New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-27
CANAL INVESTIGATION.


BEFORE TIE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
ENGINEER SWEET AS TO THE oTIsCo LAKE con-
TRACT-AIL THE GRUBBING on GOO ACRES ONE
sTUMP-AN EXP AVIATION AS TO THE WORRIES
CLAIM FOR DAMAGES.
ALBANY, N. Y, Aug. 26-The Joint Legis-
atve Committee resumed Its investigation OF the Belden
contract for the Otisco Lake dam this morning. Mr. C.
A. Sweet recalled and testified that lie first made
survey at the OtscO Lake reservoir In 1865. and had
charge until 1905 when he left there were still I'D acres
IN the swamp to be cleared the east and west shores
of the lake clearing done; in the original estimate
for the work only three acres were mentioned as
being necessary to be cleared and grubbed;
this was the estimate Of tho Resident Engineer;
these three were at the dam, ana the
estimate included the erection Of new road. All the
grubbing done on the whole COO acres taken by the
State was stump the dam. He received no in
structions build road and OF course did not build
one He there to that the contractor fulfilled his
contract The wall did not come up to the specifications
In Thickness and size Of stone The contractors were paid
for $40 nca feet Of piles they were paid FOR cutting
them and the landowners were paid for them besides lie
admitted this right but that he had nothing to
do with that. That the business OF the Division
Engineer and Canal Commissioners. He insisted
that the length OF the dam $50 feet Notwithstanding
others testified that 1t 29O feet by actual measure
The contractors carted away timber oeIoic the
laud appraised. ZIG term tliiDer lahu ihciuucu
only land with solid timber on 1t. He never ran line
throueh meadow land while measuring timber land
was his attention ever called to such fact The object
of clearing the land to prevent logs brush &c from
floating down and njuring the dam The lana was wen
cleared, and the brush and other material taken away
and burned LETT along each side OF the dain'
which went down over 1t. The timber would pay for
clearing the land The temporary dam was built ABOVE
the permanent structure. 1t built more In the In
terest OF the contractors than the State The material on
the ground used to construct this da ara me Sto
paid for II three times The State paid So per night
for watching the benefit OF the CONTRACTORS lie
admitted that there more looseness on the
canals then than now, but did not believe there WAS
anything wrong connection with tls particular JOB
The contractors were not allowed for clearing the
meadow land. The landowners were allowed four times
as much as their land worth. There was no grub
bling done between the dam and the lake. HIS instruc-
lions were 10 chop and cut lie was told by the Resi-
dent Engineer Hiram sCuc, that grubbingwas not neces-
sary Never knew grubbins to be done In connection
with n reservoir.
By dr. Cole-when you went on to do piece Of work
dd YOU get your from the Resident Engcorf
Winess-Ycs, Sir.
BY Mr. Coe-Dd you follow ont his instructions with
out pay ing any attention 10 TIC terms Vi the co"''
Witncs5-Ycs Sir.
By Mr. Coc-Suppose the contract was submitted TO
YOU before You commenced, would you follow out the
terms Of that contract Witness-fes, Fir.
BY Mr. Sherman-Did yOu have the specifications be-
fore YOU when supervising the work Witness-Not al
ways Knight have had them before me on this work
BY Mr. Coc-So far you know, was there proper In
terest manifested before the Board Of Appraisers on tie
part of the State preserve the States rights rs to
pricesf Wtness-No, Sir; there was not. As regards
the Hicks claim for $4,000 damages to his mill Owing
to back water he prevailed upon not to appear be-
appraisers by the claimants but did appear ana
saved the State $4,000 Hicks was allowed nothing
tl,a ffinn
Of the dam.
At this point q recess taken until $3.50 p. m.
twas expected that Canal Commissioner Fay would
be ready for examination at the afternoon session. Dut nc
is still before Tldens Canal Commission, as well AZ
witnesses whom the Joint Committee desire to ex
anime Hence there no witnesses ready for exam
nation. The Hon. Fred. Seward member OF the Com
mittee, present this afternoon.
In view the fact that witnesses were present the
Hon. W. H. Peckan Of counsel called Tie attention vi the
Committee the fact that, at the investigation last
Spring, Mr. W. W. Wright, ex-Canal Commissioners, was
extremely desrous, willie the stand to make an ex-
PLANTATION to the Committee alleging that some of the
newspapers had msrepresented him, In connec-
ton with what was then known rs the
voorhees, claim. lie asked for and granted
the privilege of making an explanation, in which he at
tempted to defend his official action. Mr. Peckham said
he had been hunting the matter OF the voorhees, claim
and desired bring 1t before the Joint Committee In
the MOnezuma marshes, the land OF Peter voorhees, i'd
joining used is alleged by the State to dump
the debris taken the Seneca River upon Mr. Voor-
hees that his land WAS destroyed by this use and
these deposits, and claimed 81, 200 for six acres
His claim not allowed. In 1869 he went to the
Legislature for relief and presented another claim,
amounting to $S947 81. This claim heard In Sep
TENDER, 1860, by Canal Appraisers b. Brockway ard
William WATSON, under special act passed by the Less-
lature-J2O, Laws of 1868. After personal examine
ton Of premises and due notice given to the claimant
and the Commissioner In charge tMr. Wright, tie APP
praisers made the following award Temporary occupa-
ton OF lands, $1,000; destruction OF rails and fences,
S1l5 destruction Of timber, 81 900; interest for 10
years, $3,325 %; total S6,49o %.
The Joint Committee propose to subpoena eICommis-
sioner Wright before them in order that he may have
another opportunity make explanation Of how he,
rs representative Of the State. permitted the apprals
ers award S6,490 70 when the claim originally de-
mandcd only 81 200.
The Joint Committee then adjourned over until Tues
day. Aug. 81, at 10 q. III.
CANAL TOLLS AND ELEVATOR RATES.