New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-01
OFFER WORK ON THE CANAL.
COMMISSION BEGINS THE INvESTI-
CATION OF THE CONTRACTS.
~xoyss OF ROCK ExCAvAT1oN RAISES CONTRACT
COST FROM $500 TO slos .ooO-vAsT DIscHEP-
ANGLES BETWEEN ESTIMATES
AND PAYMENTS.
fay TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

eu,.,or Smith NJ Weed and Franklin Edison
when they arrived here they learned OF the
.,., disastrous break on the Erie Canal since
:, vss opened for navigation this year. This
60. break occurred near Brockport. and Is OF
, disastrous proportions that 1t is now estl-
800 that the State will have TO pay demages
49, ,,. amount Of 100000 Moreover. navigation
:, the Erie Canal is suspended for week 1t
.n,,s IN look as II Engineer Soule's prediction
40, the Erie Canal would be open for naviga-
NO. VIC. only two months this year may untort-
,.,v nrove true. The breaks have been
"', 'Saa nv contractors digging down below old
canal banks ana not strehe'"e"ins s"i"''e"''
the impaired walls
-, Canal Commission listened 10 some evil
49,. today Of a surprising nature. The con-
-. r,6ar especial investigation was that OF
-. n Grannis and William T. O'Connor
,,,rovng the Erie Canal distance or
.,sen miles between Macedon and the PITTS
e.. lock An astonishing excess Of rock exca-
...,on under this contract was discovered Ed
.o,d B Bishop. assist mt engineer. TESTIFIED
chat the original estimate Of the cost or tul-
ru,ne the plans Of the contract declared That
ony 100 cubic yards Of rock excavation was
r.csssary The contractors bid for this rock
excavation was 81 a cubic yard. Their evidence
.nowed to-day that the rock was chiefly hard
nan and shale rock. Mr.. Blscknar, the couhsel
O, the Canal Commission. expressed the opinion
,bst the contractor could have made money on
1, at 81 a cubic yard for the 'rock' excavation
A COST OF 5000 INSTEAD OF $500.
Already $4,000 has been paid for this rock
excavation, according to testimony given to-day
and 1900 cunic feet additional rock must Ne
ex.avated at So cubic yard This woulo IN
volve a further expense OF $4,000. Rock exca-
only Is
walton which was 70 have cost only cow 10 ''N'
20 cost S1O3 600
Fdwsrd Bishop an assistant engineer. testi-
ned that the engineers estimate as 10 the COST
NJ the work was S23s S47 80; and that the con
tractors bid was S2lI.1l9 ~.
gov much money will it take 10 complete
.his contract" inquired Mr.. Blackmsr'
1T will take the sum OF Sl923Z7
How much have you already expended
upon it?'
The state hes expended S26I. 10y"
THAT makes a grand total Of S45e'47e ~ a
the probable cost Of this contract SAID MI
Plackmar. after some figuring ana the esu-
mated cost was S23S,s41 81"
Tb. cost Of the execution OF the contract 1t Is
.,u. annaren.. Will exceed the estimate by
s22O,e51 - There were also further errors IN
the estimate disclosed by Mr.. Bishop mus
the slope wall exceeded the estimates ny NOoVO
cubic yards and the vertical wall by l2Z'o
cubic yards. The witness testified that a large
amount OF rock was excavated with oredge
IN the months Of July and August, 1897, when
the Erie Canal full OF water
How did you measure the material e1ca-
vated?"
We had a boat and went along the canal
with a soundng-bar."
II suppose" said Smith NJ Weed mat you
nut down the sounding-bar through the water
fhna OOk
urernent?"
Yes sir" answered the witness.
What was the rock?" inquired Mr.. Blackmar
1T was combination Of clay, sand, gravel
and shale rock"
When did the contractor first claim that this
excavated material was rock?"
In July. 1897"
what was the price paid for excavatins
earth?"
1T was 2312 cents q cubic yard
What was the price Of rock excavation"
1T was Sc a cubic yard"
SPECIMEN BRICKS" FOR AN EMERGENCY.
The witness exhibited samples OF the hard
pan" which has been classified as rock" and
stated that these specimen bricks" had been
taken from the canal in the winter OF 1888. or
months after the excavation was made
why ala you take these samples?" inquired
Mr. Blackmar. Did you have any DOUBT ABOUT
their character"
y thought" answered the witness, that these
sarnples would be a good thing to have on hand"
Did you consider yourself IN any way re-
sponsible for the classification Of this exca-
waited material as rock?"
NO. STR" go
s s5s %0rA by ''e's''s ''S'FH' "
y presume he thought It more economical"
TEa v~fr
do you know why only 100 cubic yards OF
rock were estimated In the preliminary esti-
mate"
Il do not know why such an estimate was
made" answered Mr.. Bishop
DO you not know" said Mr. Blackmar that
the highest price paid for rock excavation on ne
whole line Of the Erie Canal >" CUBIC yar"'
was paid this contract"
y presume So" answered the witness.
Mr.. Backmar then plainly implied his belef
that this was an unbalanced bid" by saying:
lou would ask higher price II you We're
contractor. would you not. cubic yard Ior
excavat!ng 100 cubic yards than you would 1Or
excavating 19 0O0 cubic YARDS"
i think should" replied Mr. Bishop
THE CONTRACTORS ROAD TO WEALTH
The average price for rock excavation" said
Mr.. Blackmar has been about 81 cubic yard,
and one contractor on this western division. Mr.
Allen. is executing rock excavation for 45 cents
cubic yard. At So q cubic yard II IS obvious
that these contractors will make large sum
You have heard complaints about that high price
tor rock excavation. have you notY
have" answered Mr. Bishop.
George Clinton turned the inquiry into new
enamel by saving:
Mr. Blackmar, II the State takes no action
this contract Will be completed on its present
terms?"
1T WILL" answered Mr. Blackmar.
legally. the contract stands"
II does" answered Mr.. Blackmar.
Provided" Faid Mr.. Edison. that the Super
i,ntendent OF Public Works had the legal right
70 extend this contract"
Has this contract been extended"
II was extended the 18th OF April. an
ewered Mr.. Blackrnar
, Evidence was given later by Halbert p Gil
iette. an assistant engineer. which greatly sur
Fised the Canal Commissioners. Mr. Gillette