The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04
GAVE UP $4,000 OF
$4,000 ROAD PROFIT
Mclius Had Specifications Al
tered and Cut Down
Trees for Filler.
ROCKS NOW STICKING UP
Osborne Gets Farmers Evidence
and Asks Others to Tell of
Grating on state.

ALBANY, Jan. 3--Farmers from Column
Ola county voluntarily came to-day before
Commissioner James W Osborne, Gov.
Glynn's State graft hunter. and told him
how trees alongside of road were felled
by a good roads contractor and used as a
filler for the basis of the road as well as
field and fence stone which required three
laborers to move.
The road which was being improved by
L. J.. Melius, now a New York city con-
tractor. but formerly Of Albany. extended
for seven miles In Columbia county from
Chatham Centre to the Rensselaer, county
line near Ryders Mil Meus contracted
TO construct a concrete road for $4,000,
but had the contract changed to water
bound crush stone road at the same price.
Melius got the residents along the road
TO petition for "A change in the method of
construction. saying that II would mean
gain of $4,000 to him. lie told some
farmers that he had been held up for
contribution OF $4,000 by the Democratic
campaign committee.
All the farmer witnesses agreed that
from a third to a ha.f of tn. stone used
was rotten. soft sandstone, and that al
though the road was finished only last
September the surface already has worn
off in places, the big stones In the lower
branches from the trees buried in the
roadbed.
Commissioner osborne. pleased with to-
days testimony. said that IL farmers
would write to the Governor every time
they noticed the contractors violating
their Specifications no more poor roads
would be built.
Osborne Invites Road Evidence.
81 invite information from all sources.
and particularly regdrdinS the roads.
said Mr.. Osborne. Il particularly thank
these farmers who were Kind enough to
come here and report abou, this road TO
me. IL II becomes apparent that this good
roads work is going to be watched 10y
farmers good roads will be insured.
~ invite every body in the STATE to write
to me and give my word of honor that
will follow the trail after they give 1t to
me. no matter where II leads | am re-
ceiving communications from many places
In the State and | am following them up
a. fast as possible. shall treat all in
formation as confidential II desired.
These remarks were made by Commits
sioner Osborne after IA specimen OF the
rotten sandstone used ON the Chatham
Centre road had been produced. II
crumbled In the Commissioner hands
as he pressed it. Chauncey r.. StricRle,
a farmer. who helped draw the stone used
in making the field stone bottom for the
road. also worked on the road. He tes-
tilted:
AFTER the first layer of stones was
laid the stone roller would come along
and when the roller could not level the
big stones at the top | have seen them
dig little holes 40 as TO do so. When
the big stones stuck up high. after the
roller went over. have seen laborers
knock the tops off them and when the
roller hit the big stones it would raise
them instead of leveiling them. with the
result that there would be a high spot
and then a low spot, which meant a
wavy road with mud puddles,"
After the top of the road was put on
Strickle told about working on the
sprinkler. which was followed by the
roller.
ANY place where the filler dress
ing to the crushed stone was all stone
dust" said Stricke, 1t was rolled down
hard. and when il got dry the horses
would hardly make Il print of II. Wher-
ever there was bit of sand or loan. or
anything put on the crushed stone. after
you sprnkled that stone dust the roller
would pick UP until II would bring UP the
stone surface with IT,
Did Not Wait for the Change.
Strickle told of Contractor Meiuss eff
forts to have the specifications changed
and said that Meius had constructed II
mile and a half of "A field stone base in
stead of concrete foundation even before
the change was made
eff they don't change this road they
can go to hell" Melius is reported to
have told Strickle when work on the road
was suspended pending "A change.
John j. Connors. also a farmer, related
how Contractor Melius sought his aid in
having the residents repetition for a
crushed stone instead of "A concrete road.
"Melius told me il would be worth a
good many thousand dollars to him If II
was changed" said Connors, 'and, he
said: If you will assist me in any way
will give you the best pair or horses
ever owned In Columbia county. as l
never give anybody money for anything
of that kind"
what did you sayT' WAS asked the
witness.
~ said ! would not stand for that kind
of business for minute was the reply
Connors said that the surface Of the
road was already worn off, that the lower
base OF field stones was showing through
and that the shoulders of the road were
cracking and breaking away
Strlckie said that one road inspector.
ABRAHAM Bress, a tailor of Troy, was APP
pointed through the influence Of Joseph
j. Murphy. Rensselaer, county Democratic
loader.
and when | asked him what he was to do
he said:
"'Oh we'll, | just walk around. ! am
tailor and too old for the business, and
this Is political Job Mr.. Murphy put
mo in the job-Joe Murphy from Troy
IAN ever saw Bress do was to stand
around with his arms folded smoking his
pipe. He did not seem To approve OF any
thing or reject anything"
worked Two Days a Week.
Lewis Greener said that Bress boarded
with him and that he always remained In
Troy from Wednesday until the follow