New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-31

OTHER CONTRACTS.

OTHER CONTRACTS.
Amonc n great multitude of minor contracts now
before us are the following, whose principal features
we give in brief:
JAMES ]. BELpEN had o contract dated Jan. %,
1871 to construct stone abutmcnt and bulId an iron
bridge over South Side Cut in Salina. Price per
contract. S320l amount received, Sl'oJJ 3D. INC
nrincpal increase was in earth excavation, enbank-
ment lining, and extra work"
A. CALDWELL BELDEN had contract dated July
H. 1862 for filling up portion OF Packet-Doat ba-
sin in Syracuse. Price per contract. Sl3os; amount
received, 81 63S 63. Here the material FURNISHED
and labor performed nnder the contract amounted
to only 81 OOj, ald tho bill was made up by extra
work"
WILLIAM MUDGErr had contract, July II, 1869,
for rebuilding and lcngthening a bridge at Lock-st'
Syracuse Price per contract. S6.jS); amount re-
ceiyed. So 10Y e. TIE increase chiefly in vert-
cal wall at high price, hemlock timber, aud EN-
bankment.
b. VAN DEUsEN had contract on the Chenango
Canal extension dtod Jnly H. 1869. Price per con-
tract, S9Oll. Amount received, SlO,22 IDS Is
curiosity. Excavation of old masonry ana roch
were set down in small quantities and Van Deusen
bid 80 cents per cubic yard; he did none OF IL; Tue
estimate for all other excavation was JfOoo cuoic
wards and the contractor bid the small price OF u
cents, doing however only 5Gi6 yards. For 72W
cubic yards of loose stone he bid 30 cents and he u
only ;39 Yards For {. OO) cubic yards of lining Lo
bid 20 cents and he did none. The work done under
the contract amounted in fact to only $500 the ret
If the s10 oi2 WIS paid on account of material Go
lvered."
WILLIAM T.. Plat had q contract for extending
brealwater and other improvements of the harbor
of Watkins dated July 2j 1871. Price per contract,
S924O Amount received Sl3SSS &c.
SYLVESTER DEKELLER. assignee. had contract
to remove bench walls and reconstruct slope and
other walls on the Jordan level of the Erie Canal,
dated April T. 1870. No quantities were exhibited by
the Contracting Board, and there seems to have
been no estimate of cost. Earth excavation was
charged at IS cents rock excavation at ST. embank-
mcnt at 25 cents. lining at 80 cents. &c, and the
total cost was SlO9SlO
AMBROSE L. Smith had contract for repair
ing Lock No % on the Chenango Canal, dated Jan.
g. 1869. Price per contract. $l359) Amount re-
ceived, S2J,G9j. The most remarkable item IL YER
teal wall in cement at So which increased from 100
cubic wards as ger engineers estimate to l,lSO cubic
yards in the final account.
WILLIAM H. DOUGLAS had a contract for enlarg-
ing the guard lock at Black Rock on the Ere Canal
dated July q, 1869. Price per contract, S3l,2O3.
Amount received. S45,73i. The quantity OF earth ex-
cayation under this contract at 80 cents raised
from 5000 cubic yards to 1920
THE GROWTH OF THE CANAL. FRAUDS.
ADDRESS or DIT. r. y. STEVENS BEFORE TIE MU-
NIcIpAL REFORM ASSOCIATION OF TIE SEVENTH
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT.
DIR. r. +. Stevens addressed the Municipal
Betorm Association Of the Seventh Assembly District
last evening on Canal Frauds their History and Re
suits" He said In substance
A most extraordinary interest has been created IN
reference TO our canals by the recent OF
Gov Tilden, and the pertinent inquiry 10 made why
have these matters remained almost unnoticed by our
stae oOBeals through all the administrations and po
htical changes Of the last fifteen, twenty, or more
yearsi During this period people residing on the line
of the Capal and particularly on the central portion
have been accustomed to hear OF the operations OF
Canal Ring" What this Ring consists OF, and what Is
the history aud method OF lie operations is now the all
important question OF the day. The newspapers In all
parts of tho State are endeavorpg to enlighten
their reader: upon the subject. majority
OF tho members OF the Legislature are labor
ing TO be foremost IN the work of smoking
out this gang OF public punderers, 30 suddenly
made notorious, while u few are engaged In the de.
lectabe work OF withdrawing It's TRANSACTIONS. The
time wasAand recollect, when the Erie Canal
but small ditch compared to the present noble struc
ture which has played such prominent part in deve-
the mighty West. I can recellect when cannon were
fired eight miles apart along the line from Albany to
Buffalo in honor OF the connection Of the waters Of
Lake Erie and Hudson In those days. and for many
years after people content to travel by canal boat
at the slow pace OF borses wak-price one cent per
mile and boarded Since then canal contracting became
business-a tradeand for thirty years 1t has included
in It's ranks the enterprising active and energetic
men OF our times men OF brains, who generally
disposed TO speculation and traffic men who would 9th
erwse be engaged as cattle grain buyers land specu
ators or heavy operators In such line or operations
men who never fail TO the best chance for making
money and TO clutch II regardless OF the character OF
the means or measures necessary for the accomplish
ment OF that object The most active In canal con-
tracing at the present time have been engaged ia that
work during the whole period OF the enlargement and
from the large profits realized they have generally be-
come possessed OF large means, and not few are to be
ranked among the millionaire From long experience
In canang THESE men, hy degrees, monopelized the
work OF enlargement. Fruitful III source, ana win
buudant they have rendered nearly Impossible
for outsider TO get contract upon remuncratiye
terms. They have thus come TO be the owners OF
canal work, and from community OF interest, they H
have become banded together. some IN actual cOpartner
ap ana all Ia the distribution vi JODs ana uNISOh VI
No Governor has heretofore had the courage 10 /
beard be lion In his dem Ia looking for the results OF
fraudulent OF the transactions OF these men,
will undoubtedly be found that from their desire for
extensive jobs and large profits they have caused the
Undertaking OF works the line OF the Canal that are
Justly pointed 10 with PRIDE by tho people -four State
on account OF their magnitude beauty and Importance
but wbieb-if the people had been informed. In adj
vance OF their costwOuld never have been undertaken
ahe almost incaculable benefits resulting from the
building and subsequent enla Of the canal
only t. TIE people OF STATE those Of the
great west ana especially 10 the City OF New.York
steangs Of contractors ia past and simply look 10
tne establishment OF more economical course In the
while they stole arg Tor themselves they distributed