The New York herald., 1845-07-06
pr.e. Two Cents.
BrOOkhavcn, l.. 1.
Correspondence of the Herald

lCorrespondence OF the Herald
BRooKHAvEN, L. L., July lst, lS45.
The Fires on Long Aiand-1he Railroad Company
and the Snferers-A Statement ofthe negotiations
between them, exhibiting the present real state
ofMe Case.
II is stated IN recent number OF your paper, that
the difficulties between the inhabitants Of Suffolk
county, andthe Long Island Railroad Company were
involved in mystery. Although not personally in
terested in the negotiation between them, which
has recently been attempted, have from time to
time enqured in relation to its progress, and now
lay before you the leading outlines of the case
orweeks after these fires had occurred, no atten-
ton was given by the company, to the complaints of
those who had suffered. Meetings were held at va
rlous points on the road and in the county, and the
company wasearnestycalled upon to adopt some mea-
sures tor the preservation Ofour property Fires
communicated almost daily along the whole line of
the road and sun no regard paid to requests;
and, as we believe, no precautions were taken to
prevent the recurrence OF these fires untilafter in
dctment had been found against them for careless
ness and negligence, by Grand Jury of the county
Since then although for several successive weeks 1t
continued extremely dry, scarcely fire has been
has occasloned any material injury. Then, too the
company first sent down committee to treat with
committee which had already been appointed on
the part OF our own citizens Certain propositions
sufferers to consult in relation to them, before ac-
ceptng their conditions
This committee, after some two hours stay in the
country, returned again to the city and without
would be accepted, with great flourish of trumpet.
Immediately proclaimed through the daily press, II at
the whole difficulty had been amicably arranged and
that, too, IN manner satisfactory to the people OF
Suffolk county; evidently intending by this rnse to
force public opinion in their favor, without making
that remuneration which Justice required at their
hands,
These propositions were, that the company would
take the charred wood, delivered on the line of the
road, at the market price OF unburnt wood and that
those persons, whose wood had been entirely burnt
tain that the Railroad Companywould abide by these
propositions, it would come far short of an adequate
compensation tor the losses which have been sus-
tanned. The distance of most OF the charred wood
from the road the Irreparable injury to its future
growth-the power which the Railroad Company
would have to control the market price of wood
along their road and their refusalto fix that price de-
fnitely, all considerations which induced the
people to regard these propositions with but little
favsr.
But in addition to this was the utter want Of faith
and confidence, with which, from previous deal
ings, the people Of this county had learned to re-
gard that company. They have refused to ratify the
contracts Of their agents they have taken wood
along the line Of the road without the consent Of the
owners, who are forced to accept such prices for it
as the company in their generosity may allow. and
the collection of any Just demand is attended with
so mucn difficulty and delay, together with the ex-
pense, perhaps OF riding backward and forward on
the railroad that they might better have made no
attempt to collect their just demands while the Com
pany from receiving their fare on the road can at
length very well afford to pay them.
1t was evident from the course which the C~m-
pany pursued throughout the negotiation that they
only wante an opportunity to repeat the same line
of conduct in the present instance With this OBJ
ect in view they desired to withdraw the negocia-
! ton from the committee appointed on the part of
/ he WI he nv
were neglecting all our complaints, those who were
extent pacifed y that they might in treating
with individuals satisfy, perhaps afew Of the most
influential or the most camorous, while those who
| from their necessities were most deserving, would
receive little or nothing
| The matter thus stands where it did before any
negotiation commenced. Our committee, finding
that they could make no satisfactory arrangement
with the company, have left it with the sufferers to
| take such course as they might think proper. The
Indictment against the company is still pending, and
will probably be tried in September next. Although
there may be who are disposed TO resort to Vi
olent measures against the Railroad ITSELF still the
better part OF our citizens, notwithstanding the pro-
vocations they have received and the losses they
have sustained, inclined to await the result of
| appeal to our laws.
1t would yet be an easy matter to satisfy the peo
| pie OF Suffolk county They are tired of negocia-
ton. They wish to see the company act. II they
were to send disnterested person here, who
should devote himself exclusively to the settlement
of these claims, there is doubt but that the whole
matter might be arranged on very favorable terms
| for the company.