The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-02
THE 0TISC0 LAKE PLACER.
nov TT WAS PROFITIBLY WORKED
BY TIE CANAL ROBBERS.
An Outright steal Of $50. 900 Disbursements
TINT hivalled Babcock's Achievements
The Wen who are IMPLICATED In the Lob.

fhe Wen who are Implicated In the Job.
ALBANY, Sept. 1.-The Joint legislative
canal investigating committee have taken a re-
cess for II short time. They have placed on nle
with the Auditor las Secretary OF the Canal
Board communication to that board respect
Ing the Otlsco L Ike reservoir and the contract
for its construction. In 1853 II was deemed
necessary, says the report, to construct the
reservoir. Howard Soue, Jr., then a resident
engineer, made detailed estimate that the pro-
posed work. including engineering and con-
tingencies," would cost $4,000. October 1, 1858,
contract was made with A. Caldwell Beldcn to
execute the job at a rate Of prices specified, he
agreeing that the full compensation shoul d
be $93H. The work continued about three
years. when the account was closed with
the contractor. tl375J.2l having been paid
him. $4,000 having been awarded for
lands flowed. with interest. The con-
Iact " was but l9J feet long. The contract re-
qulred that there should be carried up in tho
embankment OF the dam wall Of puddled
earth this was not done. and the result was
that when the attempt was made to oil the res
ervoir, the dam leaked like a sieve" There
reservoir embankment, the wall to be of an aver
age Thickness Of fifteen inches, no stone to be
laid In the wall less than twelve inches In length
at right angles To the full the Joints to be prop.
etly proven, aud the foundation Of tho wall to be
OF timber and plank while 10 was built of field
stone. laid In a single course OF an average thick
ness OF about six Inches, upon no other fOunda-
tion than was formed by scraping away the mud
and starting the wall on such rth a. was there.
The result wes that when the first freshet came
alter the dam was put to use, the dam began to
employed at the expense Of the state to draw In
gravel at the rate of tweDty-six loads an hour
Tor considerable time to save the whole work
from gong out. Ii was estimated that three
acres had To be chopped, grubbed and cleared,
to prepare FOR the sup rstructure and to prepare
new road, To- take the place of one that would
be submerged. The new road was never built,
and AL the erubbing that was done on the work
was digging out one stump.
10 enable the contractor to Gle ar OF the wood
land that was to be Hooded, a Temporary dam
was built by him to set back tue water so that
u would freeze on the timber land and allow OF
the trees being removed on the ice. This work
Tor the benefit OF the contractor The
timber used In its construction was obtained
from the lands TO be flowed ami portions Of this
timber were worked into the permanent dam.
portion OF the temporary dam was carried
away In ireshet and injured the dam of a mill
owner below on the stream. The State has paid
from which IL was taken. 1t paid for IL again to
the contractor when 1t went into the temporary
dam and portion OF II the contractor was paid
for stil again when IL went into the permanent
dam besides the State paid for building. re-
pairing and watching by night, as well as day,
this temporary dam and the expenses of the
contractor III repairing the mill dam below that
was injured by the temporary dam breaking
away. Besides. ten thousand dollars worth Of
lumber was sold. In 1863 a contract to finish
the reservoir was made. and under II the con-
tractor was paid Ssi,5A.2D for " chopping, grub
bling and clearing 1868 at $40 per acre or, in
other words, a. tue value OF the timber paid for
the work OF "choppng and clearing" and all
tue grubOlng done was taking out one stump, IL
cost the state to get out that one stump
fSiSA ~.
This work was begun under the direction of
Mr.. commissioner Fay The contract fixing he
price for clearing and choppng was made 10y
Mr. Commissioner w. w. Wright, who made the
hnal settlement with the contractor; and the
appraisal ana payment OF the claims was during
tue term OF Mr.. Commissioner Stroud. Mr.. 4.
A Sweet was then an assistant engineer in i'm
mediate charge Of this work. Mr. Thomas Good
sell was the resident engineer, who verified by
amdavit the correctness OF the 1nal account,
Mr.; Howard Soule, Jr., division engineer, certi'
animation OF the work. land the work was fully
completed according To the terms OF the con-
tract and the hnal account was correct !" and
Mr.. W. IL. Taylor, then state Engineer, endorsed
me report concludes, " IL Is perfectly evident
that THIS whole work could not nave been done
IN the manner II was without some responsible
ity therefor resting upon each and all Of the
above named officers, and this committed IA
wholly unable to ind any excuse for what is
either culpable and gross neglect Of duty, or
else j. most serious and intended wrong, by
Whlch an open and palpable fraud mas been per
petrdted against the state to the extent OF at
least SJOUtl, in the performance OF this contract
exclusive Of the amount allowed by the Canal
Appralsers To the claimants or owners Of tie
land.'
AN IMPLICATED CANAL RNGISEER MISSING
ALBANY, Sept. 1.-Fredcrio& Behn. who,
while division engineer az Buffalo. WAS in part
nershtp with Lewis j. Bennett IN dredging out
the Buhalo haroor aud executing other contracts
Tor the state, Is reported 10 have gone to tda
Az all events he cannot be found In Buffalo,
suopuna from the Canal Investigating Commis-
sion.
1haddeus C. Davis l. in attendance before the
commission, but has not yet oeen examined.