Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-07-01

INQUIRY INTO THE SECOND OF Mr. HAWKINS srEoI-
fIcATIoNB--1HE DOORS THROWN OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC.
The special committee began its investigation,
last evening, OF the second of Mr.. Hawkins
specifications In his charge against the Water
Depsrtment-Giving away city property for little
or no compensation. First, however, on motion
of Mr.. Lynch, the public were admitted. Quite
a number of persons went in, and the tempera-
ture of the atmosphere was thereby increased
from pleasant to decidedly warm. II the inves-
tigation can conveniently proceed i'll the pres
ence of the public the doors will not be closed
again. Mr. Bradford was again present to rep
resent Mr.. Hyde.
Washington Hyde, examined Keep time of
men engaged in quarrying in Second street west
OF Van Buron; men We're employed at first;
Thomas Wheelan was at work l116 days, John
Lynn 81 days, John Price 13i u, Mel Gray 13lS
days, Edward Connor IL days, Michael DougheT-
ty II days, Alfred Marvel II days. Mr. Lynn re
eeived 81 rs per day, Wheelan S1.50, Price 81. 50,
Gray $3.50, Connor, Sl.50 Dougherty 81 50,
Marvel Sl.5O--$l26.SS in all; one man was occu-
pied in carrying the tools back and forwards
for repairs; Mr.. Lynn Was boss of the quarrymen
and MIR. Cottingham of the diggers.
William Wilson Considerable stone came
out Of trench in End street. West Of Van Buren,;
they were taken to buildings close by and work.
ed in; they were taken by authority of Mr.. Hyde,
by Thomas Ford; Mr.. Hyde said that Mr.. Ford
was to draw dirt and fill up the ditch as comren-
sation for the stone; the length to be filled was
some 25 or 80 yards, being the place the stone
came out; in some places the ditch was 8 or
feet wide; don't know how many loads of dirt
were required we shoveled in what dirt was
there and Mr.. Ford filed up remainder was at
the ditch after the men finished shovoling in
the dirt and before MIR. Ford began filing in;
very little dirt was thrown in by the employees,
that thrown in being almost entirely "spalls;"
the rock was at the surface-no dirt to remove
when the digging began.
Croes-examined not a great deal of the
stone Was tit for building purposes. the quarry
men saying it was very inferior for this purpose
and hard to get out l have no idea OF the exact
number of perches taken out--suppose there
was not more than from 8 to 10; don't know
the price OF stone, but heard Mr. Ford say that
if he had the stones to haul far he would not
have put in the dirt for them the proper depth
of the trench WAS feet inches, but in many
places deeper-at it's greatest depth as much as
or feet a large quantity was taken out with
bars and picks; don't know that Mr.. Hyde had
authority TO enter into the agreement with Mr.
Ford TO move the stone; the stone came quite
up to the surface the whole length OF the 20. or
80 yards; the men, employed IN removing the
stone seemed to be working faithfully am not
certain that l was informed by Mr.. Hyde of the
arrangement with Mr.. Ford before the removal
Of the stone, but think it was while
it was being taken ont; part OF the
dirt was hauled from lot Just above in the same
square where the qua1ying was done Mr.
Hyde instructed me to see that Mr.. Ford proper
ly filled up the ditch, and it was done.
AT O'Clock an adjournment was made until
Friday evening at 730. But one more session
OF the committee will be held, this week, on Fri
day evening" when an adjournment will be made
ings Council will be in session-on Monday to
elect city officers