#shoddy

Sandy Hill Washington Co

N.Y. Feb 3/61

Hon John Covode

     My Dear Sir

          As your committee are searching after frauds by government contractors &c I feel it my duty as a citizen to render what aid I can in so important a matter.

     At this place and but a few rods from my residence the firms of Lee & Allen have a Woolen Factory or speaking more correctly a shoddy factory  It has been working for the last six months on Government or Army blankets.  They turn out about one hundred per day all carefully marked U.S.  These blankets contain fifteen percent wool the balance entirely made from shoddy.  After they are manufactured thay are consigned to R. M. Van Sickler and Co. commission merchants at Albany who have a Government contract for supplying

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Army blankets made last  summer with Major Vinton the Government contracting officer of New York  The Government contract calls for all wool these blankets contain just 15 per cent the balance entirely of shoddy.  There is another similar establishment to the one at this place at Balston Spa [illegible words] by W. W. Gregg & Co thay also supply Van Sickler with the same kind of blankets to help fill his contract.  Of course Major Vinton can not personally inspect these blankets but some Government office must & how thay pass the test (If one is made) I leave you to judge.  I believe that I can put [?] one of them back into shoddy in less than five minutes  with my own hands[?]  If these facts shall be of any value I shall feel paid for my trouble and am ready to verify what I say.

     Being an entire stranger to you as to who I am I respectfully  refer you to the Hon W. H. Seward Secty of State who knows me personally

                                                                                                    Very truly yours