New-York daily tribune., 1861-10-30
CITY II,EM3

HAVE THE SUPERVISORS AUTHORITY TO BUILD
THE New CoURT-Hous The Counsel to the Cor
poration In communication to the Controller gives
it as his opinion that the Board of Supervisors have
no authority to build the new Court-louse. HIS
for coming to this conclusion are not stated
in the communication. Some of those which might
have been presented, however are, that the statute
of 1853 authorized the Mayor TO nominate, and the
Supervisors to confirm the nomination of Commis-
sion for building new City Hall. Accordingly
Messrs. Thomas b. Stillman, John b. Corlies and
Wilson g. Hunt, were appointed such a Commission.
On the 10th oflast April the Legislature passed an
act empowering the Supervisors to buy land in the
City Hall Park for the site Of new Court House.
Land was taken in accordance with the act and ap-
praised at $450;000. In the county tax levy passed
by the Legislature April ID, is an appropriation OF
$4,000 for the construction of a new Court
House. The Supervisors have recently begun
the work Of building the Court-Ilouse by
days work, aud there are large number OF
workmen now employed upon it. On Monday the
Supervisors adopted resolution for procuring the
marble for the basement of the building from Dir. Ii.
Haurian Sheffield, Mass. Quarry Company, and
Masterson g. Hall East Chester Quarry Companyla at
81 IS per cubic foot which il said to be 30 cents per
foot cheaper than usual. The Supervisors assert that
they intend TO build only the basement this FALL that
they are using the utmost economy, and that the
stone, marble, and iron work procured under their
supervision, will cost the city lees, by many thous-
ands of dollars than if the work had been contracted
The reason assigned for not contracting is that the
Court-House is imperatively required, and that if
they contracted the work, no progresswoud be made
this Fall in the erection of the building. 1t ia diff
cult to believe that public bodies nowadays, in this
city, are actuated by unseIfsh motives; but we are
assured that the Supervisors in this instance are car
rying on the work with degree Of economy to
which the taxpayers have long been strangers.
While the Supervisors are authorized to take land
for site for new Court House. and are also author
lied to raise $50 900 for the erection OF the same, 1t
is claimed that they have no right to build 1t, but
that it must be built, If at ALL by the Commissioners
appointed in 1859 II that Commission should mani
fest no more efficiency than il has done hitherto Is
doubtful if the Court-House would DO buiitu dooms
day. For the FIRST time in two years the Supervisors
yesterday were without quorum and it is supposed
that the fact that this paper would be presented had
something to do with it. The Board meets again
this afternoon, when the subject will probably
come up.
A CoRPoR.TIos SroSE-YARD.--Is there any very
special reason why Chambers street should be aban.
doned to Corporation builders as a stone-dressing
yard Ii there is we should ike TO know it, The
parties in charge OF the building of the new Conrt-
House have already dumped the street almOs, full Of
foundation stones, 60 that there is only narrow
track the north side for passing wagons and carts.
II they are to go on AT this rate the whole roadway
will be filed from curb 10 curb and the fine, broad
street lie impas.ably blockaded. These stones, we
learn are procured somewhere in the neighborhood
of Forty-sxth street. Why, then, are they not in
part or wholly dressed at the quarry, or if they must
be cut in the public Streets why cannot the loads be
brought only a, fast as needed by the workmen
! F,rAL RESULT OF THE WHITEHALL STREET
! AFFRAr.--John Cunningham, the man who was
stabbed in an sfray with Daniel Sullivan on Satur-
day evening, died of bis injuries at the Newly
Hospital on Monday evening. Coroner Jackmsn
held an inquest on the body yesterday. The Jury
rendered a verdict that the deceased came to bis
death by stab wounds at the hands of the prisoner
Daniel Sullivan, ON the Goth day Of October, 1861.
| Inc prisoner arctlks tHN WIN uc vi" ""' ~ SS-
defense lie is - years OF age, and native OF Ire
land. He was committed to the Tombs to await The
action Of the Grand Jury.
TRIAL OF A TRAcroNoroR.-An improved trac-
ion engine for drawing plows or heavy loads on
common roads, Just completed at the Rogers Loeomo
tive Works was tried in the streets Of Paterson yes
terday. The engine was attached to truck laden
| III = &c -, o,I ha
cobblc.stone pavsments with great ease. IL was
found necessary, however, TO remove about tun Of
the iron when attempting TO mount q steep hill
where the soil was sandy, as the truck-wheels be-
came go imbedded as to render progress impossible.
The engine although tried for the fret time, was
found t, work perfectly.
| CnupRES FOR THE Wrsr.-The directors OF
the Juvenile Asylum sent out Monday, under care
Of Mr.. Allan, their IndenturiDg Agent, company of
childrenforty-three girls and boys--gathered from
our streets, who have received one to three years
instruction at the Institution One-huudred-snd
seventy.ffth street. This 10 the ffh company Of
1861.
TIE Hos. GERRIr Smith speaks on " The State
and Needs of the Country" at the Church OF the
Puritans this evening. Tue unquestioned ability Is
well as sincerity Of the speaker entitle him to hear.
ing, and We presume he will command largo audi
enee.
RELOCATION OF SuPERyisoR.-It is said that
silas p butcher intends resgnipg his position as
Supervisor and that the vacancy occasioned will be
filed by Sheridan Shook Of the Third Ward
BISHOP TlMoS PRoSoUNcEs AGAINST Low
NrcKEp DREssKs.-Bishop Tmon publishes in The