National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-08
WILLIAM TINDALL,
Secretary to Commissioners


In conformity with the foregoing, assumed
control on July I, 1874, Of the work Of repair
aud Improvement heretofore devUlYing upon
the Board Of Public Works, and organized the
engineer Office for this purpose.
At this time contractors and others claiming
contracts were at work with 4 view TO cstab-
lish their claims. The 30 bonds, provided
lor meeting the existing legal obligations OF
tho District, had apparently induced many
Who had long since abandoned their work, 10
resume without authority or directions. They
were now working at random, without plans
or supervision. The last report of the super
intcDdents of the Board of Public Works show
that twenty contracts were in operation on
juno so, 1874.
On July I found forty-two in operation,
including the main sewer contracts.
Under your general order of July Il all Of
this work was suspended except the work upon
the main sewers, in order to admit of prelimi-
nary survey and measurement Of the work,
and an examination Of the contract under
which the right to proceed was claimed.
\ strict Interpretation Of the law would
have required simply that | should begin with
the work where l found it. and incur no re-
rpOnsibility for that which had been already
done; but the necessity for a settlement with
contractors for work upon unfinished contracts
in order to enable them to proceed, compelled
me TO undertake, for the board of audit. the
labor of measuring and inspecting all such
work as it was desirable to continue.
Owing to the imperfect state Of the records
aud accounts of the engineers office of the
Board of Public Works, each Of these exami-
nations has been task of considerable magni-
tudC, but both have been make in each case in
which you have revoked the order Of suspen-
sion and allowed the work 10 proceed.
Before any decision upon the recommenda-
ton TO lie made, a number of considerations
have presented themselves. While the general
character of the improvements designed to be
made was in accordance with definite plans,
the details OF the plans had not been worked
3ut nor provided for, and the limitation of the
Commissioners to existing legal obligations,
cOHfning them 10 the work actually provided
for in valid contracts, neCCssitatCd a careful
scrutiny OF what could lawfully be done.
sudden rush OF claims for contracts which had
lain dormant while Improbable was made at
the outset, and, while some Of these claims
were found 10 hC without foundation, others
brought TO notice a. did the numerous appli-
cations for improvements, unfinished contract
work to be completed, and completed contracts
upon which additional work was very much
needed.
Next to the validity of the claim, l have
considered the cNpedienCy Of doing the work;
aud in all doubtful cases the latter has been
decisive as to the recommendation to be made.
in the interest Of the work, prompt action be-
ing indispensable in the premises, and even
where they have 4 legal status by the OK
pressed opinion of the attorney of the District,
no final action upon the claim has been taken
1y you, since this Is the province Of the board
VI audit. before whom all matters connected !
with these contracts must come for examina- |
lion and settlement.
In cach case where the order Of suspension /
has been revoked, letter has been written TO |
hC contractor notifying him Of this fact, &C 7
'umpaHiCd by the following circular: !
INtINEEE's OFFICE, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA. |
WAsHISGTON. 1874. !
SIR: ! am directed by the COmmissiOners-Ot |
he District Of Columbia TO notify you that ui-
Ter the provisions of the act Of Congress APP /
IruyCd June 20. 1874, entitled " An act for the
government Of the District of Columbia, and
or other PURPOSES" all claims existing, or
hereafter created, for which 10 evidence Of in
lchtcduCss has been issued, arising out OF con-
raCts made by the Board of Public Works
ire required TO be examined for settlement by /
he Board Of Audit created by said act Of Con
-rcss, consisting Of the First and Second Comp
rollers Of the Treasury OF the United States.
The act OF Congress provides that said Board +
# Audit shall, after such examination and au-
liz. issue TO each claimant certificate signed
" each Of said board, and cOuutcTsigued by
hC Comptroller Of said District, stating the
,mUunt, if any, which may have been found to
,e due 10 each claimant, and on what account.
The Sinking Fund Commissioners Of the Dis
riot are authorized by law TO exchange, at
'ar. certain bonds of the District of Columbia,
provided for in said act, fifty (jO) years from
August , 1874, and bearing interest at the
ate OF three and siNty-fvC hundredths per
entum per annum, for the indebtedness evil
fenced by said certificates of the Auditing
ioard. "A
M nj ,rr I,ro,isior il ,,,,Io Cor ,,,,,,,,o,,t or
work done, or hereafter to lie done, under con-
raCts made with the Board OF Public Works. !
The disposition Of the appropriations made
" Congress, and Of the revenue from taxes
nd other sources Of the District of Columbia,
: controlled by act Of Congress, and neither 4
he appropriations nor the revenue from taxes ,
n other sources are available for payment for !
aid work. The continuance of the work ,
therefore,. under such contracts, must be at the
lex OF the contractor in respect of tho cXami-
sJiUn of his accounts by the BOarl Of AudiC !
nd the mode OF payment. y
Very respectfully, % i. L. HONIE,
Lieutenant Engineers L. $. A, L
Engineer District of Columbia.
Whenever it has been necessary to authorize
Ktra work under a contract, in order to prop :
rIy complete the work required under it, the {
XprCss stipulation has been made that pay I
acut shall be received in 3.G5 bonds, upon the |
crtifeatc of the board Of audit. i
Ninety-ninc contracts have been so resumed.
# these thirty arc completed and have re-
ciyed final measurement, and upon the re-
naindcr work is progressing. Final measure
leuts have also been made upon twenty-six ]
UntTacts which were completed under the j
ate Board of Public Works, but which did not {
each final measurement. - '
The condition of the work Of repair aud {
Improvement is as followSi
Upon the Tiber-creek sewer, draining az {
rca Of two thousand acres, with its Outletin
he James creek caHals there were on July q
We contracts in operation upon different parts g
( the work, and two others had been termi- I
aied by the completiOn'o of their sections. b
The gravel-pit and inlet on Eighth street l
beyond The boundary, BUILT by Syl- v