The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-05-17
Erie Railroad.


been a matter OF surprise to many but think that
if you were TO put few queries in relation to the
true point at issue, between the officers of this
pany and the public that the Of this tenacious
holding over would become quite plain.
This company has received from the people 49,
100000 for specific purpose. This money has been
expended Now the point at issue is has it been ex-
pended for the purpose for which appropriated,
VIZ: the construction OF the New York and Erie
Railroad.
Doubts in relation to the expenditure of this
money has existed in the public mind hence the in.
vestigatng commute authorized by our State Legs'
lature. The report OF this committee says that mo
specific charge of fraud or mismanagement on the
part Of this company has been made by any indivI.
DUAL" but that, vague insinuations and general
allegations Of something wrong existed in the
community; the charge then was not in regard to
the company in its collective capacity but that sys
tenn of financial pipe laying had been introduced by
one, the aim OF which was to divert the public
money from its appropriate channel. An examlna-
will show that the State loan was altogether lost
sight OF and that said committee on being told that
45O miles of railroad was nearly completed they i'm
mediately concluded that, instead of being liable
But has this satisfied the public mind! Nc! and the
SANE insnuations, though perhaps not quite so
"vague" still exist and if the present company do
not wish that what is alleged by these rumours, viz
their duty to lay complete statement before the
public, one that will show the purposes tor which
the whole of the three millions have been expended
All the reports, including that to the Legislature, are
deficient in this respect.
The only statement that we have which throws
any light this subject is that which appeared IN
the "Morning Express" April "a, lS43, sgned" Zone
who Knows" This, like all others, only tells half
than the writer intended and as think it impor-
tant, would direct the attention OF The public to
what it asserts. We consider this statement Off
cial, as il emanaes from the Office at Plermont, and
was written by lone who knows" more than he
dare make public
''One who Knows" informs the public that over
S. 600 has been expended on the work: He
then goes on to account tor the manner In which 1t
has been expended thus.
The eastern division is now finished, the eXpen-
dture being 81, S05 1853 SO.
The expenditure. on the third division, $685.
949 II.
The expenditure on the fourth division, $780,
ISL OF.
Total amount expended In the construction of
the New York and Erie Railroad, So S3l Ss9 81 /:
Deduct this from S. 100000 and there is So, $685.
ITO 80 to be accounted for. In regard to the Sc
cond and fifth divisions, the expenditure is not Civ;
en-. Now why is this? Why are these garbed
statements given to the public =? IT is well known
that there has not been $500 600 expended on the
second and fifth divisions, Who received the pub
lie money?
:" One who Knows further informs the public
that the eastern division now In operation earns at
least $4,000 per annum; If this is the case, why
are The mechanics ana ldDOTerS deprived OF tner
wages2 II is well known in Plermont that there is
now due the workmen for labor over SIS, 900. And
this be understood, for work done since the road
was nut in operation.
en-, Seymour Il Co. still hold over, and the Compa-
ny refuse to give the information now required by
the public in relation to the three millions, we will
proceed to lay before your readers history of the
New York and Erie Railroad, showing the position
of Piermont and the probable location Of Dunkirs,
as laid down by the consulting engineer, Miller, to be
within five miles OF Ramapo valley.
Before closing we would allude to one or two i'm
porant facts That one half million dollars has not
been expended on this road west of Goshen-that
the remaining two and half millions has been ex.
pended the eastern division, or has otherwise TO
be accounted for-ths money raised by the Com
pany will notice at future time-that all re.
ports gwen by the engineers west of Goshen are
plain and easily understood, and we therefore sup
pose, correct-that all the reports made in relation
TO the east division vague and obscure, and can
not be understood and further, 1t was the intention
of their authors that they should not be understood
We here refer 10 all the statements and schedules in
relation the eastern division given in the State
port No. 2S4, May lS4l
We will notice one elaring example. The Com
pany were charged with employing an unusual mum
Der of officers whose salary exceeded 5000 per an
mum. The schedule G. page "a, processes to give
the number of officers on the eastern division, anc
among numerous array OF names and occupations
we hnd one chief engineer, Miller, at $4,000 pei
annum; six resident engineers, including II. G
Seymour two assistant resident engineers ; fou
chief assistant engineers; nine assistant engineers
and eight subenglneers SIX superintendent ant
two craftsmen. Now we wish 1t understood, tina
these neers all employed on the eastern di
vision, AS miles long not on road $50 miles long
as reported by VIM B. M'Clay.
The reports of the Susquehannah division we
know to be correct; they bear the evidence of truth
UPON their face. Not 60 these statements OF the
eastern division.
When the engineers OF the company were ex
ed oath II Sfusr RI ief n
the Susquehannah division, answers promptly will
a schedule, showing the number of persons en-
poyed on the division, the time they were in tht
company employ, their salary per annum, and whole
H c. Seymour, Chief Engineer fthe eastern di
vision, answers in his deposition, that he does no
know how many persons have been employed a
the rate of $500 per annum Here VIM. B
Maclay's interrogatory was evaded by the hdU
been And it will be found examination, tina
this evasion has been adopted in all that relates Il
the eastern division Schedule G. was drawn up I'm
der the direction of Mr. Bowen but why he SHOULD
interfere with The duty of the engineers of this d
vision, and not OF the others, remains to be eX
| planned.
One word more We are told that the compan
is now under a new direction yes, and what is tn
| company bankrupt without resources, wlthol
credit, and the whole direction OF the eastern div
| sion yet rests with Bowen, Pierson, Blanch, an
| Seymour.
In the fall of 1910, George E Hoffman, Esq ws
removed from the work as Superinte ndent, in orde
| to accomplish which. the contract with DR. Doubl,
day was cancelled. which, together with the destruc
ton OF machinery, and the delay in opening tn
| road, cost the company over $780, 600
In the fall of 1871, II. G. Seymour was appolnie
Superintendent of the eastern division by Jane
| Bowen, contrary to the wishes of all the stock
holders in Rockland county. Since that time, a
the sub-englneers OF the eastern division have bee
maintained III idleness on bali pay.
| About this time, Mr. NJ. Williamson, a goo
| sound democrat was removed from the Office
Collector at Piermont and Henry Ayers an actly
| wing, was sent from New York to fill the vacancy
In the spring of 1872, during the Glentworth e;
element, meeting was held at Piermont by ii
stockholders and contractors, to take measures
remove Mr.. Bowen from the Presidency. I'll
meeting was addressed by Judge Blawvelt of Pie
| mont, who recommended call Tor Mr. Bowen's n
signation. This resolved upon, and the NEE
| ing adjourned to meet the following week. In tf
| mean time secret measures were taken 10 prevent
further discussion of the matter. Mr.. Bowen pr
put on half pay. So the affair was hushed u
More anon Yours, FROM RocKLAND