The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-23
CANAL FRAUDS.

ALBANY, April p, 1875
Al the meeting Of the JOINT Investi9atioR Com
mlttee Of the Legislature on Canal Frauds ex-
Canal Commissioner wright resppesred ana said
that when ne entered upon the duties or his once
a. Canal Commissioner on the Is. OF January, 1870
he found among the AWARDS which mad been made
By the Canal Appraisers IN 1869 one 70 Peter voor
bees Tor iano damages for about $1,000. and as il
was a claim OF dozen years standing be FELT 1t
his duty 70 make inquiry about is merits. ne
had only visited the WORK once, q being the only
instance he could recollect Ia whlcn ne had COM
INVITED such neglect during his term
or unee. After some months had passed
two person-Messrs Greene and Beach-cailed
on vitness, urging toe payment OF mis-
eialm; the claim was placed IA tbe hands Or
Leach KENNEDY ami others, and % al ! refused 70
pay; tnink never saw mo claimant until the
summer Of 1877; be met me a. Syracuse ard ap-
Piled FOR the payment Or his claim, and replied
~ BAN ~ expressing TIE same opinion and again
refused 70 pay Inc claim. Mr. wright tAen de-
tailed TIE mode OK Ing Inquiries, aud ssid that
ne made PERSONAL investigation. vas satisfied Of
The justice u tns award and laia ~
J0nn BlsR0Od was next sworn was a resident
neec on Ito canals; had Oeen over twenty Years
engaged ~ the eAnasi al contemplated work
should De taken ~ cross sections loF u nos
done % gross errors would IL Akey - occur.
in regard 10 Toe cOntfact fOf building tie
slope and vertlcAl walls a. tie Mohawk Aque-
duct, distance 81 eeven miles witness
sald toe "a, O0J YalGa OF excavation the contract
called FOR would u0t begin 70 90 toe WORK
cured; that that am0Hnt Of excavation Was pas
d0Nn merely 70 use ~ tno appropriation granted
fOr tbat work. and - 81 engineer, ne regarded IL
o. PefnIctOns ana tMprOpef praetlce 10 90 any
thlng " the ktndi On my DIVISION tncFe are now
sevefa. contracts; Obe 81 theM is the F4u Dusen
contract: ne. IN ialtAluiiy iu Gtnng Do contract,
IL apt 70 lose money; ne 1as 49, ecu 10 CO Oh tue
excavations o. eighteen cents yarQ, aad ~ -
worth fifty centa; there is c0nhlGer6b8 eXclYA.
ton to DO done; 10 0c0 yards I beneypf
lie probably expects 10 make something
on tne rock excavation. Tor w4len le is paln
only 3 fsir price; the amount OF rock 70 81 ex.
cayAted Will not exceed my estimated TN GuOther
section OF the cana ne has ga c8rth excavation
~ seventy nye cents YardY NhieH IA a good
price: DIT there % Only 1909 yards 81 that 70 1e
done, ! CO noe think tnat tne amount to We PAID
f0r tons WORK VIII exceed she engineers osftu.ate.
oscar Y. WHIgiOra was tue next FltAe@s:-tte.
SIDES 10 Bu1al0; ~ an engineer, gnQ La been
connected with tue canais or a dozen years, f0r d
time nad CnalRe OF lie contract 'or deepening
ths narrow channel d Back Rock hgruDf,
~ Bu1aio; went 20 in.s WORK 10 DecrMs
Der, 1872. Ar. Van D4saa lad tAc greater
part 81 toe contract On hls hands, Van
DUsen threw VI hs contract 0ec&Bsr, I'VE SAID, lie
mad not sgresd 70 oall out al me sewers o. isals
ialI; ara Jet, when be ICOk tue contract Dc must
have know tHat thia vas ~ be 8One, as she sew
ere had paen RAINING INTO the chauna. for ears
In Van Dnsoas contract ths pnces we're ali lOw,
Tao WORK VAS relet - ~. MugTAy. All 4bi1
n0tea oHgAt " BE 10 he posscaslOa OF the state
Wituess tAen gave "a accouat - INC msun8r 0l
tsktag prsiHoisa4g s0svsSa pdi ~ ainssed Ia 10