The New York herald., 1875-11-19
A PUBLIC WORKS SCANDAL.
A Charge that Uptown Sew
erage Is Defective.
Assessment Lawyers as Corrupt
erS of Public Servants.

For several days vague rumors have been in crcula-
ZION in the vicinity OF the City Hall OF the discovery
an attempt TO overreach the city the part OF one
H the contractors under the Department OF Pubic
Works and there were those who professed to know
That one or more officials under Commissioner Porter
likely be compromised If the subject underwent
searching investigation. search Tor the fountain
head OF the rumors resulted in leading HERALD re-
porter to the Comptrolers Office where, 1t was re-
ported the complaint had been put in writing charges
specifically made and a result all payments the
work stopped and the workmen called on
Deputy Comptroller Earle being applied to for
Information reluctantly admitted that charges had
been made against a contractor, and that the Comp
roer had stopped payments Of his vouchers pending
investigation Mr. Earle expressed desire with
hold all further information until this investigation had
taken tangible shape but stated that IL the
lions made to the Comptroller proved true it would
likely impcate various parties Afer considerable
urging he stated that the work referred to was
THE SEWERS AVENUE,
i35th, l47h and other streets in that neghborhood
for the construction of which Mr.. Alexander Luz OF
East 12lst street. has the contract reporter yestcr
day visited the ncghborhood, and, making cxamna-
tion found that the outlet from
l43d street up Eighth avenue to 147th street, and
thence down that street the East River below Sixth
Avcnue a double sewer either side of Eighth avenue
from 143d street 1881 street, and lateral sewers
running through 137th street, from Eighth
10 avenue ST. Nicholas, and another OF similar
lure from avenue ST. Nicholas aong 145th street to
Eighth That portion of the work on 18th
street, between ST. Nicholas avenue on 147th street.
from Seventh to the river the east side OF
Eighth from 143d street 133d street. and the
west side of Eighth avenue from 133d to 13Sth
street. has already been completed.
Mr.. Earle again appealed to- when he stated that
the charges madc by discharged foreman who
had been in Luzs employ but he declined give his
name, but which ascertained subsequently to be
ToaL Mr. Earle, however permitted the writer make
memoranda OF the alleged defects in construction.
They are in brief, as follows-
ALLEGED DEFECTS.
The curve One Hundred and Thirty nth street,
under the specifications to have cighteennch pipe
when only fifteen inches used, and tho grade of
the culvcrt at the manhoc II is charged, ten inches
high is charged that the stone in the basin at the
southeast corner OF One Hundred and Thirty fifth
taken from the sidewalk; that all the manholes
are built without foundations; that the basins bat
eight inches while the contract calls for twelve inches
and that on this section sand and cement mixed
IN the proportion OF three barrels OF sand to of
cement. The second grade has for fny feet no two
The manhoc has no stone foundation there is no two
inch plank under the invert in this grade. The third
grade reported correct but twonch plank under
the nverts there being merely three courses of BRICK
laid dry The fourth grade Is correct, but plank
under nverts, and three Of brick laid dry At
the house line OF One Hundred and Forty second
Btrect the information charges that the is five
inches high and no plank has been used, while
Grade h sef also out norted gnt under
line Of 142d street. plank being used under nverts,
but merely our courses of brick being laid. The same
Anfo. nrsaIt Nae
14lst TO l40th street II alleged that the grade varies
urcment that every other invcrt has been left out and
that the pipe is of an inferior quality.
THE CONTRACT FOR THE SEWER
was awarded on July 20 1870 to Alexander Lutz at the
mrveyors estimate OF S5s 396. the work to consist OF
he outlet sewer in 14Tth street, Eighth avenue and
A5h street from avenue st. Nicholas to Harlem River,
Tih branches Sixth avenue between 146th and 147th
Hfects; in Eighth avenue, between 1891 and 145th
Nrects. Mr.. LutZ entered into bonds IN the sum OF
$50 600 for the OF the work his sureties be-
ng William Baird and A. r. Arnom. Upon the work he
has received two payments by warrant, viz October
L. 81 $40 and November / $4,000 60, making total
pf Sl2 GAL CO. Certain additional. payments under the
contract are TO be allowed for rock blasting and
Irilling.
The work consists OF H. 651 lneal feet divided into
our different styles OF structure, with 300 feet OF
sulvert 81 basins 500 piles and 900 feet OF plankng
It will be observed that the charge is madc above that
the contractor failed to put in the panking under the
sewers.
VINO Is RESPONSIBLE?
Mr. Earle stated that Mr.. Noac, lately in the
poy OF the Bureau OF Sewers had been instructed by
The Comptroller TO make a survey OF the work and
port the results As the work had not been turned
the city 1t necessary to get the consent of
he contractor Tor a survey to be made Mr. LutZ was
consequently, sent for, and ut gave his
Tor the making of the survey. His explanation of the
sharge that the work mas not been done
according TO contract is that a part OF
lho work sub-contractcd; that the
ub-contracor failed TO comply with the specifications
IN particulars and that soon as he discovered
The detects he had them remeded AT his own expense
and that the work, completed rs In compliance with
bis contract with the city
WHAT THE PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS SAY.
General Porter informed the writer that he had been
notified of the alleged defects in the work and had
dered investigation by his officers He suspected
that there had been rascalty practised and
alleged that tho man who made the charge had pur
pUscy built the in the defect manner by Lutz's
orders II such proved to be the the parties could
be punished by application TO the courts Mr.. Towle
engineer Of the Sewer department. reports that his
officers now making searching investigation and
survey, which will be completed in few days.
As yet they have found but few slight
defects in the work, which Lutz agrees to
remedy As far as he Is able TO judge, Mr. Towlc
thinks that the foreman who superintended the work
did 1t in their regular purposey TO enable
assessment lawyers TO get the assessments vacated
He that they have before detected foremcn
IN working thus in the interests of these lawyers and
IL may he this Until the surveys have been
made 1t utterly impossible say where the responsi
bility rests If the charges made prove to be true.
IL is said at the Comptroers Office that the foreman
charges that he made the changes by order OF ono
Dean, an employe OF the Public Works Department.
such person in the employ OF the Department and Mr..
Towlc IL is probable that Mr. Dean the head FORE
man for the contractor, is the party referred to.