Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-15
RELIEF FOR SURVEYOR
x Morning Hours pm Shopping
COMMISSIONERS FORWARD BILL
TO CONGRESS-
Unusual Circumstances Surrounding
Request for Mr.. Edward ii.
Talcott-Statement of Case.

The Commissioners today forwarded to
Congress, with the request for its early
enactment, a bill for the relief of Edmund
M. Ta1cott assistant surveyor of the Dis
trict, and in the letter accompanying the
draft of the bill the Commissioners relate
the unusual circumstances which induce
them to propose the legislation.
Mr.. Talcott, it is stated. receives 81 800
year, and while not required to give bond
to the District for the faithful performance
of his duties he Is required to give bond
to the surveyor, who is bonded to the
United States in the sum of $4,000. The
circumstances connected with the case OF
Mr.. Talcott are set forth by the Commits
sioners as follows:
THE surveyor was called upon by the
Young Mems Christian Association for
survey of lot 49, square 1853, on which the
association proposed to build. For this
work the association paid fee established
by the Commissioners under section 1893 OF
the code. The assistant surveyor was des-
ignated by the surveyor to make the sur
vey. The lot was correctly laid off and
points established but to locate the west
wall of the old building adjacent it was
necessary to run an offset line, and it was
in measuring this line that the mistake oc-
Cured.
'The assistant surveyor states that his
chairman measured seventy-one feet and
called it to him seventy-two feet, which had
the effect of placing the wall of the old
building 1856 feet from the line of the lot
instead of 1855, which 1t really is-that is,
1t gave the association one foot more of
frontage than it was entitled to. This
measurement was given to the architects
for the building, and the plans and calcula-
tions for the steel work were based on 1t.
Discovery of Error.
'srThe error was not discovered until the
builder asked for final lines for the founda-
ton and the excavation was completed A
large part of the steel work had already
been cut and nearly all the steel drawings
and calculations as well as plans and de-
tails for the building had been completed
TO have changed the plans alone would
have cost considerable and besides caused
much delay and to recut the steel would
have caused a heavy expense. 1t was nee
essary therefore. that an additional foot
of adjoining ground be purchased.
1.-THE owner of this adjoining ground was
approached and refused to sell this addi-
tional strip which was one foot wide and
contained 1879 square feet, for less than
81 900, although its market value was about
$500. This amount 81 600, was therefore
paid by the assistant surveyor and deed
for the ground was executed to the Young
Mems Christian Association. The associa-
ton is willing to pay the reasonable value
of the ground, $500, that the loss to the
assistant surveyor would stand about 800.
It is for this amount that relief is asked.
ION account of the large amount Of work
done by the surveyor and the lack of force,
it was necessary for driver of the field
wagon to act as chairman. This driver was
under no bond to the surveyor such as Is
gwen by all the field force, or engineering
force of the office. and he has left the serv-
ice of the District. The action taken by
the assistant surveyor was to protect his
bondsmen against paying the loss for
which he was held responsible although the
error was caused by an unbonded en-
ploye. The Commissioners believe it is a
case calling for relief from Congress.