Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-26

properly under its control, and where contrac-
tors may have been regarded Of questionable
bonded In a few cases additional bonds we
not been required. In regard 70 CONTRACT No.
| 80, new bonds we're gwen on the Sd day Of % :
the Office In he sxtepsep OF ing NE se0Gfa
| nue. sewer from TO 9th street, the contracto-
being abundanty responsible, IL Was deemed
UNNECESSARY to require any further bonds. The
work was completed In q very short time al ter
Its award, and remains in excellent condition
AS regards contract No. los q proper bond
was executed by the original contractor, bd
RE contract was subsequently cancelled.
As regards contract No. 796, the originel
shows that &c Cd and sufficient bonds were given
both the original contract and tte exte non.
As regards contract No. go, but DO: ton :
said contract was executed, as an injunc; o
was applied for ard obtaipei in the courts O
ire Dis Iict preventing the completion of the
contract. In view OF these -cumstsnccs, IL
vas tmed unnecessary TO procure any addi-
onal bonds. This Injunction related 10 the
paving Of the tracks of the Washington and
Georgetown railroad company, rs viii appear
oy reference ID said cor ACT, and this suit Is
yes pending.
AS regards contract No. 62s Il was deemed
unnecessary to secure additional bonds for the
brick loot pavements and tile sewer conta' sd
N the extension, this being aver insig nifcant
portion OF the work. The contractor was
abundantly responsible for the execution of the
work rs evidenced from its completion, aud i =
present good conditions, eighteen months hay-
ing elapsed since its execution. But a crit zeal
examination will show that in no case of this
kind he's the board or the Dist-i sustained any
injury nor is there at present any grouns.
for the assertion that 1t is likely to do so.
Thrd Speofcdtten.-lt is untrue that the
co. q has awarded an allowed contracts TO be
executed involving expensive improvement q,
without requiring any security.
In regard to contract 1876, reference - the
land records OF the city OF Washington will
show that the bondsman, George Netsy, g pos
sessed Of ample means TO make good his bopd in
the matter OF this contr act and attention is also
called to the additional fact that this contract
has now been completed and has remsin med in
coed order Ior the space of two years.
AS regard contract No. 80, a reference TO said
contract will show that good and sufficient SCI
curity was given for the execution OF the work
In regard to contract No. 275 in addition to
the originsl tond, a new one, dated MAY 6, 1872
With Aood and sufficient securities. is on lille in
As regards contract No. 500, a good and suffi.
cient bond, dated October Is, 1872, is on file 10
the office Of the Board o. Public Works.
FORTH .peci fcotiCn.-lt is untrue that the
Board Of Public Works have awsrded aud al
lowed contracts to be executed involving tie
making OF expensive Improvements without re-
quiring sufficient securing from the contractors.
Asregarfs contract SO, as has alres ~ cen
stated, good and sufficient bonds are on ie in
the office.
the opinion Of the board, amply sufficient. rhe
work has been hrshcd nearly two years.
The same applies TO cont -Sct No. 7i9, also 10
contracts 694, 7i6, 935, 4l6, ST. 193, and 707.
Firth Epec, Gcdtion- is untrue that contrac-
tors were permitted TO execute contracts long
after the Improvement male by them had been
settled for and completed. In few cases from
ins dvertapce or absence of tue con'fac- DTS the
contracts were lett incomplete until after the
work had been performed, but in sQ cases the
contractors were notified to call at the Office
and promptly execute their contracts, and IN
all cases be ore be ginning work they had been
notified in writing OF the award OF contract and
OF its terms, and In no CO has any loss or dam
age resulted - the District.
THIRD CHARGK.-It is untrue that the Board
o. Public WORKS hrs conducted, managed, and
administered the public affairs intrusted . il
to cause great iosl and Injury to the District OF
States.
First specifcdtion.-It has not stipulated to
pay for improvements, prices greatly in excS ss
of what the same could have been done for IL
let by what is desis mated 'open and fair )m-
petition to citizens of The District of Colu mba"
The prices it has paid have in all c. ses been less
than paid in other cific, for similar work. In
The opinion of the hoard, the contractors who
have ,urnished the material and done the work
have re ltiZed q lec1 percentage of profit han -
ordinarily received In ne proSecu, on OF my
Ieaii mate businc rs in which the SHINE bus 'nc1s
established by the DO. I'd were blsed uI On the
Lowest responsible bios obtJined by pubic ad-
VT sement.
Seocrd Sp-oifoc.'on BY reference 70 .he
report of the arditor OF the bod of Pubic
WORKS, II will be seen that the exc 9 IN actual
cost OF contracts done uuder IL over the e5ti-
mated costs amounts to 81 Ia ,0S2 10, while the
diminution on account OF the same contracts, ps
compared with their MI mat i cost, is $780,
800 80, showing ret excess OF actual cost Of
S4c4, II so, being title over per cent. on
total expenditure. This ercentlze is less than
's shown in any similar work ever done In this
or any other country.
The ordinary allowance in engineers esti-
timates contingencies and excess OF actual ccyt
Of work done over the estimated cost, varies
from to 20 per cent. When 1t 10 considered
tabiished during its performance it is an ;
founding fact that the excess has been 60 little
above the estimated cost
Third Specifcafion.-The statement made in
this charge, viz That the Board of Public
Works undertook to make 'he Improvements
embraced in their said plan for q sum not ex.
appropriations upon that basis Of estimated cost,
The original estimate contemplated certain
work, which, under the law authorizing it, was
to be modified and changed SO far IS prsct-
cable and consistent with the public interess
In the execution of these Improvements the
board has received that authority from the ma
tional and local governments contained in and
confirmed by laws making appropriations as
Act of Legislative Assembly ap-
proved July 10, lSI1.......... 1900 900 90
Act, &C., LIST session aggregate. 49,, 600 90
Act, &c, june 23d, 1s13......... 2e0,OC0 90
Received Commis Jioners' Sinking
Furd, page 10, Governors an
twer. ........... ................. 3I7 1921 2i
bly,, approved June IS, Isi3...... $4,000 90
Received from Legislative Assem-
tewer taxi. ......... ............ 2,Io).cco 90
tive Assembly,. q CD, 92i p
Received of US
Act of Nav II, Is72.. 26O. 995 GO
Jan. 8, 1S73............ 1,24l $40 80
60 Herch 3, lS73.......... 106, 5c3 90
3, 1s13............ 3d. &c
3, 1S73. 1000 900 90
Total U. s. appropriate ops ..... Is .522 .94e IS
Add .otal Leg. app'rs Is above. 900 1921 81
eli, 143 ,s67 80
To which sdd -se~nenss on PHI.
yafA pIQperfV. shoHn hY