The New York herald., 1875-11-24
THE DOCK DEPARTMENT.
GENERAL GRAHAM IN HIS OWN DEFENcE-HE
pEcLAREs lie Is THE VICTIM OF BASE CON-
sPIRAcY-'THE BUIKHRAD WALL WILL STAND

| pECLAREs lie Is THE VICTIM OF BASE CON-
sPIRAcY-''THE BUIKHRAD WALL WILL STAND
TO ETERNITY r
terday afternoon, and Mr. Davenport resumed the in
vestgaton tor them
| President Wales the first witness and explained
that he had abolished the Office otidal Observer
held by numerous employees ia the department. whose
duties, though profitable, not easily dehnable
Edward Mcdonald gave account Of the quick
Transformations OF character usual tho department.
by recting his own history. He was originally
mason, and entered the department as such, but IN
few weeks he WAS metamorphosed into diver ana
subsequently he changed back to masonry ana pecame
foreman Of the masons, which position ne heia untl
recently; now he is again q diver.
Colonel Mechan called 10 testify In regard 70 ms
connection with one Edwards, who had written 70
President Wales Informing him against supposed irreg-
uartes in the construction Of the bulkhead wall The
drn OF the examination 10 show that Colonel
Mschan had some connection with the informant
Mcdonald the diver and mason recalled and tes
ned that be discovered the defect in the wall AT King
street. AM reported General Greene; this nvestl
cation showed that the concrete not set and this,
in his opinion was owing to the fact that the cement
Of good quality; he found the cement for dis
tance Of six feet downward from the top OF the wall
soped inward though it had been washed away; the
shutters (casings envelopng the cement were re-
moved after three weeks, which quite sufficient
length Of time; he paid IS for every time he made
diving trip and If he made two day he got SIC; he
thought this not unreasonable his predecessor
got $40 a day and never "went down. at all
(Laughter)
VETERAN OFFICE HOLDER
William W. Burnham bookkeeper in the depart
Of his ability the seventeen years having
employed the Comptrolers office before entering the
Dock Department He had prepared most of the
leases OF the dock property and asserted that they all
contained proviso requiring the lessee keep the
stringpieces SC, Of the piers leased in good order
Mr.. Davenport informed him that upon careful
naton Of the printed used for leases by the de-
partment it found that the proyso had been
lessly left out at which Mr.. Burnham expressed in
astonshment The witness stated that in four
FIVE Instances the department had dredging for
private parties but all such the dredging had
been paid for at the usual market rates; Mr Young
had for years had standing contract for furnishing
the tools used by the department but he believed the
tools OF good quality and the prices paid Tor them
not excessive.
Nj Davenport-Have you any other business beside
being bookkeeper OF the department, Mr.. Burnham7
Mr.. Burnham-Yes, sir
Mr.. Davenport with intense eagernessl-What IS itY
A THRILLING DENoUEMEST
Mr. Burnhan-Well, SIR / raise plants and flowers in
my garden, more for my own pleasure, however
sorry TO say, than for my pront ] hope you will
up to see them, gentlemen during the holidays;
you can spend an hour IN my garden with profit and
pleasure. Aaughter
! Mr. Burnhan denied that any clerk or employe re-
ceivcd commission purchases, to his knowledge.
/ Mr. Davenport-Have you ever received any
mission?
| Mr Burnham-No. sir
The witness admitted that up to two years ago the
department purchased the for It's tug boats from
1 nun hn huat tHA frHFa hapfy ffr
supplying the shipping with water. To show the
traordnary character Of this arrangement 1t is
sary TO remind the reader that Caulheld only pays
81 900 year for this contract and reails u to all the
shipping and it is alleged that this is worth
! least ten times that amount,
General Graham, whose sudden and mysterious resg-
nation from the position OF engineer in chief has
been explained his letter Of resignation never having
been allowed to see the hight OF publication. created
sensation by appearing before the committee with
huge bundle OF papers under his arm.
Dir. Davenport said that before examining General
Graham lie would state that he had received letter
from Deputy Comptroller Earle, showing that Powers,
the delaung clerk OF the Marine Court had paid
| $ls4 in September and $1s4 IN October. Mr. Daven-
port remarked that The fees received by Mr. Powers,
amounted to from $500 70 81 900 month
| GENERAL GRAHAM's TESTIMONY.
General Graham first testified as TO a crack which,
upon his office he discovered one Of the
arches at the Battery, and which he remeded He
phasized the tact that this defect owing any
fault OF General Mcclellan his predecessor. General
Graham gave Volumlnous statistics IN regard
to the cost Of the new wall &c,
I presenting. however. feature OF novel interest.
General Graham made the statement in this connec-
ton that General Mcclellan bad made up his mind TO
adopt the Beton hasse system before leaving the de-
partment This system which General Graham adopted
said known at the time Of the Romans, and
now universally adopted by the ablest engineers or
Europe This plan had the advantage that IL repre.
saving Of 500 per foot In the construction OF
the wall and would stand unto eternity II treated
properly. The wall at King street constructed
properly but after lie LEFT the department .'these
idiots pulled up the shutters six weeks after the
blocks had been constructed, while three months
CHI HNN 81 20 nrnN fnfl
rated and this the why this shame had been
brought upon the department 1T lack Of brains =
I be exclaimed With indignation, (which has brought
{ this up0n the department. The masonry was nut
upon the concrete before the latter dry I wish
had been allowed call witnesses this abuse for
/ would ike send Of these scoundrels engaged
In this work 70 state Prison for conspracyln
"When LETT the department., continued General
Graham, with Indignation, "a young gentleman
appointed T. succeed me, aud this Mcdonald who
ported every day TO me that everything all right,
comes forward with statement which ftrue cal
ouated to destroy entirely my personal and profess
siona reputation more dastardly and cowardy
conspiracy was never concocted 70 destroy man
General Graham said that Commissioners Gardner
and Budd had taken away from superintendent Murphy
the power Of appointment, IS Commissioner Gardner
thought that some "
rnx AgEmuANs PROM ms own WARD
should get places aud Murphy had the department
hlled with his relatives. The unirendy feeling be-
tween General Graham and bis assistant Colonel
Nechan grew out of the laters ssdsloyatv IRREGULAR
HABITS and ncompetency General Graham read a re-
port which he made 70 the commission advising them
of the Or Office time by the employees for private
purposes II great mistake that the Battery pier
should have carried to the length has BEEN as it
greatly impede navigation.
In regard 70 the durability Of The bulkhead wall Cen
era Graham gave t a. his fixed opinion that the dis
covered defect would not iDJure IT, but that It would
stand 70 eternity.
Tic committee adjourned until this morning at half
past ten 3 clock.
THE BROOKLYN RING AFFAIRS.