The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-03-19

l1NtA%AAe
Washington cofrespondencO n. 7. sun.
The Joint Select Committe 60 inyes-
tigale the affairs of the District of Coll
umbia will begin their iabors on Mon-
day next. Individual members the
Committee have been carefully study
ing the evidence submitted to them by
various persons having personal know
ledge of the doings OF the Board OF
Public Works. Among the most i'm
portant facts which will be establish
ed beyond peradVentnre are, first, that
work around the property OF Cabinet
officers and Senators done BY the
Board has been charged to property
spesks for itself:
BOARD OF PUBLIc WoEKs, DTsTRIcT orr
CoLuNBIA, WAsaINeToN, October 14, 1s5s
Messrs Riley and Clsrk; .sas..4., :,
Williams to the satisfaction of Mrs " siI.ams
This work must be commenced and finished )
without delay. BY order of Board
sfs issp e''iu''t General Superintendent
This was for work done on the pro-
perty of the Attorney Generals and in
nosway connected with the streets or
alleys near it. 1t cost 81 2139, and parts
of il was charged to an alley and the
balance to two squares on an avenue
two streets distant. The cellar Of
Mrs, Williams house was dug by pub
lie employees. ut q cost of $14, 600. Sod
ding ana sother work, amounting to
Sl.592, was also done, which has not
yet been paid. Lots belonging to Or.
Blake, Vice President of ths Board of
Public Works, were flied by order OF
the Board, at cost of $1,150s paid in
certificates of Indebtedness issued
against property on an avenue where
the contractors never worked.
THE PAVEMENT JOB.
Second-De Golyer and Mcclellan,
of Chicago, were the owners of pat
ent for wood pavement, known as De
Golyer No. 2. They were deeiri0us
Of obtaining a large contract from the
Board of Public Works. They sent to
Washington Mr.. George R. Chittenden
to act as their agent. He came here
in the spring of 1872 and began opera
tions-first with William s. Hunting-
ton, as his letter of February s, 1872,
printed in Tribune of January q,
shows. After Huntington's death he
was forced to form new combinations.
He took in as his First Lieutensnt
Colonel Richard Parsons, of 0hiothen
Marshal of the Supreme Court of the
United States, and now member of
the Forty-third Congress, and Col.
Dom Piatt, editor of the Capital. Gov.
Cooke was, however, as he states in n
letter to Mr.. Mcclellan, dated May
Both, his principal reliance after the
death OF Huntington. NotWithstand-
ing his formidable influence, he was
unable to get the contract until he
secured still stronger man, General
u. 4 -
the statements, made by Cbittenden
in his letters to his principal in Chica-
go. These letters are in existence, and
have been exhibited TO various per-
sons who will testify to their contents
should they be hereafter destroyed. A
contract tor two hundred thousand
squire yards of wood pavement at $3 80
DER square yard was awarded TO DE
Golyer s. Mcclellan in June, 1872. As
soon as the award was made Chitten-
den telegraphed to his principals that
the award had been made and that be
must have immediately $25,000 ia
cash and $4,000 in negotiable paper.
This telegram is also in existence.
The Cash and paper were furnished
him. Chittenden retained 5000 for
his own services and expenses, Colonel
Richard Parsons reoeixed $4,000, and
the balance Of the cash was divided
Dom Piatt, General Garfield,
and one other party whose nanle has
not been mentioned. The negotiable
paper was discounted by q Chicago
bank, the most of 1t passing through
he hands of a man named Kirkland,
who is connected with the District
ring. A gentleman connected with
he firm of De Golyer 8 Mcclellan, of
arge experience ia laying wood pave
nents, win testify it did not coss the
company over 81 90 per square yard
% lay this paYements It is due to
General Garfield 20 say that the only
hing he diasfer Chittenden was to.
write "a opinion on the patent and
hat he received only moderate fee
Tor his legal services.