davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01
CANAL FRAUDS EXPOSED.
A REPORT BY ENGINEERS UPON PENDING
CANAL CONTRACTS.

WORTHLESS WORK AT swINDLING PRICES.
A NUMBER OF CONTRACTS ExAMINED-THE WORK
GENERALLY woRTHLEss-wALIs FROM WHICH
STONES CAN DR. REMOVED WITH THE HAND
swINDLTs IN EXCAVATION AND EMBANKMEAr-
TIE VERTICAL WALL swINDLE.
THE TRIBUNE was the first to expose tho nature
of the contracts by which canal thieves have en-
richod themselves at the expense of the State, and
70 publish TO the world the names and transactions
of the leading members of the Canal Ring, as well
as the first among the press of the State to make
thorough and impartial Investigation into tho char
acter and scope Of canal frauds in general Be
low is presented the first installment of o fresh
series of researches. Having laid bare the wicked
defects of the system in theory, have proceeded
with the aid of competent engineers. to expose the
frauds which disgrace its practice, and to describe IN
detail the fraudulent execution of certain contracts
now pending, an exposure to which the table
printed on the first page furnishes an apt text Inc
facts given below will be interesting reading not
only to Taxpayers and voters but especially TO
Henry ID. Denison of the combination Of Belden'
Denison 6, Gales; to Assemblyman Willard john
son, N l.. Osborn. Emmett Flager, and others OF the
Same claSS
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01

frauds.
EMMETT FLAGLER AND JOHN RELY.
This contract was for slope pavement and vertical
walls from Lock No %, at Fort Plain, 100 CHAINS
west. 1t was dated Oct 30 1874, and NAV therefore
well act as the first representative OF contracts
which date back barely half year IN distinction
from those which arc nearly as old as they are
fraudulent. The principal items iDcluded in tais
contract were 1000 cubic yards Of slope aud pave
ment wall at 20 cents per cubic yard, and 40 cubic
yards Of vertical wall and cement at -
per yard - good instance of the
ludicrous contrasts afforded by unbalanced bids
which Canal Commissioners have gone on accepting
for fourteen years though both the statutes and the
de, ision of the highest court of the State were
plainly violated by their action. The price gwen
for slope and pavement wal is only small fraction
of its actual cost when it is well but, and still.
smaller fraction Of its cost when bull In the Ordi-
nary methods; while the price fixed for vertical
wall is nearly, if no. quite, double the value
of tho work. Whether these contractors are
honest men or not Is question which
may be decided by readers for themselves
when they learn that four and five times as much
vertical wall is under construction as was con-
tracted for and that not single yqrt Of slope or pare
raeat rali has be9R built Tho Board of Canal Com
mssioners must have known, if they know any
thing when bid was made for slope wall at 20
cents per yard and for vertical wall at 81 per
yard thai this and this only would be the course OF
the contractors and, for accepting such bid they
must divide with them the responsibility of the theft
which they commit. The wall which Is being built,
in this plain violation of both the letter and
the spirit of the contract. is better than
most of those Of recent construction on the canal
This much is to be said in It's favor and this results
from the greater proportion of largo stone en-
ployed in its construction. Bat the wall fails to
meet the demands Of the contract to tho quality
of the materials and the manner of their use.
considerable proportion Of the stones arc urdoi-
Sized the wall is not bound together by tho requi-
site number CT long stones headers nor is the
wall laid throughout in mortar, or grOutcd as pro-
yded for by tho contract. And 10 what eX-
tent the contract is being dsrcgardo1 to its orii
nal specifications and requirements is easily seen
from the fact that it was estimated on the
lst of February that the work wonld cost
3365OO five times the amount for which they bad
accepted tho work and nearly two and half times
the original estimate Of the engineer.
And yet Mr. jarvis Lord says there are no canal
frauds.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01
TIE TFEFTs OF CANAL THIEVES.

rHH swINDIus PRACTICED IN CONTRACTS NOW
HINDER WAY AS EXPOSED BY EXPERIENCED
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WHICH ARE INSECURE
AND CANNOT BE PERMANENT-THE sWINDLE Bf
WHICH VERTICAL WALL is BUILT TO TIE EA-
CLUsION OF SLOPE wALI-A RECORD OF sfs-
TKMiTIC FRAUD.
IRON TEE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRlDuNhj
ALBANY, March S1.-The Canal Ring can endure
vague pronunciation with the utmost complaeency'
bat they are sore aud angry at The IRBUNEs us
agreeable habit of naming names and Its constant
cannonadc of facts and Ggnres. The mere publca-
ton of the official figures of their transactions made
them trenble in the anticipation OF the unknown
and mysteI ous powers of the third Reform bnl bat
TO what length their dread and forebodlng VIII go
in contemplation of THE TRIBUNRs own
investigations into the execution OF their
fraudulent work, remains to he seen. IEls
is an exposure of definite and positive characterize
which thcy have probably never before been treated
The contracts first examined by the engineers en-
ployed HI TIE TRIBUNE, the results of whose ln-
vestigaons are presented herewith were not chosen
with any view TO political or personal effect. Not
only is the larccst contract now in operation eX-
posed at great length and in detail but some OF the
very recent and less important contracts bave been
treated in precisely The same manner, In order TO
show that no one is too large or too small to be
frauduent-a CONCLUSION to which little study OF
the table Of pending contracts will lead any impair
tial mind. Bat before proceeding to the detailed
account of the frauds and theftS OF Henry d. Deni-
son, Willard johnson, N l.. Osborn, ct al, some
preliminary explanations will be of use.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01

value Of the different kinds OF work TO be done,
tera injury results 10 either party But proposal like
tho State, the latter 1t be safely predicted. Will
generally n not universally draw blank It Is mere
lottery or bet and the statutes ~ our State do not give
c0unteDaDce to lotteries to betting and gambling Why
IL this very gross and glaring disparity made N prices
forf1herent kinds OF wOkin prOpOsalsi Obviously DC.
cause me prOpOser believes, ana 10 d0uOi has reliable
the hRD priced work than the estm ne presents or less
OF the low, and such proposition should operate as
ofect bOce 10 the Board 81 an uniar anVantage sugt
To be taken If any public officer should sanction IT, ne
would do SO after full notice OF thc intended Improper
advantage. and therefore w0ul DC virtually par,ci-
or In accomplishing the fraud II IL alleged on QUO
side and denied the other that tbs Board has ac-
Ceped such bids before Bat no practice or tue BOara
could render the acceptance or such proposals proper,
however ~ might encourage their oring made
This decision aErIped by tho Court OF Appeals In
1866 Court holding that the Law had committed to
tho judgment OF the Contracting Board the decision OF
the question to what biJJ mos. advantageous
10 the State ani that til, Legislature had glVen it fu
authority whonever I'm rs opinion, proposals made
were exosvc aud da1ylntageOuS to the STATE, 10 dc'
Cure them Toe only restriction upon tho Board was
that when they contracted &C., II should be with tho
lowest bidder but that this did not imply that tho low
est bidder could the powers OF the court to con-
pol the Board to enter into contract with Inn.
Another record Is In which judge Learned
held that the constitutional provision referred TO Is TO
DO applied according to Us sp and not literally. Dis
creOnary power also vested In the officers au hor
lied TO award the contracts determine who Is tho
lOwert bidder" and what Is adequate security"
IN all advertisements inviting proposals
for canal work it is distinctly stated that bids Will noe
be canvassed ~ In the opinion Of the Canal Commits
soners the prices not properly balanced, and any
proposal combining one or MR. c&irtyagant prices.
which enhance the fiua cost D! tho work, Is 10 Do
aCJ jagged " BVl properly Daltbccd.'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01
DEPARTURE or FOREIGN MILLS.
THURSDAY. APRIL I.

THURSDAY APRIL !.
lamh1ry steamship
CimDra. ii 30
IOsi-Ohce 1870 D. al.
IbinI-st, itobO.eB.
Mans Tor Apnwa Pauani the Central South Pc 10
poris etc. steamship H. Cbal3c-Y. 10 A.
Mails tn POsUB - IL se4Hhp
81 ~ ~. i.er No. ~ y ,r.h
Havana ami We Indies steamship CITY Of Cruz,
at in. Supplements Ali closed %! te 10 tOlcs q
2:4J N. steam hp "a Is At 3 .. au n NJ g. y. r.
Mails BermLIa ~ $ Canaa oiDs A. Steam
ship sIiis a D u IN. from NJ. -. so IL RIVER.
fRlDAl. APsIL
Sandwich islands, Neville lard api Australia by the
MAadp. Fra Apl II s.Ou yOstsI
u Eew-iOrS II before tHIsy, apr. IL.
POstO3ce
at l:3O
Hif,I D. IF tb. SevYor. PotO ace
.ya6p
SATCR1At. APRIL
M's for Great Britain irl %. eeasosn and Liverpool,
ansip uqiic IL IL JlsiI closed
1! The oOie 81 l;5J S'eaasDy S4' at y .Toa rsr
No ~. iAyer
NAL for &C uali ~. b. tie steamship Utopia close a. To-
supp eHeuttD lill u cO'eI a. IL SciusD a - l. NJ
from i1er No -, North YER
FOr The (ntae tu,oe npton the
co,d The Po>t-Odce at l:3J steamship al
N y It.. uJDoAcu.
France drrc. the stennshD pAme111e, c'Ose
II ~ n Ml be Fot UG - 1870
L4p sails It ) o. II r 10 o. NOr.h
Mails Kingston, JiIci and say mil b. tie 6rlmsi7
close o:JJ Al. - H., iron ff No.
81, North
Mals tot Aeg West sesn,np OF Austin. D.
steamship a. 8 '. H.. from ,'ef n, -. Last
SUaDAl. APaiL 4.
All Mails close atii oco;EA O'-o nee IRON
a.. to Il AU
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01

can DO found than the fact that the amount OF
masonry i'm the walls of the Lower Lock, under one
of these contracts has been increased nifty per cent.
For il there is any structure the dimensions Oh
which are necessarily fixed and tho quantities oil
which are evidently susceptible Of easy and accurate
determination it is o canal lock. But this did not
prevent tho engineer in this case from making an
estimate which the contractor has exceeded by hfty
per cent
The most significant increase. however, is the
amount of vertical wall in ccnont, which has been
swollen from 400 cubic yards contracted for, to
s,2a0 cubic yards; while it is evident, from
mere exterior inspection. that the execution of the
work on the lock walls has been cheap and unwOrk-
manlike Though tho specifications require that the
stones shall be dressed and laid to mortar joints not
exceeding one-quartcr OF an inch in depth, many OF
the FONTS are moro than five times that depth. The
mol,ar is not settling well. and many of the
stones are unsound and imperfect Portions OF the
vertical wall paid for at the swindlmg rates of six
and eight dollars per yard are of the most unstable
character to be found the line of the whole canal.
The mortar is earthly and brittle and The stones are
nearly ali undersized. and SO laid that many of them
can be easily taken out with the hand. Anchor
timbers running horizontally through the wall and
into the bank, seem to be relied upon to keep this
structure standing up straight. 90 tnat we nave III
these contracts not only increase of fifty
per cent in the dimensions Of costly
masonry, whose dimensions must have been pre-
viously known, but we have vertical wall paid for
at rates doublc and moro than double an honest
mans price, which is poorly constructed in almost
every particular The mortar is bad, the stones
snail and poor, and can be taken out with the
hand; and tho whole structure SO imperfect and
worthless that if it does not gee way altogether it
viii not bo the fault OF Mr. willard johnson.
And yet, Mr.. Jarvis Lord says there wero no canal
frauds
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01
WILLARD JOHNSON.

Willard Johnson the silent manipulation Of the
Canal Ring in the Assembly, is the owner of two
contracts at West Troy as assignee One of them
is for the Lower Lock at the side cut, and taken
by j. v Boomer, Oct. -, 1869 with the understand
ing that the work to be completed April - 1871.
1t was assigned to Willard Johnson. and a neces-
sary consequence the work is still going on. Mr..
johnson knows a good thing when he sees it, and
believes in keeping bold Of it, The second contract
is for the Upper Lock ut side cut. West Troy,
and was awarded 10 Charles j. DeTaw, Sept. Q,
1869 and assigned to Willard johnson. This con-
tract strange to say. is completed. The first of
them, il will he rcmcmbercd-tor both have already
been printed i'll The TRIBUNE-was awarded at
S37,s7L and the amount paid already to the con-
tractor on the 1st of January of the present year
was SliO,320 H. The second was awarded at
$40, f3l, and the total amount paid was SJ6,Sl5.
So that for contracts which Mr. Johnson agreed to
do for S67 .3O2-for both of the original
are well known " straw bidders for Willard John
son-thc state has paid him si67.Is IL, with
the prospect of turning another honest penny before
the first contract is completed impaired only by
the message of Coy. Tilden and this and previous
exposures by TIE TRIBUNE. The quantities have
been soincreased on these two contracts as nearly
TO treble the amount of the work originally con-
tracted for Nothing could more enectually
set at rest the claim continually made,
that because engineers estimates are neces-
sarily somewhat inaccurate the enormous
increase in items does not put blame uDon any ona
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01
THE HOLYOAKE FUND.

To the EdttOr or Phe TFI0une
SIR: Will you please take charge of and
forward the in lose amount OF So tao fund la beiaf
of Mr. G. j. Hoyoake io'errcd 10 TmE
TRIBUNE. nope to many moro subscriptions fro n
America for tEe same purpose; Tor know Of no min
VINO has done more go0d prt"tiC for hunI1Ity
At hrge than Mr.. HplyOak'. Ui3 uus 'lish dcyOn IA
duriag lis nOt ii to the IJ,ersiS feilO -Dein 3
makes a testimonial OF tlI5 Kind public dIty. r.
sperl ully y0nrs. Dr.. L. HOLLICA.
AeU- York, March o. 1879
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01
MEETING CALLED IL BUFFALO TO APPROVE
TIE MESSAGE

BUFFALO, n. Y, March 3l.-A resolution
was passed b. the Board Of Trade tns morning calling
meeting OF Its members and cItiz generally
the Olject being to approve Gov. Tdeh's message
he canal contract fr iud- g. The meeting will held
az III O'clock tO-.uorrgw mOIuIug
lform Canal Coarac,s Nor Peprfag se Tirs. Payzi
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01
P1SNENGERS SAiLED.

FOR Lv2RPOOL-lB st'daship CdiIbrh rch SIC ?.
e.. RdiOrI, DaIe REV Dan G. Nina Mrs.
III Mis- Fran IN d :. A.
H. Pachn NJ Mo, wnrsc., Mir " Lian ADD
Is luru. Mr. AMI VA Poster iceI afD
H. 1u tr ct Preudowm'. NJ and 4irs Lt@s auroea.
Mis- Anne Mei1s T.c- Car frOf VI
giue II. d. spear NJ spe SIR aqI NJ, a. UOO.wa G.s
udisht Mos naig a. r. ". GO-d H. Aivl MVOI-y.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01
MINIArGKn ALMANAC.


a5 q Noon rises. $3.50
!.
sandy HoOt 32j GOv saaO.. 3jS Hell Gaze ferrY.. BAT
sandy HoOs.. $3.50 lsd.. 4:jj ei Gae fer.. CA
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01

between the enginoers and the contractors, simply
for tho reason that the engineer has previously
taken care to call for small number OF
yards of vertical wall and for largo number Oh
yards Of slope wall leaving the contractor the I'D
erty to bid high price for the vertical wall ana
low price for the slope wall. In this way the total
of his bid is the lowest, and tho Canal COMMISSION
ers who have been apparently willing to be held py
law the spirit of which they knew they violated
by adhoring to its letter. and tho letter OF which
had been ovcrruled by the decision OF tho highest
court of appeal in tho State award the
contract to him as the lowest bidder
Upon the beginning of the work. the engineer calls
upon the contractor for largo quantities of the Item
on which he has placed high price. while the Item
on which a small price has been placed. and on
which large quantities have been called for, is not
required at all or only in q small quantity OF tho
engineers friend the contractor. The construction
of these vast stretches of vertical wall along the
line of the canal where slope wall has been called
for and where vertical wall has been bid for al
exorbitant prices. can therefore only be described
as swind'e for which the contractor aud the en-
queer are jointly responsible
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01

as nothing in comparison with tho amount Of verti-
cal wall.
And yet Mr. Jarvis Lord says there are no canal
frauds.
Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-07-23
Lsoat ADVERTISEMENTS,
SUM MON s.

YIN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE 18TH
l. judicial District of the state OF Califor-
mia, in and for the county OF Los Angeles
Coloma Mayon, plaintiff. against Oharies
the District Court of the Seventeenth Judi,
cial District of the State of Californla, IN ana
for the county of Los Angeles, and the com
plant filed in said county of Los Angeles In
the office of the Clerk of the said District
Court.
The People of the State of California send
greeting to Charles d. Mayor, defendant
You are hereby required to appear in an ac,
tlon brought against YOU by the above-nameo
plaintiff in the District Court of tue Seven
teenth judicial District of the state of Califor,
mia, i'm and for the county of Los Angeles, ana
to answer the complaint filed herein, within
ten days exclusive of the day Of service) after
the service on you of this summons-if served
within this county; or, If served ont of this
county, but in this district, within twenty
days; otherwise, within forty days, or judg-
ment by default will be taken against you
according to the prayer of said complaint.
The said action is brought to recover Judg-
ment of this Court that the bonds of matri-
mony between plaintiff and defendant be dis.
solved; that the custody of the minor child
of plaintiff and defendant be awarded TO
plaintiff; that the defendant be required to
pay a reasonable sum into Court to defray the
expenses of this action and for counsel fees,
and such sum for alimony as to the Cour,
may seem just for her support and that of said
minor child.
And you are hereby notified that If you fail
to appear and answer the said complaint as
above required, the said plaintiff will cause
your default to be entered and will apply to
the Court for the relief demanded in the COM
plant.
s--s Given under my hand and the Seal
of the Dis. s.rict Court of the Seven
1 SEAL Steenth Judicial District of the State
of California, in and for the county
49," of Los Angeles, this 18th day Of
May, in the year OF our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and seventy-five.
A. w. POTTS, Clerk.
Bye. w. GOULD, Deputy Clerk.
w. s. MYERS, Attorney for Plff. my29 Pm W
Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-07-23
True TO the Character.

II say, girls" said little blue-eyed
faxen-haired boy on Second street
yesterday, ''let me take your candy
and We'll all play chicken"
'Is it nice?n inquired q half dozen
siX-year olds in chorus.
"Nice! you bet it is. Let me show
you. Now I'll lay the candy down
here on the step, and you all go up
there and come when you hear me
cal l1ike a rooster" - s-i E..
p The girlsretreated and gathered in
a groupabout fifteen feet on, while
the boy got on his knees, with his
head over the candy, and began to call
and strut and flap his arms like a
ROSTERS wings.
"Cluck, cluck, rat, tat, rap, cluck,n
and all the girls came running up and
bent to pick up the candy, when the
little fellow opened his mouth and
took it all in at one gulp.
"Oh, you mean boy" they cried
'syou have taken all our candy.n
'That's cause I playedrooster,n said
the boy; "roosters always call the
hens up when he finds grain of corn
and then picks it up himself.r
Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-07-23
A Rumor about MouIton.
[Brooklin Review, July 9th. ]

lBrookln Review, July 9th.
A Representatives. of the Reuiew had
an interview last night with Frank
Moulton, as he was en- route to Mar
ragansett.
What do you think about the result?'
quoth the journalist.
III think this,u he said, "that there's
pretty square issue between Henry
Ward Beecher and myself. One or
the other OF us is q perjurer, and ought
to be ina perjurer's cell in the State
Prison.p r = = 4st s9s'l
"Thats. a question you think in
sufficiently decided by the late dsa-
greement,"} queried the interviewer.
otis question intend to have de-
cided before l die" replied Moulton,
with dark frown. ~ have been to
the District Attorneys office to chal-
leDge an Indictment, and, am afraid
without any prospect of it. Last night
Beecher stood in the only pulpit he
can occupy in America. He will
stand in it again tomorrow. But if
1 live and he lives another year, one
ofus will be convicted perjurer and
occupy perjurer's cell. Tilton,s
struggle with Beecher was his own
not mine. He had to contend with
obstacles. He had condoned his wife,s
fault, and in this world such magma
nimity is shameful. The consequence
was that all his witnesses suffered.
But this is now my battle, and / mean
to fight 1t to the end. / say again
that either Beecher or / will fill
perjurer's sell before this is finished.
Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-07-23
sesfoffies pIAstfoRs.

s. Fl y
kastert. san Francisco Northern and. Coast
Sfations.-Telegraph Stage Line.-Arriye at
I2:SO A. Nj: close at 1880 P. NJ. Letters IN
tended for registry must be presented before
$3.50 p. IL. rr
san Diego I.ine-San Diego, Oapistrano, ar
I rives at 7:iO. p. NJ, and closes at 7:3e P. NJ
Southern Arizona-Tucson, Yuma, Arizona
CITY and way stations-Tri-Weekly Service
Ar ives sunday. Tuesday and Friday, at
s:4OP. NJ; leaves Monday, wednesday and
Saturday. mail closes ut 3:l0 p. NJ.
Northern Arizona-Prescott,W Wickenberg and
way stations-Semi- mi-Weekly--Arives w Tues
day and Friday at 9:35 A. NJ; leaves Tuesday
and Friday; mail closes at 3:l0 p. M.
San Bernardino and way stations-San Ca
briel FL Monte, Riverside, ETC.; arrives al
9:35 A. NJ; closes at $40 r. NJ.
Wilmington and way stations ARRIVES az -'io
p. M; closes at 10 A. NJ
Cerro Gordo Lone Pine and Hayilah-.AIrlVes n so
Monday, Wednesday and Friday at l2:SO A.
M: leaves Monday, Wednesday ana Satlu-
day; closes at7:3O p. NJ $50
domestic and Foreign Money Order Omcc.-
Omen from O. A. NJ, TO 1880 p. NJ, except on
Saturday, when office closes at $3.50 p M. ~
on sundays the Office will be open from 1890
2 to 1850 p. M ~ II. X. w. bEN1,F NJ.
Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-07-23
ScraD-BOOks.

A splendid assortment of SCRAP-BOOKS
have been expressly prepared for the holiday
season and no present of more permanent in
terest can be selected for gentleman or lady,
old or young.
No. l-Half-bound cloth sides, gilt-back,
$50 pp., l2Xl6 nches.................. S5 90
No. 2Half-bound, cloth sides, gilt-back,
500 pp., I2Xl6 inches ............,.. ...... %
No. 3-Full morocco, beveled boards, ,glt
and antique, very rich, 500 pp... u 90
Lettered to order in gold at % cts. per line.
Sent by mail postpaid on receipt of the price.
Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-07-23
GEMS FROM THE ALD,Ng.

ESPECIALLY ASSORTED FOR SCIpA p
BOOK I'LL US7RATTONS AND DR4V-
ING CLASS COPIES.
A large collection of pictures of different
Lies and on almost every conceivable sub
ject have been put up in an attractive envel-
ope and are now offered at price intended 10
make them popular in every sense.
Envelope No. containing 50 beautiful en-
gravings) is now ready, and will be sent, post
age paid, to any address for ONE OOLTAR r.
liberal discount to agents and teachers.