National Republican., 1874-06-01

pei 'qulr. yard for psrtfns. and would ask your
attention 10 the act that i 70 utterly impossiofe
respectfully ask that you will call the attention Of
iOr sOiI, 30 thst oontrsstofs sn such work may
Il yoa viii b Kind enough TO coumunicsts the
dsclsion to me I viii feel vefy much obliged to
you Respectfully,
Superintendent New York avenue.
p. S.-Afler acareful examination Of the figures
l should say that Inches Of good soil would bs
os. sTs seers fss asssa %orss g. Parting ''""''-
And the manner In which this work, has
been done Is thus stated by Mr.. Smith. (see
p. 1455: .....''.-''.'' $50. ..-.--''-'..
Q. As . general thing, how has sodding been
laid under the Board Of Public Worksf A. Sod
ding has been laid, as general thing, very well.
9; Do you know vhO aIsd %. price for which
ders and myself recommended 50 cents.
Q: Do you regard that as g. reasonable prieeF
A. think II isa reasonable price, and fair price
for sodding and putting the soil underneath.
z. You and Mr.. Saunders prepared, also, the
specification, did you mott A. Yes. sir.
sh. sss irs
had as much experience as Mf. Saunders.
TS.t S: PFSs ass O
do not exactly recollect how the various ques-
tions were discussed by US, but the final conclu.
sod and pick up the soil underneath, SO. l know
that It was worth that, and think 50 still.
The criticism that, in some cases, the speci-
fications have not been accurately compiled
with by contractors, who, in different sections
of the city, had charge Of the parking, is met
by the professional opinion of Mr.. Smith, as
above given, that the "sodding has been laid,
as general thing, very well ;" Action was
taken by the board TO secure careful auditing
of accounts for this work, with q view Of
making reduction for any derelction in the
mode of executing such contracts. This is
shown by the documents on page 1462 Of the
testimony, as follows: X. Z: i. - - -
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.,
.-. 49,. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
SIR: am directed by the board to notify you
that sll accounts for parking and parking fence
can be made. 81
The only exception to this order will be the
mia avenues. Very respectfully,
CHARLES S. JOHNSON, Secretary.
". z. Smith, esq, Chairman Parking CommfssiOn.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS,
WASHINGTON, September -. 1S73.
SIR: am directed BY the board to inform you
that, in future, no payment for parking will be
made unless the vouchers are accompanied by a
work was done in accordance with the speclfca.
tions Very respectfully,
CHARLES 5. JOHNSON, Secretary.
The report OF the chief engineer of the board
of November, 1873, gives upon this subject the
following information:
The amount Of parking done is about $50, 900
yards The specifications prepared by the park
ing commission required eight inches Of rich soil
under the sod, and the subsoil we'll stirred. This
requirement has not been uniformly carried out,
and the depth Of soil will not average that re-
CURED. Believing, however, that IN this climate
soddlng will thrive nevertheless, did not insist
on the removal OF the sodding thus laid except In
glaring cases, but made deductions in the account
corresponding to the deficiency Of the soil.
THE DEBT OF THE DISTRICT.
The debt of the District has been made the
subject of adverse comment. The act of Con-
gress of May 8, 1872, III Stats. at large, p.
SS, funding certain liabilities of the old cor
poration Of the city of Washington, limits the
debt of the District of Columbia, including the
debts of the old corporation, to the sum of
SIC, ,0O0, 900, unless an increase over said
amount shall have been previously authorized
by Congressional enactment. BY the District
of Columbia, in the act of Congress, is meant