The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-10

oIAIEN IcLANOt w. y, 1000
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
see by t0-day's HERALD that Mr.. II. w. johnson
essays to answer your home thrust queries about
the sale OF the Quarantine property but his effort Is
80 lame and lawyer like that cannot resist the
temptation OF sending you few inquiries which MI.
Johnson may be puzzled but cannot be honestly pre-
vented in answering. IL is within my recollection
that prominent merchants OF New York city have
appealed from DR.. Swinburnes autocratc decision,
where extortionate charges were levied on them to
the Board of Quarantine Commissioners, and by the
Board were referred invariably to Mr.. johnson.
Now here Is a question for that gentleman to answer
which goes further than anything else to show the
real motive which prompted his reply to your article
and inspired him to frame that plausible excupation
Of his employers Why has Mr.. Johnson uniformly
told the merchants who were referred to him by the
Board Of Quarantine Commissioners that no appeal
could be made from the decision OF Dr. Swinburne
no matter how fagranty wrong that decision might
that the Board OF Commissioners shall be constituted
Board OF Appeal from the decisions OF the Health
Ofiicers With whom is the coluslon9 n Mr.. John.
son, II Ii TO be supposed, unwittngly admitted to
certain gentlemen that this opinion or his was the
reverse OF being either legal correct his state
faithful account OF the transaction in the sale OF
the Quarantine grounds3
NJ mas onson 9, ADMITS ne al has
management or the sale OF the Quarantine
land You asked him when II was advertised; you
meant, OF course, the recent sale. lie says 1t was
done extensively, yet strange to say, though read
all the morning papers OF New York, 1t never came
under my eyes. Where did the sale take places In
Mr.. Johnsons Office or at the office OF the Board OF
commissioners On this point he gives you no infor
nation; lie says two written offers were received
by the Board and one of them was accepted. THIS
can hardly be called sale, unless 1t be understood
as private arrangement for the accommodation OF
interested parties. The people OF staten Island
TOOK good deal Of interest In the dispos-
ton Of this property. There were many among
go the honest and most sensible way to work when
It found no single purchaser and DIVIDE the ground
into lots to be disposed Of separately to the highest
bidder. In this manner a much larger sum could
have been realized, the industry and wealth OF the
community would have been promoted and great
deal Of detrimental scandal spared. We have no
confidence down here In the reputed bona fde pur-
chasers-Shortland Wiener and Raymond. The first,
we are aware, IL Of the favored friends OF Dr.
Swinburne, VINO procured him the profitable bust.
ness OF quarantine lRhterng and cooperagc at twice
the regular rates. The second is another OF the Doc
tors friends, and the third Is probably the same but
he is sufficiently unknown to defy Identification.
Mr. Johnson should next inform you whether these
men have paid the cash agreement OF 100000, and
then give his opinion to the best OF his ability TO
whether ne thinks they are capable OF paying the bal
ance OF $l20, 900 out OF their own pockets.
The people OF Staten Island cannot clearly see
where at least one OF the socalled purchasers real
lied the means to enable him TO take part In this
investment. The wonder IL II DR.. Swinburne could
throw any light on the subject. II IL stated the deed
OF sac was signed after Ftbel cal warned the gov
eminent officers OF the character OF the transaction.
The property IL worth all that you have stated and
Its prospective value L. something ncalculabe. Now,
a. Mr.. Johnson Is 80 very courteous and accommo.
dating, he win not, trust deem IL trespass on his
Kindness TO answer when and where the deed OF sale
was recorded. Three months have elapsed since the
event occurred, but the County Clerk at Rich
mond has vet TO hear, unless he learned
u through the medium OF your paper, that twenty
acres OF the soil OF staten Island have been bartered
away And apologzing again for my many impor.
tunltes, would Mr. Johnson tell at the same time
what were the encumbrances, amounting TO $3.50 0Oo
which the Board OF Commissioners has had to pay,
as he states3
In conclusion, md without apology would ask
Mr. Johnson, who Il lawyer, " II ever occurred 70
him that his ndefatigaDlc services In accomplishing
the sale after 50 many abortiye efforts ought not TO
DO recompensed by something more liberal than a
mere professional fee REAL ESTATE OWNER.