New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-14
THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

EXAMINATION OF E. II. CROCKHR CANAL IN
GISEER, AND JOHN ID. FAY An Ex-CANAL COM
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or PREPARING ESTIMATES
ANE C0HTRAcTs-PLANs BASED UPON CRUDE
GUESsEs-poUBTFUL TRANSACTIONS EXPLAINED.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNBl
ALBANY, April 13-The Joint Legislative
Committee of Investigation into canal frauds this after
noon examined F. H. Croker who has been engineer
on the Eastern Division Mr. Crocker lives at sandy
Ill., and has in the State service II or IA years
in engineering positions. He was rather tmid and
uncertain witness and inclined TO clouduess and re-
luctsnce in his statements. considerable NUMBER OF
men had been summoned TO appear before the COM
mittee were present at the examination Among them
were John d. Fay, formerly Canal Commissioner, and
now Division Engineer; eICommissoners Barley ann
Stroud Messrs Tubbs Richardson, Kemble and Taylor,
who employed the canal az assistant engl-
neers The most interesting point in MI Crockers eA-
animation his admission, repeated in various FORMS
that estimates which canal contracts are let are
generally made in the office, and mat siten
hardly a feld-note is taken for them. IL was
drawn from the witness that these 'stinates
in very many cases are without the least purpose
OF settling the final costs OF the work but go as TO TX
cost which would consume the first Appropriation. M
Crocker was examined prstsy fully concerning one OF
Henry D. DenisOns contracts for the removal OF wall
benches on the Eastern Division OF the Erie Canal.
The estimates for this contract as the witness achow
edged all prepared in the Office by John A Cooper
and himself, and not field note was taAeh'
Tie original estimates were for $Si'64o anu
the frat appropriation was for SOO,oOo. In
this contract 10000 cubic yards OF excavation
were Included Mr. Croker could give no satisfactory
explanation as the for fixing upon this NUMBER
Of yards lie SAID there were some bad places IN INC
space covaed by tho contract, and he thoush'
these extended right along. He conld give no better
account of the for the item OF 900 yards or rock
excavations The only means, he confessed which were
FIR udp
should he done were the old cross sections
He admitted that no distinction was haoo
between the earth which the contractor would
use for cmbankmcnt and that which would be wasted
and that the often got pay in both ways Tor
excavation and embankment, for the same EARTH
When asked about the extent OF his acquaint-
ance with Mr. Denison. the contractor MI
Croker, said thut Mr. Denison was an OCCASIONAL
visitor at his Office Mr. CrGker was also ques-
toned about the contracts for the upper and lower
side cut locks the Erie Canal, Mt West Troy
which we're taken by j. W. Boomer and Chas j. Degra~s'
and assigned Ia willard Johnson, but the witness al.
pered 10 know little about these He was then exam
ned about James Ii. sherris contract Tor building
stone dam across the Mohawk River for which the est-
mate was $4,000, and the ,totA OUTLAY
s29O.529. The difference between the estimate anu
the total cost in part DUE according to Mr. Crockers
extraordinary explanation, to this fact The water IN
calling over the wooden dam, which was just above
this Mace where the stone dam WAS built, hoi-
lowed ont q deep cavity, for which allow
ance was not made IN the estimates. Though
IL was the easiest thing IN the world to measure
the depth OF the water. Even this hrst step does
not sppear TO have been taken 10 ascertain the
axtsnt Of the cavity The remainder OF tile differ
epcs was due, the witness said, 10 The carrying
avay of part Of work by fcshcs two or three times
and AZ this was fault OF the contractor II was
,houabt lust TO reimburse him for these losses After
Crokers examination the Committee took recess unth
evening.
The Committee held long session In the evening
which was taken mp with the examination OF Johh H.
Fay ex-Capal Commissioner. II Mr.. Fay was
AZ shutting and uncertain and confused IN MS
official services he was IN his rephes
under examination tonight he could not have been very
yalnabl az siate officer He appeared TO have clear
and positive ideas about nothing and II TOOK many f
tious varied IN form and iorcibly pressed home,
I, GOT any approaeh 10 satisfaction IN an