New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-05
THE LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATING COM
NIrrEE.

TESTIMONY or HORATIo SEYMOUR, JR-Ws EXPE-
RIENCE As Az ASSISTANT ENGINEER ON THE
CANALs-rxANrNATIuN or TUT CANALS AT THE
REQUEST OF THE GOVERNORS COMMISSION
THE WORK CARtIEssLy DONE AND TIE PRICES
LARGE
ALx,Ny, May 1.-THE Legislative Investigate
ing Committee resumed its abors this afternoon. MI
Horatio Seymour, jr., the first witness. He tea
titled he assistant engineer on the canas IN charge
Of tho Utica cGce has been there since December 1874
had charge OF the DcnsOn, Gelden Go. contract FOR
building the bench wall ond the contract Of John Brown
for building abutmeut near Hulser's Falls; my duty
was 20 measure the work by sections, which did
on the DcniSon contract there rock excavation;
crOsssectoned tins the two ends but not at the center
should havo been done; unable 10 do II at that
time OF the pressure OF work have since
recrosssectioned it, hut the rock was excavated, and
had to estimate have examined the work Of these con
tracts and lind it bad in every particular Mr. Seymour
then made the following statement
The work done ON the contract OF II. D. DenisOn for
removing the bench walls fro the junction of the Che
mango Canal TO the eastern limits OF The city OF Utica Is
the eastern end OF the city and extends In westerly
direction for about two miles on both sides VI the canal
from what is known as Clay Street Bridge. The work
consists on the BERN: side "ecord9g 70 an estimate
l7G7 feet OF slope WALL and on the towpah side OF par
til excavation for distance Of S,Gl feet aud about
$40 yards Of unfinished slope wall the work on the
bernie side completed when took charge OF the work.
that on the towpath side has been since.
by the Commission appointed by the Governor
20 look into the condition OF tho canals and make
pr sent while II being made. There paid
for this work up Dec l. l514, 321 dor the follow
for oak timber at $40 per feet, and for hcmlcck at 500
OF the hemock, 10000 feet b. NJ. has been used and
feet b. NJ has been used as per estimate; can
nd no eaa, but in is place. maple, birch and
which are inferior in value and IN durability; there has
s ss:H % for ",s sr e T dry Ss1@ aa
been built in accordance with the contract ODehan Of
all the stone used being less i'll size than called Tor in the
manner, the back being composed OF stone thrown in
the wall failing down In several places the cement
used in the wall over the starch factory culve livery
poor quality, and has not become hard at the present
time although must DC more IMAM year since u was
used the slope wall ID not built in accordance with the
aud can find no lining behind the vol. The witness
then said: This examination was made week ago. and
careful examination, Which enabled MIN to make tie
statement with postveness. The witness then pro-
orr Mr.. Bgeow, Mr. Sweet, the expert Of the Gov
ernors Commission and others. assisted witness In lbs
Investigation disclosed an extraordinary state OF ghars
eineer in charge tint he could, or should, allow hard
timber TO he used in place Of oak. Don't know
Committee the style stone used saying that they
the size OF mans hand and not ~ 10 put In
mid wall the State could lay slope wall Ut 81 80 yard,
and much better wall has been built far the
observation Of the witness goes The estimates report
is In reality bus 100 yards. The witness made other
statements showing discrepancies equally startling for
instance tho contractors had charged for rock cIcava-
when upon examination only blue clay ana graNcl
were found showing that rock could have Xisjcd. In
regard 10 the bridye and abutInent contract Of
John Brown, witness stated u was not done az
IL should have been; with tho Commissioner
days, and have some work which III my Opln-
ion was poorly done At West Troy, the work Which the
witness visited at the request Of Gov. 1den he found
that tie walls had fine face, but the inside had merely
chips and small stone, much smaller than the sIcclnca
tons called for Witness asked II he knew Of $4,000
feet of henlCck being charged for by DeDlson wien
only $4,000 feet found tie answered that IN The
december estimate there $4,000 feet OF henlOck
called for, brl could not ind II IL was reported 20 me
az being the ground Dec. not more than 1900
feet Of hemiock did | find on the work;
now have charge Of 275 men; they are all men
OF tho place, and were selected for what they
could do, without Respect 10 party; no man
there II known politician. on the Denlson
contract had difference the matter of measure
ment- measured twice to be sure Of getting accurate
measurements, but the contractors held ny measure
ments were not enough. 1 asked them 10 40 with me
break down financially. Am aduate OF the AGA
deuical department OF Yale College, worked ~ AN
nneer railroads then studied another year In
the Sheffield Scientific School. and then built road my
self. lave been engineer since 1868 The canal
work IS al car.Iossly done and the lnices large The
work not nearly well done on the canals op rail-
roads The prices are pretty nearly the came.
Recess.
EVENING srssi0H-TEsrIMoSy oP =. W. WILLIAMS,
BookKEEPlR OXFORD, NUDGE CO.. AND OF
WILLARD JOHNSON, CONTRACTOR.
ALBANY, May AT the evening session OF
the Canal Invcsti cation Committee, W. Williams was
H.ll.u Am