The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-31
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
Board OF Aldermen.

This Board met tuesday evening, Alderman EcSpedon
Ii The chair.
Several papers were received and referred.
The report Of the Committee Salaries and Offices pre-
scented number OF names for Commissioners of Deeds
motion Of Alderman BocIE, The report laid over
until report of the Councmen made, that they
sould act upon both at the time.
Wharvcs Piers and Slips reported in
Of annung the sale of Of the North Bat
terry pier to Mr. Schultz, made by the city auctoneer
which was alleged 10 be niormal.
An amendment was made % confirm the sale 10 B.
Lloyd jones' the party whom Schultz represented me
amendment was, after debate carried
The report Of the Committee the Appointment OF
Commissioners Of Deeds agan taken up and con
imed and sent before The Board OF coancmen for their
action
THE BURNING OF THE CITY HALL.
THE MAYOR, ElRE MARSHAL BAkE. AND THE COMMIT
APPOINTED COMMON COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE THE
ORIGIN
The report matter received and ordered to
. be printed in document form. The report Is voumnous
bu, the following opinion Of Mr. Baker explains his judg
New YoRK September, 1858.
To HONORABLE MAYOR COMMITTEES OF THE CON-
COUNCIL, APPOINTED INy EyIGATE INTO THE ORIGIN
CITY HALL
!, GENnEAEN-At meeting OF your honorable body hold
frleay, tee 24th OF September INSTANT resolution
offered By his Honor the Mayor adopted requesting
to give written opinion 10 the cause Of tue nre
which destroyed OF the City Hall on the night 81
the 18th Of August, 1858 Ia submitting my opinion 10
! your honorable body, deem y unnecessary 10
1 90 into minute narration OF all the facts ana CIR
!, ums,ances II the matter now under your consi
shall connne myself 70 sucn portions OF The
testimony as in my belief, enable mo a. just
conclusion
II is shown by sworn tesi. that at tne termination
ofthe fireworks exhibition the remnants OF CAGES boards
ana boxes were collected and piled together on he roof
the and west chmneys, and water thrown
upon them; that in about hour afterwards fire exhi
blted itself the chimney, when il put
by Mr.. Bevns, the bernser. IL is aoandantly proven
that shortly after eleven O'Clock fire was again visible
the roof in the vicinity Of the west chimney,
and that IL reflected light against the cupola and
continued uninterrupted for of an hour at
least and apparently Increasing in brilancy up 20 within
few minutes Of the alarm From the length Of time the
IRE 10 be burning the roof without in
mission led to believe, from my experience that
there sufficient heat produced by the burning boxes
and boards resting the copper roof and soldering 10
have tired the wood work underneath it, The very com
busbie condition Of the toers under the "copper" 20
gether with the ascending position OF the frame work,
caused the fire 20 spread rapidly toward the base OF The
cupola. There its progress stopped for while, until
the pressure Of smoke and heat forced opening in the
pastered ceiling of the library room, and at the same
time the flames burst forth at the base OF the cnpola
The appearance Of the burned umbers together with
the Of witnesses who rst discovered the ire,
Still further confirm me in my judgment
There evidence, my opnon, warrant the ny
pothess that the burning owes us origin 20 the candies
used for the illumination On the contrary IL is evident
that Mr. Corles Mr. Richardson and others particu
ary careful and examined the rooms, leaving the prem
ses IN a safe condition
In this particular they are fully corroborated by all the
facts in the case. Respectfully submitted
A. Il. BAKER, Fire Marshal.
Adjourned to meet again this "wednesday evening, at
I'VE O'Clock.
The Board of Aldermen met astcvening, Alderman Da.
Wis Ill the chair.
A report of the Committee Railroads adopted, in
favor OF granting permission Messrs. A. NJ Alerton,
Jr, Co.. u lay track from Eleventh to Hudson
RIVER Fory-secon street, the conveyance OF
stock.
Alderman BaAp,Ey offered resolution authorizing the
laying down Belgian pavement Fourth avenue, be-
Seventeenth and Forty second streets The petition
which accompanied the report had lost in the
Office OF the Board q Councimen. Il was rumerousiy
signed oy property holders in that neighborhood
Alderman TrChER opposed the motion. Alter some dis
cusson the resolution was adopted.
resolution adopted authorizing the Council 20
tend the usual civic conrteses 70 Senator Douglas on Fri
Gay next
report was read recommending that Ffh avenue,
from Washington square 20 Forty second street DO
pared, by putting down Belgian pavemert-,he city 20
pay Que hat and the property owners the other.
Alderman TUCKER Was opposed 70 tho report 10 con-
tended that the city could collect one dollar IL
woud 81 20 900 90 lay down such pavement,
aud strongly deprecated the idea Of the city going to
son Of mo Board and those pacrs which had oeea held
hack rushed through with the expiring breath
Of the Council onehal OF whom did not know Tor what
they we're vouug. lilo would strongly oppose the report
Alderman InoiE dcnied that the pavement cost 100000
IL nad been n formed from good authority that i would
MT cost more than $40 Geo lie thought that Alderman
Tucker wished 10 rreuuce the Board aoaiusi the report
Alderman TucEEK feaay 70 prove any assertion no
MAIZE an that Board aontendcd that u would cost
much larger sum than si0oo0
Alderman BRADLEY expressed himself favor Of the
port, and stated another reason why fhih avenue
shon be paved with the Belgian pavement was, us be-
M ne grand route % The new Central Park
Alderman TrcKER moved that the Committee On sEal
Mix be discharged. The motion gave rise 10 consider
able discussion aud opposed by Alderman Reed WHO
very strong language that there was ever auy
undue influence with nm. Tho report which lac Lad
prepared a truthful AMI faithful one
Alderman BooIE also opposed the motion, which, amer
Alter some routine business, the Beard adjourned I'll
two O'Clock frIaay Gus day..