Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-13
THE DISTRICT CONTRACTS.
0ficial Report of Lieutenant HOxis

relation to the report OF Lieut.. Hoxie on con
tracts for street work. A clear statement of the
case requires the entire report, sad as this may
be Of some interest TO the public as outlining
the action TO be taken upon the various con-
tracts, we print IL below.
Had Mr.. Cluss, during the entire period in
which he was the Chief Engineer of the Board
of Public Works, given to this and kindred sub
jecs the careful investigation which he, (Lieut.
II } has had to condense into few days, he,
(Cluss, would be more familiar with their de-
tails, and would not, perhaps, occupy the anon
alous position OF fault-fnier upon his own
work.
Engineers Office. District Of Columbia,
WASHINGTON, August 4, 1874
To the Hon. the Commissioners Of the Distrist Of
Columbia:
GsNTLENEs:-Ib have the honor to submit the
following special report in regard to contract
No. COZ, dated May 22d, 1875, with John ..
Evans, for setting curbs, laying Belgian trap
rock pavement, flag foOtways and parking B
street northwest, between 18th and 18th streets
northwest; brick foot psyements L feet wide on
b street northwest, between 12th aud 18th streets
northwest; setting curbs, laying Belgian trap
street west, between b street north and b street
south; setting curbs, laying Belgian trap-rock
pavement Tag footways, and parking on 14;h
street west, between street north and b street
south; laying flag footways aud parking on eth
street west, between street north and b street
south. PTices.-Setting curbs, board rates; Bel
gian uap-rock pavement, per square yard,
S. 50; flag footways, including stock, laying,
cement, grading, necessary trimming and sod
ding, per square foot, 81 cents; brick paving,
board rates; to be completed as rapidly as pos
sible.
The contract lie properly signed and bonded.
Bonds in the sum of $50 0C0 for the proper exc
cution OF the work, and for keeping the same in
repair for one year. OF this contract the work
has been completed on eth street west, from b
street north to b street south, across MALL 18th
street west, from street north TO street
street north to Il street south, across mall; and
on Ii street north, between 18th and 18th streets
west, (the limits of the contract.) TIE follow
ing work has been done, viz IL ,405 % yards
Belgian pavement, at 50 50-sG0, 9lS.2S; q, 2S5
feet tagging, at 81 cents-S22 20; $50 yards
brick pavement, at sl-S1 so; 6 001 feet inches
curbing, at Sl.i2-SS, 531; 1870 feet inches curb
ing (circular), at 50 J0-s326 co. total S9{ SIS H.
Ard the following are the amounts remaining
TO be done to complete the entire contract, viz:
4,5I1 1-9 yards Belgian pavement, at $3.50
$50; q ,662 feet tagging, at 81 cents
S23, 236Os; none brick pavement, at 81, none;
4S3 feet inches curbing, at Sl.i2-S6l5.21; q
feet curbing (circular), at s250-s61.5o; total,
The parking required by the contract is to be
done by the contractor without pay, the same
being included in the prIce of hagging. The
material are on hand, and the completion OF
this Improvement lie very desirable. The flag
ging on the south side OF the street is finished
between 18th street and Executive avenue, and
its completion may be deferred.
1t was the intention to I'LL the old Washington
canal entirely between 80 and 18th streets west,
but between Executive avenue and 18th street
northwest the entire width was not filled, and
the remnant of the old canal is quite extensive
~ used by sand boats, which unload on the side
walk, and in many cases on the carriageway of
the street. Ii it should be the intention not to
close the canal for the present and to allow this
use of the sidewalk and carriageway, the flag
giDg of that section might be omitted, and that
ON the north side (along White lott only laid.
This contract REQUIRES that on all the streets
the parking shall be done without extra COM
pensation from the curb 10 the inner line OF the
tagging, and from the outer line of the tagging
TO the building line. Upon the incomplete por-
tons OF the work this requires for every square
foot OF Tagging about , OF square yard OF
parking, worth, at board rates, 81 cents per
square yard. Deducting this from the price for
tagging, and Ceducting further 20 per cent for
the consideration that the payment Is 10 be
made In 3 81 bonds, leaves the actual cost OF
tits digging IL cents per square foot. 1t Is true
that some OF this parking will be included with
in the United States reservations, and some OF
II should not be put down at present; bat for
all of this deduction should be male from the
amount paid the contractor upon Il cal measure
ment That is TO say, the total amount of park
ing required by the terms OF his contract should
be measured up, and deduction made for the
amount not done by him, estimating the same
at board rates, viz: 80 cents yer square yard.
The following is a detailed estimate:
Contract 40. Gyi-FlaggiDg required along
White lot, 7G7x12, 9,20i: tagging required along
White lot, ~ 5xl2, $3.50; tagging required
along canal, Executive avenue and 18th street,
1CTXl2, 9,20i-2. ,6,3. Parking required along
White lot, 1GIx41, 81, A. parking required along
White lot, 112 5A4l, 3l.C69; parking required
u D. II -
equaiing Is 1872 3 yards Cost of parking, Is 1872.
at 80 cents, S9,2lG So; which, divided on - ,675
square feet OF fsgging, would amount TO IS
cents per superficial foot of tagging. II the
width technically required on the south side OF
the street, viz: 154 feet, should not be consid-
cred as required, and only the amount between
parking required would be but ,52i % yards.
costing S3,762.11, and this divided on the II sg-
ging would amount to - cents per superficial
foot which John .. Evans would have to fur
"a "a
lot will also be brought close to the tagging.
but there Is no reason for releasing the con-
tractor from the cost of the parking as far as
the building line. Upon this point / respect
fully request the opinion OF the attorney of the
District.
This contract has been especially brought
into notice of late by the comments of the press
and by letters and verbal communications ad
dressed to the Commissioners. I have there
fore selected it as the first for special report,
and respectfully submit the following points
for your consideration. The general suspen-
sion of contracts by your order OF July Il, 1874,
was strictly in accordance with the terms ofthese
contract; but il is questionable whether this
power of suspension can be construed into a
right TO suspend work for such length of time
as to effect virtual abrogation OF the contract
1t is PROFESSIONALLY true that many contracts
have been let at prices which upon a cash basis
are exorbltant, but 1t seems that these prices
were based upon an anticipated payment in
paper of doubtful value, and Is ayments are
actually TO be made in bonds worth about 50
cents on the dollar, these prices must be at
least 70 per cent. above what they should be at
cash 20 make it eNpedient to re-let the con-
tracts. This question of expediency can only
be settled by an examination OF each case in
detail. SupposiDg, however, that it should be
found expedient TO abrogate a contract, in the
present instance 1 can find no reasonable
grounds for doing so, but in other cases l think
II will be found that one or both contracting
parties have failed TO comply with the terms OF
the contracts. Will this entitle the Commits
sioners to abrogate he contract?
There will be reason for changing the plans
for work in progress, and even for discontinu-
ing the work. In some cases this should be
done at any risk of suits for damages. Is IL
within the power Of the Commissioners TO make
the question of expediency a just cause for
abrogating the contract?
1t may be found in some cases that, the con-
tract prices are, after taking everything into
consideration, altogether too high. This is
another case where expediency seems to de-
mand more than law viii sanction, the abroga-
ton and relettipg Of the contracts. say seems
to demand, because the work may be necessary
and important, and have to be continued unt er
new contract should the present one be abro-
gated. At present this work 10 all to be paid
for in bonds, OF which the supply is unlimited.
Under q new contract the work must be paid
fIom the revenues Of the District by no means
unlimited, unless special arrangements can be
made with the contractor to accept these bonds
and the use Of the bonds for the purpose can be