Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-08

already prepared; Taylor and Filbert laid
concrete pavement and the Ballard wood pave
ment.
Q. Do you know whether the streets wer,
ready graded for Taylor and Filbert except
street? A. 1 do not; should think the cut on
street was about three feet.
| Mr.. Wilson called for the DeGolyer anC
Mcclellan vouchers and contracts, which IA,
examined.
BY Mr. Allisnn:-The total cost of the ID,
Golyer and Mcclellan pavement is $50 pei
| square yard-that includes everything; | once
before stated that il cost Sl.75 per square yard
calculated IN that estimate = cents per 81 usr,
| yard or discount on the city scrip; Mr.. Deiol-
| yer told me there was no contract until October
or November; went 70 work on the 18th of Tuly
| MI. Shepht ri. when he ascertsined the fact
| ses ned somewhat surprised that there had beer
lo writings.
BY Mr.. Christie:-The difference between the
IeGOlyer No. patent and the No. Q is that No
is somewhat similar to the Nicholson: in No
no board is used for the found alton, simply
gravel; No. l is not treated No. > is treated;
| sli the pavement put down under my superyi-
zion was sIX-inch blocks; after left L know the
| saw was changed TO cut 5-inch blocks; No.
DeGolyer pavement is a good one; No. IL 8
| fraud, swindle, and a humbug; it is the iron
ling process which destroys No. ?.
Mr.. Christie handed witness a description OF
the property in tue DeGolyer chAttel mOrtg age,
which he examined.
Q. You may state what that property would
have brought at that time if put up in the mar
ket. A. Well, fifteen thousand dollars would
have been high price for it. The original
cos was about twenty thousand dollars.
Mr.. Christie desired in this connection to offer
in evidence power of attorney given by De
GOlyer and Mcclellan, which had been ideuti-
ted by VIM. A. Cook, for the purpose of show
Witness, resumiDg:-Used white pine lumber
aho spruce lumber; don't think spruce lumber
MT TO be used in pavement; the spruce lumber
came from the state Of Maine.
Mr.. Allison read an order OF the Board of
Public Works, dated September 18th, 1873, dis
continuing the treatment Of wood by the Sam
uels Process.
BY Mr.. Stewart:-Did not know that the De
GClyer Nc. pavement was a swindle and fraud
when laid n; don't think anybody knew at
the time 1t was laid that IL was a bad pavement:
ssceItained It to be bad pavement after hav-
lEg visited Chicago and found blocks OF it laid
there IN all stages of decay; the fraud and
sNndle connected with the pavement was in
the process of treating the wood; il was not dis
covered until 1t had been laid here one year.
BY Dir. Mattingly:-Laid the pavement in
Chicago; got 50 Is per yard for it; lumber in
Chlcago cost about sll per thousand; wood
pavements are laid in Chicago, Milwaukee, To-
ledo, some in Cincinnati, Columbus and Louis
vile.
Q. What is your opinion of wood payements?
A. MY opinion is that they are not good for
much; where lumber is cheap, il might do, but
where lumber Is high and stone cheap, think
concrete or stone should be used; the DEG Oliver
pavement on Pennsylvania avenue east was
completed in December, 1872 had an appoint
ment from the board at one time, but never did
any work for them.
Quimby's Resignation was shown him, which
By Mr.. Harrington Was never discharged
by DeGOlyer and McClelIan-worked for them
until my contract expired; my attention was
called to the worthless blocks In Chicago; don Z
know whether the blocks laid here were treated
right or not; / base my opinion of DeGolyer
pavement NO. upon actual observation OF
streets built under my superintendent in Chi
cago two years ago.
Q. Did you make a proposition In Chicago
that for $500 you would come on here and
,,6n W. them all IPx A; No sir had an cleo
sl6o; never had any conversation with him
with reference to $500.
Witness was shown by Mr.. Wilson, DeGolyer
If the amount of grading charged was done. and
he replied that "no such amount of grading
was COne,"
By MIR. Bass:-The grading on Pennsylvanis
avenue east was done simultaneously with the
laying Of the pavement by Peter Mcnamara:
We bought gravel from him.
Governor Shepherd explained that McNama-
"a held contract to first grade and macada.
miZe Pennsylvania avenue east that by petit
ton OF the property holders so much as applied
to macsdamizing was stricken of, and he went
on with the grading, and wood pavement was
By Mr.. Christie:-where did Peter Men anna
IA get the gravel he furnished2 A. He got il
down by the Providence hospital.
MR.. WILLARD EXAMINED.
Henry A. Willard, sworn-Am member of the
Board OF Public Works; was appointed in May,
1873.
Q. Do you know anything of q controversy
between Samuel Strong and the board with ref
eTence to any work he has performed? A.
There is a controversy in regard to his bill for
constructing the X street sewer.
q. Do you know Of any written agreement
being prepared for settlement? A. / know OF
none being prepared, one was presented a week
ago last Monday; Mr.. johnson, the clerk, had
II when saw ii; il Is my impression tina IL was
signed by some members of the board; think
IT had been signed by Mr.. Magruder and Gov.
shepherd; when it was presented to me Mr..
johnson said: 81 have paper here which the
Governor wishes you to present TO the board"
Y. What became OF that paper? A. 1t was
torn up.
sign it, Mr.. Cluss and DIR. Blake did not sign it.
Q. What was the nature of that paper? A.
1t was proposition to submit the differences
between the board and Samuel Strong to arbi-
trators-to Mr.. Forsyth and Mr.. Totten.
All contracts made since have been execu-
tive officer have been made by me, with the as
sent and knowledge OF the board; no large con-
tracts have been awarded since have been a
member.
Q. Have you ever made out any statement
showing the contracts awarded by you aud by
other members of the board? A. L had
made out a statement showing what contracts l
had made as executive officer; have mslaid it.
q. Do you know of any contracts being
awarded without the knowledge or consent of
the board? A. The executive oficer of the
board has the authority to award contracts;
don't know when that power was delegated TO
nlin SinCe l. nave become executive Ofncer OF
the board 1t has been hard work TO get contract
ors to do the work at the board prices.
q. What Is the cause of that? A. Well, the
panic struck them, and then this investigation;
since the investigation begun il Is hard to get
contractors TO go to work; think since became
executive officer the board has been in a condi-
ton to pay for contracts ordered; the govern
ment owed the board a large amount Of money.
Y. What do you think the government owes
the board? A. About sixteen hundred thou
sand dollars, outside of the sewer tax; when
became executive officer of the board there was
no anticipation Of an investigation.
=. Isn't 1t the fact, Mr.. Willard, that it was
well known that the board was in no condition
to lay for contracts? Were the board not OBJ
hged to resort to sewer certificates to paw its
contractors, instead OF using money? A. Well,
as understand IL, the board had done work for
which pay was due them, and they used tn e
certificates partly in anticipation of that which
was due.
Q. Did Mr.. Abrams put in bid to sweep the
streets for $4,000 less than the contract was
awarded? A. think he did; the questi IN OF
sweeping the streets was well discussed before
the board.
Q. Do You know where the money came from
to pay the January interest? A. L do not; un-
derstand sewer certificates were hypothecated
In New York; don't know the amount; the trea-
surer can tell.
Q-Do You know Of the scale of board prices
having been changed after improvements we're
made. A. No, sir; not since came In; have
no Information relative thereto before / bee anne
executive officer; don't think Taylor 8 Filberts
street contract has been settled; they asked
for an extra Allowance for extra work: no agree