Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-20
Of the latter for securing contracts for that

submitted an Old copy OF the Patriot, dated
January S0th, 1872, to show The results he ar.
rived at with reference to the Improvements in
this city; he read from the editorial page q
communication headed startling Develop
ments;n the article referred specially to the
cost OF M Massachusetts, avenue by the acre; this
basis made the cost of Improvements upwards
OF sixty.two million of dollars for the whole
city, taking Massachusetts avenue as a guide;
taking Pennsylvania avenue as a basis OF cost
he estimated the entire cost ofimprovements al
one hundred and eight million dollars.
Mr.. Jewett.-Mr. Christy, what is the object
asked, think.
Mr.. wilson, asked you, Mr. Davis, il you
had made an estimate of what it has cost 10 DO
what has been done?
MIR. Davis.-I have not made such estimate
Inc witness, after argument by counsel, pro
ceeded with his reading. He Also subsequently
read paper recently prepared by him pur
porting to show that his estimate of Massschu-
settS avenue was not excessive, but that he sc-
tually under estimated its cost as shown by the
report of the Board of Public Works. The pa
pers were admitted in evidence.
q: What do you know about NJ street north?
A. measured that after ii was improved.
Witness again read an article from the Pa
tT1ot showing the cost of that street The work
was IN progress when the organic act was
passed and the Board of Public Works was APP
pointed. The work was taken out of the hands
OF the i've commissioners and put in charge OF
the Board OF Public Works. He ststed that the
Improvement would have cost under the com
missioners sl06 5I3 TO- but that ii cost the Board
OF Public Works S1i5, 3f9.3S, nearly 80 per cent
more than the contract price. The contract OF
tne COMMISSIONERS was 10 be carried out by the
Board of Public Works intact; don't know who
has the contract now; believe II has been turned
over TO the Board of Public Works
Governor Shepherd said he would furnish the
committee with the contract. The people first
refused to pay the assessment, and q re- assess
ment was made, and in one or two cases coming
under his personal knowledge property holders
living along the line had certain portions re-
funded to them; MIR. Davis had twenty-five per
cent. refunded him.
wit IN E,,ar n
OF Public Works made an additional charge?
A. do not lam informed by the commission
ers that the same contractors under the com
mission finished the contract for the Board OF
Public Works.
Q. Did not the Board of Public Works do
work which was not contemplated in the origi-
nal contract. A. They run out juts at the inter
section OF streets and alleys, which presu ne
was not in the original contract; made nv cal
culation solely on what the law required shOuId
he done, and not what was done; have not
charged in NV estimate only what the law re-
CURED should be done; if the Board of Public
Works did other work did not IN sas1re il;
know there was work done along there at was
not included in the contract.
Witness again read from the PItri0t with ref
erence TO the 9TH street sonth Improvement. He
said 1t was done without contract.
Mr.. Allison.-Come to the point, Mr.. Davis
glve US the eost-that is a long introduction lou
are reading.
e e Patriot about " Subsidized Sheets," waste
OF the peoples money, sc.
MIR. Jewett, SHARPLY. Now, Mr.. Davis, stop
reading, and Just tell us what has been done,
Witness said that the cost of the improvement.
taking the street at 80 feet wide, was about
500, 35i.l2 per mile.
from? A. read from the only paper [ could
get my estimates in-the Patriot L appealed to
The press to publish my articles, but none OF
them would do il.
Mr.. Jewett.-would you be content to answer
some questions? A. l will do the best 1 can;
nave been over ID street west; it Is a wood
pavement about as good as they lay here;
II cost per yard to lay that pavement 81 "a.
taking from building line to building line.
q. am speaking Of the wood pavement? A
didn't make any estimate as to the wood pave
ment alone; don't know whether that WAS built
at reasonable or extravsgant cost; nv est
mate OF Si.3i includes sewerage, water pipes
gas pipes and everything; you must remember
however, that there is twenty-six feet of this
street not improved at ALL
z. 1t is said that you have not paid your
taxes; is that true? A. Ii is false; 1 paid ~
general taxes on all nv property except one
piece which was negotiating to SELL and !
paid my taxes In money and not in certificates:
have paid my general assessment taxes 30 far
as due, and in money too; there never was
have not paid my taxes; sold some old material
In front OF my property; Mr.. Jones paid me ten
dollars Per thousand for four thousand old bricks.
Mr.. Jewett.-Ten dollars per thousand for
bricks seventeen years old? A. That is what he
allowed; have Appropriated an estimate of
the amount OF old material taken by the Board
two and one-half million dollars.
q. Explain that please.
Witness again produced a " Patriot" and
began. Now, gentlemen, these figures will
startle come people.
Dir. Jewett.-(iet at the point.
Mr.. Davis am not going to read the whole
material paid for by citizens within two years
before the Board OF Public Works came in
amounted to upwards or one million dollars
alone; now, gentlemen, mind that fact
q. How much is there OF that? A. About
that much, Indicating about half column
z. Can't you answer my question and state
how much the old material is valued at taken
by the Board? A. About tive and half mil
lion; / suppose they have accounted for some
Of 1t; have not looked to see how much they
have accounted for; old material is not perish
able; piece Of stone laid here y years ago is
just as good as 1t was when laid; stone don't
perish; II don't wear out.
z. Mr.. Davis, did you merely estimate the
value, or did you examine the old material for
the purpose of judging OF its value? A. m Ade
great deal of allowances; didn't estimate IT
at the value of new material.
q. Were the streets all paved before the
Board OF Public Works came in? A. A great
deal OF work was done under Mayor Bowen aud
Mayor Wallach. The old sidewalks were Just a.
good, in many parts of the city, as the day they
were laid down.
Q. Was not a large portion of the streets un
improved when the Board OF Public Works
upon which to make your calculations? A.
Only from what they give themselves as to the
bumocr VI miles tney nave improved. L have
lived here nearly forty-one years, and knew
generally the condition OF the streets OF the
city.
By Mr.. Stewart-were these improvements
necessary or unnecessary? a. A great many
were unnecessary.
Q. Has the CITY improved? A. Oh, yes, it has
been improved, but many of the improvements
are very frail, and are not going to last long. 4
think some of the streets were rs good before
they were improved, as many Of them are now
with bad wood pavements.
Q. Do you know how much was expended in
the improvements Of streets and alleys before
the Board Of Public Works came in.
Witness reading again:-Since 1902 the
general government has paid 1881 2SS.31
Take what Georgetown should have paid and
the city and 1t amounts somewhere in the
neighb0rhood Of sixteen million dollars.
By Mr.. Mattingly:-I assume that the over
measure ments Of the Board of Public Works
will amount to ten per cent. have never
made any arrangements.
@; What Il the foundation Of that assumption.
A. 1 have seen 90 much Of 1t; IL was done under
the old corporation, and l assume IL il con-
tinued; assume thasprivate property has been
damaged fifteen per cent. When Mr.. Jones
bought my bricks ne was building the Second
National Bank on 7th street, and had to haul
If he used them in it, about 200 feet.
The committee ut II % O'Clock took recess
until 2 p. m.