The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-11
HOLMES UNDER THE LASH.
The Report on the Depot Foun-
dalton Makes Strong
Charges.
MIXING DUST WITH CEMENT.
Big Returns From a Small Invest
ment by the Chief
Engineer.

The result of G. J. Stilwell's investiga-
ton in connection with the building of the
foundation of the new union depot at the
foot of Market street will be laid before the
Grand Jury to-day, it having been pre-
viously submitted to Governor Budd. Mr..
Stilwell was instructed to find out whether
any fraud had been committed in any
manner, either in the character or quality
of materials furnished or in the way in
which the materials had been used. He
was instructed to find out with as much
certainty as possible who the person or
persons were who had committed such
fraud, if such fraud existed.
The investigation had it's inception in a
communication addressed to E. w. VAIN
wrightsIa member of the Grand Jury. The
letter was anonymous, but it was after
ward ascertained that it was written by
Alfred s. Moore of this city. The letter
was dated January 2, 1895, and stated
broadly that although it was possible that
the frauds were cleverlY concealed, it was
hoped that investigation might bring them
to light. In his letter Mr.. Moore said:
The people of this State were asked to vote
for 6 so-ealled union depot under an act pro-
V1Qlng Tor the expenditure OF SOOO,UOO, as per
estimates of the engineer of the Board of Har-
Dor Commissioners, and we are now given to
understand that such estimates were at least
$500, 900 in error, and that the cost will exceed
81 200, 900.
Mr.. Moore recited in his letter the ad-
vertising for the bids for the construction
of the foundation, and declared that when
the bids were opened for the contract the
firm of Bateman Bros was found to be
hI1f hot
incapable of doing the work, and that upon
that ground the board readvertised for
bids, when the San Francisco Bridge Com
pany was found to be the lowest bidder and
was awarded the contract.
Howard c. Holmes, the engineer of the
Board of Harbor Commissioners, was
roundly scored by Mr.. Moore and practi-
cally declared to be incompetent and dis
honest. Mr.. Moore went over the history
of the cable railroad in 1889 and 1890, in
which he was interested. He declared that
Mr.. Holmes, who was the trusted engineer,
CONSTRUCTED the road and equipment in
such faulty manner, either through lack
of capacity or otherwise, that it was i'm
possible to make use of it for any number
of days consecutively, and finally in about
year had to be torn up as worthless"
Mr.. Moore also declared that Mr.. Holmes
used most of his time attending to private
matters and that it was due to his negli-
gence that the Fremont-street wharf fell
in and that the Powell-street wharf is now
in bad condition. He also declared that
the asphalt laid on the State property at
the foot of Market street is full of ponds
and puddles as the result of faulty en-
cheering.
Mr. Moore said definitely that Mr..
Holmes while the trusted engineer of the
railroad as above "drew down" rebate on
material purchased as a consideration for
recommending special material, and asked:
May this not be the case in his service to
the State on the principle that man who
would once do so would do so in every instance
or opportunity that offered. Is it not better
to be satisfied whether such Irregularities exist
now than TO regret it later?
Mr.. Holmes is supposed to test the tensile
strength OF all cement used in this foundation.
Whether he is doing so or is capable OF doing so
at all, the fact still remains that all cement fur
nfshed is Of one particular brand, and other
importers whose names | can give you later
have shown me that although they are now
prepared to furnish cement of equal or superior
strength at a cost OF ID to 20 cents per barrel
less, and were prepared at the time the pur-
chase was made to furnish cement at 10 cents
per barrel less, their cement would not pass
the inspection of this man Holmes.
1t was upon this communication that
the investigation was based, and Mr.. Still
well in his report declares the questions at
issue to be:
1.-The ability or incompetency as civil
engineer of Howard G. Holmes, Chief En-
gineer of the Board of Habor Commits
sioners.
2-The questions of honest dealings of
said Howard c. Holmes, and whether he
has used MS official position as a means of
pense of the State, and
3-The character and quality of the
material used in the construction of the
said depot building.
The charges made against Mr.. Holmes
by Mr.. Moore are by Mr.. Stilwell naturally
resolved into the conclusion as to whether
or not Mr.. Holmes is qualified to serve as
chief engineer of the State Board of Harbor
Commissioners, although Mr.. Stilwell adj
mits that the decision of such matter is
outside of the subject entrusted to him for
investigation.
The Specifications for the building of the
foundations of the approach to the ferry
slips Nos. 2, 8, 4, 5 and 6, on the water front
of this city, are quoted in the report and
parallels drawn between the specification
and the allegations made by Mr.. Moore.
The rigorous provisions regarding the
character and quality of the material and
the fact that Howard c. Holmes is made
the sole Judge of the quality of all material
to be used and the character of all labor to
be performed are considered important
facts In connection with the investigation
according to the report.
The removal of old work, the mixing of
cement, the provision for the arches and
vaults and the manner of the building of
the centers are all touched upon, showing
that all these things were completely
under Mr.. Holmes supervision. The sec
tons of the Political Code referring to the
duties of the chief engineer of the Board of
State Harbor Commissioners are quoted
at length and their provisions contrasted
with the charges made by Mr.. Moore.
The report declares that this investiga-
ton has been hedged about with some In
surmountable obstacles owing to the fact
til vt while it was deemed advisable that it
should be conducted secretly Senator
Gleaves, chairman of a Legislative COM
mittee and Engineer Donohoe almost at
the same time began public Investigations
The men on the works were afraid to
talk about the merits of the suit, lest they
should lose their positions, and the testi-
mony of the discharged men carried natu-
rally the supposition of bias. An investi-
cation of the records of deeds in the City
and County Recorders Office led to the
conclusion that rock coming from the
property of the chief engineer of the Board
of Harbor Com missioners has entered very
largely into the foundation of the new
depot building.
This fact, says the report, coupled with the