The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-11

Total $l403l6 OIL
From these details correct idea may be formed
Of the character Of Mr.. Babcocks survey and Mr..
Crockers computations and estimates especially when
it is understood that tho whole work embraces dis
lance Of only about half mile, and Is situated in an
open farming country, free from all distractions and
engineering mpedimcnts whatever. An examination
Of these figures viii at Onre account for the
increase OF cost and make manifest the gross ignorance
fraudulent intent Of the engineers named The guam
tity Of rock Of all kinds exhibited by Mr. Crocker
600 yards while the amount allowed and paid for to the
contractor 80, AGO g-10 cubic yards The amount
OF vertical vail exhibited 400 yards and the
amount pad Tor 50 0S0 The amount Of pc wall
hbited 600 yards for which Mr. Dennson bid the
rdiculously low price Of nifty cents yard. None was
built whatever, aud It's place substituted
expensive structure ~ is full value OF this substitu
ton shall have occasion 70 speak hereafter
Mr. Dennison's bid for rock excavation, in the con-
tract predicated upon estimate Of only 600 yards)
was So a cubic yard. Ex-Sate Engineer Taylor and
the present State Engineer Sweet, and also Mr.
Croker testify that 81 SO per cubic yard would be
liberal price Tor such work, just one-half Of what
extraordinary increase IN rock excavation
OF judgment the part Of the Engineering Depart
men-a pretty expensive error to the State as VIII ap
pear by his own testimony
MR. cRocKER's TESTIMONY.
As Division Engneer J. was your duty as understand
wax for extraordinary repairs a. Yes SIR but coad not
q But you the responsible officer whom the State
looked that such things should DO donea A. suppose
w.Fe made for t6is BuisTds Bend ettingi A. No SIR
q Gnu only took tracing Of the map OF the enlarged
original survey madeY A. That IS IT,
q II now appears that through mistake through lack
Cops mistake occurred in the original estimate showing
the 90 yards instead Of shown by the hna est
nearly 10000 yards and have also stated that In
your opinion the value Of tho rock excavation abont
II 20 yard A. That is what put 1t down A.
q Now this error of Judgment or mistake or inexper-
tho part tho Engineering Cops has cost the state
how much regards rock excavationye nrs the total
A. ono hundred aud eighteen thousand four hundred
and nine dollars and seventy cents paid
Q What would the amount Of rqes excavation As shown
nnc thousand two hundred and four dollars and eghyhyo
d That deducted from the credited contractor
2Of - tho cost TO the state through Tie
Of judgment 81 the Engineering Department IN that parcu-
lar item A. Yes Sir; that seems 20 BE- 80
II Is n strange coincidence, however, that slike
error 81 Judgment is observable IN the items 81 slope
wall and earth excavation and that u also accrues TO
The adyantaQe of the contractor. Mr. Denson obtained
this contract by bidding very low price for tic earth
excavation and slope wall, both major quantities which
could not be constructed without loss to himself and
an exceedingly high price for the rock excavation,
n MINOR quantity. We have that the cg.
yards and yet none whatever was bu,lt
It's place beng supplied by vertical wall and that the
earth excavation, which Mr. Croker estimated al tho
letting as 10000 yards aud Tor which only eight cents
per yard 10 be paid, reduced tho nnal esti.
mate % 972 But are these largo differences In guam
titles errorsn on the part Of cngineersY We believe
not on tho contrary, We consider them deliberate
frauds upon tho state conceived and carried out in
the interest Of the contractors. II IS In evidence
that Mr. BabCock In the original survey returned
the quantity of rock excavation upon this sec
ton Of the canal az 1 200 yards and that Mr..
Croker reduced il TO bali or COO yards when
making up the quantity sheet that prior To tho letting
aud ~ the time the survey made, pits were
dug by tho engineers, and the rock exposed TO view
that Mr. CroCkcr Convorsant with the locality, and
had been frequently upon the grounds; and finally,
that tho rock cropped ont above the surface and was
apparent TO the most casual observer Mr. Billiard,
gentleman q substance and intelligence owner OF