New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-26
DISPUTES OVER CANAL WORK.
MORE TESTIMONY REGARDING THE SUS-
PENSION OF AN ENGINEER.
MR. THOMAS TELLS WHY THE COST OF CERTAIN
WORK on THE ERIE WAS GREATLY
INCREASED.


crso y " MAJ o5-The Canal Commission
ers gave their attention to-day chiefly 10 evidence
regarding the granting Of an unlimited ieaVe OF
absence to william letters, an assistant engineer
who according to his own testimony, had peen at
tempting o guard the interests OF the state WINE
work was In progress on contract No b OF the
Jordan level OF the Erie Canal John Dunphy I"
Co. the contractors. II was the second III
stance OF State Engineer Adams granting leaVe
OF absence to an assistant engr Ger who had dis
putcs with contractors. and therefore the members
Of the Canal Commission had good deal OF cur
osity about this affair. c. F. Taylor. member OF
tho firm Of Dunphy e. Co, gave testimony regard
irg Mr. LETTERS
with which members OF your firm did Mr. Jerers
have discussions and differences OF opinion regari-
ing tho execution OF this contract|' inquired MT
Blackmar counsel OF the Commission.
with me as much, or more than with any one else,
answered Mr. Taylor They were in regard to his
ordering us 10 do work In certain way ana tner
countcrma nding his orders his changing work from
tho plans and not allowing for the changes MS
giving orders on the work. not TO the proper per
sons but to any who happened to be on the
work so that confusion was caused on the WORK.
and always at expense to u.s.
do you concede that Mr.. LETTERS meant 10 do
anything but his duty"
II concede that he tried to do his duty. but with
all disregard Of our rights"
"You don't think he wanted to make the work
expensive TO you?'
Il don't think he intended TO- but that was the
result"
WAS there any written communication from
any member OF your firm asking for MI Jenerss
rcmovaT'
AS matter Of fact, no member OF our hrrn eVer
asked FOR his removal"
Mr. Taylor said that the railroad ties used FOR
png suitable for the work. They were
bought subject the inspection OF engineers. and
were accepted. Some OF tho ties cost the firm as
Oh Thn de
team could haul only one-fourth ~ n load They
Ind 70 be hauled from one TO three miles from the
railroad. The witness said that he could not tell
exactly what the tics cost delivered In cars.
The evidence shows that such ties can be bought
for % cents each" said Mr.. Backmar.
Such quotation might possibly be obtained for
cheap ties IN New York city" said Mr.. Taylor,
but have never been able TO buy them at that
The next witness Edward II. Thomas. as
sistant engineer Dunphy co.'s contract No.
Is. near Weedspor.. Work on this contract was
begun on September g. 1897. An item OF 10000 yards
OF enba nkneni called for by the preliminary esti-
mate increased TO 67.epD at IS cents n yard In
the estimate Of May l. The witness was asked 10
yards were excavation paid for as embankment. the
material having been hauled 10 raise the towpath;
??ee,co yards were for hauling excavation out OF
bankment, and l2vf yards were on account or ex-
cavation FOR vertical wal
The instructions to raise the path before the
close Of navigation came from the Syracuse Office
IN mo fa.l Why i was done the witness ga nov
water out OF the canal. the great bulk OF this
expense for cmbankment would have been saved.
n The material FROM the bottom of the canal could
have been used TO raise tho banks and tho handling
OF material would have been paid for only eSca-
walton. The contractors received pay for hauling
icrial taken from the canal. both excava-
ton, Al. IS cents. and embaukment. at % cents,
yard. on the material brought I'm TO raise the
banks ~ belag hauled more than thousand feet
the contractors were paid both for excavation and
emhankmcni.
And" asked Mr. Blackmar, N the banks hah
been raised with material from the prism Of the
canal tho contractors would have been paid only
FOR crcavationT
"i sir
The witness knew % no discussion 70 how the
Work should proceed IN this more expsnsNe man
n" simply received Instructions from HIS
perlors AZ the syracuse office. Tho preliminary
e~f climate 81 cost OF work under this contract
Tf5.pv m" contract price $4,000 and the May esti
mat" was fB1o II VIII require about $500 10
complete The work
Commissioner Clinton asked the witness how
used on the banks y tho enibsnkment had not be-n
made first. Mr. Thomas said shout one-hnlf Tho
cem"utcd gravel would have been good 20
strengthen tho bank but would not have answered
20 hold water. Mr. Blackmsr did some figuring, the
result OF which showed that there might have been
n saving 20 tho State OF 81 On
That Is according to your Idea ne asked the
witness.
"Yes sir"
Nohl" r. whittord. assa.an. engineer testified
that tho time FOR the completion OF two contracts
near l'tlca had been extended Nav l. 1899 by tho
written consent OF G"orge ". Aldrilge the super
iutend~nt OF Public Works Mr. Clinton EXPRESSED
tract when 10 knew that the 10000 appropriation
exhausted.