New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-18
COSTLY WORK ON CANAL.
TESTIMONY REGARDING ERIE IMPROVE
MENT CONTRACTS IN UTICA.
NEERs LEDGER ADDS GREATLY no THE
CHARGES AGAINST THE STAT
[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

CHARGES AGAINST THE STATE
rpY TELEGRAPH rRIBUNE.l
Syracuse " Y. May 1.-THE Canal Commission
continued its probing into the secrets or canal con-
tracts to-day What most significant in tho
testimony the revelation OF the largely In
creased cost of work Utica over the hrst esti-
mates Of the State engineer
This contract No. 49, OF O'Brien & Hooihan. for
the improvement Of the canal from Utica to Oris-
kany It was a. first estimated. would cost $i3e,3SS
II actually has cost seas $40. Contract No. ], OF
Dryer & Co.. for work all within the city. II
estimated would cost SO 7s4. Up to the present.
time. however the sum OF soOs sss has been
pended upor this contract
Some alterations in the ledger Of an engineer In
regard to the cost OF piling which added greatly
10 the charges against the State. also excited
prise among the members OF the Canal Commits
sion.
O. NJ Dieh son Of Mayor Dieh Of Buffalo,
who was an assistant engineer in charge OF con-
tract No /. was the first witness to-day. He testi-
fed that Dwyer & Co. were paid s+oo for hauling
broken stone from the western end OF the portion
OF the canal covered by their contract TO its eastern
end and that afterward 1t was discovered that
this transferrence of stone unnecessary az the
stone was needed at the end. Mr.. Diehi
also stated that any reclassfcations Of earth
rock were made by his superior officers.
How much silt was there In the canal when this
work began inquired Mr.. Blackman. counsel for
the Commission.
Il do not know" replied Mr. Diehl
Il regret you do not said Mr. Blackman. be-
cause the Canal Commission has the impression
that the cost OF the 50 10000 canal improvement
has been largely increased owing 10 the bad con-
dItion of the canals OF the State when II began"
Mr. Blackman then called the witnesses atten-
ton to contract No 49, Of OBrien & Hoolihan.
embracing L mile OF work within the limits Of
Utica and five miles to the westward Of that city
as far as Orskany. Mr.. Backman said the origi-
nal estimate for this work provided for only 5000
cubic yards OF material for eulbankment, whereas
the actual amount OF material used was 1879
yards
What was the cause OF this increase OF nearly
100 per cent over the estimates" he asked
We thought" answered Mr.. Diehl. that we
would be able to material from the bed OF the
canal but had TO take It from barrow pits outside
you also estimated 1000 yards OF vertical wall.
and yet you built 700 yards OF ms val ad .
said that II had cost the State $4,000 instead OF
$4,000 TO raise the, towpath because the material
Mr. Biackman discovered that Mr.. Diehrs books
indca ted that he had erased some figures In his
amount OF bearing piles used. Mr.. Dehl said in
INV books nrst stated that lS 900 linear feet Of
III 900 linear feet used. This Is due to the
fact that first had my men count each bearing
pile used and then afterward | was instructed TO
ngly had TO change my totals.
Il should think INTERRUPTED Smith N. Weed.
that this change Of method would lead to the
contractors putting the bearing piles far apart
as possible with ,arge holes between them
William w Oney. assistant engineer testified
that he had charge OF another contract OF Brien
Houhans for work X, on the e canal between oris-
sand cubic feet OF material classified as rock under
directions OF Mr. Morris. a resident engineer Orig
inally Ave hundred yards OF this had been classified
az