The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-02
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.


u.. Action Of the Paving Com pa niles
Gox@rpor shepherd Indtgnsnt-He
Ri.es 10 Expiain-Testimony or Prop
WASHINGTON, April l, 1874
Mr.. Christie for the memorialists. called the at
tention OF the committee TO the statutes at large
con tanning the law approprlatlng $4,000 pro-
ylded that the corporation, or District OF Columbia
government would appropriate an equal amount
70 repair the old cosble pavement on Pennsyl-
vana avenue west OF Fifteenth street after which
he called s. D. Castleman, who testified that the
Board OF Public Works discarded that act, and put
down the new pavement on chat avenue at cost
much greater tran the $4,000 contemplated under
the act OF Congress referred 10,
TT Fowler testified that he was interested IN
the National Paving ompany IN ISIS that II was
thought best to consolidate this company with the
Metropolis Paving Company and with the Ballard
COMPANY in which witness was interested; that IN
August 1871, he called on MI. A. X shepherd, VINO
was interested IN the Metropolis Company, to-
Qether with several Others TO tdk the matter over
and see what could be cone 70 erihg aoout taat
object; saw Shepherd IN his office, and alter pre-
nminary conversation Shepherd TOOK witness aside
and stated that in view OF the relation he expected
TO bear t. the new District government he una not
want 10 be known as having any interest
In paving companies: That witness could
see tiallett Rllbourn, and whatever arrangement
witness ana Kibourn could make would be all
Yignt for him shepherd witness understood by
that that shepherd was Wiling to have secret
interest in the paving contracts and that he pro-
posed 10 have that interest represented through
Kilbourn witness knows that kilbourn saw snep-
herd in relation to the matter, the CONSERVATION
not ACCOMPLISHED however; this took place
about the time august, lsII wheh pennsylvania
avenue from First TO Fifteenth street, was 10 be
paved under Mayor Emery, aud the proposal had
reference TO a combination TO do that work the
object IN Trying 10 get cohsoiaation Oh the then
titlon in the proposals for that work: witness got
none OF that work; the Metropolis Company, IN
which shepherd was interested, dld get portion
Governor Shepherd requested leave to make a
statement mere unaer oath, alleging That Fowler's
testimony was SANDER, and expressing desire
that his rental might 60 TO the pubic with the
charge.
cded to hear Governor Shepherd in explanation.
Governor Shepherd then stated that he owned
stock in the Portland Stone Company and in the
Metropolis Paving Company IN the year 1870
The act Of Congress for paving Pennsylvania
Mayor Mayor Emery and General Mlchler, then
Commissioners or Public Buildings were
named as a commission to decide upon the
kind OF pavement 10 be laid. They selected four
kinds of wooden blocks. The pavement was put
down IN the winter OF 1870 and early In the spring
OF 1871 The act OF Congress organizing the new
territorial government did not pass till the middle
OF February, 1871. He Governor Shepherdl was
appointed a member OF the Board OF Public Works
in March, and the Board did not 20 into operation
till the lst OF June 1871 SIX months after the pave
ment referred to by Mr. Fowler was laid The Gov
last years investigation, wherein he had
testified that he had disposed outright OF
LAND Stone and the Metropolis Paving
Company Immediately upon being appointed u
Shepherd reiterated the testimony, and said
neither himself nor any one OF his relatives
had an interest or had had an interest
In any contract or patent or other pavement since
he mad been member OF the Board. He would
not even suffer his brother-In-law, Mr.. S. G.
Young, 10 hold an interest which he Governor
SleUler01 had bought MIN 1870 the Me-
tropons Paving Company, but sold 1t out to-
wn as own interest n the
that Fowler might have called on HIM
some time or other in relation to the
recOllect anything about It, and called the atten-
ton OF the committee TO the fact that Fowler esti
ned that this took place IN August, 1871, while, in
TACT, the pavement which Fowler said he wanted
to lay through his proposed combination, had
actually been laid down SIX months:
Governor Shepherd stated in addition that ne
had never held an interest with Hallett xii
bourn IN any paving or any other contract, nor
had kilbourn ever held any property OF his as
trustee
W. Fl. Clapett testified at length, criticising
the acts OIL the Board OF Public Works and chArac-
terizing the sewer law and the manner OF It's pas
by the Legislature, holding that said law was
never legally passed. This witness was member
OF the Legislature at the time the law referred to
was passed.
During the morning session to-day some half
dozen witnesses were examined with reference to
special assessments for improvements the burden
OF the testimony being that property owners were
dSsesscu lOI uoIc WOIh tHdu COulu uc SHOWu W
have been done. Testimony was also gwen
showing that street railways were not required
to pay any tax Tor the portions OF carriage way
improved by the Board ana used for their tracks.
In this connection Governor shepherd explained
thai on cei tain streets improved by the Board,
where charters had been granted for street rail-
ways, the companies were notified by the Board
and requested to lay their seepers while the street
was being improved, TO prevent the pavement
being torn up alter once being put down. This
was generally done. The streets were improved
and the assessments made against the property.
At the time assessments were made the street
railways were not finished, ana the Board took
legal ADVICE TO the question OF assessing the
companies, the result OF which was that they were
not assessed. When such railways passed along
the boundaries OF through government prop
erty the government was treated precisely as
were the property owners.