New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-04
THE CANAL INVESTIGATION.
FIRST REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS COM.
MISSION

MISSION.
| A SWEEPING VERDICT OF FRAUD
THE DESIsoN CONTRACT FOR WORK BETWEEN PORT
SCHUYLER AND THE LOWER MOHAWK AQUE-
DUCT-THK EVIDENCE ON WHICH THE ATTOR-
NEY's SUIT AGAINST DESIsON, BELpEN 60. 10
BAsED-THE STATE DoUBLY CHARGED FOR Work
NEVER DONE-wALLs BUILT IN VIOLATION OF
IAw-srATE OFFICERS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOB
FAILURE TO ENFORCE TIE LAWS.
To the Honorable SAMUEL J. TILDgS, Governor Of
the State Of Neu-York:
The undersigned Commissioners appointed by
your Excellency under and by virtue Of a concnr-
rent resolution of the Legislature adopted in March
last to investigate the affairs Of the canals Of tho
State, and especially the matters embraced in tho
special message of the Governor communicated to
the Legislature on the 10th day Of March, 1873.
have the honor TO submit the following report, IN
part, of the progress Of their Investigations
Your Commissioners assembled at Albany quail.
fled and organized, the 10th day Of April, 1875.
Az but five or six weeks could elapse before tho
water was to be let into the canals, il was imme-
diately decided to profit by such opportunity
manned for inspecting the most important works in
progress, recently completed in the prism Of tho
canals, before the water should render them mac
cessbe. Commencing at the eastern extremity m
the Erie Canal, we inspected the more important
works under contract along its entire length, II in
number, and along the entire length of the Cham
plain Canal, nine in number, one ON the Geneses
Valley Canal, and four the extension OF tho
Chenango Canal In making all these inspec-
tions, assisted by Mr.. f. Sweet, jr-.
civil engineer and usually by the superintendent Of
the portion of the canal we were visiting In tho
inspection of several of the important of theso
works we also assisted by Pr0fs Peter 10
Niche and J. b. Wheeler Of the U. s. Military
Academy at West Point. We took down sections Of
the walls TO their foundation whenever and often
as il seemed necessary to comprehend the method
upon which they were cOnstructed-to ascertain tho
presence absence of lining headers, and pnd-
ding; took measurements of the stone and Of
the hight and depth of the walls. to show in what
respect and in what proportions they failed 10 con-
form to specifications and TO the engineers allow
ances and we took specimens of the mortar used ON
nearly every contract.
( When the introduction Of the water into tho
canals late in May interrupted the further prosecu-
ton of our inspection of work done in the prism Of
the canals we returned to Albany, and proceeded ID
supplement the information we had obtained by an
examination of witnesses, including officers Of thu
State under whose more less direct supervision
the work inspected had been DONE
We commenced this supplementary examinations
where we had commenced our preliminary inspec-
ton, at the eastery end of the canal with the con-
succeeding contracts in the order dictated by con-
venence.
In compliance with what seems to have been the
desire of the Legislature that the public should Ia
kept as fully advised of the progress of work
as might be consistent with the objects for which
| the Commission was instituted, propose now "a
submit to you of the results of examination
of the work last referred to- reserving such additional
| testimony as may find occasion to take in thu
matter, and such topics embrace the general sys-
ten Of canal management in this State, for a mora
advanced stage of inquiries or for our final
report.
DENIsoN's CONTRACT
The contract of II. D. Denison "for removing wall
benches constructing slope, pavement, vertical and
| retaining walls, and Strengthening the Erie Canal
from Port Schuyler to the Lower Mohawk Aque-
Duct distance of just miles and 2S7 rods was
signed the 9th day of September, 1869.
BY the terms of the contract Mr. Denison agree
to do the work, to furnish all the materials required
by the specifications of "a sound and good qualtyH
and to perform all the labor necessary to construct
and finish it, in every respect IN the most substan-
tal and workmanlike manner" for $74, 1873 40 OK
about $40, 900 less than the sum at which the work
was estimated by the Division Engineer, $s4 ,GI5.
At the opening of navigation in May, 1879 but
about two-thiris of the work completed, while
OIL the LIST day of the month the contractor had
received for that two-thirds the sum Of $il7,571.
aud had been credited in addition thereto with
1913 $50, the percentage reserved as guaranty fon
the completion Of the contract making an aggregate
Of $49l ,26O.
In our inspection in April we took careful linear
measurement of this work. tore down the wall TO Its
foundation in ten different places, took all ts dmen-
sions measurements of the stone at nine Of these
places and a corresponding number Of cross Sec
tons.
Armed with the information we had thus acquired.
we proceeded to take the testimony of the following
witnesses
Messrs. A. Thayer, A. Barley, and George W.
Chairman, three Of the four Canal Commissioners
under whose administration all the work has been
done under this contract, Mr.. Bascom, the Commis-
soner under whom it was let. being dead.
auditor fthe Canal Observation-Disclosures =. 1haycr
The Stote Enginoas-Wm. b. Taylor and Sylvanus
Dirisioa Engineers-D. NJ. Greene nov Deputy
State Engneerl f.. II. Croker and John b. Yates
Resident Engaeers-Charles Hilton. :. T. Babeock.
W. b. Cooper, W W. Jerome and Peter Hogan, VII"
have been employed on this work. -
Encneers and Oth9s-tieorge f. Oliver, william -
Scott. John l.. Dodge, James w. Eaton Truman q.
YoungOye, George NJ. Barnes. Lawrence A. haiien-
York Central Railroad; Henry VI. BurIus, am
Henry j. DunsOach.
DENIs0N COMMITTED FOR CONTEMPT.
II was our desire and intention to avail ourselves
of the testimony of Mr.. II. d. Denison the contractor
herein before referred to- and of the books of account
kept by him, TO supply the information which was
or should have been contained in the missing records
of the engineers for the work. done during the first
and third year of this contract. In this We have
thus far been disappointed. We Subpenaed him to
hafn ma nm n