The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-09
QUARANTINE AFFAIRS.
TIE INVESTIGATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE CON-
MITTEE.


MrTEE.
The Legislative Committee now investigating the
working of the Quarantine Department reassembled
yesterday Castle Garden The first witness examined
was Charles II. Haswell who stated that he for
merly Of the engineers TO the Quarantine Commits
sioners; be appointed in February, 1871, and
manned in that position until August 1873 that time
the Commissioners Of Quarantine the Mayors Of
New York and Brooklyn Mr. Barton and Dr. Bell
from the time Of tho appointment Of witness to that Of
Dr. Vandepoe he acted the general engineer for the
Commissioners experimenting the fitting and repairs
of the steambo~. and floating hospital Dix and
Hoffman islands and making designs for
the structure; the contract Of construc-
ton Of Hoffman Island and the erection
of structures thereon was made Immediately after
Hofmans appointment before the work had progressed
to any extent DR.. Hoffman suggested alterations
and additions which necessitated supplementary
tract the duty Of the witness superntend the
alterations; in order that he might be justified in his
certificates of the receipts of rpaps he requested that
the persons residing Hoffman Island should furnish
him with report of cargoes delivered there; he also
required the contractor should make report TO him
when he prepared to deliver a cargo, that he
(witness) might verify the delivery of it pos
sibe in instances he refused to certify the de-
livery, when it deposited in opposition to his
ders; in all those instances where the fifteen per cent
retained he gave certificates of the delivery; wit
gave certificate of the final completion
of the contract The witness further explained that
in connection with the rip-raps the volume of the
received in consequence of Dr. vanderpoel
raising the height of the WALL in settling with the
tractors for the labor witness furnished abstract
setting forth the amount paid to them and what was
DUE has been engineer for years; he thought
the prices charged for rpraps and other constructions
were high in the first contract; Lochman Devereau 8
contracts were for $ll5 600 and 81 600 extra work
about the time witness engaged in completing the
work there Or. Vanderpoel rented steam boiler and
other articles of which witness had CHARGE when
was determined TO add TO the building witness
asked 10 make an estimate; the contracts, however
were accepted without regard to this estimate II
| S2S000; the contracts accepted $4,000;
| the witness added that in view of the ex,
pense of material furnished to the island in
| the lower bay his estimates may have been too
low but he thought $35 600 would have been fair
price; his estimate of SIS 900 contemplated expense
incident to delivery of material and the same
material would cost in New York; the contractors did
not do their work well as they might have done Dr.
Bell associated with the witness under the terms
of contracts to decide upon the materials and work
The witness said he often demonstrated with the
tractors and read letters in substanation of his
mep; witness was bound to give certificates of the
proper compliance of contractors with their contracts
he gave the required certificates, having been
thorlzed by Dr. Vanderpoel and DR.. Bell; tho con-
tractors complained of the prices under the second
tract; witness thought that $115 900 for the building
would have been fair price. In response to Mr.. Al
word the Witness stated that IN all where original
work done the plans and specifications made by
him on which contracts were based; if the Commits
soners had TO contract TO purchase sufficient number
OF vessels to maintain floating quarantine witness did
not think there would be much difference of expense;
the prime cost of the vessels would be very much less
than that of permanent structure would the cost
OF maintenance differ materially The witness thought,
from sanitary point of vew the present structure
best adapted for the purpose.
DR.. A. NJ Bell was next examined. He said that he
of opinion that, so long there Health on
GERS there was no necessity for Quarantine Commission
Some years ago he suggested that Board of APP
peal should be appointed, but the suggestion was not
accepted by the merchants He considered that tho
Commissioners Of Quarantine were of real benefit
except in of appeal The witness then proceeded
TO explain the duties of the Health Officer and finally
gave it his opinion that the Commissioners Of Quar-
antlne should be dispensed with. The income of the
Health Officer by law SO so for foreign vessels and
So for domestic vessels 1t would be safe TO estimate
the income of the Health officer by multiplying the
rivals of foreign vessels by Sc So and domestic vessels
by 49, say $4,000. The charge for vaccination must
also be considered; in year 10000 were vaccnated.
The salary of first deputy So COO The witness fur
Their stated that Mr. Haswel not compelled to give
certificates the dicta Of Dr. Vanderpoel and himself
At this stage the committee adjourned until half past
ten O'Clock this morning.