The New York herald., 1875-11-30
DOCK DEPARTMENT.
CONTINUATION or THE SENATE COMMITTEES

CONTINUATION OF THE SENATE CoMAnTTEEs
INvEsTIGATIoN-THE cRUMBLISG PHRs.
Tho Senate Committees investigation was con-
nucd yesterday At the Fifth Avenue Hotel by Senator
Booth, the Chairman, assisted by the counsel OF ths
committee, Mr.. John l. Davenport
Mr.. Burnham, bookkeeper to the Dock Department.,
being called submitted statement showing that in
May, 1873, the Fulton Market Fshmongers' Associa-
executed contract for dredging between piers "A
and % River for the OF 81 5OO In July follow
ing the dredging between Thirty and Thirty
eighth streets, North River, was done by Edward
Fague the rate OF 25 cents per yard In September
1873 the Old Colony and New York Steamship Com
panles removed, by dredging, FROM the slip between
piers 2s and 20 North River 10 400 cubic yards each
company paying onequarter OF the cost No dredging
has been dono ut the foot OF Fifteenth street,
East River since the organization OF the Dock De
partment The pier erected by the department at the
foot OF Fifteenth street, North River, proved 70 DC
comparatively useless on account OF tho insufficient
depth OF there The department having but two
small machines contracted with Morris Co. TO do the
necessary dredging this place for the gross sum OF
81 The whole number OF cubic yards which had
been dredged from the slips At the White Star Com
docks since the esees have had OF the
premises is 80 450 at three separate dredgings.
William o. stoddard testified that he for two
years clerk in the Engineers oco OF the Dock Depart
ment, and had lct Il last month He explained the
manner in which bills were received and audited in
that Office The Assistant Engineer, when he found
that bills were correct signed then then they passed TO
sider personally each account separately II he could
find time 10 do
William Radenhurst swore that he had occupied
Stoddard's place since the latter lett It, He was
formerly connected with the works the foot Canal
street. tho foundation OF which work under his
supervision; Mr. Mcdonald there to act in the
double capacity OF diver and foreman OF masons IN
armor To ascertain IL the concrete was setting.
and he reported that at the sides OF the
caisson It not hard as in the CENTRE the con.
crete was crumbing on at the edges; In May last,
| when shutter removed, Mcdonald went down
afierward reported that portion OF the cement
| crumbling below the formation level, but that
above it was hard; this WAS reported 70 Mr. Van
Burcn, and also, the witness believed, to General
Graham; this slight imperfecton In the concrete
looked upon being material damage TO the bulk
head. The deponent kept record or log OF the work,
in which all the reports made to him were entered:
| and the book occasionally examined by General
John Henry Rogers testified that he had teen FORE
man the work the Canal section since June,
1874; in his opinion the work might have been done
better; the north section Of the dock the granite
blocks placed in week ten days after its
| petion; no cracks observable in the concrete
until some eighty one hundred tons OF granite and
peared have been produced by placing the granite
wall
Thomas Davis captain of the ten ton derrick, testi
fed that he assisted in placing the green" wharf
about eighty ono hundred tons OF MATERIAL he did
| so by order OF Mcdonald
W. w McClay testified to having beon for two years
assistant engineer Of the Dock Department. he super
vised the measurement OF stone received there; the
examination OF stone for pier No. North River was
also conducted by Colonel Meehan, who attended 10
all the for the Battery bulkhead wall the stone
cutters employed there received 81 per day. but they
| did less than a fair days work-twelve feet-deduc-
tions proportion made from this rac OF wages
Thomas Coultas watchman; he remembered
| the placing OF some eighty or hundred tons Of
! granite and rubbe blocks on the concrete wall ~
| Canal street four days after this completed.
Joel H. Barlow, draughsman, said he had been
| employed in the Dock Departments map room; good
deal OF private work executed there while he was
In that ofce in two Mr. Keeer received 50 for
tracngs OF piers; these drawings were made during
| THE STREET LAMPS
Thomas 0Callahan, Superintendent or Street Lamps,
testified that his department consists or himself, y
clerk messenger and seven painters; the salary Of
witness is 81, $50 per annum, with an additional allow
ance OF $3.50 for horse; his clerk receives 81 600
year and the messenger IS day; there are q. l3l
street lamps in the city; witness had put up 81
new and ISL old lamps Seven companies light the
city at the following yearly price psT anew
$2S; Mutual, 500 16: Metropolitan, $2S 80; Harlem,
$2s; westchester $45, and Suburban, $50. When
lamp Is removed the gasight company IN whose dis
trct 1t receives "a and $40 when IL Is put back
again. The department removed and replaced lamps
twice; but did at the instance OF any
| liquor seller
! Witness-Boulcvard lamps double the cost OF ord
nary ones placed in front OF some churches.
COLONEL MEEHAS's PURCHASES
At the conclusion of Mr. O'Callahans testimony Nj
John A. Wright stated that he represented Assistant
Engineer Mechan who had, he said been very unustly
charged before the committee with having received .
commission the purchase of supplies Tor the Dock
Department He stated the books OF the firm or Benot
Wood from whom Colonel Meehan alleged TO
have received the commission, when examined would
show conclusvey the asty OF the charge made against
him. he demanded thorough investigation OF The
matter.
| Commissioner Davenport said that he would begin
the Investigation or this aIalr Wednesday next
The then adjourned until ten O'Clock A. n
omorrow.