New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-25

part Of il paid for under fraudulent estimates as
e. its character. The Commission find that Slll,-
1893 were paid under contract for S49.O26 and
that S30.CO6 10 were paid him in excess of the
amounts properly chargeable for the work DONE
FOURTH REPORT OF THE CANAL INVES-
TIGA1ING COMMISSION.
10 the Corernor OF the state Of Nec-york:
On the 10Th day of October, 1869, contract
was awarded TO John " Boomer OF Fulton, N ~ to
construct side cut lock at the upper side cut at
West Troy the work to be completed on or before the
25th of APRIL ISL The suretes were Willard johnson
and Willis 8. Newton. On the eth of December, 1869,
and within months after 1t executed, tie con-
tract was assigned 10 Willard johnson, who is under
stood have been originally the zeal party IN interest
aud Boomer his instrument. The contract provided
simply for the construction Of lock and lite approaches
each &C feet in length, at cost of $49,026 Without any
authority whatever except what they profess to derive
FROM the States agents have permitted the
contractor 10 build in addition waste weir; to ilciose
Che triangular space included between the upper side cut
the Hudson River, and the West Troy Basin by vertical
walls; to cover its surface, about 5000 square yards
with a stone pavement and finally, TO build an iron
swiugbIidge the waterway in the PATH aggre
eating an expenditure OF 1873, &c., in excess
Of the contract.
WORK PAID FOR TWICE.
In the final contractor is credited for the
excavation OF 63l4 cubic yards Of rock S6,3l4 This
allowance made for clearing out old dock filed en-
trey with earth mixed with loose stones and gravel
and only chargeabe earth excavation there being
no blasting required; but the contract price for earth
excavation only 80 cents cubic yard, While for
rock 81 Upon this single item the con-
tractor was allowed $4,4l9 50 than he entitled
There was also allowed in the hnol account 1900
cubic of embankment. All but 5000 cubic yards
Of this embankment made from earth paid
for excavation deposited within 200 feet and there
~ tract mot
20 be paid for q second time For the 1860
cubic yards thus wrongfully estimated the contractor
was allowed $3,122
The final account contains an allowance for so
cubic yards Of lining at 60 cents per yard The contract
requires that when lining is made from materials paid
for az excavation AMI used within 400 feet Of the place
where e1cavated the quantity thus used shall be de-
Quoted from the excavation. 1t appears from the tesi
mony OF r r. Hilton, the engineer in charge that all
this lining fell within the foregoing restriction, but that
It was never deducted from the excavation. The esti
mate OF earth excavation is consequently too great by
27i3b,o cubic yards which the contractor received
SO cents per yard, or, in the aggregate, 1923 90.
EXCESSIVE PAYMENTS FOR BRIDGE NEVER IN THE
CONTRACT.
There is also an allowance of 2O655 pounds cast iron
ct IL cents per pound Mr. Hilton testies that 1920
pounds Of this iron allowed for scrap and pigiron
used compensating weight In the swing bridge near
the head Of the lock. Ths bridge built in the Spring
Of 1874 during the commssionershp Of BarklayJ The
eorstrucon of this bridge unlawful for 1t never
lt by contract did the contract under which John
son was working contemplate any such Improvement.
The prices therefore for the work done and materials
furnished it, IL paid for at ALL should have been simply
their market value. The market value OF scrap and pig
iron at this point exceed cents pound The
fact that csron estimated in The contract at IL
cents pound made precxt for charging the State
O. for the iron used than it was worth, though
put work not covered by this contract nor by
other The testimony of Mr. Greene the present Deputy
10 il explicit this subject
O. What would be fair price for pig iron at that point
even II necessary to load the bridge In that way
@ II was not done under any supervision Of yours
A. No. SIR it included in estimates made subse
Qrent 10 the expiration OF my term.
@ Do you ind 1t so allowed in the final estimates
IN favor OF this contractor A. Yes, Sir.
O. Have You any theory or any explanation except the
dishonesty negligence OF the engineer III making any
lie is called exercise his tudinentf A. No.
O. You find that IL cents pound for 1900 pounds
was allowance of at least 10 cents pound more than
could be procured fer at it. market yaluei YES Sir
1gdsr the contract anu at the eSnS s ay of
cents C yo S opinion or the oWaos OF @
pig iron at the price of cast front A. No Sir"
FALSE CLASSIFICATION OF WALLS
The contract contemplated the construction OF only
30 cubic yards OF vertical wall at sc yard In the final
account the State charged with l32O75 cubic yards
which we find classified follows:
SG49 cubic yards Dimension Masonry sl0. s7.649 90
HiS cubic yards Asher curved Retaining wan s,ee 20
'4a5' cubic yards cOPng s.3 ,o,. 2ssl 90
for work which, at the contract price Of SO the yard
would have amounted to only 1924 SO, leaving the
State the loser by this fale classification Of IT'S. Mr.
r. j. Hilton, the assistant engineer IN charge Of this
work. esRes that he this classification of vertical
wall lock masonry" under the orders OF the Division
and Resident Engineers and the Canal Commissioner.
The curved ASHER was classified by direction Of Mr..
Dabcock. Mr.. Greene when asked to account for the
allowance Of $40 yard for this wall testified follows:
40 fra all I'm fla aue1