Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-24
TWO COSTLY BRIDGES
The Canadian Government Robbed
Right and Left.
FAT PICKINGS FOR THE CONTRACTORS
Pay Rolls at the lachine Canal
Works SweI!ed.
A GREAT SCANDAL CAUSED.
FAT PICKINGS FOR THE CONTRACTORS.
A GREAT SCANDAL CAUSED

MONTREAL, QUEBEC, June 24-The govern
mental inquiry into the building Of the two
iron bridges across the Lachine canal at Mon
treal il unearthing one of the biggest public
works scandals ever discovered in Canada.
The original sum voted for the two bridges
was s175,O00, but the work has already cost
$500, 900, and is not completed. The govern
ment has been robbed right and left by every
body connected with the work. Emmanuel st.
Louis, French contractor, had a con-
tract with the government to supply all
the men and teams needed at q stated
figure. He got them at whatever price
he could and made so cents per day each out
Of the men and from 81 to sL50 each out of
the teams. He engaged all the men and teams
on the work that he could secure, and at one
time there were 200 men employed, packed 30
close together that they could not swing Q
pick.
In one yard gang Of fifty men used to loaf
all day long and in the evening the government
timekeeper would come around and take their
time. Stone was hauled by teams owned by q
member of the provincial legislature. It was
carried twenty miles from the quarry to the
works at the rate of one load a day, and this
with railroad running right into the mouth of
the quarry. Stone that should have cost only
90 per CuDiC ydEu W Vim dCtuaAly cost S05 per
yard.
In many instances it took ten men to load q
single team with lumber. Thousands of dol
lars worth Of tools and material were
purchased for the work that were never used.
The value of the useless plant left over, not
counting what was stolen by employees, is about
$50. 600.
There are heavy liquor bills and tales Of ex-
pensive champagne supplies, in which the canal
officials figured. On one contract for S14, 600
worth of lumber $4,000 was charged by the
contractor and the extra lumber cannot be
found. Government carts carried away
lumber to the back yards of canal en-
ployes and government employees cut,
split and piled this lumber all the time being
on the pay list of the canal Men were engaged
at mems pay to drive the carts and little boys
were sent. When the expense account for re-
pairs became too high the items were charged
to capital account. and men who could not read
certified to the correctness of the accounts.
The government did not have any idea till
lately of what was going on. as the big accounts
were all held back. Mr.. Edward Kennedy the
suspended superintendent. and Mr.. G. Parent,
the suspended experimenting engineer, stand q
chance of being tried for malfeasance in Office,
and there may be arrests in connection with the
affair.
Today the commission Of inquiry adjourn to
obtain the original plans and estimates from
Ottawa, as without them there is no chance Of
getting at the bottom of the scandal, matters
are In such a hopeless mess. The commits
sioners investigating are r. Douglass of the de-
partment OF public works, Ottawa, and G. II.
Mcleod and ]. E. Vancir, civil engineers.