The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-11
THE RIVERSIDE AVENUE JOB
NOW THE PLAIN TERMS or THE CON
TRACT NAVE BEEN EVADED.

1t is a matter OF the greatest Importance
to the property owners who are benefited by the
Riverside avenue improvement TO have tho
work brought to IN early completion and the
avenue opened to the public use. This would
make the public acquainted with the great adj
vantages and attractions Of this district. bring
in an occupation OF the best claRs. and establish
the high value of tho property. Tho property
owners have boon looking toward this result
ever since tho avenue was laid out under the
law Of 1867. aud when tho heavy assessment OF
over Sc 900 900 was levied in tho summer OF
1872 and they wero called upon TO pay 1t. the
construction OF tho avenue became still more
important and necessary for their relief
Although tho design for tho Improvement OF
the avenue was already in progress at the latter
date and was shortly aitorward adopted in oil
It's essential features. nevertheless on account
OF the limitations of the authority and juris-
diction of tho Department Of Parks over the
ground. and the necessity Of awaiting further
action by the Legislature to remove those lmi-
tations. unavoidable delays were incurred. and
II WIS not until 1876 TINT the Legislature passed
an act which permitted the Department Of Parks
to proceed with the work In a few months after
the bill was passed the contract for the construc
ton Of the avenue was executed.
The property owners had been very urgent In
their applications 10 tho Department Of Parks
and to the Legislature TO have the work prose-
cuted and the execution OF n contract providing
that the work should DO completed during the
year 1871 and upon plan which met their
unanimous approval. gave Thorn great satsfac-
ton and thov began to anticipate tho fruition
OF their hopes. 50 long deferred. The work
was begun and prosecuted during the ensuing
season of 1877. but without duo diligence on the
part OF the contractors. They were not only
dilatory in supplying materials and in neglect
ing 10 employ a sufficient number Of workmon.
as they were repeatedly directed to do by the
engineer but they brought about strikes among
their aborers by undertaking to reduce tho
rate OF wages to 90 cents a day or even less
rate. IA was reported.
The chief cause Of the dcnys was. perhaps.
their attempt 10 do work that required skilled
labor with such laborers as they could procure
at the reduced rates OF wages. and to make such
inferior work answer the purpose. though not
in conformity with the terms OF the contract.
In this. however. they were frustrated by the
vigilance OF the engineer then In charge. who
rejected the defective work. ana refused 10 GER
tify the bills for IT, For instance: They had
built certain parts OF tho rotaining wall on the
westerly side Of tho avenue. which was SO little
In accordance with the specifications. md so
careoesy constructed. that the engineers re-
lection was subsequently justified 10y tho wash
Ing away Of some lfty feet OF It. The close OF
the year 1877 found the work only Just begun,
instead Of being completed. as was provided
and anticipated.
The contractors wore clamoTing against what
they called the severity and unreasonable de-
mands Of the engineer. claiming that the work
they were doing WIS better than was called for
by the contract and one OF them asserting,
probably as the result OF his experience on
canal work. that no contractor could live who
was required to fully comply with the specin-
cations" They appealed to the President OF
n
sion Of the questions extending over several
weeks, in which the contractors were assisted
President actuated by desire to have the
avenue completed without the loss OF time that
would follow reletting Of the contract was dis
posed to favor the contractors in all lawful ways
consistent with his duty To the city. the final
and inevitable result was that the engineer was
that tho contractors wore wrong. The approach
Of winter stopped most of the work, and gave
the contractors time To consider the situation.
The remedy for this state Of affairs. from
thcir point Of view. seemed to be not to on
and do the work in close conformity with the
specifications but TO displaoe the engineer and
his official superiors who had sustained his OBJ
iections to their work How this was necom-
dent OF the department.; OF Mr.. olmsted. the
landscape architect; OF Mr.. Aldrich. the en-
gineer, and his corps and the appointment in
their places. in part. OF others who were not
only incompetent for the duties they were
called upon 70 perform. but we're also well dis
posed toward tho contractors and the irregu-
laritiee and frauds in the work ON the avenue
that Immediately folowedth ese radical changes.
were set forth in detail In tho columns OF The
sun on April % and May 8.
As an Illustration OF tho hold tho contractors
had obtained upon tho Department OF Parks
may DO cited the fast that upon tho occasion OF
the proposal, at - session OF the Board. 70 re-
move Mr.. Aldrich. resolutions were offered
calling for an investigation OF the differences
between the contractor and the engineer, aud
for nm inquiry into the testimonials and capacity
OF Mr. Franklin, his proposed successor. md
both resolutions were promptly voted down.
The most notable and immediate consequence.
however of these changes in administration
and superintendent was that the new engineer,
within n week after his appointment. certified
that tho amount due the contractors was
s6,6l33i. upon tho same condition Of the work
This increase of several thousand dollars was
accomplished by including work which had
been rejected by the fret engineer, and by
making allowances that were not justified by
the, progress tho contractors had made under
their contract.
The course OF such nm estimate or bill is gen
orally as follows: Tho engineer determines
tho amount of work done and materials fur
nished by careful MEASUREMENTS and calcula-
tons, and. after maxim the deductions and re-
scrvations provided 10y the contract, certiles
the Same and sends it ~ the general oflce OF the
department Here II is thoroughly examined and
verified as to the correctness Of its prices and
calculations, and Is then delivered to tho Audit
ing Committee, which consists OF two members
Of the Board. whose duty 1t Is to examine II
thoroughly in all its aspects. and 10 be- salts fed
that II is correct and IN conformity with the
After its approval by this Committee IL is pre-
sented to the Board for final action, and upon
its passage by at least majority of three of the
four members. II Is transmitted to tho Comp
trOller for payment. When the particular esti-
mate above mentioned Of t6G73.34. which Mr..
Franklin sent in was considered by the Audit
ing Committee, the Chairman Of that Commit
tee Mr.. Lane. refused TO assent to IT, for the
reason that 80 great an Increase in the amount
Of the estimate required an explanation. and he
did not believe IL was due. His associate Mr..
COnovrr, however, seemed 10 have no such
scruples. and readily affixed his signature to
tho audit. and as only one signature was re-
quired by the laws OF the department the esti-
mate wis in course presented to tho Board at
It's next meeting and duly passed. in spite OF
Mr. Lanes objections. 10y tho vote Of 10 /.
There were eight other monthly estimates OF
like character. amounting in all TO over Sl2O 900,
which went through the same course during
the year 1873 Mr.. Lane refusing to certify or
vote for them on the ground that the work had
not been performed in accordance with tho con
tract and that the engineers certificate was in
correct. At the time the last one. for about
$4,000 was presented, in October. 1878. public
attention was called to the subject by letter
from property owner, residing on the limo OF
the avenue. to the Comptroller. specifying in
detail several important particulars in which
the lettcr and spirit Of the contract had been
avoided. Upon this letter. and a statement to
the same effect from Mr. Lane the Comptroller
and tho Mayor deferred tho payment OF the
amount Of the bill, and instituted IN inquiry
into tho charges. This inquiry resulted in the
appointment OF a commission OF three expert
engineers. who wore requested TO report upon
the condition OF the work, and whether Il was