New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-02
ERRORS IN CANAL ESTIMATES
COMMISSION HEARS TESTIMONY OF con-
TRACTORS AND ENGINEERS.
MR. LITTLE TELLS WHY EXTRA WALLS WERE
BUILT AT ADDITIONAL COST
TO THE STATE.
fBY TELEGRAPH To -uE TRIBUyrl


my TELEGRAPH To -HE TRIBUyr1
Rochester. y. Y. June 1.-The Canal Commits
sion heard some more testimony to-day about the
contract II Grannis OConnor for mprov-
ing the Eric Canal for distance Of seventeen
miles between Macedon and PittsfOrd locks. The
quantity sheets Of The engineers showed no rock
Division EnEncer Little to-day testified that as
guess he put In estimate OF hundred cubic
yards Of rock. believing that there might he few
"howlders" AS a matter Of fact. nineteen thousand
cubic yards Of rock has already been eXcavated
and fifteen Thousand cubic yards yet remains 10
hc oxcavatcd. And where the engineers estimated
that the excavation of rock would only 800 II
has actually cost $4,000
Charles W. Cirannls and william T. OConnor, the
contractors. both testified to-day that they rode
along the line of the canal and discovered out
cropping of rock. When the contract had been
awarded they sublct tho rock and the earth eyca
walton to the Racine Dredging COMPANY Of Racine.
Wis. They were 10 be paid 50 n cubic yard for
rock excavation. and sublet 10 tho Racine COM
pany at 81 = cubic yard. They to ne paid
% cents cubic yard for earth excavation. This
they suhlet 10 the Racine company at 1912 cents a
CUBIC yard.
Mr. Blackrnar tho counsel Of tho Canal Commits
sion. showed plainly the unbalanced character of
The bid by producing a witness. Edward y. Bishop,
an assistant engineer. who said that although the
Furnaceville Iron Company had lost the contract
because their bid $500 more than the bid OF
tho state would have saved i32 O0 J. I. Little di-
vision engineer stated that letter was sent him
by Assistant Engineer Gillette in March. 1896 tell
ing him OF tho existence Of the rock. He thought
ne had issued instructions to the engineers about
rock but could not ind his Instructions anywhere.
A vertical wnll I'm the plans had been built at
Fairport for the accommodates Of canning fac
tory NJ cost 20 the State Of $1,000
Was It not obvious" said Mr. Blackmar, that
the 10000 appropriation was exhausted and this
extra wall could not be built?'
I'VE thought It would aid business answered
MI Little.
How did n happen that the quantity sheet con-
tanned no mention Of rock. Mr.. Ltte?"
1t was an error. a misleading Of a letter.
lie then produced Mr. Gilette's letter. but Mr..
Blackmar showed that the letter clearly mentioned
shale rock and warned Little 81 It's existence
Ibid you this letter from Nh Gillette In 1862
Not to my knowledge: only caught sight OF !.
two weeks Ny diary shows that was away
from Rochester two or three days then. and the
letter may have been opened by some one else.
"Ipd you hnd Mr.. Gille,,es book setting forth in
detail this rock?'
Yes sir: but only two weeks ago.
What personal knowledge Of the physical conti-
ton Of 'he canal have your"
practically hone
The fact was developed tina: State Engineer Ad-
ans had instructed tho Rochester ONCE 70 cut
down the estimates much as possible. SO as 70
reduce the cost Of the work. Mr. Little said that
the cats were ma 10 IN me csllHnat'n loi ol'u'
wall and vertical walls. These cuts were made
arbitrarily I'm the Rochester office after the field
rates were in. Nj Little frankly admitted thar
the experience OF the state Engineers Department
had been that II WAS next - Impossible TO cut
down The cost q a contract Dy cutting down the
Theie was some discussion petween Mr Black
,nr and Mr Little as 20 what constituted change
in plans. rendering necessary an appea, 70 ne
held tnat ~ 1t were deemed advisable. for insi ancr.
20 build a new uriig'. that would n" chailse III
,horliy from he Canal Board on me other hanai
N j. wero found necessary to uuld niy thous1hi
yards ~ vertical wall who're g. had been Intended
10 hui,d only ion thousand. that would be an es-
tension q quantities ana cqud D." drclIr' :, N"
sat. Engineer ana state superintendent Of run
John : Gunsaul OF Fsirport former section
1,,sI ,nd he .t,d he had he had dug bitches in
!roscned with picksN" d." did not recal ,na, "a
b. ma IN The Enlargement abou, forty years
ago At that time shal" wns encountered IN A
number OF places alonS the So enteen. mile e'e IN
hy pick and shovel Up 10 Fairport b. thought me
snai. classified as earth. ooyond that a. shale
rock He did not remember no" me CLASSIFICATION
"e Gha mas. " 'iranns. senior member o, he nrm
~ Grannis q" = wbn'b b SsI bT on contract No
and none other was that he had hsnI'I OH $500
o,hers and thought this was the most "dv@n'"-
s"9 why I'D you bid 81 per yard for rock eHcays
ana only ia A'.lAo 'N'
wei I looked tho ground over carefully ara
s.,lsaei rovaclf hat there was great dohl more
rock along the seventeen miles man was IL, a
in The original or preliminary "f'nlato ~ ana ~
urcd could hd low on EARN """ "'e" ~
and make pfoAt. -, o,.n, % ,rak. vour
os,,r,ntrs and dCurcE did YOU Sc" any rock IT.,
'S uVNa ,% az law rock in Pl'tsford and other
.l,ros ,oux the linc. In Fairport hSc'flainfp
that rock had been encountet'i "he" '~' '
yyer. made for watcr-pipe -, 1900 ~,
NJ Grnnnls told the commission that amons the
men ha had I'm his employ vas relative 81 VI,
VW',iar~ ono ~ the engineers IN III" Rochester Or
a. - ,he state Engineer. Mr.. irannls ,olu VI,
utg,a.lm.r That the Fidelity and Deposit company
~ MARYLAND was his hondSman. ,s- .-o,, ,,a,
..iiow did YOU come to set your bones from 'h"'
company? .A ,r,ev came 70 me about
nr,ccn minutes after the C"n'"'' WI"
nv nv Wr I-lvnn tho agent who saw you
.r ,birk hat was hts name. J.. -.
.rT1,o Fidelifv COMPANY mas coIsr" ~, ." '0
-, ~ yolr contract How was UNIT
w had a private agreement
..Xyhat wa It's nature.
80 nrefer not 10 answer. -,..a.oi- ,n.
~, ptcrs,nis told Mr.. Backmar prlvAtrY ~,
,s ~ he agreement and II waS 49, IN ~
r,r,sson would not press inc qu,a,lua,,
r n" ne Nr Granns stated thar me hx ,,n,nr!s
-, az. ,,cluln any assignment or m" cul., ,. en-
u,I ad, or CONDENSATION 20 the F1dcllty pePoS'' I'm
pany
.r.rrrrD CTCANSHIP RATE WAN