Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-11
ron rae AMERICAN ORGAN.
Alderman Magrader and the (" Corporation
Bankruptcy.D

ron rHE AMERICAN ORGAN.
Alderman Maxruder and the 81 Corporation
Bankruptcy"
We learn by the Star, the special organ Of the
municipal spoilsmen, that Alderman Magruder, in
speech made to the fusion coalitionists Of the
First Ward, said the Corporation was bankrupt,
and that this condition was brought about by the
American party in the City Councils The charge is
worthy Of It's author and false as IL is malicious
II is strange that the stock Of any corporate body
which is bankrupt, should command premium,
The Corporation stock is eagerly sought after and
commands readily premium Of IL to per
cent. But, suppose it is bankrupt, who has aided
more than Alderman M. to waste the Corporation
meanss Any impartial observer of his official
course must come to the conclusion that he is the
most INSCRIPTIONS spendthrift Of the Corporation
means, who ever occupied seat in either OF the
municipal bodies. We propose to review his Off
cal course, and cite from the record facts and
figures which win brand him as an INSCRIPTIONS
legislator and falsi6er.
LIST. The Western Market-house. Alderman NJ.
in August last introduced into the Board of Alder
men bill authorizing the purchase ofots g. 2, s, o,
10, IL, ~, Is, IA, 15, Is, II, 49, 10, and 20,
in square LOT, fronting on 10Th street West, be-
tween X and L, at "a cents per square foot,
amounting in the aggregate to $l4,072 ~. This
was merely for the ground on which it was pro-
posed to erect the market-house, which would have
cost $40, 900 more, making S24,072 72. This bill
passed the Aldermen, went to the lower Board,
and was referred to committee, which made the
following written report, which may be found in
the Iatslligenotr Of August 80th, 1854:
Report of the Committee on Police of the Board
Of Common Council on the bill from the Board
of Aldermen entitled An act authorizing the
Mayor to purchase certain lots as a site for the
West Market
This bill, referred to the Committee on Police,
which had previously passed the Board of Alder
men, contempates the purchase Of lots s, Z, s, 8,
10, ii, IL, Is, IA, 10, 10, II, 10, 10, and 90, in
square numbered l07. These lots comprise the
west half of said square, fronting POI feet and one
inch on north X street, one hundred and ninety
four feet and one inch (l94 feet inch) on north
street, and 1928 feet and 10 inches on 10th street
The whole number of square feet contained in
these fifteen lots is 5S,728, which, at twenty-four
cents per square foot 1.-THE price authorized by the
bill, would cost $l4,O7272. To this must be add
ed the expense Of grading many Of the lots, which
are now from four TO six feet below the grade This
additional expense the committee have estimated
at 81, 843 90, which would make the actual cost
of the ground $l8,7l5 ~. The alley in the rear
of these fifteen lots contains 6,l64 square feet,
which would be obtained by the Corporation free
Of cost The plan contemplated by the bill from
the Board of Aldermen for the location of this mar
ket-house Is as follows The whole front on 10th
street, 1913 feet and 10 inches, running back 40
feet on X and streets, is to be appropriated to
market-house. In the rear of this street is to
be laid of, measuring so feet in width, with two
sidewalks 10 feet each in width The whole num-
Der Of square feet occupied by this street amounts
to %, 245, which at twenty-four cents per square
foot amounts to $6,7l8 80, to which must be add
ed the cost Of making the street. 81 226 90, making
total cost Of street. 1874 80. Thus showing that
the portion of the purchase to be occupied by the
market-house would cost 80, 008 80 that occupied
by the street, 1874 80; leaving 22,705 square
feet unoccupied and to be disposed Of by the Cor
poration, which it has been supposed would sell
for sufficient to reimburse the Corporation the
whole amount of the purchase money. To do so
it must average 81 08 per square foot; and If the
Corporation should grade it the average selling
price would necessarily be increased
The committee do not believe the location ola
market-house as contemplated would SO greatly
enhance the value of this property, because there
is much unoccupied ground in the immediate vicin-
ity and desrably located for business purposes
The lots to be formed out ofthe unoccupied portion
of the contemplated purchase would have but sixty
anda-haf feet depth and front upon the street to be
laid of. In the rear Of these lots there must me-
cessarily be laid off an alley, which would dimin-
ish their depth. In consequence Of the narrowness
of the street and the probability that it viii be
cuped by carts, wagons, &c. during market hours,
the alley would have TO be of such width to per-
NIT vehicles TO pass and repass with ease, certainly
not less than thirty feet, which would reduce the
length of the lots to thirty feet
The committee therefore conclude that the loca-
ton and plan of q market-house contemplated by
the bill from the Board Of Aldermen is entirely inn
practicable that the price authorized to be paid
for the ground by the same bill Is far beyond its
actual value; and they therefore recommend the
accompanying bill as substitute to the one re-
ferred TO them.
Thus II is readily perceived the bill introduced
and urged through the Board of Aldermen by DR..
Msgruder would have involved the following eI-
penditure;
Ground $l6,T15 ~
Street 1874 so
24,66o so