Year: 1875

but he could not undertake to answer such query,
which might involve half days figuring, n an OF
hand fashion. He would ask tnat this question be re-
duced 70 writing, and he would reply to II on future
occasion.


The request was granted


As TO the insecurity Of the wall by tho alleged weak
ness OF the piles Mr Wales said the charge was one en-
treiy new to him The wall at Canal street had de
nected a little" he understood, and at Christopher
street y sprung little but this had been remeded
80 that no flaw visible present The trouble with
ho wan az christopher street. however occurred before
ny ny became connected with the department
th is ulinculty he understood originated from
.ne , weakening OF the foundations As
ana wooden piers, Mr. Wales remarked that il was
never intended to build more than two stone pers in
d viv Gt'y M ahn IL wooden bulkhead WALL in his opinion,
a Mouu nos pe ADVISABLE owing TO the ndurabty or
wood A capable engineer had informed him that a
Wooden ~mooaen pler would rot within ten years. it would be
infested with rats and vermin OF all sorts Mr. Wales
was asked whether the commission had taken tho
opinions Of experts on this question: and replied thar
very purpose The conclusion come to was that the
commission "woud build pier that would endure for
ever


TILL ROLLING YEARS SHALL CEASE TO MovE'p


This outburst of poetca feeling on the part or
Dock Commissioner, whose Official duties give little
scope for the cultivation Of poetry, elected general
though suDdued applause


In regard to the contraction OF the which might
be caused by this bulkhead wall there was no danger
that the now Of water would be narrowed nJuriously
on the North River but along the East River there
some danger Of such contingency as it was much





construction OF such wall along the East River.


Concerning the cheapest mode OF doing the work,
President Wales said there doubt the contract
system was the cheapest and the commission had
adopted 1t as far as possible The work at the Battery
was done on the day work system because II had
already been commenced when the present Board came
into power


The cost of dredging Mr. Wales estimated at twenty
five per cubic yard He admitted that the cost Of
dredging done BY the commission at present was
higher than il would be II done by contract One
son why 1t was done by the Commissioners that the
mi had aFftFl1 hn Chuna anf
derrcks &c, which had better be used IL cost about
half million dollars and could not be sold to adj
vantage The cost Of repairing these derrcks, &C. was
very high.


TrcKusH QUESTION


Mr.. Wales was asked II, in his judgment, one Com
missioner could manage the department as economi-
caly and efficiently three2


Mr.. WALEs-I don't think ought TO be called upon
TO answer this question In doing | might appear
TO disadvantage before my two colleagues who are in
perfect accord with me.


When driven by persistent questioning he finally
said, II suppose every department in the city could be
managed by one Commissioner" but he would not
openly commit himself to the policy OF cutting off the
heads of two Of the Commissioners.


DEPARTMENT


The entire cost OF the department since its organiza
on five years ago. Mr. Wales stated about So 600 000
in round numbers and the revenue handed over TO
the city treasury would at the close of year
to about So, 100000 The land reclaimed without
pense to the city worth about ST. 600 000 he had
been informed.


Mr. Wales denied that there were too many watch
men or that the employees were engaged in other oc-
cupations He was asked whether he aware that
the assistant engineers had been engaged in surveying
during their working hours, but denied that such
the fact Since he became head of the department all
irregular practices had been stopped by stringent
orders. Concerning the charge Of backma against
Superintendent Fitzpatrick, Mr.. Wales declared that
satisfactory proof had been submitted against him.
He knew OF no instance in which clerks of the depart
ment had levied blackmail contractor, and when
asked specifically whether such charge had not been
preferred against Mr. Jackson he said all that
that the latter had


BORROWED ACTOR
and he had reprtmanded him for doing So and told him
that he would be dismissed he guilty again OF
that damnng and heinous crime Mr. Wales ornamented
this portion OF his testimony by quotation from the
'Serious Family saying that che consented to APP
pear to be satisfied" which elected renewed admira-
tion Of his vast fund OF literary


Mr. Wales stated voluntarily that at his desire he
had charge OF all the purchases OF supplies very la
borous duty but one which he was glad to perform
order TO protect the interests Of the city The educa-
tional qualifications OF Thomas Murphy, Superinten-
dent OF Instruction, then considered, but
that weighty question not probed for
Mr.. Wales only would that Murphy's
reports signed by him, but he did
not know whether he wrote them. And thus the
will go unsettled to posterity The witness asked
about the charges against Meehan the auditor to the
effect that he (Meehan) had received a commission
bills audited by him. and said they had not been proved
TO his satisfaction The reduction in the salaries OF
employees this year had been over $4,000 compared
with the preceding year


Mr. Wales reiterated the oft reE1 atcd fact that the
dock facilities at present nstc cient for the wants
of the increasing commerce Of this city. How the
wharf leases had been rittered away by the previous
Board was shown by the fact that tho Union Ferry
Company, for whose privileges the city might easily
obtain $125, 900 year, paid nothing whatever.


The committee adjourned until Friday morning at
half past ten O'Clock.