New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-09
THE STATE MULCTED.
POLITICS HAD TO DO WITH EMPLOY
MENT ON CANAL WORK.
Cams ,ssr-rn no LABOR sEEKERs-MoRE ABOUT
IocKPoRT.s WATER sUPPLY-CINDERs AND
AsHEs SUBSTITUTED For GRANEI.
rpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBU

Rochester. n. y, June o--lHt Odiih' o'''-'
obtained clear testimony to-day that Alderman
Callahan who was zealously supporting Merton r.
Lewis the Aliridee candidate for Mayor III io'''
had given TO cards Just previous 10 1'eN''o''
Day in 1897 and that by means OF these carus the'
men obtained employment upon contract NO - vi
the western division of the Erie Canal. just west
OF the CITY, on some useless "mucking. An ehsl-
ncer Acknowledged that this "mucking'' was need
lossly done and therefore It was obvious that the
State was compelled to pay out money TOT poIucI'
purposes without any return compensation. IcSll-
mony was also given in regard TO the expenditure
of 10000 which the State is now making In deep
ening the Erie Canal west OF Lockport TO the re-
markable depth of thirteen feet for the apparent
purpose OF providing an abundance OF water for
the manufacturers OF Lockport who Only pay wv
for about 900 horse power. valued at nearly Sooo"
yearly.
Henry c. Allen senior member OF tho firm OF
Henry c. Allen e. Co. canal contractors. testified
that he was formerly an assistant engineer. ana
took part in the preliminary survey for the canal
Improvement work. Then he became canal con
tractor in company with John A. seely. OF SYRIA
cuse. and secured contract No. 13 for work 10 DO
done on the canal west OF Rochester
How many men did you have employed on any
one day at mucking In the fall OF lW? asked MI
Blackmar. counsel OF the Canal Commission
81 think ninety men tho largest number en-
ployed ar one time at mucking.
But" said Mr. Blackmar. Il hnd from your pay
rolls that 2Oi men were at work on some days"
They not all employed at mucking
'Wero any OF those men employed on tickets pre-
scented to you?"
Eyes. sir: and will tell you the circumstances
man in Syracuse told that Alderman Gala
han would supply mo with laborers. went to him
and told him that would give men he sent TO me
employment, and he began sending me men with
letters or cards and put them TO work"
"SPOILs BANK" SAID A WITNESS
Certain witnesses have said that these men were
named by Callahan the suggestion OF J. j.
Burke Inspector of tho Department OF Public
Works. What about that reportY'
~ know nothing about that phase Of the mat
ter"
How long did you keep the men who brought
cards from Callahan
I'VE kept them on until had completed the
muckng."
what was the use OF this mucking7'
1T was not for mo 10 determine received my
instruction from the States engineer, and carried
them out
What would you suspect was the object''
the plans Indicate that spells bank was to DO
established there"
Mr. Clinton president Of the Commission. laughed.
What Is the OF muckng spoils bankT' he
said. with o smile. 10 the witness.
You must ask tho next man that question.
answered the wit-ess. with a laugh. Iie showed
that in his opinion the money practically
thrown away 10 give PRETENDED employment ~
these political workers.
Mr. Blackmar then turned his attention TO tho
low bid for rock excavation made by Henry {.
Allen Co.
Il made a mistake" said tho witness and put
the price Of rock too low" He denied that he was
Influenced by the apparent classification OF earth
d rock other contracts
what your experience with your contract
on rock at ~ cents Il cubic yard7" inquired Mr.
BlackMar.
II, ought 20 have been 81 a cubic yard" answered
the witness. FOR very little OF I, shale rock.
and II only that kind Of rock We were able 90
excayate at any such price.
Frank d. Seely. section superintendent OF tho
Erie Canal from Brockport to the Guard Locks ak
miles west OF Lockport. was the next witness. Mr.
Seely IS the man who enlarged tho conduit which
permits the water flowing into Eighteen Mile Creek
for the benefit OF mill-owners
Mr.. Seely said Tho opening in tho culver, at
Echteen-M Mile Creek IS u slat work In tho bottom
o. me canal There are gates al tho end OF tho
fume leading into Eighteen-Mle Creek"
rs there any way OF locking these gatesT' asked
Mr. Clinton.
mo. STR there locks to tho gates but
have occasionally had the gates shut down"
Generally any control tho gates7"
Eyes. sir"
EASY FOR THE MANUFACTURERS
1T is obvious" said Mr. Backmar that ono
third Of the water Of tho canal is diverted into
Eighteen Mile Creek for the benefit OF the manu-
factu-ers along IT'S banks"
What rights have the mfll owners on Eighteen
Mile Creek?'
They have legal right TO this water When
shut or their water year so ago there were
some complaints from them. ! therefore searched
through the County Clerks Office but could ind
no record OF their having any rights. | Informed
them OF that fact and since then they have
Qu.eSced In my action whenever | have shut tho
gates and deprived them Of water"
Ieclassncatlon Of LIS cubic yards OF eYcavatcd
reclassnc1 ton was due 10 the fact that Mr. Ward
resigned about that time. and Mr.. Flanagan
cesded him assistant engineer, and that 4 closer
examination OF the cxcavated material showed that
he approved Of this Redistribution. Mr. Clinton
said that the Canal Commission Of the opin-
1cniion between earth and rock, and thought tho
contractors bids under such system would have
better protected.
EARTH WHICH BECAME ROCK
George c. Ward said no was formerly On as
sistant engineer In charge Of Contracts Nos II
and - Of the Furnaceville Iron Company but was
now In the employ Of that company a superin-
tend-nt AS assistant engineer he and another
assistant engineer had classified 1903 cubic feet
Of oxcavated material earth which was after
wa-d classified as rock on his demand as superin-
resident engineer had granted his demand that this
should be classified az rock
do you think N cOnsis emit" said A. Foster Uig-
gins Ito classify excsvated material once as
earth and then 10 turn about and claim II to
DO rock?'
81 think Il was" answered Mr.. Ward FOR be
licved II to be rock. and asked the resident en-
gineer before ! resigned as an assistant engineer
go TO classify H."
H. G. Van Alstyne. another assistant engineer.
also testified that he had become superintendent
of the Furnaceville Iron Company because II Of
fered larger pay than the State. He gave some
testimony about the classification Of excavated ma
terial.
CINDERs INSTEAD OF GRAVEL.
william X williams inspector. testified that
cinders and ashes used 10 line the slope wall
on Contract No. OF the middle division OF the Erie
Canal when gravel required under the con-
tract specifications.