The Nevada Democrat., 1858-06-23
The Lime Point swindlIe.

At the last session of Congress an appropria-
ton OF $500, 900 was made for the purpose OF
purchasing a site and erecting Notifications at
the entrance Of the harbor Of San Francisco.
A place called Lime Point, opposite the present
fort, and outside the Golden Gate, was deemed
the most eligible site upon which to erect the
Notifications. The land is owned by Mr.. S.
R. Throckmorton, who, thinking the Govern
ment would be compelled to purchase, refused
to sell any portion of it for less than $200.000.
The whole tract includes about twenty-three
hundred acres, and is not worth, according to
the San Francisco papers. over five thousand
dollars But small portion Of the land was
needed for military purposes, yet the owner
charged the same price for the few acres which
the Government wanted that he did for the en-
tire tract. The Secretary Of War entrusted the
matter to Col. p. Della Tore, the U. S. District
Attorney. who according to his own letter, af
ter haggliug with Throckmorton for several
months, at length completed the contract, and
nothing remained to be done but the receipt of
an order from Secretary Floyd, for the payment
of the money. In the meantime, some one ae-
quainted with the transaction, had written to
My. Broderick on the subject, who lost no time
in bringing the matter before the Senate. From
the papers laid before the Senate, aud the de-
bate in that body, the above facts were elected,
and this nice little operation. by which the pub
lie were to be feeced Olt Of $200,000, for the
benefit of specula tors and gambling politicians,
has for the present, been nipped in the bud.
The negotiations for the purchase of this land
have been going on for several years, but were
conducted with such secrecy that the facts have
only recently been made public. 1t is safe TO
say that the appropriation would never have
been made, had the facts been fully known at
the time the bill passed. Congress has ample
power TO condemn for public use, property of
this description by paying fair valuation.
This power has seldom been exercised but rath-
er than submit to SO gross and outrageous an
imposition, il is proper that it should be resort
ed 10 in this instance, If the acquisition OF the
property is deemed absolutely necessary for the
protection of the harbor. During the debate on
the subject Senators Gwn and Jeif. Davis,
spoke very feelingIy of the necessity of the
Government procuring the site for military pur-
poses, but it was not in their hearts to deGOunce
the bold attempt which had been persistently
carried on for years to extort $500. 900 from the
public crib. Mr.. Gwin favored the purchase of
the site. but Mr.. Davis expressed no opinion up
on the prOprety of the Government submitting
to the imposition. At last accounts from Wash
ington. the matter was being investigated by
the Senate Military committee, and it is proba-
BILE 3 resolution was adopted directing the Sec
retary of War to suspend negotiations until
measures can be adopted to procure the prop
erty at something near a fair valuation. 1t is
not likely tat Mr.. Throckmorton was the only
person to be benefited by the success of this at
tempted fraud, but who the parties were, that
have been connected with him, has not as yet.
been ascertained 1t is to be hoped, however
that the Investigations now going on will bring
their names to light. From the remarks Of DR..
Gwn, it appears that he aud Col. Weller we've
price which was to be paid for the land, and
they could not have been ignorant of the vii
lainous imposition which was about to be perpe-
trated OH the Government. But the attempted
swinde has at length been brought to light, snd
Mr.. Throckmorton and his friends are certain
of being defeated in their deep laid scheme TO
defrsud Uncle Sam.
About fifty years ago, the Emperor Napoleon
concluded to erect palace in the suburbs of
the French capitol, as residence for the young
King of Rome. The ground selected for the
contemplated structure was owned by poor
cobbler, and was valued al about thousand |
francs but when he found the Emperor wanted
it, he refused to sell for less than fifteen thou
said francs. Napoleon at first hesitated about
paying the amount charged. but after reflection
sent an agent TO the cobbler with full power to
close the bargain but the latter, suddenly
doubled the price, and refused to sell the ground
for less than thirty thousand francs. The En-.
peror then determined not to submit to the i'm
position, and purchased another site for the pal
ace. The cobber finding he had lost fortune
by his own excessive avarce. was so enraged at
himself, that he jumped in to the seine and was
never heard of more. Mr.. ThrockmOrton's
speculation is likely to turn out az badly as did
the cobbler's. and in order to complete the par
allel it is only necessary that he should throw
himself into the Bay of San Francisco.
NEWS FROM CARSON VALLEY.-By arrivals
from Carson Valley, intelligence has been re-
ceived that gang of robbers and murderers
have been arrested near Genoa. Among them
are Edwards, who murdered Smelling some
months ago, in the southern part of the State.
aud seven others. 1t is said that Edwards mur-
dered the Frenchman, recently, at Honey Lake
Valley, whose body, it will be remembered was
found in creek. The parties were taken to
Clear Greek and at last accounts were being
tried by peoples jury. Orrin Gray, one of
the parties, had been tried and acquitted of the
akn...s ih. Lrn,..Ls..a,.