New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-11
NewNark Dailn @ibmate
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
THE WARDS ISLAND gWINDI.E.

zion ldcpted resou zoe authorizing The purchase of
certain Tote OF land on Wards Island from Alexander
hcCouer, aDd empowered Mayor Wood 10 appoint one
aib'ter ana Mr.. hcCo'ter another, and in Of a
disagreement an umpir. should be selected by them,
ard that the decision Of the arbters should Be final
and binding Us regarded the prscs which the city
should pay for the property in question, and the whole
swlndhng scheme was carried out according TO ar
raDgements as far az the parties interested therein
could proceed
A resolution having been introduced In the present
Board oi Aldermen in favor Of resembling lbe re-ou
ton authorizing the purchase Of the land owned by
Mr.. hcCocer and others, on Wards Island the mat
ter was referred IA the Committee on Lands and
Places, who held meeting yesterday for the purpose
Of hearing parties Interested in the subject AID
TsCKER tint addressed the Committee, and SAID
1.-The object ! bad in Offering the resolution was,
that thought II for the bes; interest OF the city
should DO The same measure has been before the
Common Council for the last four years beng brought
up ard laid over again and again. The reason wa,
that when II came up there no neces-lfy Oh the
city buying thb property for century 10 come.
Some thought it could be bought cheaper
now. If the city wants II, or rather neeS q
II came no in the Board Of Councmen last year. the
resolution in favor OF lite purchase being presented IN
May, 1857, and il was passed through the Iouhci
Beard some time in June or July II then came 10
our Board where it laid until the last night OF the
session hen discussion upon II was choked down,
ard concurrence with the other Board in favor OF
empowering Mayor Wood TO appoint one arbiter, Nc
(.tfp
10 appoint third, whose decision should be binding
upon the city, was put through. The outside pres
sure was very great and, from information obtained,
am satisfied that the referee had then been selected.
The resolution adopted by the Board of Aldermen
was approved by Mayor Wood, and he appointed the
arbter the same night. | am satisfied, from the
information have obtained, That if this measure Il
carried out il will be an outrage upon the city.
IL ought not therefore TO be carried out. All that is
necessary is 10 repeal that resolution authorizing the
purchase of the2and from Mr.. McCOtter II he wants
to sell this property let him set bis price He, am
sure, would be unwilling TO trust two men to buy
$lC0, 600 100000 worth of property for him and
bind himself TO take it at their valuation. In this
case one Of the arbters is brOthcr-in.law Of Mayor
Wood. | am willing, if the city wants the property.
to sanction fair prce for IT. but TO purchase 1t ac-
cordDg to the arrangement made, through the arbters
selected, will involve the city TO an enormous amounts
but aside from this the Controller will not under that
resolution pay for tin fact, there is money i'll the
Treasury 10 pay for 1t with. | am satisfied and
j, is the opinion of all thinking men, that il is
for the best interest of the city to Iescind that
resolution and put 1t back where it II involves
an expense to the city OF no less than SOU, WU tor
what is not worth more than 100000 and rs one of
the Trustees Of the city cannot consent to endorse the
robbery and trust there is good enough IN the
Common Council to rescnd the resolution. Would
any citizen submit to two men, if he going to buy
property Would he submit TO pay what two men
would estimate the value of property for hlmi
doubt il very much. lie would never consent 10 do
any such thing. know the influence that is brought
to bear in sucn matters, and fit had not been for such
influences the resolution referred to would never have
been passed. do hope, therefore, that the ord
nance will be repealed and give the city fair chance
to get the property at fair price. The city pays
literally for what it wants; therefore wish to have
the transaction carried out all right but this matter
at present is not right by any means.
ALEXANDER McCoTTER next addressed the Com
mttee He said, | AIN the owner of a portion of the
property and agent for another portion OF it, The
land which it was proposed to purchase for the city
comprises about 81 (iucludng the streets laid
out In 1851 or 1859 the city bought 60 acres it now
owns 70 acres, and the Commissioners OF Emigration
own about 100 acres. Mayor Tieinann, then Alder
man. stated the time that the city desired to buy the
re II of the land az soon it could be obtained the
of the owners not being then known
put price upon the property had to sell about two
years ago. asked $9 900 for it, but there was not 80
much ii it-thst is, it did not comprise all
Mayor TnnANS on being sent for, said 6n
acquainted with the land it was proposed to purchase
for the city, In 1852, there 90 acres purchased
of Mr.. McCotter, at II 800 per acre. We thought
it very high price to pay for It, but we could
of ground the Island which il is important for the
city to have; it has got public house upon it. 1t
would be of advantage for the city to own one part OF
il and the Commissioners OF Emigration the other.
As for the waterright of which Mr.. McCotter
speaks il will never be OF any value whatever; but
he would not favor giving an eXtravagant price Tor
it. So far necessity for the land AS 'urIal.
place is concerned, we have plenty {" 1t to
answer the purpose LOT 'he neAC - yoarss,;, ino
largest price paid by the Commissioners Of Emgra-
ton for their land the Island $685. AT the time
fhe other was purchased for the city offered reso-
luton to have the rest at 800 but it in order to
secure the control Of all the land except that occupied
by the Emigration Commission 80 that An exchange OF
land could be made with them and then straight
fence across the Island The lots upon which improve
ments have been made were offered TO me for $4,000,
including the buildings. 1t is well known fact that
Mr. Mott got &c., 900 for getting the last purchase CON
/ held that 81, 500 an acre double
what the city ought to have paid for it. We were
then burying on RsDdalls Island, where We had to
blast rock We therefore exchanged the land on Ran
dsl's Island for ten acres on Wards Island.
Aid TUCKER made few more remarks, and con-
cuded by prOnouncing the scheme smother Lowber
swindle