The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-27


John A. Liebert, lumber. l.345 o5
Juiins starke, furniture ......... 1850 rs
Bader Wipans, furniture ............ 1915 rs
Patterson Brothers hardware. ............ 1888 60
Harrington Mills, furniture. ......... Ia TO 80
John McCiave furniture. ................. 6SS6 0S
Joseph Schneider CO., furniture. .......... 5l3 ~
krutna furniture ............... q, s6S 81
Bartlett Robinson, estimated value OF iron
work delivered mo bill presented). .. 81, 800 50
Davidson Mars, vaIuo OF materials delivered
Tor elevators and stairs. 10, ISL Is
TOTAL $227, 546 -
Al the Afternoon session the committee called c. T.
Hurlburd. Who testified that he was OK
amned before the Committee Expenditures In ash
ngion, about June 20; resides ST. Lawrence county
New York; stated IN former testimony that he had
been superintendent ofths New York Post once Building
since Its commencement; his business originally
10 employ master mechanics procure material
needed supervise the payrols vouchers therefor
&c under the direction Of the Supervising Archi-
ect at Washington; not bound to obey any other
orders than the Supervising Architect except direct
from the Secretary Of tho Treasury; the Supervising
Architect gave written instructions as TO my du-
ties 1.-THE copy was called or) had circulars from the
Treasury Department every year, giving general in
sructons sent TO all supervising architects; there
letters from time to time. and the building ap-
preached completion, gentlemen from the architects
Office were here nearly every week previous to last
January letter was received from the sficc Of
the Supervising Architect requesting me not
TO express any opinion as to tho rapidity with
which the building could be completed. Witness pro
duced the letter; it contained letter IRON a writer
signing John G. Hamilton New York; complaining
OF tho delays In the progress Of the Court House and
Post Office Building Tho Supervising Architect, In d.
recting witness not 10 give opinions on the work
wrote that he did not know Mr. John c. Hamilton and
did not want 70 know any stupdy ignorant and
NAL In hxyh
was called upon Tor statement Of the amount or
disbursements OF all kinds tho building up to the
time Of the closing OF work, about the LIST OF Noven-
Der last and said that oud be shown last re-
port, which was made up from all Of the books; 1t
S. 474 20; in his former examination witness
stated that expenditures were made at Washington
whcE he did not know about until vouchers were sent
here Tor approval; could not give the amounts tho
vouchers sent here 10 ascertain IL the mate
rial had boon furnished; in one instance It por-
ton of the roofing; another 1t for the Tucker
Manufacturing Company; had 10 idea what amount
tina. given above had beon expended that he supposed
could be obtained in Washington; the debris lumber
and iron used in tho Of this building had
been used, some Of 1t, several tines the amount
received for sand excavaed sale Of debris
and rent OF fence deposited in the Subj reasury
attcrly directed the receipts for debris to
pay of liabilities and in exchange for mator never
kept any books OF the amount but thinks the in
spccor did; thinks portion Of the debris is still in
the buildings the refuse lumber and broken iron
sold by the Inspector virtually representing witness;
told Mr. Barton got the highest prices it and
use the money TO delray bills tor material as far AZ
possible; think Il was done; the amount Of money
since the mmcncemcnt has been considerable; the
first year II several thousand dollars; II was Mr.
Barton's department business TO keep accurate &C
counts Of such money; tue master mechanic would
kaan AA
taking out what he could use; in September or
October last witness received Instructions furnish
such material HIM his reputation and done;
witness did not know that three days were ever certified
that was not done on this buildings was told to allow
certain materials TO 60 Tor repairs OF tho Custom
House, Assay once, &C that material that wo
called old and not required, like timoer which had
been used As long We wanted II and then It
the other places in order TO save The purchase Of
material; had NO knowledge that ANY sucn
rial charged 10 or paid Tor out OF any appropria
tvns charged 10 those buildings Witness then de-
tailed tho manner Of purchas or tho lumber used IN the
OF tho building by inviting bids fur
nishing indefinite Quantities where the quantity re-
CURED was small and purchasing from the lowest bid
der and where the quantity large and known ask
ing bids for tho deinue quantity.
y On December II, 1874 an INVITATION was sent out
for So 900 OF Western cherry. answers we're re-
ccvcd the same day from Jonn McCiava h Co. and
gwen neither width thickness nor length gwen but
iB three DAYS three bids were received. Now, why
could not all the lumber used except perhaps board
bore and there have been purchased IN that ways
A. In this case had furnished 10 approximate
statement OF how much would be wanted; so had
when nooring was required, and then purchased II in
that way.
Q. In september 1875, tho lumber purchased from
Mctayc snouped 10 several Thousand dollars n, value
How lumber purchased. A. think was not
here that time, but think The Inspector visited the
yards ana the lowest figures for seasoned
wood oil best quality
o. In October 1875, there are items OF lumber from
the urm reaching $500 Was there any other
taken In purchasing thcn except the one nds
Gated by your A. Tho inspectors were sent 10 the
yards and shc lumber seiec,cd 40 above
Y When the work was approaching completion and
could answers within three days 10 propvSals
could not have got the lumber that way instead OF
purchasing without contractss A We had 70 turn
over sixty sevsnty carpenters 70 build desks aud
tabscs in the Pos, once Department aud sometimes
the lumber mere IN the night; we purchased IN
The morning only a. neeued 70 use the material
Witness called attention TO his printed instruc-
tons The Superine ndent will not invite proposals
or advertise without ootsninx authority from The de-
full instructionS"
The Chairman-YcA 70 supposed But did you
not pay ~ high 40 ave cents foot above
what was named In another contract
Witnsss-Some Of The Duryca black walnut fur
nished under contract Was 80 Wet that had 70 be pus
drying room aud paid The other amount for per-
fecty seasoned stun
q Do you mean 10 say that Inspector received
from = contractor lumber that needed special
process W prepare for use! A. mean 10
say that m WAS impossible to tell whether u
Was seasoned not; some OF u was SAID to have
been saved Gu, OF ,le logs Jus, before here
for use some OF that wood In the doors
The authority 70 buy lumber was never dessa'sd 70
formal proposal when invited bids by letter have
schedule OF accounts and bills ccrtihcd by the
Supervising Architect; believe the material has been
received and the labor performed claimed In that
statement believe that examined oil OF the bills,
did not add them up; since my examination IN Wash
ington have locked the building, and can 20.
morrow morning, after little thouEhi give better
OF The material used ami the cost Of the work
exhaustion o. the appropriations witness
bad received any distinct notice al the exhaustion
OF the appropriation 20 my collection after we had
reason suppose the appropriation was exhausted,
there was not $500 worth oil work done on the
structron OF tho building. and that work WAS IN
Judge enedicts room Witness desired to correct his
testimony given Washington relative 10 the rcccp
ton OF letter from the proper department ~ Wash
irrtou the exhaustion OF tho Appropriation.
He derived tho Information from some other
source Tor tho letter was nlc, and he now
shnks that no such letter wss received
"was u NOS your plain dusy 70 know. - the saUsr-