The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-21
The New Croton observation-disclosures Why its
Projected Site Is not Ms yet In the Possession
of the City.

Projected Site Is not ms yet In the Possession
Of the City.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Your journal Of Thursday last contains an srti-
Gle purporting to be the reasons assigned by the
Croton Aqueduct Board for delaying the prosecu
ton Of the work for the new reservoir, in manner
which would prove available, for the purpose Of
furnishing employment to the Thousand unoccupied
workingmen of the city. The objections raised
are two.fold, though, to my mind, neither Of them
appear satisfactory.
First, then, it Is alleged, "that section IL Of the
amended charter prohibits the expenditure of
money exceeding $3.50. unless by contract" and
hence the employment would be by contractors,
and not by the city. This ia technical objection,
and does not affect the question; for whether the
work is prosecuted by contractors or by the city,
it involves the employment Of q large number Of
men, which is the object sought at this time to be
attained. The second objection is the chief one,
upon which the first mainly depends. The Croton
Board say, that the site proposed for the new
reservoir not yet In possession OF the city," LIST
inquire then whose fault 1t is that the city Is not
in possession Of the site, SO that the work could
be contracted for at once and the improvement
proceeded with.
The at authorizing the construction OF the reser-
weir passed the Legislature on the 30th day of june
1853 The Commissioners under the act recsived
their appointment on the 18th day Of April, 1854.
Their duties by the seventh section Of the act are
defined as follo rs =" The commissioners shall pro-
coed with all reasonable diligence to estimate in
favor the several owners, lessees, parties or per-
sens interested in the land to be taken, just and
equitable compensation for his, her, or their land
comprised therein, and to report to the court with
ont necessary delay the amount of gu ,h compensa-
ton 70 be paid TO the respective owners, lessees,
parties and persons respectively" The Croton
Board report that the Commissioners have investi-
gated the titles Of about eight hundred lots which
ia very unnecessary labor for them to perform, ex-
cept so far as may be required to ascertain to whom
their awards are TO be made This is apparent by
the 9Th section OF the act which vests the entire tee
OF the land In the city, Immediately upon the con.
firmation Of the report. Even where the names Of
the owners are not ascertained the fact occasions no
impeachment to perfect title, because in such cases
the Commissioners make their awards for the bene 1t
OF unknown owners"--the title to the land vssing
IN the city, not BY purchase, but by legislative
actnent. The 9Th section provides "that the
Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty shall become
seized In zee for all the land embraced in the act
a. soon as the report Of the Commissioners receives
the confirmation of the court
Now, we ask, In sober seriousness, can IL be DOG
sbe that 1t should require these commi two
hundred and twenty days to estimate the value OF
1850 va ant lots? Here, then, lies the error. Ap.
pointments upon these various commissions are
and political afinities. Look at the names of those
who are acting as commissioners for the opening of
most Of our streets, and what do you find? Why,
simply. that In large majority Of CAGES they are
professional politicians, men whose activity and
triekery at the polls, and in political committees
and conventions are too frequently their sole recon-
merdstion. This furnishes the explanation why
these matters are prolonged beyond all reasonable
time, and accounts likewise for the large SUN annu.
ally drawn from the city treasury for these purposes
The system Is corrupt one, aud our Judges should
refuse to lend themselves to its continuance by de-
Ginning In every instance, to appoint persons Sc
iecfed from that class OF the community. On one
occasion We were personally solicited to request the
appointment Of an individual on one Of these COM
large sum of money In recent canvass, and wanted
to get some of 1t back" We injured his feelings
not little, owing to inability 70 discover in this
act Of sell sacrificing patriotism sufficient recon-
mendaton for the Office.
The persons acting ~ the commission in the mat
ter Of the new reservoir, are respectable gentle
men, and our objection to their appointment rests
are such as not to allow them time to attend to the
duties OF the commission. Toe delay of nine months
abundGnty proves the correctness Of this assertion
Ii would be very easy matter to find in this city
ten thousand men who could have performed the
same labor within the space Of ak weeks or two
monts. OF course, It would be expected that their
whole time would be given TO the subject and fail
accept the trust, to charge "a for services occu
pyipg the fractional part Of day. Let the expert
ment be tried, and allow the commission their pay
for given number OF days, and word for it, the
work will be completed within the paying period.
Gene, gentlemen commissioners, you have had your
81 per day since the 18th of April; hurry up your
report, and let the hungry and the needy have en-
ploymept. LAIcUs.
NEW YORK, January IL, 1856.