New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-01
CANfL Reform.


JOHN N. BARNETT, HORACE CANDEE AND c. p.
SKINNER, CANAL CONTAGIOUS, BEFORE TIE
JoIsT COMMITTEE OF INVEsTIGATIoN-TEsTI-
MONY OF MEREDITH MOORE, A PRACTICAL
MASON AND An EX-CANAL INSPECTOR.
ALBANY, April 3O.-The Canal Investigating
Committee resumed their labors this afternoon.
John " Barnett testified Am a contractor; have been
orc for three years connected with otlr parties in
my contracts; il is the custom for only OF firm TO
appear I'm making the contract Of my contracts now
in prosecution is laying the wall at Whitehall, on the
work TO enlarge the Champlain Canal; had contract
for work near Utica did not the work before took
the contract my partner Mr.. Nash did In making
out our bids We took tie chances on excavation;
agreed 10 do excavation at cents yard and would
cost twice that to do it, cannot explain the theory on
which We did this bid was TO clear away all snow
and leo for s.; assumed there would be excavation of
rock and for that bid SO that would be little more
than It was WORTH took slope wall al 90 cents our
bid was worth $780, for hemlock timber We bid
$50 a thousand, while 1t is worth about Sl5
a thousand; We estimated for 5000 yards Of
this, but used up 16S,GiS yards; Of course
that made on the low prices; had we only used
the estimated amount Of homlOcR We might have lost
money! the indications at the outset that very lit
tIc hrnock timber would he used cannot tell then how
we would make money, Int we hoped money would he
II the SINE amounts ne the quantity sheet called for had
been used did not make mp the 1ids-that matter
work; / never find fault with what my partners
tine Utica contract the
900 bid made below that, but we received
Tor The work $25374 ~ this large increase over the bd
aftfr the contract lei am now engaged al White
hall get 50 for dry wall ana 70 for wall III cement; get
for exca this job cents and have already mad
IN proportion much of IL to do as the quantity sheet
called for the class Of inspectors the State has are
and they are usually friends Of politician and not rac
tica masons they sho1d be; do not know OF an IN
stance where lost money by change OF plan;
our firm TOOK any means to suggest or 1uther
change of plans; canal officer ever talked to u- about
| I h.ya III Nork
ccyed from the State and have lived up To the Fclnca
nv life where contractor attempted TO get the better Of
the sate; contractors want 10 drive good bargain kc
they well may me ne Oh contractor not
| Meredth Moore was next and testi6cd am
practical and have been Tor 20 years nave nce
an III spcctor short time On tie Work had TO look
over took pains To look into IT, and found u inprac
cable; had Jaw with the Engnecr telling nm ihai me
! man who drew up the specifications must nave been
crazy for no contractor could 90 at any 81 te prices
| / heard Of; asked hlIh II snoua MAKE 'ne
contractor live up to them; he answered, As near 9s
them 1--we up 10 the specifications IA ar as good WORK
was concerned; told tue contractor ne must d9 the
inspection and TIE TRIBUNE man who examined all the
work Oh the canal said it was the best on the
tract some Of the stone on that work it would
take and an OK To- draw al INSPECTORS ouShi to
they do or not do moi know was removed from the
Candeo contract to other WORK 40 "t care 70 give ny
;nsnector over the Nchos work ana found mat the
him send for Nichols, who came down
| and asked, ''WhO IN the h sent Moore
dawn here To prosecute ~ said, - am not going 10
,ros1rnte any man you've got 10 do good work while
am here :, ne and raved, but he did good work
nevertheless would have work done Tor the state in
gross and NOT the present system for instance there
Are three miles Of canal TO he laid with vertical wall;
ask how much will do II for; he bids for IL all and
give the work 10 the lowest Responsible man, aud no
! changes occur.
| Won and testified: | have now q contract on the
Inrdan level; am Interested in four other contracts
held nv nv brother David Candcc on my contract bid
20 cents for northumberland at 10000 yards;
b lieved there would be more than that used; nave
! already excavated 10000 yards, aud an not half
through: bid cent yard for rock estimated ~ 1000
yails did not expect there would I've much OF tha
flipk is all c1CaVated and have out about 5000
yards -, -. Ito. ~, #. "a,
which were dispropOTtOnatc IN the same degree, saying
thot the contract would he CLOSE one Those inter
Gated i'm tLe contract with him were Messfs MuwDay,
Van Dusen and D. Candec. The witness believed that as
general thing system Of unbalanced bids should he
VIGOROUSLY excluded. IL would be better both for the
state and the contractor He did not agree with the lst
witness IN the idea Of letting work by the gross IL would
| never do for the state, not being practical
G. p skinner contractor for ten years, was the next
Witness He testified that he had contract on tbe nm
balanced system, but his testimony contained no nc y
| features of interest.
| Recess until evening.