The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-09
VITO happened to DO In tas Building promptly restored
tho dsoossd shoulder JOINT to III Place the secro.
taxy caused him 70 &c conveyed 10 the ;narrary.

WASHINGTON, Apri, 6, 1858.

taxy caused him 70 &c conveyed 10 the narraary
Oar W..asi"sss" Correspondence
wASIryGToS, Apri, g, 1858.
2as Secretary q Wa- and The Nec Bs5fu-d Fort Land
PtucAase.
A much as has been said recently about the large price
paid for lands for fortca ion purposes New Bedford,
aud attempts have been made to mpcste the Secretary
o. war IA censurabie manner in this transaction, IL
seems hut proper that ihe true history OF this sas should
be lad before the public tia, the responsibility Of any
wrong doing may upon the proper persons,
and it will be pretty clearly that the Secretary OF
War ct least, 10 not one of tnem The Information OF
the writer from different sources such as the Official re-
cords Of til transaction a, New Bedford and at Washing
ton the opinion of many Of the principal citizens OF New
Bedford and the action OF the military officers concerned
the case and he defes doubt and challenges inquiry
as To any statements advanced references made
The land in question situated from two TO three miles
souh Of the city proper OF New Bedford and consists OF
farm of about 02 acres with bu dnzs upon that might
properly be rated at So coo to 81 600 10 value For farm
purposes the land would be valued between 500 to $50
per acre probably, most generally, nearer the former
rate for city purposes lots the city continued to IN
in that direction at the ratio it has for the last hty
year, would require 200 years at least to bring
within the limits Of the city proper The assessed value
last year taxes the records was 81 600 for the
whole farm
This much for the description Of the property:
10 the esle The owner naturally enough desired to OBJ
the highest price Cor his Land and though opinions az
20 what jury would appsaiss II at for government pW
poses varied generally between $40 COO and $40 o0 the
owner demanded for the lower thirty acres,
and 81 900 If the whole taken. Upon ap
pcation being made TO him by shrewd operators
from New York, these obtained his refusal for
month at those prices and coming to Washington offered
h SSl
dvance This offer declined at the War Department,
lpon which these returned and obtained the refusal
70 another month"; and during this time they appear TO
have acquired such confidence their ultimate
tina n the end OF this they closed bargain for
skip at 81 900 per ION condition that they could
sell 70 the United staes), paying about 81 per cent
of TIN purchase money down. They came Immediately
TO Washington and offered this land At 81 800 per acre. and
II NOT acceptable 1t that price, proposed to submit TO
srb.tratiu having taken the precsutou TO fory them
selves with letter from Of the most prominent citi
OF New Bedford, . high official functionary who,
though the legal counsel OF the original owner OF the land
wss not then known suspected be at the War Depart
ment, a. is understood BY the distinguished military
officer who had PREVIOUSLY consulted him ia relation TO the
government interest in this matter. The amount OF let
ter shat Of the ane road in that vicinity
nad the atness OF the land for sum ner residenceshe
first OF WATCH lower mile of the best sie by the
by has yet 70 be b1ihe would sooner submit the CUES
fon OF its value 10 an unbiased jury than dispose Of any
portion OF IL at tbs rate Of 81 600 an acre"
With this letter before HIM from this most distinguished
md apparently disinsrested person the Secretary Of
WAx with his experience OF he verdcts OF juries against
the government when acted upon by subtle or eloquent
lawyers, might naturally enough fear this alternative and
at the came time feel that would be safer for the govern
meet uts.es, 70 trust TO tho opinion OF smaller number
q selected individuals OF high personal character sup.
fsed To he above the appeals to prejudice or passion
permissible Jury trials, and he accordingly decided TO
submit the rstter 70 arbtracn AND to snow his fair
and anxiety for justice in the the distinguished
funconsry before alluded 10 had happened 10 suggest
three persons from nis knowledge Of them, sua-
BILE referees TO be selected On the part Of the United states
and the local engineer officer Dad the thing from
the information gwen him from ny different sources-on
each Of which lists persons Of u political parties
were comprised, including two Of the most prominent
friends Of The administration 10 be found In the plaethc
Hecretsry with unsurpassed fairness selected the single
person ramed both li-ts, though, Far politics
concerned OF the most prominent members OF diff
fercnl party from his OWE; and the military officer
informed that, I" in accordance with his recon
request tina. he should ask his scceptance Of the
trust The other party selected their referee Of
The democratic gentlemen nsmed the list first offered
10 the and the two first seeced umpire the
other democratic gentleman named by the officer, and
his dec'ensicn another umpire was selected but little
known In pecs, but all the gettlemon here alluded to
Of the most prominent, wealth and respecta
b,lty, in The city
These referees met and bound by their honor ONLY for
there 20 other obligation, yet is not TOO much to
cay that the whole city OF New Bedford ssounded al
learning that their award that the government should
pay eco acre. or for these 60 OF land
ale govern nett referee ADDING statement that he had
Appraised at 81 $50 per This sstonishmeat was,
OF the original referees had written 10 the Secretary of
War thai jury could possibly his opinion, assess
th Lana at more than 81 900 acre. aud that The other
referee had expressed his belief 10 the military officer
who action In the that the original might
ask high $4,000 for the whole farm or less than
$500 IN
How IL was possible that this property, with which
these gentlemen had been familiar al their hvcs the
short tine tina, they consulting H. should have
appreciated in the minds OF one OF these referees 10 the
eKset o. some thirty per cent or more, aod with the
uher, and that tie referee to 800
Ss celt, still The great mystery OF The tran action
bat jcs 10 say that iasinua,us have been hoard
against the integrity o. the referees in this case while
nevertheless true thai tue greater portion OF the large
available for the defence and protection OF the ciu
Of New Bedford has thus gone into the pockets OF
private individuals without just equiv alent these
three four prominent citizens OF Now Bedford sole
iy ansvsrabe for H. and tho Secretary of War, who
IKE honest simply confirmed tho engagement he
had made 10 good faith, an without cevil objection
who from the time OF determining 10 submit 70 arb
tration, "a decision which must be admitted, he had
right TO make and for which what appeared strong rea
might be advanced is no more responsible for
the payment Of this large sum, S much
the engineer officer who In all good faith
mende the government referees and the than TWEEN
~ years faithful devotion 10 the public interests shown
by that officer has never permitted the breath Of SANDER
Against him In thai any other Official transaction.
The above history Of the case written as must be seen,
without passion prejudice, will show not only how
blamcess the Secretary OF War has been in this whole
matter but how high minded and honorable he has been
!, his snde.yors to secure the public interest free from
referee BY him, but the funconary alluded to- whose
OPINION IA feared had much weight from his Official
third OF the four gentlemen concerned been always
prominent members Of another political party and the
attacks which made in the of The Fort Smelling
and wctts Point sales founded than
AL the Inquiries ef the writer lead him 70 believe the Sec
rotary Of war will indeed from this fiery ordeal
like pure gold from the furnace.
THRFY-FIETH CONGRESS-.