogatory all that you know
touching the condition Of this improvement,
the manner In which 1t has been done, the ac-
tual cost, as compared with the reasonable and
proper cost Of 1t. A. never made that esti-
mate.
By the Chairman: Q. You have not made
that estimate? A. No, sir.
@. You have stated that you had certain
pointsl A. Yes, sir.
Q. State those points, You have stated one
of them. A. could not recollect them all,
because have them home in writing upon
memorandum.
By Mr.. Stewart: Q. You say you petitioned
for the roadl A. Yes 4; for the repair of the
road; because 1t was impossible at times.
O. Then the Legislature made an appropria-
ton for the repair of iti A. Yes, sir; of $751;
600.
Q. So far as all that was concerned you did
not object to It'll A. No, sir.
Q. So far as having it repaired, and that
there should be an improvement, that you
think is properl A. Yes, sir; think the road
demanded 1t. 1t was impossible at times, as
said. ..... . .......... -
Q. Does your objection arise from the cost of
the Improvement A. Yes, sir; the cost Of the
improvement.
Q. And the manner of its construction A.
think IL was badly planned. 1t is too
costly. - .'.
Q. Was the plan itself more costly than nee
essaryi A. Yes, sir; do not think that i'm
mense cutting was necessary. If they had
trimmed down the road in portions, and in
some of the hills cut of may be six feet from
about two hills, and one or two feet on small
rises, 1t would have done. .-.-...-
Q. That resulted in mistake In the eng.-
neeringi A. It is mistake in the engineer
ing. Il was done by the surveyor. do not
like to say anything about that. He has been
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