New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-25
MR. SOULE'S RECORD.
THE JORDAN LEVEL CONTRACT.

CORRESPONDENCE BFTwEEN GEORGE GEDDFs AND
rN-srArr-i NGINErR EICHMOND-orE. RICHMOND
u .CiARFs THAT MIR. SOULS ALLOWANCE WAS
rporgE-A TRIBUTE TO Mr. soULEs CHAR
AcTrn.
The following correspondence relates 60 thc Jor-
dan Level Contract. i'll which Howard Soule the
Rcpnblican candidate for State-Enruecr, made an
allowance for embankment afterward criticised by
the Bigelow Canal Commission. Mr.. Richmond.
the Democratic State-Lugineer at tho time the work
was performed declares that Soucs action was
DR. per- and ties fes to his high character.
GEORGE GODDESS LETTER TO MIR. RICHMOND.
F,uMorNT OSOSDAGA CO.. V Y. Oct. u. 1879.
Ny DEAR SIH: IN the attacks made upon Mr.
Howard S0ule. the Republican candidate Tor state
InrnccT l. produced the evidence Of the assistant
engineer. given before Governor Iilden's Canal IN
vestigaung Commission m 1870 IN reference 10 the
Keller contract for removing bench walls Oh The gor-
dan level of the Ere Canal IN ISL, when Mr.
Soule Resident Engineer. IL appears that
there Was some vertical wall built, and
that the Commission took the ground, Is ] am IN
formed. that the allowance made By Mr.. SOue for
emhaukment IN the actual slope or space behind
tie wall, made from materials taken from the
treuch ard paid for "a excavation leven though
this material IS necessarily first deposited Spoil.
until the wall - made, and then IS again reeX-
cavlted, conveyed 70 and GcposIted IN the space
behind the WALL IL improper and in violation OF the
contract, unless tho material has been conveyed
200 feet, in line parallel with the canal
You were state Engineer az that time. and as
and of the contract. very much desire TO know
your construction Of the contract in such cases.
Nr. Soule was retained in the service Of the State
fog four years Resident Engineer by Democratic
administration, of which yOu formed n part, lie
being all the time of the opposite party In politics.
Why you thus kept him IN Office is al interesting
inquiry. ALWAYS supposed the reason was that you
thought Mr.. SOulc was not only honest but very
capable. Was | not night in this opinion have
known Mr. Soule many years, and have been asso-
catcd with III professionally, and until this attack
was made hun 1 had believed him beyond re-
preach to honesty and professional ability. Have
you, Ia your long acquaintance, personally and pro-
fcssiOnally, known anything of him that should de-
pIiVe hlm of confidence
| seek this information for my own satisfaction,
and wi IA moi make II public without your consent.
Very truly yours, GEORGE GEDDEs
The Hon. VAN X. RICHMOND.
MIR. RICHMoND's REPLY.
Lyons. Oct. 10, 1879.
My DEAR SIR: In reply 10 inquiries contained
IN Your letter of the 14th INST, have 10 say
firsi-Whcn the material excavated To make
room for verice wall constructed in place of slope
wall IA completed canal, Is necessarily removed
outside of the prism of the canal, and deposited in
spoil bank and then reeXcavated and placed In the
vacant space behind the wall. IL should In my
judgment be- estimated as embankmcnt under the
contract without reference to the distance moved in
a line parallel with the canal.
Stc0Rd-l favored the retention IN Office OF How
ard Souie, under Democratic administration, be-
cause believed hm TO be honest and knew INN to
b. very competent engineer.
Ihird-ln a long acquaintance personally and pro-
fessionally with Mr.. Soule | know nothing that
should III any way deprive him of confidence. Very
truly yours. VAN Ii. RICHMOND.
GEORGE GEDpFS, Esq.