New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-04

TI,o p,n9iI,;y estimate for June l. 1875, shows
that Denison had been credited up TO that time rs
Bailing and draining lin parb ....;o:.- $500 ~
I2i,ly cubic yards Of earth pc ,3s 49 90
73 $50 cubic yard, OF embsnkment, soc-. 337eS On
2633D cubic yards Of lining, i5c LII ~
SOS, cubic yards Of vertical wall, dry "a ll2$2 o.
s !, :: . n q pax Timber ss s4s g g
roto, .Si32975 %
FOX EXTRA WORK.
l5,378 cube y'r'' 'e''0"' wal, nv si6,13i 90
400 ,eSI b ii. docking pine, ~ %
s9770 feet B. Il. chestnut, s22 ..-..... Z9y ~
G,y36 pounds wrons.t r ,n l2c'''''..'.. 120 o.
i0s,9G2 beet Il d. docking pine s2o-. az -
80 Hlt n NJ nine timber $35......... 100 o.
10 days carpenter work, SO 1919. 90 20 20
days mason and stone cuttins, go. ~ ~
1858. incal feet coping, SJ....'-......''''. 40 =
sl0l ,3os 81
foot Ma mus doeling SIS. s27j 20
Total ................... Si9i,53i o.
no,,c, material, furnished by the Staic:
6,67S Cubic yards slope wall stone, 1oc. 3'""o w
Amount credited contractor. .Si9i2lJ %
TRANSFORMATION OF THE COETRACr 10 BENEFIT
DENIsON.
As the contract was originally awarded, Dcnison
was the lowest bidder, and if he had executed the
have been most favorable to the State but no sooner
was he contract signed than the pan Of the work
and he conditions upon which it was TO be executed
were 50 completely change as to make his bid by
far the highest that was made. Instead OF building
tbc slope wall for which he had contracted 1T %
cents ward be was allowed to build only vertical
wall for which he was allowed, when IaId dry, ~
per cubic ward and when laid in cement. ~.
The oak timber which he agreed 10 furnish at 30
per / 900 feet--while the engineers estimate was
so per " and the average Of all other bids was
almost if not fully up to that figlre-was reduced
70 ouequarter the orlsnal quantity, ana III u, Sace
u less durable material was charged ;as extra
work" AT Is fall market value.
The en- rnecr's estimate of 100 cubic yards OF
rock cycayai ION was increased 70 1lOZl cuhlc
wards, for which Denioon is credited ~ per yard,
while the engineers estimate ~ NON - iofl % PEI
cubic vtrd and the average of all other bids not
The einbankment was increased from l 100 yards
10 10 ito yards. Tor which he received credit OF
80 cents II yard notwithstanding his price Is w
conf. urr yard greater tdE the engineer estimate
and about 30 ccLts greater than the average OI All
other bids. ,,;.r, :.
has been tranafDIileJ by ;be cOnnly1Dce 81 tilr
STATS agents and multiplying its several quait-
;es by the prices b.d by the unsuccessful COM
peHt0rs in SeptcmDcr, 1863 we obtain the follo"us
$40 June /. Dcnison was credited as above
irac,."........... S432,915 %
EH ,'o,, w. wral' !' 80. 27OO74 20
Difference against Tl62,900 ,.
John Ple'ln'S prices, 7-7''Vi" %
Difference against state. S152,S3l 80
Samuel DoaaisOns prices 9-9O'S'o %
Difference against s'ate..............->l4d,13 G 40
Cnas j nc GIaw Prices .foo''"-i ."
Dir icrce against state. $l32.o53 6S
Chts. Van Derkors prices '-'"' i
---- -
Difference against state................$l3Q,9o 81
Flood COemnnS prices, @c-.....- -
pr,r.qce against slle..a7 q q
Philip Jaiseh's prices = 20
Dir.renc. AGAINST state...............slo7.lo 100 Os
Joan y BoO.hers prices. -f""J"'O ."
Difference against state................ f03,9lt 33
Jacob cchauJ's proes '9o %
Difference against sate................ Ss2,l76 %
Chas \. HairingtonS prices, .r5o5'sS2 -
DIE renee axanst 3tatc................ Ssj9l22 u
Arch MeArthurs prices, 90 -
Difference AGAINST state. ........-.---.*Tl 5.53Z 80
Such Vas the process by which the Canal Commits
sioneI, managed 10 give this contracl-ilo 10 tho
lowest bat to the very highest Diuer; 20 .am
%lG2 900 more shan the prices for the same work,
by "A perfectly responsible conpetitor-and ali Tor an
improvement not authorized oy any lilW not pro- %
yided for by any contract, ana IRON any point OF
view ia which it may he reg,rted several times
more expensive than there was any occasion Tor.
Among
existence by this wholly unauthorized and unlawful
departure from the original contract we have spoken
of vertical cement wall, which, as appears ~ the
las: June estimate, had already swollen TO io'3 >
cubic wards As cement wall was exhibited IN
the QUAINT sheet at tie letting none Was bid Tor,
snd was provided Tor III tie CONTRACT LAS
wan, therefore, 10 estimated a. extra Wolh, at the
rate of 81 the cable yard, on % more than the con-
tract price for dry vertical wall.
WIfLFUL BLINDNESS OF ESGINEEES AND AUDITORS.
1t is III evidence before us that on the same day
that Denison handed i'll his bids on this contract
indeed on the very sheet-he bid for cement
wall on the stretch Of the canal immediately adj
joining this work west, 20 a cublc yard, and was
awarded the contract Knowing that he had bid
for cement wall in this vicinity at 50 yard the
engineers and auditing officers. instead OF inviting
proposals for cement wall on the Port Schuyler
work. Us the law required them to do before embark
ing upon any such construction, allowed Mr. Dcni-
son 81 per cubic yard 81 per yard in excess OF the
above mentioned bid, which, upon tine cement wall
already credited to him, represents difference to
the prejudice of the state of over $780, 900.
We have stated that this cement wall, estimated
as extra work. and a very large proportion at least
of the vertical wall constructed under this contract
WAS built and credited to the contractor without
any legal authority Whatever o. 10 $500 4. ~,
The Law of 1880, Chap. BIT, eS, says " M
alteration shall be made la ANY map, plan or spec
cation adopted by the Canal Board, and exhibited
or the plan of any work under contract during lis
progress except ny the and approval OF the
tomins sioner aud the Division Engineer, nor unless
the description of such alteration. and the approval
thereof he reduced 10 writing, and be signed by tn,
parties making the same, and a copy thereof shal
have been filed In the Office OF the state Enginee
and Surveyor. Nothing ia this section contained
shall be construed tOauthorze any change OF plan that
shall increase the expense Of the work, or create an,
claims against tho state for damages arising there
from, unless "A written statement setting forth thu
iuis remark al this point that the A.,