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Maps, platas, charts, ate. may ba filmad at diffarant reduction ratios. Thoss too larga to ba entirely included in one exposurs ere filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right end top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diegiams illustrate the method: Lea certes. plenches. tabiaeux. etc., peuvent Atre filmte i des taux da rAduction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atra reproduit en un seul clichA. 11 est film* * pertir de I'angie supArieur gauche, de geuche i droite, et de heut en bas. en prenent le nombre d'imagas nicessaire. Las diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fairorad Gontractors Enriched at Taxpayers* Expense. ^pljrect and AtiBO'lute Evidence That the Government Paid Two and Three Prices for Bridges. l¥bat Enffineers Holmes »ntl McCarthy have to Say- -Engi- neer Miirpby of Nova Scotia Contradicts Emincrson. Cbtof Commiflwtonep Had No Fault to Find with Dominion fipldcr* Com- liany's St. Omovstt*u Contpaot — The Vepy Sigrnlfloant Date of Some Fopmop Bpldffe Centpacts— An Unanawepable Appalg'nment of the Ppovlndal Govepnmeut. During th> la»t six years a provin- ribl debt' of mor« than half a million (lollara has been Incurred for so-called liermanent bridge<3- Previous to 1894 the iteel superstructure of these bridges was furnished by tender, the contract going to tl:e lowest bidder. Hoon after Mr.Emmerson suc^e^dad Mr. Ryan \b chief commissioner of public wurk.« this sj'Bteon was abandoned. During the last Ave years the work ha* leen ^ven out by private contract to fsvorpd contractors at rates always ICP per cent, and usually more tlhan that above the market price. In 1387 $36,000 was paid to one favored Rrni for three siteel bridges. One half of this money was a present from the Kininerson government, given at the . ^ublij expe*:i the Record Company ■'of Moncton. one of eight or ten '■ridge builders in Canada would have Keen glad to get these contracts for 41S,w- ing: ■^^^^^ 840,154 rpj^^ aggregaite weight of these three UNDER THE TENDER SYSTEM. bridges, LefetKvre, Campbell's and To make comparison between the Elackville, is 562,388 lbs. The aggre- higthu ?.y widges built in New Bruns- ^^^e cost of these as given in the chief wick and thooe of Nova Scotia erected ccmmissioner's report Is $36,209.22, by their lo-al government. I have ob- showing the cost to have been 6.44c. taineJ plans containing the data upon I'^^" ^^- ^^^^J"" ""V weigihts as a baals. \vhich public tenders are invited in ^o enable you to make a comparison that province. A full list of the ten- ^^ the price per lb. paid by the re- ders received for each structure will sj-ective governments of Nova Scotia be fourl in the provincial engineer's a"*! New Brunswick, I submit the fod- annual report, copies of which I en- '^,^i5[)"^" , ._^, .^ ^ ., close herewith for the past four years. ^*'« ^Sgregate weigHt of five bridges The weights of the several struc- '" Nova Scotia, above mentioned. Is tures are not given in the annual re- 288,266 lbs..The aggregate cost is $1#.- ports. but from the plans and other Jf^, equal to 3.52c per lb. One half of data I am enabl-i to make up a very the above were built upwards of ftve close estlmrte of the -Aeigbt of each, ^"^^'^ ^^o, when the price of bridge which I think you can safely rely upon material was 26 per cenit. higher than vichin 5 per cent., and which will af- '^^t year. ford you a basis of comparison be- ^ would especially call your atten- tweon the co^t of these structures as tlon to the fact that the above price built by the rf>*'"'='/lnc«B, I would refer rou Buire.l, except In the case of I^efebvre's, to Ihe followlmr: In June, 18J7, the Nova Scotia gov- ernmemt received tenrlers for Ritcey Cove bridge (See Prov. Eng. Report, 1898), 1 span 160 feet, roadway 16 feet wide. Three tenders were received and tlie jontract awarded to "W. P. McNeil, New Glasgow, at $2,200. Tliis ir eluded delivery, erection, flooring and painting complete. As against this, a conitract for a span of 150 feet, ten feert less 'Jhan the N. S. span, was let at about the same time to the Record Foundry and Machine Co. of Moncton at a price stated to have been 6 l-2c. I er lb. delivered f. o. b. cars at the contractor's works. Tho estimated weight of the bridge in question, as given above, is 72,275 lbs., and the total cost of the superstructure erect- ed complete and painted, would be $5,239.93, or more than 100 per cent, about the amount paid for a span 10 feet le^s. In Nova Scotia, Again, In March, 1897, the N. S. government re- ceived tenders for Red bridge (See Prov. Eng. Report, 1898), span 80 feet roadway 15 fe^t. Contract awarded to W. P. McNeil, Ne.v Glasgow, for $717, delivered, eracted, Hoored and palmed complete. In the same year the N. R government erected two spans 80 feet, roadway 16 feet 6 Inches, at Blackvil'le. The esti.-nated weight of each l9 27,212 lbs.; this, supplied at Contractor Ruddick's works at Chat- hami, is stated to have cost 6 l-2c. per lb.; adding 3-4c. per lb. for delivery, erection, flooring and paTnting com- I'lote, the totil cost wo'jld amount to }1,972.S7. By refoiroTice to the sheets of detail weights it will be seen that in Nova Scotia an SO foot span, with roadway 18 fp t wide, Is 26,739 lbs., as against 27,212 lbs. for apan of -^me length in New Brunswick. ZniAj ANOTHER. TEST. Ae another oomparlaon, I may cite the case of the Petitcodiac bridge in New Brunswick. Span 110 feet, estl- trated weight 36,381 lbs., at 7 l-4c. per lb„ delivered, erected, floored and painted romplet-;, amounts to $2,637.62, as against similar span in Nova Sco- tia 10 feet longer, estimated weight 39,047 lbs., built by contract, deliv- ered, erected, floored and painted complete for the sum of $1,190. An examination of the tenders re- ceived by the Nova Scotia govern- ment for the past four years, for the superstructure supplied in that prov- Irce, will, I have no doubt, convince you that If 6 l-2c. per lb., delivered f. o b. cars at contractor's works. Is correct, the Ne>v Brunswick govern- ment are paying at least 100 per cent, more than the market price. LESS THAN THREE CENTS. Aa further and csvncluslve evidence on the subject of the market price of superstructures, I enclose herewith a communication from the Dominion Bridge Co., In response to an enquiry (a copy of \Vhich Ifl attached). It will be seen that the company, dur- ing the past two yeai^s, has tendered fcr 17 spans in Nova Scotia, at prices varying from 2 62-lOOc. to 2 84-lOOc. per lb., delivered f. o. b. cars at their works. The frelg*ht, erection, flooring aad everything complete, as per figures given, you will find, bring their prfces up to an average of 3 1-4(5. per lb. EVEN THEN NOT THE LOWEST. If you exwniie the tenders received by the N. f3. government for the past two or three years, you will also ob- serve that the Dominion Bridge Co. has been outbid by local bridge build- ers in almost evsry case. When mea- suring the superstructure, I also made measurements of the piers and abut- ments, and enclose herewith a state- ment of the details. It was, of coarse, impossible for me to get exact dlmensloas In every case. I made eaquirles, however, of persons in the vicinity, who were present whpin the masonry was being buflt, and I f.,Ink it will be found that my n eas'irements agree in *he main with those shown on the plans from which the work was actually constructed. I enclose here.vith my note-book, in, which you will find all the measure- ments recorded, with sketches show- ing the general design and details of variou.** members of A^hlch I have es- timated the weight, etc. Yours re.3pectfully, A, R. HOLMES, C. Bk J. D. Hazen, Esq., Barrister, etc., St. John, N. B. AGREES WITH EMMERSON'S TESTIMONY. From this report it will be seen that whether the comparlsor. Is made by the length of the span, or by the V eight of the material, it is shown that the bridges let by tender are furnlShsl for la«8 than half the price paid to the R-9cord Ooanpaaiy. But It did not require a meaaurement of t&e bridges to prove that the government has bean paying more than six cemte Iier pound for theim. In the public £cc-ounts committee laet s.>sBion ac- counts \\e:e rxamined of the super- structure of Saunders Brook and Din- gee l>ri3ges. The following are copies: Saunders Brook bridge — Record Foundry Company's account, 3,5S6 rounds at 6 1-2 cents, $233.09. Dlingiee BIridge — Record Foundry Company's account, 12,586 pounds, at € 1-2?., $816.09. As the province was charged in the public accounts with f448.41 for the Saunders bridge and $1,186.17 for the Dingee bridge, Mr, Finder and Mr. Dibblee a©kel wliat had become of the balance above what was paid the Eecord Company, Mr. Emmerson stated that the balance reipresented freight from Moncton and the cost of erection, flooring, painiting, etc. The committee could get no ac- counts for the other bridges, but eimply the Record Company's receipts. They asked for particulars and were told that there were no details, but that the bridj;eB were all the same price, namely, 6 1-2 centa per pound. The 6 1-2 cent price for the bridges delivered on cars at Moncton is thus eiptabllshed by the engineer's report and the testimony of the chief com- miseicner. Theae two bridges will toe discussed later. Mr. Emmerson's statement is given here as offlcial evidence of the 6 1-2 cent price. Mr. Holmes mentions a letter from the ' Dominion Bridge Company, of Mon- treal, in reply to an enquiry for their prices. The manajer of the Dominion Bridge Company writes as follows: THREE CENTS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH. Dear Sir: — We have duly received your favor of the llt'n Inst., and in reply thereto would say that we shall be pJeaeed to furnish you with manufactured metal work for highway bridges at prices varylTg from 'J.65cts per pound to 3c per pound, f. o. b. cars at our workfl. The3e prices are for the metal work fully manufactured and fitted roady for erection at sites, and cover painting one coat before shipment. The exact price we can quote you for any particul.ir structure will depend on ths design of the .ipan, and on its length and capacity and reeultintr weight, the short 5.1- and lighter span bedng the more expensive, the longer ar.d heavier spaas the cheaper; but our price is not in any case likely to be below or over the figures named above. If you will Mend us full particulars of any work that m.iy be offering, we will make a carerul o^timate of the same, and will name you a definite piice for the metal work. Freight rat3s from our works to the various I. C. Ry points are as follows- Cajmpb«|llton, 21q.; Newcastle, 25a; Moncton, 27c.; Amherst, 27c.; Truro, Halifax, and New Glasgow, 28c.; An- tigonish 30c.; and Sydney, C. B., 32c. The various items of erection ex- 1 ense will vary a great deal with the location®. oarriajge from railway station to site may be taken at 2S.?. per ton per mile. Lumber for flooring is obtained locally at prevailing price:?. The cost of iabo.- for the erection, in- cluding setting tlie false work, assem- bling and riveting the metal work, laying the flooring and painting the metal work after .asembling, may be figured roughly at 70c. per 100 lbs. for thie shorter and lighter spans, and 50o. per 100 lbs. for the longer and heavier spans, or ec.y from $1.30 to $3.00 per lineal foot of bridge. NOVA SOOTIA TENDERS. Re Nova Scotia work. We have tendered to Che Nova Scotia govern- ment since the first of the year on seventea^n different bridges, and on referring to our '-ecords find that we h&.ve estimated this work at prioee varying from $2.62 to $2.S4 per 100 Ibe. cf met.xl work, on cars at our ehors. The tenders wo.-^ lump sum prices for the co.npleted bridges, and were reaohei by adding to the above prices for metal work, the cost of freight to the nearest rail.vay station, and a lump sum which had in each case been n&med us by the erector who does our lower province work, as the price at which he would contract to take the metal work from the cars, transport it to the site, ind do all the work con- nected with the erection of the bridge. His price also covered furnishing ar.d laying the wooden flooring. Re the value of bridge work for the ]cst few years, there has been but litUe change foi .ome time. The metal market Is now perhaps 10c. per 100 lb3. l'JS*her than a fair .average for 1897, and just about the same as in 189C. Steel has practically superseded iron in bridge WDrk, and is now a good bil cheaper. Some iron r.ars are still used for .id.ju.jtable rods, but iron of suitable quality for bridge work now cf 9ts say 20c. per 100 lbs. more than steel. Iron brid;i;e plates and shapes are no 'ongor ,T;6nerally made, and can hardly be obtained. Yours truly, , DOMINION BRIDGE CO., LTD., Py PHELPS JOHNSON, Manager. LESS THAN THREE CENTS. This letter !?hovvs that while Mr. Emmerscn has been paying $6.50 per hundred pounds for New Brunswick bridges at the contractor's works, the highest price named by the Dominion Bridge Company was $2.84 per hundred pounds. But even at the price quoted the Dominion Bridge Company ha.s not been able to hold the bueinegs in Nova S<;otia against the competition of local firms. In 1S94 sev?n contracts for steel bridges ware mxde in Nova Scotia. AH were put up to tender and the competition was close. Notwithstand- ing its low prije the Dominion Bridge Company got only three bridges. In 1895 the Dominion Company gat five bridges and the Canadian Bridge Company &ix out of twenty-six Nova Scotia liridges. In 14 cases a New Glasgow firm was the lowest tenderer. In,5tcad of bargaining privately for double the Montreal Company's price the local builde.-s went into competi- tion and under-bl j the upper province concerns. In 1896 the Montreal firm bid on 22 bridge?, but the Nova Scotia builders v.-ere oelow them in nearly every case, and 9i>motimes :^0 per cent. l>elow. It was in this year that Mr. McNeill, of New Glasgo.v, took the Ritcey Cove bridge at $2,200. The Dominion Bridge Compiny's tender of $3,084 was of course rejected. For a bridge ten ftet s'io"'t:B' this province paid, com- puting at the 6 1-2 ce«nt rate, $5,239.93. THE AMOUNT OF THE STEAL. Th.? following table gives a clear A lew of tlie amount of the steal in the ca«e of the only three bridges of which tie cost of superstructure is given in the Diiblij accounits: -»■■"» ( Name. Lefebvre.... Span. ft. Weight, lbs. Market Price. Emmersor - -i-.a. Loss. . (2) 200 237.328 $7,119 84 $15,350 $8,231 00 Blackvtlle.. Oarapbella.. (3) 1-200 ) 2-80 ! 241 Totals. 173,32£ 151,973 562,388 v:.: have givin the market price at three and a half cents per pound, which is five per cont. above the high- tet quoted price of the Dominion E ridge Compa.ny, whHe the actual Nova Scotia oost '.v.y!> at leaet ten per cent, below the Dominion Bridge Com- I'anv's lowest prices. COMPARED WITH THEMSELVES. IjCt us now compare the govern- ment's prices under the private bar- 5,192 64 4,E59 16 $16,S71 64 10,459 10,400 $36,209 5,3G6 36 5,840 84 $19,433 '^0 gain syste n with the pHcts under the 'tender system. The sworn evidence of the builder of the Drummond County Railway bridges, given in the parlia- mentary Invisitigation last year, wa« that the price of ata?! railway bridges had fallen 1 1-12 cents per pound since 1S93. Bui in this province the move- nmt has "jeen the other way. The price has increased. So far as can be ascertained no bridge has been furn- ished by the priv.ite mrgain syeteni 6 at a lower price than 6 1-2 cenits per pound. But so long ago as 1892, when the current price of bridges was some forty per cent higher than it was in 1897 the Woodstock bridge was supplied at about four cents per pound. That bridge comprises 1 span of 22,050 pounds; 1 of 139,240 pounds; nine of S7,39S pouncs each, and one of 37,560 pounds— total weight 1,088,534. The price paid for tihe superstructure waa $12,000, or 3.86c. per pound. IvCit us compare this price with the Bums paid for three private contract bridges built in 1S97. The aggregate weight of the Lefebvre, Campbell's and Blackville bridges is 562,388 rounds. This is a fraction more than hialf the weiglit of the Woodstock bridge. On the basiis of prices paid last year tihe WoociBtock bridge would have coat over $70,600 instead of $42,- COO, whljh vas paid at a time wTien the market prices were one third higher. We may also compaire the Blackville bridge, built ly the Record Company by privite oontract, with three smaller bridges built sAx years ago by tender and contract. The Blackville bridge weighs 173.088 pounds and cost $11,25?.- 72. Tlie Salisbury bridge weighs 75,- 000 pounds and cost $3,600. The Trout Creek bridge weighs 51,500 pounds and cost $2,730. The St. George bridge weighs 50,000 pounds and cost $2,470. The three bridges built under honest competition weigh 176,500 pounds, or 3,412 pounds more than llie Blackville bridge. These three bridges built six years ago, when the prices were much higher, cost $8,800, cr $2,450.72 less than was paid for the ©Ingle Blackville bri3ge. So it appears that whether compari- son is mide with larger or smaller bridges Mr. Emmerson has pushed up Ihe prke when eve-y other pflrchatser has been pushing it down. ALL. TWO PRICE STRUCTURES. These are two price structures: The BlickvlUe Bridg". The Lefebvre Bridge. The Campbell Bridge. Ab shown above the excess of price in these three structures is over $18,- 000. Then there are other bridges of which the government has not furn- ished a return of ttie price paid. Among these are: Bathurst bridge, weight lbs 210,000 Tabor's 72,000 Cuissack's 75,000 Hutcfheaon 48,000 BuU Creek 9,600 Total 414,600 Assuming an excess of price pro- 1 ortionate to that on the tliree bridges of which the cost is given, there is in these five a further gratuity to the builders of more than $13,000. But as will now be shown, two prices Is by no iii(;ans the rule. It is probable that in the case of some of these last men- tioned structures three or four times the market prices v.ere paid, as in the cases following: A THREE PRICE BRIDGE. The steel bridge at Petitcodiac is a sinigle span of 110 feet. It was built in 1895 and 1896 by Mr. Willard Kit- chen. Mr. Blair was 'ihen premier of the province, and he had the same re- gard for the Kitchen ^rm that Mr. Hmmerson has for the Record Com- pany. The department went through the form of asking for tenders for the substructure of the Petitcodiac bridge. In reispoise the following tenders were re:2ived: (See return brought down 1897). Amoun.t Tjid3t-s. substructure. J. A. Killa/m, present site...... $2,689.37 Joseph McBay, present site,.. 3,895.25 J. B. McManias, present site,.. 2,000.C0 J B. McManus, new site 1,869.25 Fred P. Reid, new site 3.1'O.CO E. A. Bleakney, present site, 2,292.00 E. A. Bleakney, new site 1,987.00 Willard Kitchen, sub and super- structure, 6,474.00 G. O. Dunham, present site, ..2,725.00 G. O. Dunham, new site 2,550.00 James E. Slmonds, new site,.. 2,795.00 W. Brewer, present -ite 1,900.00 'H 5 W. Brewer, new eiitte 1,800.00 Robert A. Smith, J. W. Steeves, Jnr 2,695.00 J. "W. 9teev0s, jnr 2,695.00 W. G. McKenzie, presen.t eite, . . 2,700.00 W. G. McKenzie, new site,.... 2,490.00 HOW THE GAME WAS WORKED. It will be observed that while ten contractors miade offers for the sub- structure alone, as 'they were asked to do, Mr. Kitchen put in an offer for both sub-structure and superstruct- ture, which was not asked for. Of course many contractols would have teiJdered for the wliole wofk If they could have had the chance, but they wouild have given the province a one- price bridge and that was not gov- ernment policy. Accordingly Mr. Kftc(hen got the job at his own price ai.d without oompetltion. Deducting the lowest tender for the sub-structure, which was $1,800.00. from ithe tender price of $6,474.00, Mr. Kitchen's contract gave him $4,674.00 for the steel work of a single 110 foot span. It can easily be shown that this is more Chan three prices. THE PROOF. Aa Mr. Emmerson has an objection to nameless eniglneers, it may be stated here thait this bridge was measured by engineer George McCarthy. Mr. McCarthy wia on the engineering staff of tlie Intercolonial Railway some years ago. He has since taken a full course at McGill University, obtaining I'is decree with high honors and win- ning no less than eleven prizes. Later he was engaged from time to time with the C. P. R., and is now employed on the staff of the Montreal Harbor works. He was recently elected an associite member of the Canadian so- ciety of civil engineers. Mr. McCarthy measured the Petitcodlac bridge and ccmputes the weight at 40.902 pounds. This gives 11 4-10 jents per pound as Mr. Kitchen's price for a bridge ■which any contrauitor would have built in that year for one third of the price. 7 AND EXTRAS BESIDES. Even that was not enough. The ac- ocunts fihow that the province paid for the bridge as follo-A's:— In 18y5 $1,808.28 In 1896 5,202.20 In 1897 62.00 Total 17,172.48 Being $698.00 more than the three price contrict called 'or. If it Is objected that the lowest sub- structure tender was too low, and that the work was worth much more, it can be sihown that not more than $200.00 at the most s'hould be deducted on that account. For as a matter of fact Mr. Kitchen sub-let the super- structure to J. B. McManus at his tender price of $2,000, and this part of the work was done without a cent of extras. Mr. Kitchen therefore got $4,474 and several hundreds of extras for a steel structure which he could easily have eub-let at one third of the figure. SHOWN BY COMPARISON. For the Petitcodlac bridge Mr. Kitchen got, after paying for the sub- structure $4,474 — and extras. It is a 110 foot briito'e. In the same year a steel bridge of 112 feet, but one foot narrower, was built in Colchieei-T County, Nova Sco- tia for $1,498, -vithout extras, a longer bridge for less than one third of the price received by Mr. Kitcthen. In 1894 Stewart, of New Glasgow, built a 112 foot bridge at Weirs, lu East Hants, for $1,500, without extras^ also le.>s than one third of price of Mr. Kitchen's 110 foot bri.lgo. The same s"ear the same contractor furnished a 120 foot iridge for $1,561. A SIGNIFICANT DATE. It io interesting to note that the contract for the Petitcodlac bridge was signed September 3rd, 1895. The dissolution of the house took place shortly after and the election was held October t6th. The contract to be mentioned ne;t, which is a four price \\ centra::!, baars the same date. THE PORT ELGIN BRIDGE A FOUR PRICE CONTTIACT. T!.e Port Elgin bridge' is an S3 foot span. It w.is built in 1895 and 1896. Tlie ten lere \v3re called for as in the esse of the Petitcodiac bridge and the schewe v.ts worked in ilie same way. The .'all for tenders was for the Bub-structure only. All the other con- tractors, except Mr. Willard Kitchen, lut in liheir tenders in accordance witli the requirements )f the commis- eioner's advertieement. Mr. Kitclien alone tendered for sub-structure and Huperatructura together. No doubt this was the result of a pri\-ate under- standing, in accord Avlth wliich Mr. Kitchen got the contrax:t at his own price without competi'tion. Following tenders were received: (See return trought down in 1897). J B. McManus $2,950 Smith & Steeves 2,992 W. Brewer 1,970 E. A. Bleakney, 2,000 Willard Kitchen, for sub and superatructure, 5,497 Deducting Che amount of the lowest tender, $1,970, for the sub-struciture, Mr. Kitchen's price for the steel bridge was $.1,527. This bridge was meosxired by Mr. McCarthy, who computes the weiglit a.t 23,440 pounde, without the side-walk, whieh seems to liave been part of the excuse for an enomious bill of extras. Mr. Kitchen's contract, after allowing the tender price for t)he subatruoture, gave him tlie remark- able rate of 13 4-5c. per pound. 'iTiis is more than three prices, but It is not nearly all that was paid. The folio, ving amounts are charged in fhe public accounts to this bridge: In 1895 $1,150.51 In 1896 6,572.48 In 1897 204.80 Total $7,927.79 This is $2,430.79 over the tender price, and the only extra work was the constru?tioin of the side-walk and a drj' wall to carry it. Mr. McCarthy measur3d the foundation work for this bridge is well as the superstructure, and gives the following measure- ments, including th-i side walk and sub-stru *ture to carry it. The prices are ordinary contractors' rates: Sulistructure. Masonry in oe.nent, 92 yards at $8.00 $736.0» Masonry, dry stone, hand laid, 235 yards at $3.50 825.50 Earth and stone filling in ap- proac'her«, 560 yds, at 30 cents 168.00 Square timber in foundations, 6,330 feet B. M., $15.00 94,9& 54 piles under cement mason- ry, each 25 ft long, 13'0 lineal feet, 6 cents si.oO Total estimate cost of sub- ttrueture $1,905.45 26,579 pound, say at 3 3-4 cents per pound, complete, erected, floored, painted one coat — 26,579 pounds 996.71 Total estimate cosit of sub. and superstrilcture compleite, .. 2,912.16 To this amount it miglit be fair to add 10 per cent, to cover engineeriing atnd iaspeotion. 291.21 $3,203.37 Total coet of structure as siven in the Chief Commis- sioner's reports 7,927.59 Excess i>ri::e over what it .^louild have cost $4,724.22. It will be seen that Mr. Kitchen got two and a half prices for the whole structure. The value of the sub- structure, as made up from the en- gineer, at $1,905.45 agrees very closely with the lowest tender of $1,970. But if wt increase it by 46 per cent, to $2,y27, we have still left $5,000 as the price received oy Mr. Kitchen for the S3 foot span with the side walk added. Now the total weight, including the sidewalk is 26,579 pounds, so that the price paid vis 19 jents per pound, or n ore than four prices. COMPARED WITH HON. MR. RYAN'S CONTRACTS. Allowing the tender price for the substructure, Mr. Emmerson paid Mr. Kitchen for the Port Elgin super- •ctruoture ov^r $6,000. Tt Is an 83 feot epan. Th« Suissex (Trout Creek) bridge •comprises two spane, each 9" feet. "The weight -^f the Sussex bridge is al- most double that of the Port Elgin ■bridge, with sidewalk; one weighing .51,500 pounds, and the other 26,579 pounda. Would I't l»e believed that Mr. Kitchen, allowing tender price for the substructure, got $6,000 for the smaller bridge while Mr. Ryan paid the Dominion Bridge Company $2,730 for the larger one? ANOTHER COMPARISON. Compare the Port Elgin price with the market price, Mr. Kitchen receives ns. There is, in addition a Hat plate under the ends of the girders. This simple structure w^as practically bought ready made by the Record Company. The beams were imported cut In lengrths and rylled in shape In Pennsylvania. The work lo.ie in the construction shops may have cost $25, but that Is a hlg'h i)rlce. It waa necessary to bo/G 22 holes, which cost about 10 cei;t3 ea-;''h and to x^rovide 14 rivets. The weight of this bridge is as fol- lows: Beams 3,008 Angle braces 222 FlaJt plate 380 Total 3.602 The Chief Commissioner's report shows chat this superstructure cost $448.41 completed, erected and painted. Mr. Enumecson explained that the price paid at the shipper's shops was 6 1-2 cents per pound. The rest was paid for freight, erection, flooring, etc. It is a three and a half price bridge. In Nova Scotia a similar bridge would no doubt be provided, ready for use at 3 1-2 cenits per pound. This bridge cost 12 1-2 cents per pound In = the same year the local builders of Nova Scotia were providing 60 feet spans, compl3tiJ, tiot>red and painted for less money than was paid for this exceedingly simple 20 feet span. For instance, Mr. Emmerson's 20 feet span cost 1448.00. In 1897 a 60 foot span was furnished in Nova Scotia for $413, and last year a 60 foot span was built and completed at Hopewell, Pictou County, for $347.00. ONLY TWO PRiCEfcl. The Dingee bridge, also in Queens County, is a single 60 foot span. The weight oif 6Ms bridge, as given by the Chief Commisslo.ier himself in a re- turn brouglit down from last year is 12,586 pounds. The amount charged for fhe superstructure (see Commis- slotner's Report) was $1,186.17. or 9 2-5 cents per pound. Mr. Emitierson stated that 6 1-2 cents per pound wae yald for the •>rldge at the Record works. The remainder w^as the bill I'or transportation and completion. The bridge sihould have cost less than half the money. In the same year the Nova Scotia govemnnent placed a 60 10 Ml /X foot bridge at Bayfield, AntigonJsh, for $548.00, and one at Sunny Brae for $5f0.00, each of them for less than half the cost of a bridge the same lengtih in thla ;irovince. THRES PRICES IN RESTIGOUCHE The Mi:i Cove bridge, Restigouche Oounay is a 60 foot span. The com- pleted weight is 9,114 pounds. It was given out by private contract to J. M. Ruddock, of Chatham, who was paid $1,280, or a little more than 14 cents per pound. The work was done in 1896. In that year the Nova Scotia government procured from local build- ers, as sta*ed above, two spans of the same lerngth at $550.00 each and one at $548.00, inoluding tranflportatlon, flooring, erection, palnt'ng and all other char.^e3. In 1897 the Nova Scotia price for 60 feet spans was as low as $41S.00, and In 1898 one was furnlsihed at .S347.00. The Mill Cove bridge appaars to haxtra for trans- portation, 4 to 4 1-2 cents would be a fair price 'or this briJie. COMPARISON AGAIN. Tn the same year 50 feet spans were built in Nova Scotia at the following 1 rices Zion's b.-il,.iP, Victorl.x County.. $420 Murtloc-h's bridge, do. do. 480 McDonn'iU'fl bridge, Inverness Co. 495 India River bridge, St. Marys... 440 Folly, Ci)lc'hi'«teT 460 S(Miie of lhe?e structures required more expensive transportation than tie Gr.'nd .M;inan brlvlge, which cojit thrr-^ thnes the prlte. THE HALF IS NOT TOLD. The foregoing account covers all the bridges of which the facts could be learned. Not a bridge among them cost less than two prices, while some cost three and four times the market value. It is reasonable to suppose that the cases where the prices are not to be got out of the public accounts are ful- ly as bad. The details of expenditure for 1898 are not available, and no one is per- mitted to know the particulars of con- tracts for bridges under construction^ or not yet commenced. THE DEFENCE. What has Mr. Emmerson to say In reply to the charge that he pays two prices for work? He says that th& bridges were measured by "a nameless engineer." That would be no answer if the measurements were right, and Mr. Emmerson has not disputed them. But now he !.as the names of the en- gineers, and he cannot say a word against either of them. Then he says that he wanted the work done in the- provlnce.. Mr. Emmerson well knows that he' could have it done in this province for one price. His own family are share- holders in the Record Company, and he must know that the concern com- petes with outside Arms in other kinds of work. Tliey could compete as well in bridges if Mr. Emmerson did not re- lieve them of the necessity. The government of Nova Scotia also prefers to have the bridge work done at home. The Nova Scotia bridges are now practically all built at New Glas- gow by two contractors, whose busi- ness has grown up from small begin- nings under the one price competition system. Nova Scotia gets two bridges or more for the price that Mr. Emmer- son pays for one. In both cases tlie work is done at home. But the Nova Scotia workmen get twice as much work, and the people get twice as many bridges for the same money. THE QUALITY OF THE WOHK. Speaking at Ilartlund, Saint An- drews. Mllltowu and Fredericton, Mr. Emmerson did not deny that he was paying 6 1-2 crnts p.-r icund for bridges. But ho dixlar- ed that he was getting better bridges than were supplied under tender and contract. He asserted that Drevlous contractors hud built bridges from their own plans, and had not carried out the terms of their contract, and declared that the Nova Scotia gov- 11 ernment bridges would not last more than 25 years. In making these statements Mr. Em- merson reflects on his predecessor, Hon. Mr. Ryan, who accepted and commended the bridges built in his time by tender and contract. He con- demns his own engineers and inspec- tors who were satisfied with the work. He condemns himself for taking tender and contract bridges off the hands of thi contra :;tor as satisfactory. He c-3ntradict3 statements made by prc'Vincial ministers in the house and the country. Moreover when he de- clares that the tender and contract bridges were all built on the plans furnished by the contractors he makes a statement contradicted by at least one ol! the bridge builders. MR, EMMERSON CONTRADICTED. After Mr. Emraerson had made his speech in Hartland, referring to the tender and contract bridges, an en- quiry was addressed to the Dominion Bridge Company, which furnished some of the bridges built in this prov- ince before the two price system was introduced. The Dominion Bridge Company was asked whether it was true that they built bridges according to their own 1 lans and Biieclflcaitlons,and whether it was true that they did not do the work to the satisfaction of the government. The manager of the Dominion Bridge Company replies as follows: THE BRIDO.E CO\; PANT'S STATE- MENT. De«r Sir,— Yojr letlrr cf Sept. 29th and cr.\iy of Sun, Issut* of Sijit. 28th. hav'? been duly rtH^elvil. I noVj wiih much surprisj Mr. Kmniirson's reiort- ed »'eni.'irks abuut ufpfr iir.)Vln<;c- brldpe hulld'is, and bavo to say that so far iV^ this ^onipntiy i.i c oiv orn- d tl.eie id t >> ritundiiitioii \vl>:ilc\or fur his Stateiiitnt that tho l)tii1p-(f> built for the proviiKo hive not bo^c n fuLy in ac- cordance with the iiliiiiB and Bpodiica- tlons of tlu> ontiiK t.s'. V»o hiivc built for the province only thiiL' InidBie — Salisbury bridge, contr.iet datetl Aug. 8, 1892, signed by P. (1. Ryan, chief conuuissioner; Trout Creek brlilgp, toiitriut datol Auk. 12, 1S92, .oiun'Hl by P. G. Ryan, chief ( omniisvlonor; an 1 St. George biidK.', cimtrnct dntt'd Sept. 1, 1893. BlRned by H. R EiiitnctB m, chJot cx>niMii3sioner. 'Hit' wrier d mh not recall any unfavorable rrllUisMi li. ronr.octl in with dfhtr of tho««e work)), and lias today exaniin(d ull correspondence with Mr. Emmerson in cur files and finds no refeience to any faulty construotlon of St. George ti4dge, the only stricture we have budlt for the province under his sup- ervision. This bridge was erected in December, when the field painting could net be done, and it was in this respect only completed the following summer. NO CAUSE FOR DISSATISFACTION The tv-o earlier bridgea were built to our own plans, prepared in accord- ance with specifications-, issued by the fhief commissioner; for the St. George bridge the chief commlfs'loner furn- islied both plans and full specifica- tions, which were made the basis for tender and r.ontraxt, and had the brlcge not bten fully in accordance therewith, it should not have been ac- cepted or paid for. We are not aware that Mr. Emmerson has the slightest cause for dissatisfaction with this ccmp.iny or its work done for the irovtnce, and supposed the only nason we have not "been allowed to tender the past four years to be that It v.-t-s tho aeittled policy cf the govern- ment to hava its brldgts manufactur- ed within the province, regardless of cost. Tours very truly, PHELPd JOHNSON. -^ Manager Dominion Biidge Co'y, Ltd. WHAT THIS LETTER PROVES. It proves that Mr. Emmerson accept- ed the tender and contract bridges as satisfactory. It also proves that Mr. Emmerson himself furnished plans and specifications for the last tender and contract bridge. The understanding of the Dominion Bridge Co. manager that l'<. ,\:is m t .illT.voJ to teindor for more l>!-i.U»'S lunuis:' .)f tile determination of the government to have the work done at home irrespective of cost is partly correct. The government's de- termination was evidently to have the work done by particular persons at home irrespective of cost. Not only was the work confined to this prov- ince, but to special Individuals In this province. The competition has never been thrown open even in Kow Brun* swiik If It li;i 1 l»fr'n tli«' two price system would soon have disappeared. The bridge builders whom Mr. Em- merson condemn are bridge builders for the Intercolonial railway. Tney built the bridges for the Drunimond 12 H i\ w '/" Counties railway, now a part of the Intercolonial Mr. Bliir.the minister of raJlvvaya, has hi^"h.ly wmiiicniied their ^lork. They are buildinsT for most of the railways and municipalities in Canada. Mr. Emmerson alone has discovered that they cannot do good bridge work. THE. NOVA SCOTIA BRIDGES. The Nova Scotia bridge policy was adopted under the premiership of Mr. Fielding, now finance minister. His administration appropriated during the ■"3 j'ears I'olljw in.j 1S.S3 al>ouit one an a lO/lf iniilion lollars for permanent bridges. Mr Fielding declared that these bridges were first class In every respect. The Nova Scotia provincial engineer, Mr. Murphy, la supposed to ))e a great authoriity on etefl bridges. Before going to Nova Scotia he was resident engineer of an Irish railway, and had served on the engineering staff in the construction of many great bridges in Great Britain. Morgan's Men of the Times says that '"his l»laiiit!, fspe.^iloaitiuns an'l motjhods for tlreaiiiKg cojicr&te sub-etrU'Ctures for hig'hwav brid^^ia ar*? known and are gaining favor all DveiT tihe Amerioan continent. He has been consulted by the New- foundland government respecting rail- ways, by the government of New Brunswick on bridge construction and ly the go V 3 "n meat of Bermuda re- .« I «clin g h a r 1 1 or w jric.i . ' ' lOMMKK.^ON'S LT.SELE.S3 REPORTS. Mr. Murphy's public works report differs much from Mr. Emmeraon's. The New Brun».vick repM-t does not {five the la iieound, Id be >vlnce. b« so, as the material is imported rolled and cut into shape and costs delivered at tlie bridge works f re ii $1.25 tf^ '.50 per cwt. SUBSTRUCTURE?. The foregoing relates mainly to sup- erstructures. It is more difficult to get details in respect to substructures, but from All the facts available, it ap- pears that the same system of favor- itism and excessive prices has pre- vailed. It is a rule, but not a con- stant one, to call for tenders. After the favorite has got the lowest tender the specifications are frequently changed so as to make a new and very profitable contract out of it. An interview with James Raid, of Dor- Chester, shows how the plan worked In the Lefebvre bridge contract. It may be said that Mr. Reid is one of the most prominent contractors rnd builders in this pant of the country, and has handled large con- tracts in Manitoba, Newfoundland, Xova Scotia and this province. A CONTRACTORS EXPERIENCE. Hi.ve you frequently tendered for New Brunawlck government work ? Yes, until I came to the conclusion that it was us3le«s to do so. Have you secured any contracts from the N. B. government ? None whatever. How do you account for this ? The word always was that I was too high, but I cannot explain it. I al- ways figured as low as possible to do the work In accordance with the plans and specifications submitted to me, and I have always been able to get my share of work, tendering 'n competi- tion In other quartera. Did you tender for the substructure of Lefebvre bridge ? Yt« ; I put in a tender. Was it advertised by public tender ? Not in the newspapers that I know of I saw the advertisement on the ■wall of Mr. '^miuer.'ioi's oftlce. Wher« were -.lUns and speciflcatlonB exhibited ? They were in Mr. Emmtison'a office. You did nnrt get the contract ? No. Who got It ? Wllliird Kitchm of Fred rlcton. His figures were said to be lower than mine. Was the work carded out in accord- ance with the Dims on which your tender w.ia based ? No. Will you describe briefly the changes n ade in plans and specifications ? THE CHANGES. The plans caUM for a centre pier of stone masonry, with concrete founda- tion carried down to bed rock, which is six feet below the bed as shown by the soundings. Concrete If properly prepared as the original plans called for, would cost about, or nearly, a.s much as stone; It would also be a very difficult piece of work at th-i place in question; in fact, the moet dlfTicult and uncertain part of the pier, and a cajssoil or coffer dam would Le required to put in foundation. This would entail special pumping to keep the water out. I tendered to do th>e work as called for by the plans and specifications. I have learned, how- ever, that no concrete foundation was put down at all. The pier was found- ed on tiers of squared hardwood timb-^r bolted together. This timber founda- tion was not carried down to bed rock, as the bottom of It can be plainly seen stuck above water at low tide. This wooden foundation was built on shore and floated Into position. Was any change made In the size of the pier as called for by the original plan ? Yes; the dimensions of the pier were materially reduced and this would re- duce the quantity of masonry and con- sequently the cost. A CHEAPER JOB. Did the change of plans materially Jiniinish the coat? Most assuredly, but I could not make an estimate oft hand. It might lost $2,000; in fact, In making my tender I considered the concrete found.Ttion a very Important item. You know thr»t Mr. Kitchen does a I.irge amount of work for the local fiovernnient? Ve?, he is reported to have got many contra'jts. T'-e sulistra 'tuie of tho Lefcbvr* I'lidite ns thus changtd, loat $7,887. NO COMPETITION. Mr. Kitchen also had the contract for tho siibsti- I'Jture of the Bathurpt l;r'.dge Ooncernlni? 'thl.-< woik Mr. Ucld was asked wheth r It was a'l- vtrtls.Ml publicly. Not that 1 know of. It is my busl- nefw to keep the run of -vork of this (lasp, but I knew nothing about this Wrldge being up to lender until I saw it Jitated that Mr. Kitchen had the 14 contract. I presume it was advertised In the same way as the Lefebvre bridge, by putting up notice In the chief commissioner's offlte. A DISCOVERY THJW COST MONEY. The euptrs'tracture of the Mill Cove bridge Is mentioned above. But there- by hangs another tale. This bridge was put up to tender. The lowest offei- for the whole structure was 16.600. The plan then was to clear away the old ciibs anil put in a long steel tn^srlle. The contract wa.s, however, divided iiito two and let at |6,737, an advance of $137 above the lowfcet ttnder. But tefcre the work began the gov- ernment discovered that the cribs were tilled with stone and could be used again. Here was a chance to save money. So the contracts were can- celled and new ones made to utilize the foundation. The result of this pieee of eoonomy may be learned from the public accounts. The bridge -Ahtn comi^eted cost tho province $7,630.76. The happy discovery of material se^ije to have cost the i.rovlncfi $952. ANOTHER SAMPLE. A contract for suj erstruoiure was let in North imberland county. The favorite tenderer was eo fortunate as to bid lower than the competitors. But he was not allowed to suffer. If he bid low, ho also built low. The liors are said to be several feet lower than the contract requlrec^ Other coaitractors. bid for the work as speci- fied. They could net ccnipete with a man who built as he liked. THE HOLLOW NOT FILLED. Iji Queens county tenders were aske'd for a wooden bridge and ap- proaches. The 8peelflcatlon.s \ven< exact as to the length and heig'ht oC tt>e embankment from the end of the br1ds:e to a nolg'hboring hill. The em- bankment was thought to reDresont about half the cost nf the work. The Ppurc« of the favorite were so low that the other tenderem were Rur- priso'd . They were not i*urrrised when they saw how the work was dune. TTie hollow was not filled at all, bat the road dropped down to the old level and then climbed til*c! hill atr.tln. 11' the local men had b*»en al- lowed to tender on the job a.s it was done they would has-e made much lower uifpirs tihan the one ae(ei)ti'd. Thope are a few of many in-Htanrey. THEN THE EXTRA F. Then MV". BmmeTSoin'.s (ontractore come in sitrong on extraa. Here are some. Tlia following table gives con- tract prices and the sums actually paid in the case of a number of bridges. Particulars in each case can be furnisihed if necessary: Oontraot price. Amount paid. $1,9?5 $2,456 1,130 1,447 1,375 1,563 420 587 1,450 2,?93 »,^00 4,440 759 908 1,490 1,981 475 533 250 312 449 672 « 770 822 1,46'> 2,633 would thus appear that the two three price system which ia the in steel bridges Is applied as far possible in substructure and in smaJl bridge eomitraots. When it is oansldai'«d that the department of public works i« expending from $250,- OOO to $300,000 a year it will be seen that thO'Uffh the present system may be good for contractors it is bad for the taxpayers. It and rule as NOVA SCOTIA BRI DGES. The) Are Good for One Hundred Years or More if Looked After. HALIFAX. Jani»ary 28.— Your cor- respondent Ma>v Premier Murray, Ohlof Commissioner Church and Pro- vincial P^ngineer Murphy in respect to Mr. Emniersjn's r.tataments dis- paraging thii \ova Scotia bridges. Premier Murray said: "You can well understand why I do not wish to say anything iuyt now on the bridges of Nova Scotii, nor Jo I propose to do po. Wihen the question Is made an issue In this province \e will discuss it fully." Mr. Church said pi-actically the same thing ilioj^h lees forcibly. Provincial Engineer Mu.-phy laugh- ed Ironic-allv >vhen I referred to Mr. EniiiorRon'a stateimemt about the i-liort life of Vowi Scotia Iron brldg'es. "T. don't eare 'o say vnything about Now TJrunswlck brldgvw, nor to com- p.aro then; with ours, but you may quote me nfl jwylng that Nova Sco- tia's hri IfT'^s are ,rood for one hundred yeni-s an 1 more if looke^l after. Our wooidon bridges wdll live twenity-flve years. I don't Kno-w pensonally much 15 Here are ^ives con- actually umber of case can oumt paid. $2,456 1,447 1,563 587 2,?93 4,440 908 1,981 533 312 672 ♦. 822 2,633 t the two ch is the ed as far e and In hen it is tment of rom $250,- 1 be seen 3tem may s bad for GE8. !d Years or Your cor- Murray, and Pro- n respect lents dls- bridges. I can well ish to Bay bridges of lose to do made an ill dlficuss 'ally the •Ibly. hy lauRh- !d to Mr. Dout tho m bridges, ing about r to com- you may ■^ova Sco- e hundred "ter. Our wenty-flve ally much akout bridges built since Premier Emmerson's time, but I do know that our bridges are as I have told you, STOod for a huTidrei.! years or more. I am sorry I can't give you more in- formation, but I'm not in a posiltion to do 90." DII. STOCKTON'S VIEWS. From His Address to the Electors. Our syjtenn of auditing the public accounts sih^ald be entirely ohamged. Tlie auditor general of this province holds his office at the pleasure of the government of the lay. He can be dismiss.^d fr>m office at any time. At Ottawa it is not so. The auditor general there is Independent of the government. It should be the same in Ne:v Bx-uii^-viek. It should be his duty to see that no accounts are paid I nless autho-iz?d by law; that vouch- ers are produced for eaxDh payment, and all aocom'bs, showing in detail the item's, on w'hieh payments are inade should oe filed In his office. It is almost needless to »ay we have no 6uch eystAn at pressal. The expe-iiituve of public money should be by oublic competition and tender. TliDusiinds O'f loUars under the present government have been expended yeaa-ly by private contract witlcut competition. GIVEN TO FAVORITES. The worlc has been done by frlcT.da and favorites of I he govemiment to the advantage of the contractor, but not in the Interest of the taxpayer. To ensure honesty »rd econoTiy there s/hould be public competition and tender, end the suc- cessful tenderer sihould be compelled faithfully to carry out the terms of his contract. Tlie nameo of all the tenderers and the amounts for public £,ervlOf:s should appear annually in Rcme public report In Nova Scotia, for the coisiruction of bridges, the najncs of all the tenderers and the fimoumts are published yearly in the rrovinclal engineer's report. We should have a similar system in this province. Guoli a ^i^y^teTn honesUy carried out .v^uld have saved New Brunswick, luring the past few years, tens of thousands of dollars. The people are entitled to the fullest information out do net get It The expenditure on by-roads is not fiallsfactory. We must have good roads. They add to the value of every farm along whldh they pass. VQOO Here the evils of favoritism are par- ticularly seen. THE BY-ROAD MONEY. , The political necessities of ithe g'cvemmetrt*' have led them to hiiind over the by-road money to their frijnds in the different counties, not so much for Impro'/lng the roods as to atrengifihiin the govermmenrt, I am satisflad it would be better for the road -aerv ice, .as far as practicable, to allow the ,)y-roiXd money to be ispent throuigh the munDc'pallltJee. Those haviu'gr local knowledge, and who are diraeitly intau-ssted In having good road's, uaier tliat system would be responsible for spending the money to the beat advantage. It would still be the duty of the government to see that the munlil^nl officers faithfully spent the money. The Hlgfhway act of 1896 Is iU>t Hatlafactory as a gexieral law. It has too muoh iniiCfhlnary. When the bill was before the house members of the oppoaition suggested amendenits, which, iC acj3pt?d by the govern- ment, would have made it more satlsfaatory. The act of 1886, with some amendments, would be a much tetter la'v. TWO BRIDGES BET3ER THAN TWO PRICES. The expenditure on great roads and bridges is made throug'h the depart- ment of public w:>rks. Tn addition ta. the yexi'ly gnnt the government have given bonds to the amount of ever half a million dollars for building /fnat they call permanent bridges. For the supersitructure of alf those orld^s built within the last fiVe years, so far as can be ascer- tained, Mr. Emmerson, .vithout com- reitltion or tender, baa paid two l; rices, and in some cases even more. The pr.>vince should have two bridges where there is but one. It would have oeoa far better In the public in- terest to have paid a fair price and lave two bridges than two prices and have but one brilge. The application of ordinary business principles would lave eav3l lar^'e sums of money. Mr, Emmerson and his government do not wish to face xn investigation be- fore a 'ommlttee of the legisilature, i.nd t've present eli^'tion is l>rought on to escape full exposure. This Is the hope and exp3''tatlon of the gov- tirnment. Is it possible that the public conscioinoe of the province Is so dead as to co.idorne su-Jh acts on the part of Mr. Emmerson and his govem- menrt? I camiiot think so. ^f u- m W -Afit- I* : %: , -16 ■ • > THE FACTS SUMMED UP. H,- ■ The facts set forthago the foregoing pages in relation to sceel bridges are briefly summed up belo^^a?.' The Cdsi of the PetitQodiac bridge superstructure is ' found by deducting froQ^jMie cost of the wJiole bridge the amount of the second lowest tender for the 6»ra|tructure. By taking the lowoiit tender the case would Iiave been made strongei^i)ut as the second lowest represents the price vliich< was actually paid for tha(|part of the work it has been taken. The cost of the Poi'i|;^lgin superstructure is found. by deducting from th© total cost of the bridge tHiJ; amount of the lowest tender for the substructure, and in allowing a further flip of $500, which is three times too much, for extras. The market price of the sn^leic bridges is made four cents per pound and those . of the Petitcodiac and Por^|F|;in 3| cents, while the Lefebvre, BlackviHe and Campbell bridges, built laii^are computed at 3} cents. All those prices aro higher than the real market |!fice at the time. '"^^1.^'^ '^'^^^^^''^'^ ^ 7 • . - " •' ^' wr;;- n £,: "iT apl^ Cost the Market Loss to the %, ^- ^''/ ' ' : , Province. Price. Province. ;S J,J^^^: Lefebvre bridge . . ^f. |15,350 17,120 $8,230 . V^ "^ .i;-/^"^-. Blackville bridge... 10,459 5,193 .5,266 Campbell.,' bridge 10,400 4,559 5,841 ;.;..'.: Petitcodiac bridge 5,172 1,500 .3,672 4*. '"-•■ ''• Port Elgin bridge 5,500 1,000 4,500 '.^ ,,,,^,... Saunders' Brook bridge. ..... . 448 144 304 ^V '"""•-. , ■- Dingee bridge 1,186 503 683 ^ ^J* .'- ^■. Grand Manan bridge .. . 1,233 373 860 '/'i .. .... i. Mill Cove bridge.... 1,280 365 915 / ■•-• Total...... .^ ^51,028 .f20,767 ^30,271 The Government has withheld the accounts of other bridges, but computing- on the basis of the cases that are known the following over-payments have been made : -. f *^^^' ' , "■-■ ' . Loss to the " V . Province. . • ' " : •■• '*■• Bathurst bridge )|7,300 ^ ' ' t " Tabor's bridge 2,400 " . *' Cuisack's bridge ^ 2,500 ', ^^ "i , ' Hutcheson bridge 1,500 , '-^-•, Bull Creek bridge 1,500 '' - , " Total, 115,200 '' ' -« '"* Scores of smaller bridges have been let to favorites at excessive prices with bills of extras added. - . •" . ' - >-• Changes in specifications after the contract j have been let have yiven sub- stiucture contractors tens of thousands of dollars. The table given on page 14 shows that on 13 small contracts amounting altogether to $15,528, the extras allowed brought the total price up to f 20,645. What chance is tliere for an honest contractor against such a system as tjiis'i