The New York Herald Newspaper, September 12, 1860, Page 4

4. THE CROTON AQUEDUCT INVESTIGATION. Second Meeting of the Aldermanic Committee. Beplies of Messrs. Tappan and Craven to the Charges of Mayor Wood. The Citizens Desire to Endorse the Action of the Mayor. Another Adjournment of the Com- mittee, Rey Ree be, ‘The eecond meeting of the committee of the Board of Aldermen who bave in band the subject of the removal of Mesers, Tappan and Craven from the Croton Aqueduct Deparunent took place yesterday afternoon at one o’clock. At that bour, however, Alderman Starr was the oply member of the committee present, and he informed the meeting that be was determined to proceed infor- mally, even if his colleagues failed to attend, He then commenced reading the charges of the Mayor as his Honor transmitted them to the Aldermanic Board, and got through with tne readiog of them in am hour. These charges and spe- cifications for the r- moval of Messrs, Tappaa and Cravea have already been published in the Hamar, Meantime the other two members of the committee—Aldermen Ge- uct and Boole—oecupied thetr places in the committee, aud | the former took the chair. After the reading of the Mayor's communication the committee informed Messrs. Tappan and Craven that they ‘were now ready to hear their answers to it if they were prepared to reply. Mr. Tappan theo aroge and read the following response, | which he afterwards tendered to the committee in manu- Seript:— To THe Howorante Tee Comaqrrke oF THR BOARD OF ALDER- MeN to Whom was 1v(erred a communication of the Mayor | of the city, containing certain charges agninst Alfred W. Craven, hief Engineer, and Taos. B. Tappan, Assistant Commissioner, of the Croton Aqueduct Board:— The undersigned respectfully submit the following an- ‘ewer to the charges mude by bis Honor the Mayor. Thos cbarges, a0 far ss the undersigned is coucerned, are of alleged Beriour disagreement wud insubordination and re- tention in oftice of Messrs. Cornwall and Conboy. No specifications whatever accompany the charge of serious | disagreement and tpsubordipation, and the undersigned ia not aware Of any serious disagreements with, or the existencé of, any insubordivation to the Mayor of the city on the ‘part of the offices of the Croton Aqueduct Board, great care baving been untformly taken in al! the operations of the Department, whenever the Mayor thought proper to oppose i's action, to conform as far as possible to bis wishes, as the following will show; and if there are any exceptions to this uniform tenor of conduct and of courtesy toward the Mayor, they have occurred when {ndividuels, representing that they expressed the w of the Mayor, have desired the removal of certain persons io the Department, whom the undersigned declined to remove unless some better reasoo than mere political antagonwem could be alleged i them. No other reasons baving been presented, were retained; and inasmuch asthe power to ap. { subordinates is solely vested in the Croton Board, ‘a* no Bubordipation to the Mayor in this regard is re- quired by any law, this effort may not have been in bis cind when “eerioUs disagreements and insubordination’? were charged against he undersigned, and he therefore proceeds to the only subjects of disagreement which have occurred, a& to which the undersigned repeate every dis- position was shown to oblige the Mayor, consisteat with & just performance of public duty, The Croton Buard were, by & three fourths vote of the Common Council, di rected (0 place an aaditional pipe across the High Brid, to increase the supply of water—a measure o' necersity—aud to lower the main pipe on Ei pue to conform to the new grade, and to do them oy éay the fret of et $1, 1559, the other passed during the pra- rand approved by the Mayor February 28, 1860, { the city says — Whenever any work is ne- y to be done to complete or perfect « particular job ny supply Is necessary for any particular purpose, which work or Job i# to be undertaken or supply fur- nished for the Corporation, and the several parteof the faid work or supply saul together involve the expendi. tureof wore than $250, the same shail be by contract under such reguiatiots coucerp ing it a@ sball be establisned by ordinance of the Common Council, unless by a vote of three fourths of the members elected to each Board it ball be ordered otherwise" The above works were dered to be cove otherwise, aud beiteving the comple! of the same m portance to the city than the par- ich said work should be done, a8 tue ) the Croton is conveyed over the Br \oge are 8 email that while the aqueduct from ake to the High iricge is constructed to deliver siaty ors of Water per diem, those pipes culy con lf the quautity, and the surplus is drained into the Harlem river, These pipes were iaid at that re. duced capacity on the mistaken idea that the wants of the city would be piied by them for many years yet to come, but the 4 inerease of our population, and the eotablishme:t and extension of many branches of trace reeultirg water, call for equalizing the carrying power over ths bridge to the whole capacity of the aque: t,o that the many dangers to the city, remuiting from s (iminution, each as frequently Bappens, of the quantity of water in toe distributing f, may 20 looger exist. uring the present work: aformation was recetved that reared doubts about the r of Going the work, and Not wecessity for an adaitiopal pipe bridge to bring the water to the city that is e ob the perth side of Harlem river, and the limites tume for doing the work om he Fighth aren they were immediately discontinued, in oraer Mayor might bave an opportenity of inves ce went to him to tbi e Mayor rk on Eighth od; and y ave o being mm Njgabon to the Mayor, urg the High Bri: ge improvement, as us g ob the additions! piys being ob, no newer to Which bas Deea potbing has since been done towaros completion of the work, ex cept to do a portion of it by coutract Io thos e.apending the wurk ta complian% to the with of the Mayor no insubordination can be tracet. Tae above are (he ubly waters iv the conduct of actual operations | in which there bas been a ¢ifference of upinion setweea Mayor and the Croton Aqa: duct Board toat have bap Fened since the undersigned has been a member thereof, ‘nd the Communieation to the Board of Aldermen of ee rious disagreements and insubordination is the only Mcwl iaformation that the undersigned bas that there bas Deen any disagreement. The particular matters con tained |v the communication of the Mayor to the buaora Board of Aldermen on the 18th inst atl ooeurred previous to my being a member of the Jroton Board, ex cep og of Forty ninth street. In that case « complaint was made about tbe time the work commenced, ich wae referred to the Water Purveyor for examina- tion and attention, who visited the work daily while it was io progress, ae also the Generel laepecior, with the inspector Ip charge of the work constautl) on the ground, whore certifeates we have that the work was performed lo accordance with tbe cot tract, apd the uadersigued bas no recollection, nor i# there aay evidence ia tue office, | that sey complaint was made afer thet time. As the mao burden of the communication is coveeroing matters of engineering, thoee matters can best be answered by gentlemen specially charged therew: In eaid com: yation the Mayor says, “But there are other causes \o whic pot ooly Mr. Craven but Mr Tappan is equally culpable. They bave retained in office persons who have | bees proven guilty of oificinl delioquemeyy Commi ited as officer’ of the Department, ‘and apoaks of the case of Conn well aad Conboy. The matter alluded to took place ia the carly part of June, 1859, wo months previous to my appolintineet as @ member of the Crown Board. Toe ex. amination of the case waa made in December, 1959, by twe Board, Mr Myndert Van dehalck being thee fresi The \eetimony was all ere Mr. Schaick, and the wroog doing on the parvof either Counwell of Coadoy, | an. that @ reprimand avd cautino were deemed eafficiemt There was nothing in the evidence tending to implicate Messrs Onan well or Conboy io any collusion to defraud the E i H tt if: is E if tit as i F i 3. i sis | il $ if it i att it iti &% i ‘| proved by the Mayor ue that the public interests might not be prejudiced, and is ready end willing at any timo to answer for aay action of | bis since his Connection with the department An d ro | specttully, THOS. B. TAPPAN, Assistant Commissioner Croton Aqueduct Board, | Serrumuxs 10, 1800, After the reading of the above, the committee informed | Mr. Craven tbat they were now prepared to hear what he might have to aay, whereupon that gentleman arose and read a very voluminous reply, from which we append some of the most pointed portions. Thoy are the follow- ing — | Gxvrmes—A mi was itted to the Board CRAZE transi! eu by tbe Mayor, on the 11th instant, ia which | of Ald he says — In uence of serious ard insubordina: ui, Thergby remove Allred We Craves tr q incer of the Craton Aqueduct Board, snd’ ‘Thomes H Heppas irom the office of Ai Commiasi-ner of the same Board. | _ In the use of this language the Mayor appeared to for- get that, by the charter, he had no power ds saan The whe men, bor Cause, Proposed to re- | move me without the oonseat of your Hoard, and without | any statement of facts, enabliug your Board to determine | ether he ‘ierious disagreements and ination” ‘existed or wi » constituted og as exmting, they |” proceed to the first subdivision of the Mayor's au gene- ral charge in regard to the reservoir :— First. ‘That the excavation has been increased from 30,000 to U,000 cubic yarda, «r seven per cent. | fy naar kes Sethe hess ir ope | of the basin will be exeavated wo the depth of forty feet below the top of the exterior reservoir banks, aud as much lowel as muy be required by the engineer” lo obtain materials for the ‘or for the puddling The surface of the bottom ‘of both baaina to be worked to the same depth, and to such slopes as the en, way direct. The exact depth cannot be devermined nul te aurface of the rock is uncovered. » When- | ever It may Le uecesasry to gu below the bottom reser. ‘olr, aa it ehal be entadl by the engineer, to obtain mate- rials for embankment or for puddle, the srace xo excavated shall be filed up with euch waste materials ag the engineer may In the foregoiog extract from the specifications it is shown that we were fully authorized by the contract to order au increase in the excavation, should it peceesary for the purpose of obtaining materials for em- bankment. The necessity did arise, and the excavation ‘Was materially increased hyo ‘The pecuniary ad- | vantage accruing to the city (not the contractors) by the order to obtain the required quantity of material from | within the limits of the reservoir will at once be por- ceived by refer ing to the contract. When any flatures, seams or soft rock are found within the basin Of the reservoir, or under the banks thereof, the rock is to be excavated to such extent as the engi: heer may direct, and the —oe illed with concrete, pud- dle, earta or sand, us may be required by the enginver. It will be apparent from the above that not ouly was | our Board authorized to carry out these portions of the | contract providing for this method of prosecuting the excavation, but that my duty as an engineer lef, me no alterpative but to avail myself of the provisious made ia the contract tor this express purpose, | Let us pow proceed to the consideration of the recond | Specification of the Mayor's charge, under the head of the reservoir. 2d, That the puddl twerty-five or | cent, # le has been increased by an amount of thoussnd cuble yards, or thirty-seven per CAUSE OF INCREASE IX PUDDLE. Ist. The porousuers and friability of the subterranean | rock encountered in the puddle trenches, which, as L bave | above shown, caused an increase in the rock excavation, | produced mecersarily @ corresponding increase ia the | poddie. In maby cases the Gaeures and holes in the rock | rendered it wtter'y unfit for the bed or base of a puddle | trench, and the contractors were required, in such oases, | to continue their excavation until they reached a bed of | Bolid rock which was suitable for thie purpe This, of | course, produced bo'h an increase of excavation and of puddie, The deeper the gxeavation for the puddle treuch, the greater the amount of puddie required to ll it 24. In sounding the ground for estimates of quantities | With the trou recs used for such purposes, au enginder is | frequentiy deoeivd az to the amount of rxck contained in the groond, from the fag of the rod bappening to strike upon @ boulder or a pout of rock which appears to be the main ledge. Tis occurred in our examinations Upoa | excavating, it was found tm many instances that where | solid rock was presumed to exist, the engineer's sounding | rod bad been stopped by a boulder, or by an upward pro- | jecting point of rock, aud that the main indge was far be- low the level indicated by the rod. In some uch instances we were obliged to go ten feet rearb the main ledge of rock. Under tae soutbern were compelled by the character of the rock, reaching the ledge, to excavate through it twenty feet furtber to get dewn to a be! which was proper for tbe | puddle. The additional excavation. both of earth and Tock (and the consequent increase of puddle), owing to | these causes, under ihe western bank through the swamo, | waa exceedingly great, the charactor of the natura earth | requiring ite entire removal for » width equai to half the ‘Width of the base of the embankinen!, This excavation | extended down t the rock, aud the space was filed up | with poddle—a proper and justisiable arrangement of ma- ter \ DECKRARE IN EMBANKMENT ‘The third subdivision of the Mayor's first charge is:— ‘That the embankment bas been de sreased amount 218 £65 cubic yaros, OF obe third leas, — = ‘The reasons tor this decrease are these: — 1 From the apparent cature of the ground it wes io may places uncertain bow far we sheuld ‘have to go be- Jow the natural surface to find good mat: mai for the bed of au embankment, A arge allowance war made ( Proviriom made ia tho specifications for decre it be found ob! pate | o niceseery to obtain materinin (9 mike bad it (the embarkment) oot brew tb yard of excavated earth will pet mace @ yard of Compact Asa) ©0 embapkment, the raving oF deerease of excewation by this developement #48 mere Iban twofvid the amouat of decrease in the embankment Tous, a large amount was iu reality saved lo the city; and if the price for axcawa tion te tbe contract wes a rewouerative ove (whieh, not Wilbsiane ioe the ameumption of the Mcyor, dee not ap # nv ek pe ment OF RO-Ge change” was great- tetereeta of the " Hi slopes. The emocat of this soil was ortgiually included in the Comparative estimate agembankme ot TONE PAVING AND PAVING IX CHEST. The fourth and fith subdiviewos of tue sayor's first charge are as follows — wrth—That the stone paring hee been decreased by an 4 of GML cube ares, oF | 20 only Of the orygiaal 53 RANSON Tt etl be seem by retires specifications of the contract that it # provided unat— be interno slopes of all the banks will be covered with eight | tretaes ti thie | rime | pee, sien with the wiope, laid Gry, and well wedwet pinnere. de stones to be laid in such manner as may be dirretedt by the ineer ibe base of the paving to rxend to the rock, oF to such depth re the engiorer' may direct. tbe stones to be svund, | fod cf proper shape to make peat abd compact work. | ‘The quantity of #tone paving Das pot been increased | or diminished. It is simply laid up io cement inatesd of bewg laid ary | Having become satisfied that (t would be utterly im porsibie, within any reasonable expenditure, vo A fuitabie Ory wall O8t of the rook found «thin the lices | of the reservoir, end the comtract proviciag that the con- | trhctors abould receive lees for paving in cement mortar | wi | #trueted of apy stone whatever, of equal dimensions. | economy, apd if the stone | the sebstitute (already provided for | Which Involved the least expense to the city There has been im fact, therefore, po decreas in the stone Paving, te Mame Amount of Flume paving Will be laki as eatimated, bot inetead of being inid dry it is laid in by- draulic mortar for the reasons abore stated. INCRRASR OF CONCRETE ‘The sixth enbdétvision of the Mayor's fret charge ¢ — ‘That the concrete masonry has been increased by an amount | of SEMB cuntc parte, OF more than forty tumes the quantity | onvatnadly estimated. ‘The reseon for this increase was the character of the rock hereinbefore dereribed, aa devel ped in the depths | faction of the Dowre largely increased the amount which the olty must pay for the What is oun ie Tho Unger ateatiatin: tqnevenee of Acd be adde:— this ki Ps Jig. bovis a, kaa have availed myvelf of the Sod weary say Oe eae, ‘He finds thom in the bids of Cumming & Co. for thone particular items of the work which to be lower than the bids on the same items by id & Co. The total bid of Cumming & RUMORS. I beg to call your attention, for a moment, to ordinary language with which he concludes this Of his message. He says:— In commenting upon this subject I have abstained from Quad coreg lo tot of Ua ones whe hie pada With what object, let me ask, was this allegation made? Were the rumors which fiat in the air of the Mayor's office true, or were they false? He does not coudescend to inform you. What was-their eubstance? He does not state. From whom ae o and whe are ed in their promul ail y a from the vicious and corrupt, whose efforts at ex- tortion | bac bailled and defeated? or from gome schemer for my ofice! or from the parasites of power, who hoped for favor by offering up reputation’ He does not inform you. He that he bas “‘abstained from giving currency to the romors.”” If he t@ be too honorable to give them currency why did he not abstain from stating tho fact, if such a fact there be, of their existence? Was it inteboed to ect the imagination of men at work, and to bow bern © nearly t our duties: ro profersion. For bave been known to m) fellow citizens ta responsi- bie poeition T now hold. Both here und ia other places I bave succesefully prosecuted important public works, costing millions of dollars, and until I read this mea- sage of the or I never heard of any remarks Prejudicial m the slightest degree to my reputa- tion, For my own part | do not believe that the Mayor basever beard & whisper fto that effect from lips that were honest; and I ask you, and ail mea who, hed character, know its value, what expression in the Eagti Japguage is applicable to one who, in bunting a uaa down for bie office, atiempts ip this manner to “rumor” away bis reputation? PAVING OF FORTY. NINTH STRERT. Task your attention now tw the second charge of the Moyor, viz:— . That io the work of paving Porty ninth street, from Third to Lexing too avevue. trap blocks, the engineer did not ex. greise proper vigtlagon; that the materials empl yee were uot in accordar ce with the contract, put that an inferior quality of stove was uned, and ale that the work waa performed in 90 Degligent &marner as to cause it to srtile tn many cases im- mediately after its completion; that th Ureton Board had no- Uce of the defective character uf ihe material emptoyed in the work, but, notwiibatanding, gave a certificate of its completion and acceptance. What is the proof to sustain this accusation? Nothing more than the ursworn statement of bine pereong claim interested in Gefeating the assesewent for the work. Did the Mayor investigate this sharge? Does he believe it to be true? Oo the contrary, in the eame breath in which he makes the charge, he expresses eatire ignorance: H j i ; i : utterly mistaken im their em work, or Mr. Craven hax been guilty of gross vegligeane in its supervision ad examination. I will now prozeed to show the facts of the caso. SRWBR IN FORTIRTH STRKET, NINTH AVENCW, THIRTY NINTH 11 your attention to the third charge of I have now to call your atteation the Mayor, He eaye.— wee Oh The SESS rtreet. Binth avenue, 7 binth end avenue, which error may wvolve hyn gon cut iomy ad whiek throws @ ar eet ee on engineer tae the covw/ant esre and eulire acon. Tery cetmanded of one to ~ bose professinaal ‘ehill ts eotruaed the coprturneuion of important pul works } The Croton Board, intending to make a contract for this | work, directed the City Surveyors to prepare « plan aad | protle of the rewer, by which the specifications for the | work coult be drawn and the contract let. It must be borne in mind that City Surveyors are appointed by tha lompwn il, and al ‘the Croton Board har po Vo. € iO their reectamerdation or coutrol over their ap pointmnent, ey yet are obliged to employ them 0 ali sore which if t be paid fer by asgoamment The Oy | Surveyor gelectet for thus work Was {n good standing, aud bat been em doyed on similar Work in common with ue other City Survevers for may years, to the eatire satia- He made the pian and profie, bat it oppears alter ‘he coujract bad been tet and the work waa progrersiog, that be bad erred to bie minutes of the depsh of excavation fur the sewer trench. By this error, velihes tbe original pian, uor line, nor the efficleucy of the Fewer iteel! was in any degree altered or impaired. Tae siaiple as, that at the coruer of Ninth avenue and fur street, the contractor, in order ts get down to che to exeavate eigtt tneder seen levels given on the origioal streetore bad based Ubeir prove inehes of excavation beeame coptractor is uudoubledly ea- As soon ae the error was die yo proper grade, war oblig: extra work, tied to ectape Ration, rovered sin reportedgto me I conferred with the Corpo. vatiow Cowurel, and car Roara have, in bis opinton, by bir advice, done all that * peoersary lor the protects ott of the contractor aud the pobuc AETENTION OF COKDWELL AND CoxDOT IV THR RMPLOTHCENT OF THR DRFAKTALAST. The fourth charge of the Sia) or ws 4s follows — That John Cornel! and Wilam Conboy, em lores of the Cepartoont who bad s private j-b fer the eapavation of 6 eel ler at Yorkrive. were ae before the Cr ton Aquednet Beard in Decemner, 180, by to the te Adis private conuract of the wer ‘he cor ine =] own re “e bere upheld bem. them, sod. by the goed tinh ‘There are very serious charges, alleging very enormous offences, and conveyed in very strong lapguage, suited, if true, to their enormity. What are the facta? Conboy bad been a laborer in a g ot whic Cormerell wee Sereenan, aad gut 0 job, when ployment, for excavating « swaill le, Hos fellow |, im the in the work at #och intervals as were not required by our it, which departmnen: hac a rigbt todo, Jom Chappel and three ‘others were laborers whom we had discharged, aud who, for some reasow oF other ubkwown to me, bore very iil will against Cornwell, hom we reta:ced (CB DISAGRERWEST? AND [NPTRORDINATION lem lone to vacerstand bow there can be apy disa- cemeni# between me or the Croton Board the yor im the discharge of our duties, because, ‘the laws and the distribution of powert confided to each, there is bo subject upon which it pay A should agree. The ection aod decision of the on the matters * (thin their jurisdiction are final and conclu wive, there canpot, therefore, be any “disagreement” be- there may be . Nor can | onderetaud how 1 can be guilty of “insubor dipation’ to bim. [atu not “subordinate” to him in | ay senee whatever . Laman officer committed, therefore, vo #ucb folly as making me, ib my official Capacity, ‘wubordinate’’ to him; and the act of 1940, Eres the Croton Board and detaing aoe rs* ef Engineer, places this fact beyond a dow! | UNTERVIEWS WITH THe mAToR. | The cocasions whieh arose, calling for official inter. | courre between the Mayor and myself, were of « two fold character. First The refusal of the Mayor to eign warracts for the | payment of expenses in constructing certain public works, sutherined Council, at owe time on the ground that the ordinances were iilegal, and at of the excavation for the Tt was Mand | Shother time beonuse be did not like our pian of con 0 full of fisaures and seams, even ater the ruction ; ead, fous and Gintutegrated portiie away, that i was Seemet | eer, tos coeemeags wp coarse ip Beast te the oxtey a bed of base for tbe pesaion nn ipsa. “farts in Woe carves year it pocame coma. "it was muppred there would be mor or eof thee | ueneyofneaange mses in grat ae Bucs oe fieeures and seams encountered, but it was impossible to | Bue, to lower Fe ree 7 2 So eee, ‘their number or extent, herefore im ponn| conform to the new ant The main os Sennen eat vu cen —_ throwgh the avenue tho antl wena of's large ps} +d pbene-anttoyy 7 Aa pala portite of the weswern patel tn ely, “Seomip tampon, Astieipat ng. however, that coverete might poestbiy | Shas Se Fane Sei me ne non ns | TEE eee | for ewan one min iso | Sep, 12. Paene ary Saracen. pam ee fret are fr and work tno Gefioute te eeustan ts tee hassree of besoeeeee Secretg tg receerunays mi eomrice eaten at | TP Ty'se igi" hage eral sen eset ou ; re wee SE SEG reseed 09 engineer | eee ee os oe Se pernivaien 0 0 ee nino . A resolution to that 20 8 exahd aut be bnew whether Wt would be seettne wor! a the S04 day ot Pet 7 1800 SS aed eet | Cae Wention!, an to tke legaitty, with one peased tu pe: wet | here wet Ma or SE a kth AR ere i i ; é z for the payment of the workmen | bone that the Mayor refused to countersiga them. Ay! My Rodeos Reewk, upon my motion, resolution ‘Whereas, & renee Ses Reatade or with the i provements at the and the reo oe a ‘days’ work” instead of ‘Resolved, That until his Honor wheiber he of 1 evo tbe ietaie pie want poet ore suspended fe aod be About this time—tbe last week in May—the rumor pre- § af ge iE ge ai; fie ! Fit i i E ! i if il gel te 4] if hi i i & i | E i ! 2 g Ee g a. F E 5 i 4 BB F ! sag = L 5 i gE BEE. te EF E a8 fe az a he i tain what he f i E ifs re H f i Hj i iff ‘ Hs ef ‘4 ie int g i if s £& all in had seen me again. A few days a'ter this be sent for me. his office be told me it was said that an been made by me with the Board of T was guaranteed my piace, on condition bave all the patronage. I replied that it power to prevent such Leni an mize would believe me capable of ‘doing anything ind. Be said it wasan Alderman who was friend! that bad made the statement “that I did not patronage, and had said I wished it were in my get clear of it,’”’ I anewered that so far as ‘se was concerned, it was very true that I did for even if I bad friends to provide for, al! personal ing woud be entireiy secondary to my duty to the public as engibeer, which required me to select merits alone. That the pressure of politicians upon me in behalt of their frienus was so great for however insignificant, that the selection of urs one of the most wearing and unsatisfactory, of my office, »vd that if I could do 80 couscieutiously I willingly let Aldermen or any other person select but that while I was willing aud anxious to accommodate ibe Common Conucil by the employment of their friends to the utmost of my power, my regard for my profes sioval reputation aud for my duty would always forbid my yielding to apy one uxcontrolied power to appoint inspectors over work for which I was solely responsible. That I uever bad, aud never should, forget 60 farasto make any such agreement with any of men, or with any single mav—that strong as was my de- sire to retain my position till the reservoir was Gnished, (it being @ work which could pot but prove a great cre: ait, professionally and publicly, to ali who were engaged upon it), the desire was not #0 stroug as to make me for- my Guty as @ man and an oificer, and that I would not my piace at the expense of any such breach of trust as that implied in his remarks. Conversation thea ended, and I withdrew. ‘On the 28th June, having recived no reply from the Mayor, I cailed upou him at his office, when the following conversation occur Ted — Tasked bim if he bad yet made up hia mind whether he would countersign the warrants for the payments on the work, and told bim that, as bad been fully set forth lw our two communications to him, dated May 31 and June 20, the necessity for some action on the subject was abeolute ard immediate. ‘He answered that he had made up bis min not to sign the warrart™. [asked bim if be would notify our Board in writing of his determiostion, and he said he would do nay EEE? wif: SEs <a E2588 ptettr g2 3 : fo the nextday { thew observed that he was assuming the ri bility of dclaywg a work, the immediate pro- gress of which wax most ta portant to the city, both as \ comfort and Ww safety. He suid he should be governed by his own jo igmeut ia that respect, and added that his reeaun for cppening the work was that be plas. He aia Bot stace what respect, aor did I ask im. Jenewered that with all doe Toncenes to him, the play was a matwr onnmitted Fey women ‘the ent of it the Croton Aquednet a0 a matter the Croton Aqueduct, legally Do mance hap pane and thatie could not pro er. ly make hie opinion a good ground for stoppiog a work of evcb pressing importance aod in regard to the of Shick the oroper department fad fally decided. He reid he epould undertaxe it. 1 then repeated my request fur Die cecision i writing, and he repeated his promise to lek os have it without delay, (He bas not done ao to uw day 1 ikek Couhe to nameteees tee tadpester on the sewer in Sixth nvenve, whom he bad refused to recognine Decause of cervain charges al ‘against him by the contractor op Bald Rewer, whieh © be (the Mayor) oad, im ting, NOtited our Board were unfoanded. He fais be would tecognise him on any other sewer than the ore for whieh be bad beee appointed. I then urged pee bi® bat if & Contractor could select bis own in- spe ter, aed be aphelt by the Mayor in doing so, there wr id te ite use in appormting at all, that PUCa & CoUTFE Would eBtADIIsh & precedeDt entirely sub- Versive ef all power to have work done with any degree of honesty of fidelity w the city. Aa be would not be changed by an) arguments, I withdrew CoNvLestoN. 1. It i wot troe that! have made any “changes” whatever in “ the plan’’ of the Reservoir, either “ exten five” or “ peealiar,” of otherwise, No work ha been done, or if cotempiated, upon the reservoir except auch of work anv materials, as originally estimated, and as actually to he done, % It not true thal these variations are “ remark- Abie,’ except in one sense, that, considering the vast. nore of the area, an’ the imposstoility of makiog an exact and cubdterranean ¢:timate, they are ‘ remarkable” ip ting Comparatively #0 6 abt a difference arca is 106 scree, presenting an irregular surface of rocks and morass, the rocky billocks rising {a some places \birty Sve feet above the swamps ia the same area ‘The depth thirty fert The estimate was, of Deceenity made before tbe wurtace was broken for the work, and the quantities, aad partica- larly the qualities of the various eartoe and rocks to be found beweath the surface were, every engineer koows, and a | bave expiaines lo you, matters more or leas of Cf our excavation excemted, ah ut Fs ii 2 5S ot i ifs 52 n some places, | NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1860.—TRIPLE SHEET. : He i Fi : 54 i if i Li i i § i iH ng rit E i i; He it i g é Hs Sg ge 4 i fi 4 | H j ever i ctals from the Croton Department for cause. requir -¢ that no officiai can be removed without the con- sent of another branch of thefcommittee to cousider whether they recommend concurrence Board with the action of the Mayor. ADy citizen bas a right to express upon the sub- ject to this Commit ‘oppored to hearing citizens upon thie q Mayor has made charges of malfelgance, and he ba: right to establish them; but until we have evidence th the people have charges to make we cannot hold an in- tion of them. Let them make charges agaiast of the gentlemen, or both offthem, to the Mayor or to the Board. Weave only to deal with what ts before Alderman Grxzt—What do you propose to prove, on bebaif of the citizens. Mir. Wadsworth? Mr. Wapsworti—That the Mayor’s statements in tho matter be fore you are correct. Alderman Geyat—Then you come here to sustain the allegations of the Mayor? Mr. Wavswoxra—Yes. At the request of the citizens of New York. Alderman Grvet—And not at his request? Mr. Wapsworri—Aad not at his reques:. ann Gayet—In what way do you propose doing in Mr Wapsworrt—By submitting the names of parties for their examination, and by asking the privilege of sug- gesting some questions and of guswering uthera. deaire to make gvarges before the committee? re © charges before the committee? Mr. Wepewortn—l have. Mr. CravEn—I don’t wish to interfere with the commit- mittee as I have made my statement, but I second the motion of Mr. Wadsworth for the purpose of having a full Alderman Staxz—I am not wiiling to act upon the sug- ee. Wadsworth, though Mr. Craven desires it. ver the investigation goes on the Mayor is eatitied to all the credit for ripping up these things. He has made the and he is the one to prove them. Mr. Tarran—I concur witb the gentleman that the Mayor makes no charges, for b.. « legations do not amount of the ‘Ma ‘Yet he comes here to prove the allegations pear ‘se gentiemen, but be fev's it to be his duty to impart to this committee, by ap open, fair and official state " duced him to remove them Now, the citizen comes ia and asks the privilege of presenting bis views. Alderman Gaxrr—The Mayor asks the removal from «Mice of the gentiemen. Mr. Wanew. nmm—Yes. Alcerman (uveT—Has he a riglt to show caure why he asks their removal? Mr. Wanewoxri—That has been before the committee in the paper from the Mayor. ; Aléermas Grxer—“an you give us the names of the citizeos who desire to have their statements or charges wed Warsworm—I can give you the names of wit Beesen lderman Gaxer —Witneeses’ names are not neces- sary. Cxavey—I desire that this examination should go ihout imterruption of any kindyyet there are evme whieb I must stand ap for. If Mr. Watsworth ‘warts to bave charges male by citizens I think it is right for bim to suggest who they are Alderman STARX—AS & Committee we know of no citi- ens who arc GineatieGed witb these gentiemon against «bom the Mayor makes charges, or who have any reason complain; sod om that ground | am opposed to hear- ing o'tierne on these charges. Some informal conversation among the members of the Commitier now owed, aod Alderman StAKR callea for tbe | question on bis reeolution to send a copy of tne replies to Wo the Mayor. His motion was carried unanimously, and the commit tee then adjourned til] Monémy news after baving informed ‘Mr. Wadsworth that they would them consider his sug- gestion. The P rib The Woonsocket Pavriet of the Tth inst. saye— A® might paturaly have been .spected ihe ‘Heenan F ”” in this village om Thureiy Of Inst week result. ed te the most riotous aud rhameful scenes ever witnessed in Wornsecket. The pogilistic exbibition (wel’ was vance ae ae tort we eveey paem) eit tea, aid should bave beeo go regarce | and preveuted by the authorities, ont wee deen ine me ‘rate Seater Beep thai cannon were Or arrival of @ prize 7. every good citizen u the tlon they congregated in Pot Office square, freely at the neighboring liquor shops. Ia of hep Mr. Aldrieb, they got into & quarrel and my demolishing the The keeper, fearing the house wo Ube ground, ducharged « gun upon the raboie, the effect to drive them from that immediate The rowdies, being as fuil of enced a miscellaneous Ferim tage biog emeh other, assaling whom were krocked down, and creating aa actual r: in the adéomen, He TREE HEE iB i i iF ii ‘ft the privel ana stasd bg tao Geos om cos pence arrived, and, cap tured several of the ye Oy a] and finally restored quiet to the scene. Some of the rieters. to their and were chased out of the vil- lage. Only four were secured in the lockup. : i Fikz, ut Rie te large fleet is reported on the , we hall be great; midtaken i ome of those who anticipare 4 Are not compelled to lower their wingas to extremes, and bave an a po fog t sent prices of wil’ not sustain i 5 nf ry Toxspar, Sept. 116 P.M. The following is a comparative statement of the exports (exclusive of specie) from the port ef New York to foreign porta for the week and since January 1:— uf i - Br) fl westditi The aggregate export of the week is swelled by the movement in miscellaneous articles, of which the South American and Asiatic countries are taking large quantities. Since the sailing of the allied ficets to the coast of Northern China our exports of domestic goods have greatly fallen off. The news from Europe is calculated te moderate the export of breadstuffs, and to cheok the speculative movement in our food market—two things which are quite desirable at present. This morning, on the Corn Exchange, prices were lower and the market was dull. Money is reported easier. Several private bank- ers are lending at 7 still, but ‘the rate is main- tained with difficulty, and choice short acceptances go at 6} readily enough. By the end of the week it seems likely enough that the standard rate in the loan market, and at the discount houses, for short prime paper will be 6 per cent. The receipts for duties continue moderate. They were to-day $141,000; the total receipts being $146,895; the pay- ments, $121,027; the balance this evening; $5,581,- 078. Foreign exchange continues dall at our last quo- tations, viz: 1093 a § for sterling, and 5.13) a 14g for francs; sales of first class bills are occasionally made below these rates. The importers are so easy in their relations with their European friends that they are better able than they have been for years to dictate terms to the foreign bankers. For the | Present, from the indications of the day, the flow of specie to Europe will be moderate for some days, and bankers’ bills must be covered with commee- cial exchange. The activity in the stock market continues, and we note a further advance in prices. The most popular stock of the day was New York Central, which advanced from 86j at the close yesterday to 873 at two P. M. to-day, and 87j at the close of bu- sineas hours. The earnings for August were $689,124, against $591,919 in August, 1859; increase, $97,205—considerably more than was expected. We hear that every car on the road is fully em- ployed, and that there is not rolling stock enough todo the freight and passenger business which offers. Large purchases of stock are said to have been made lately by partiesat Albany; their friends here talk of par for the stocks before January next. Dlinois Central was active, and advanced at the morning board; the closing bid was 87j, against 87 yesterday. The last quotation in Eng- land, by telegraph, is 14} discount, equal to about 91g here. The first week's business this month is said to show a large increase, Galena, Toledo aad Rock Island were all higher and in active demand. The first week on the Toledo gave $18,008, against $14,159 last year; increase, $3,549. A few more such weeks will enable the company to resume dividends. The first week on the Galena is said to show over $10,000 increase, though last September was not a very good month. Michigaa Southern continues to advance; the company receives daily communications from the second mortgage bondholders, expressing their satisfae- tion with the proposed arrangement. The busi- ness done in bonds was moderate. United States fives are 4 lower on the announcement of the new loan. Everybody seems to think Mr. Cobb's ad- vertisement the most remarkable of his financial exploits. The closing quotations of the day were, the market ruling doll:—Virginia 6's, 91) a; Missouri 6's, 81] @ 4; Canton, 19{ a 20; Cumber- land Coal preferred, 134 a 15; Pacific Mail, 814 0 4; New York Central, 87] a 4; Erie, 293 « J; flad- son River, 60) a j; Harlem, 18] aj; Harlem pre- ferred, 47 a j; Reading, 47) a j; Michigan Central, 71g a 4; Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana, 225 a 23: do. guaranteed, 484 8 }; Panama, 126 127; Tlinois Central, 87} a4; Galena and Chi- cago, 79, a 4; Cleveland and Toledo, 47 a 4; Obi- cago and Rock Island, 7% a §; Chicago, Burlingtoa and Quincy, 90) a j. The statements of the Philadelphia banks for the past two weeks compare as follows:— 10 11787170 Inc. S46e 2724180 Lue. .129.168 4379 Deo 4208 1475 727 Dec 182 191 2 245.168 Tnc.. 57 342 be fy ee ee 501,376 Ioo.. 64. The exchanges at the Bank Clearing House this morning were $24,146,519 06, and the balances $1,230,030 02. The following isa statement of the earings of the New York Central Railroad for the month of August, 1560, compared with its earnings for the mod Bak notes . Due trom banks. . 548 Discounta. Domeatic 9 "4 ‘ ” Bravcues. i $248,512 58; a decrease in deposits of $722652 56, and an increase in discounts of $59,114 96. The New Orleans Picoywne of the @h inst. Elle ii 58 i :