New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-03
poIJTICS IN CANAL WORK.
....,vAr1oNs THAT ELECTIONS HAD TO
10 WITH EMPLOYMENT.

.,v,r DISCREPANCY BETWEEN The EsTl-
>.rrs AND THE ACTUAL COST OF CON
TRAcrr-EARTH IN JANUARY DE
CONES ROCK WHEN cI-AssI-
YIED IN APRIL
Inv TI,EonAPH TRIsUSEl
...,., June THE Canal Commission came
strong trace to-day Of the use OF the canal
w.. a. A political weapon. contract was under
,ystlon which covers the Erie Canal just
", ~ nocne-.er and IA far west az Spcncerport.
co,se J. Lori. an assistant engineer testnled
-, bs took charge OF this contract in December
,sar ara that he discovered that IN the months OF
n-..,s- and November previously 5000 cubic yards
'. ..,,,ck,ng" had been done. half Of which he
'. .,a.-ea wholly unnecessary" "Muckng" con-
Its IN removing the grass turf which may nave
-,hsred on the canal bank.
sn,.ora was an exciting election for Mayor in
,1ahss.er In November 1897. and It was charged
;. ,hs time that tickets given. good for work
~ IN. section Of the canal to which reference has
-, made Mr. Lord said he did not see any OF
49,. tickets. He had heard that this muckinS
.s done to give employment to men Another
.,,rsss the paymaster for the contractors. said
..rsons had brought letters TO him from people
- rochester" asking him TO give them employ
a,, He had turned over these letters TO the
.o-sr,sn for the contractors The contract was No
20 =, the Western Division. and the contractors
- y c. Alien Co. Their contract covers the
r,s Canal for distance Of six and one-half miles
.,,r, the city line Of Rochester to Spencerport.
Mr. Lord testified that he took charge Of this
contract on December 3. 1891 and signed tho est
mate Of December l. 1897. This estimate Of the
.moun, Of work which had been done made by
his predecessor. Mr.. Burns. The estimate showed
LOO cubic yards OF dry excavation OF this
there were 5000 cubic yards of nlucking. Mr..
Lord then continued:
There was one portion Of the bank which was
uuckei where materia; to be placed 70
strengthen the bank. and there some Of tho
u,uckng done where they simply wasted material.
possibly one-half."
MORE WORK DONE THAN NECESSARY.
Then" said Mr. Bhckmar The inference from
your testimony Is that one-half OF the muckins
was unnecessary
~ think" answered. Mr.. Lord deliberately. there
vas more done than was necessary
Did you ever hear the reason why It was done?'
NO SIR
who directed 1t 10 be doner
Assistant Engineer Burns"
did you hear that this work was done IN oroe'
to give employment TO menT
'T d,d / heard II indicated. but nothing posi-
five. / understood II was TO be employment TOT
men"
Did you understand they were employed on any
tickets issued by any ono OF those mem
Il never any tickets
They would not turn them In to your?
mo, sir"
The witness then testified that the estimated
cost in 1891 Of completing contract NO 10 had oeeh
cls7c, and the contractors bid s'o'@o' lnefe
had been expended I'D 10 May /. 1893. the sum OK
ss5 co II would cost additionally to complete the
work the sum OF yl6a.So5; and the total estimated
cost was s9S7l6 thus exceeding the estimated COST
In 1897 by ssS.9ss.
T. c. Wells. the next witness. said he was the
paymas,er for II. G. Allen & Co. He wen; TO work
the latter part OF September, 1897. THE first thhg
done on the contract" he said was muching
Ibid YOU see any tickets for this muckug WORK.
mo. sir; but brought notes from various
people In Rochester. I do not remember VINO the
letters were from. Ny first payroll is dated Sep
TENDER 25, 1891.
ALL MEN LOOKED ALIKE TO MR.. WELLS
How many men did you have at muckinsr
II should think between ninety and hundred"
How long were they employed?
az do not remember: all men look alike 70 me
In the canal"
Charles H. Flanagan. an assistant engineer.
gave testimony next regarding Contract No H.
Iron Company for the improvement OF SIX ana
quarter miles q the Erie Canal. near Brockport
The witness said that the first estimates or me
cost OF this work put i at S9 ne III ssS ~
b bs been expended upon IT, and he estimated that
tlls COO must be expended upon Il IN order 20 con-
Jieie it.. Thus the total cost Of the work would
NJ Flanagan also gave testimony about con-
tract No H. which touches six milcs o. the ERE
Canal near Holley. The witness said that up t9
Nav / 1895 the sum OF f56l1 had been expenled
sI must be expended To complete IT, This would
make It's total cost finally slsl,4si The state En-
rineer's estimate Of It's cost $1l6,3s5 ana the
contract price was s10.l0o.
HOW EARTH BECAME ROCK.
Carl Pennster a leveller. gave testimony regard
irs contract No IL This contract was for the
Improvement of the Erie Canal for distance OF
eight miles between Holley and Albion. state En-
sneer Adams had estimated that the cost or COM
pletlng this contract would be S5z.0sV Up to May
1885 the sum Of s37 900 had been expended upon It
and s11757 additional must be expended 20 COM
pe,e f., Its total cost thus would be s2o4 357 The
contractors bid was sl35.cto The Increased cost
wa. largely due TO an increased amount OF rock
Excavation Mr.. B,anxmar said the contractor Pa
Zoo. Cor rock excavation, but would receive visa.
Mr. Backrnaf showed that the Furnacevile IRON
COMPANY had taken out 9.220 cubic feet OF rock IN
iva. any Of this rock" ne asked lever classified
MTtckYI 49,. e..o .,o,,so, N cub,c wards" re-
piled the witness. ,,c..,u.
Give US the exact figures Of the Reconsideration
sTh. exact Ag.res." said tho witness are $3.50
yards" ,,a.s M
rory IN Anil after beAg once clessiheh as EARN IN
January , 49,. .r,.roas
The Canal Commission Will continue the investiga-
uon Tomorrow.
yoc., CnnDyYNA rTnEG