New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-16

Q est nf pump-vAVes from ~ NJ 10 80 ~
changing tae bill Of sale of vessel from 81 200 70
$ls 900 aud the Like, but since be hiss bseo Mayor,
scd has been . member Of the Rev. Dr. Tynss
church, our correspondent thinks Mr.. Wood has
proved bmiei an upright and incorrup!iale man.
Why, then, Indignantly asks our anonyuou cor
respondent, speak Of him as corrupt and wicked
magistrate We will auswer our querist BY nar-
rating one or two facts out Of pretty bong aud
rishly varied catalogue.
In the Spring Of 1856, the ship Joseph Walker,
loaded with grain, was burned and sunk in the slip
a. tie foot Of Dover street, East River. Mr..
Weed entered upon his Office in January, 1855, and
became suddenly famous for the eItravagance OF
bis romsss Of reform, aud the apparent zeal with
which he began the work. But, while he was up
Getting apple stands and chasing bad women out OF
Broadway, it seems that somebody complained
that the wreck Of the Joseph Walker was prejudi-
cial to health and ought to be removed. Who that
somebody was is not bnown nor can anything DO
found Of the very opportune petition signed (ss
Wood said) BY eminent merchants, and asking the
Mayor to have the wreck removed. At this
time, Captain Lewis had already undertaken to
raise the wreck on salvage, without costing
the City cent. Upon the investigation
made BY tho Common Council, it was shown
that Wood substantially proposed TO Mr.. Walter T.
Joses Who seemed to have remarkable aStness
Tor taking hint, the job of removing the wreck.
Jones consented and named as his price Sl3, 900,
to DO paid as the work progressed. The Mayor
closed the bargain, and got himself authorized bya
resolution of the Health Commissioners to do the
Job. Jones also induced Wood to agree to abandon
any claims the City might have upon the vessel aud
assign the same to him. Other proposals were
made at the time, one Is low as 81, 800, for the
work; but Jones was call right" with the Mayor
and bad no difficulty in fixing things" to suit the
high contracting parties. Finally, the man who
proposed to do the job for $500 did actually do
it for Jones, for certain per centage on the hull
ard cargo 60 the materials saved more than paid
for all the work, and the $4,000 taken from tho
Treasury was clear gain to somebody.
The truth is, beyond doubt, that the raising Of
the ship was suggested By Wood himself; that he
never had any complaints about it. as was alleged;
that tho danger to public health" WAS happy
thought to excuse the interference OF the Health
Commissioners, who soon found out that they were
nero tools in the Mayors hands; that the City was
deliberately swindled out Of the money, with the
copnivaDce Of Wood, at tho time when he was
loudest in his professions of reform. He had no
right to make contract, nor could he be lawfully
authorized TO do 20. He is forbidden to have any
interest in contract, but who will believe he had
not deep and valuable interest in this His
failure to Justify himself before the Committee Of
Investigation in 1896 was complete, aud left not
doubt upon any reasonable mind that the whole
affair of the Joseph Walker was intended to be,
what it was pure and simple robbery OF the City
Treasury.
An intimate friend, associate and favoIite 81 the
Hon. Fernando is Mr.. Benjamin ?. Fairchild. For
his benefit, the Mayor proposed and nearly carried
through the Common Council grant OF an unneces-
,ary line Of stages through Lexington avenue,
,eanst the wishes of all the residents on that street.
Well: some time in the beginning of the present
year, respectable lawyer Of this City had procured
the passage through the Common Council of an
ordinance allowing him to complete the purchase
IF certsin lots on the Central Park, which he had
bought some time before, but Onwhich bis first pay
nent had been forfeited. Several days after tho
,ssssge of the ordinance, it was suggested to
him that the ordinance might be vetoed, aud that
10 would do well to see the Mayor on the subject.
An interview took place, when Mr. Wood caused
he lots in question to be pointed out to him on the
nap, and remarked to the applicant that the osr
lain was good one, and that tho ordinance would
put a handsome sum of money into the gentlemans
,octst The interview ended without the visitor
receiving any assurance that the ordinance would
receive the Mayors approval On the ninth day
,f,er its passage, however, or one day before the
Naxor', power over the ordinance would expire
Mr.. BENJAMIN P. Fairchild waited on the gentle
man and tod him that the Mayor would send in
geto and that the only way to prevent this was to
Day him (Fairchild) suitable pecunisry conside.
ration. The gentleman naturally expressed much
,urprise at this proposal, but Mr. Fairchid coolly
told him that before rejecting it he would do we'll
10 inquire of certain parties at the City Hall touch
ing his Fairchild's) position, and power to consum
mate an arrangement of the kind. The proposed
INQUIRY was made, and the result Was an agreement
10 1--WE Fairchild certain share Of the profits to
be made on the lots. HereupOn on the last day,
ad Of aveto the ordinance received the Mayors
approval and shortly afterward Mr.. Farchd re-
ceived trtnty.f fire hundred dollars in cash IS pay
for that approval, this sum being given him in
lieu of the contingent interest for which be had
originally stipulated
We might 60 on and multiply instances of the
kind. They are scattered pretty freely along the
official career of his Honor the Mayor. Bat these
must suffce for t. day. Possibly, our anonymous
may still think that this man 10 s