!
+
*
(6)
646
the hard ground and the bottom of the piles. The piles being from 16 to 18 feet too short to insure the stability of the wharf in question, consequently the outer portion of the said wharf which was removed by Mr. Howard (one of petitioners) could not have been used for the landing of heavy goods without subsiding, causing the structure to subside.
The damage caused to the wharf, for which the Government was responsible, was of little consequence, as the wharf could have been restored to its original shape and height at a cost of less than $50.00; only a few cubic yards of rubble stone being required to be placed on the platform of the wharf for a short time to press the piles down into the mud until they were again brought to their proper position.