Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-07
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the Joint Congressional Committee.


quarter past ten O'Clock.
Wright Rives made certain corrections in his
testimony, which were INN lterial. He said he
signed petition Tor the Ballard pavement for
6th street.
THK BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND The NJ
TRoPULITAN RAILROAD COMPANY.
John W. Thompson, swUrn.-Is president OF
the NJ etrOpelitan street r abroad company; wit
ness read from paper list Of the streets Oc1d-
pied by the railroad company.
q. When were the sleepers AMI ties laid with
reference to the Improvements of the Boird of
Public Works? A. The sleepers were usu al )
laid as the work progressed; witness read a
proposition made by the railroad COMPANY u
the Board OF Public Works, stating that the
former were ready to anticipate the extension
OF their road II tue paving WAS done at the x.
pens5 OF the contractor, and said the PROPOSE
ton was assented To verbally. He sJatsd a II
the company had paid for about 5000 yar,is OF
carTlageway; witness had no knowledge OF any
assessments made on private property on ac-
count OF the paving OF the tracks; has paid
nothing for that portion OF the road which vas
laid centempOraneous with the pavement; has
built about fifteen miles of railroad since the
Board OF Public WORKS came in; il the rairoa 4
were compelled to Day for the paving il would
cost about SO, 600 mile, and would amour: "a
virtual coniiscaton; it wOuld take U5) fifteen
years to pay for 1t; any such taxation woItd
amount 10 virtual repeal OF their charter; wit.
ness submitted the list OF stOc kholders OF the
Metropolitan road, numbering 26o.
O. Has any assessment been charged against
your road on account OF carriageway on w SO
a. L u L
fed of any such assessment.
Witness stated that the Metropolitan railroad
had no authority from Congress to run on ID
street or Missouri avenue; that a change of tn.
route OF the road had been maize without au-
thoTity from 4th to Sd street, in Georgetown
.. Is any member OF the Board OF Publ;
Works stockholder in your company? A.
Yes, sir-S. p. Brown. Mr.. Shepherd was A
stakeholder; his stock was transferred on or
books III May, 1873; it amounted to So 900; 1
may Fay it was sold some time before it wa.
fr t,St r1I. fro raI 70 "A
have i'll my hand Mr.. Shepherds resignation; 4
will read 1t.
RESIGNATION.
WASHINGTON, August lst, 1871.
j. W. ThlmpSOn, Esq, President W. Il. r. 90
DEAR SIR:-l respectfully resign my position
as director In your company. Whilst dpIng
this can but express the regret | feel in thus
suDdering the connection which has been 50
pleasant since the formation OF the COMPANY
but think it best under the circumstances.
The stock is worth s26; If we don't pay al dix vi
dend in July IT will 60 down To $50; il is not
watered stock; the par value is $50; $50 has been
actually paid in.
Senator Stewart Then it is five dollars less
than what has been paid? A. Yes, sir.
BY MIR. Wllson:-1he railroad company has
received no bill as yet for the improvements on
street, in front OF the Post Office?
By Senator Stewart A public meeting was
held of citizens and property-ho living
along East Capitol street, who passed a resou-
ton that they would willingly paw for the cost
of improvements ii the road would extend iJs
line to the eastern section of the city.
BY MIR. Thurman-Neither the charter of the
railroad company by Congress or any act of tue
Legislature requires the directors TO pay for
paving the streets; we are requiI ed to keep in
repair the paving OF the carrisgeway between
the tracks and two feet on either ride.
q. Are you keeping in repair this space? A.
We are. 1t Is our duty to do 50.
VIM. A. Cook then explained the decision OF
the Supreme Court OF the District of Columbia
with reference to the material which should be
railroad in Oavio
their tracks
By Mr.. Merrick:-In one or two instances the
Metropolitan railroad company have laid III az
tracks on the wooden p.vements laid by the
Board of Public Works; ii was done to ayut
tearing up the street.
By Mr.: Mattingly:-The Metropolitan rail
road company was organized in 1864.
BY Mr.. Nerrick:-Quite a number of stock
holders came in when our extensions were IN ale
cant say how many OF them are msmosrs OF
the lie -islatuTe; Mr.. Cross Is a stJckholder.
By Mr: Mattingly:-alr. Shepherd sold out his
stock before the Improvements began.
BY Dir. Merrick:-There is a charge or $500
against US for improvements in front OF the
War and Navy departments; b ave not paid il;
the case is now in litigs alton.
ANOTHER SOLDER HEARD FRoN-HR BUYS
soME, AND SOME Hs-DON'T BUY.
Arthur Bridget, sIorn.-HAvc done sOidiny
IN the city, a considerable amount OF
1t; am in the habit or charging from Is
to 70 cents per square yard; the soil under the
sod laid by me is from To inches in depth; did
soddiDg for different contractors who had con
tracts; they we're sub.let to me; could MAKE
money at % cents 8 yard. and put the soil
under; my contract with John D. Evans was ID
cents for some, 20 cents for some, and d cents
toI some. At Is cents, Mr.. Evans furni she'd the
soil: that for which was paid Is cents 1 fur
nished the soil; can't tell how many square
yards OF sod have laid; would be glad to do toe
soddlng around the city for 25 cents, ami fur.
nish the soil; could make money at that price.
BY Mr.. Stewart:-1f had to take nv paw in
certihcates, would charge 10 cents.
Mr. Harrington read the specification OF the
Board of Public Works with reference to sol
ding, and asked the witness what it would be
reasonably worth to do such sodding.
The witness.-I don't know; 1 never did any
OF that kind OF work; my work all pissed; thsre
ment who inspected nv work: sometimes he
said L was not doing work according to cOu
tract; would quit while, AID the boss con-
tractor would say go ahead; on the work done
LOT oonn " Evans saw no superintendent; he
kept himself scarce, II he was about; tn e sod
lald by me was from y inch to inches thick.
by Mr. Stewart:-Not to my knowledge did
agree 10 DO sodding according t. the specIics-
tons Of the Board of Public Works; if it passed
was 10 get my pay for it; iii was condemned,
why, 1t was my loss.
By Mr.. Harrington:-A fair price for sodding
according to the board specifications would b.
10 cents per square yard
BY Mr.. Thnrmsn:-Did you buy your sod?
A. did some.
Q: Where did YOU get that you didn't buy?
A. Well, some was given to me, aud got soue
at different places; all the sod L bought diiu'j
uncut.
By MIR. HubbeIl:-Before | saw anv of the
specifications OF the board hal been sodding
a whole season.
MORE LIGHT ON THE STRONG CHECK TO w. A.
COOK.
VIM. A. Cook was recalled and submitted the
mortgage taken from De Golyer and Mcclellan
dated January 10, 1873. Witness did not know
how much work had been done before the
mortgage was executed. The mortgage was
left with the committee. He also submitted q
roster OF the list of cases he had tried for Am
uel Strong, which included "a cases in law and
In equity; think my services were reasonably
worth 30 600; be has paid me $500 or 800. /
refused to receive check from Mr.. Strong
that was not given to me individually; have
tried TO ind the check but cannot and am of
the opinion that it Is destroyed.
TRB HISTORY OF THE SEWER BILI
witness then read from the journal of the
mouse or delegates with reference to the pas
sage or the sewer bill. He also submitted the
nrst sewer bill which WAS introduced, which
naa oeen drawn up by him, and amended by
Q; What ONCE did you hold when you drew
up TINS oillI A. Attorney for the District gov
eminent and the Board of Public Works.
VINO requested you to draw up that bill?
A.. Inc legislature of the District, and the then
Q. Did the legislature pass formal rsso!u-
the legislature.
Q. Who gave you the suggestions with refer