The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-06

The Health Officer and a Grand Land Speca.
latiou-EIow They Did It-S2OO,OOO tor
Property Worth Five Millions.
Tho quarantine grounds have been sold. The
news may have been anticipated but the manner Of
the sale was hardly what the public ever expected to
receive any enlightenment about. OF course ewry-
body who has been to staten Island knows the qua
rantine grounds at the nrst landing. The eyes II .
thousand SPECTATORS have looked upon them With
envy for the past ten years. Their value In propec-
tive 10 something fabulous; ten millions Of dollars
would be as near the mark as one million. they
splenddly situated the finest part Of thu Staten
Island water front, where depth Of water 10 noat
the largest steamer that enters the port Of NV York
can at all times be found. The grounds themselves
are terraced and trained up beautiful bill side,
sinking in natural fluctuations here and tlere and
planted with fine buttonwood, locust aM willow
trees. Less than $4,000 expended ON he water
front could prepare 1t for the reception of heavily
laden vessels. There is massive brick Vail partly
encircling the grounds in which there isufncient
material out Of which to construct dom houses.
There are three excellent residences besles several
buildings used for quarantine purposes All this
property has passed out Of the hands dthe State
into the keen clutches OF ring OF republican politi-
Clans The democratic vultures have ben kept en-.
trey away this me 1t Is OF the greatdt jobs that
has been perpetrated for some time; ID neatest,
incest and most unpretending scheme ghi0h the
public has ever been kept In ignorance q 80 long.
1t was thus the enterprise was managedI A sharp
fellow named Wiener, who keeps Q beer saoon close
by the first landing at Staten Island, and Sho Is q
bosom friend OF DR.. Swinburne, beside being a
participant in some Of the peculiar pernisites OF
quarantine, spoke to friend Of his namd Fbel, Of
speculation the purchase Of the quarantine grounds
would prove Fbel was pleased with the suggestion
and Wiener proposed That both OF them, altng with
money and enter upon the proprietorshp OF the pro-
perry Wiener stated that DIR. Swinburne WA deeply
he earnestly desired that the mention OF his name in
the matter should be religl0usly avoided. Fibe
proceeded to raise his contribution, the arrangement
being that the trio should pay 100000 cash, about
$50, 900 each; reserve $4,000 more to be expended
In oil sorts Of improvements, building new dock,
laying out lots, &C.. and the balance $500 to be
paid on mortgage. This total OF $500, 900 was the
amount Of the lowest bid authorized by the govern
ment to be taken by the Quarantine Commissioners
All the rest that was necessary was to avoid any
public notice OF the SALE The Doctor went after this
TO Albany to see Governor Fenton and get tho final
details in the matter settled upon. After hi return
time elapsed before Fibel heard anything more
OF the transaction. Becoming uneasy he cllled on
Wiener and inquired how the negotiation vas pro-
crossing. The response he received vas un.
and aroused hts suspicious that
after all he was about to be thrown overheard and
some more influential shareholder incorporated in
his place. He set to work, however, and made COM
plant to Governor Fenton about the way II which
he had been treated. His complaint WIS disre
garded. In the meantime the sale-if sale 1t could
be called where nobody attended but the Interested
ring or purchasers and where nobody OUTSIDE could
say who paid the money II any was paid, o. where
1t went to afterwards-had been settled.
lawyer In Wall street took charge Of the mani
puatOn Of the sale and accomplished 1t, OF course,
to the satisfaction OF the ring, OF which, is hough
he is a distinguished ornament.
Poor Fibel; whose appearance is not remarkably
sharp, was left completely In the cold lie COM
planned again to the Governor, through the medium
p ms p private yae secretary s Prior to the signing Of the
Fbel sent his counsel to confer with the Governors
secretary once more stating his intention, In case
whole scheme. The Governor sent word that II he
made an AFFIDAVIT 1t would be attended to. Fbel
s eiased, saying that as the sale was consum-
little else than q farce for him to draw
Up an affidavit. Besides, even II he
4 the Quarantine Commissioners and there finish its
sefuness. At last the il-treated but ndefatigable
libel resolved, In despair, to let the world
Fenton 4 Co. OF hts intention. This
aused great alarm and Fibel was at once notified to
ee the Governor The interview Is yet to come OIL,
ut II 1t fails to turn out satisfactory TO the victim OF
he quarantine bait strange revelations Will ind their
way before the world. And now who will answer
hese QuestiOnsf
When did the authorized public sale Of the quar-
lnteen grounds take placer
When was 1t advertisers
lersf
Wnere mas the purchase money gOney
What are the shares respectively Of DR.. Swinburne
and Governor FentOnf
whether the intrinsic value Of the property Is
b220 900 or $1O0,0O0S
II the 100 lots along the south front Of the Quaran
line grounds are worth an average Of 81, 900 each,
What ts the value Of the remainder OF Jthe twenty
Icres9
II Cunard would have given $500, 900 for dock on
he water front, what ts the whole water front WORTH
And ts 1t customary to withhold one-dfth the
tipulated price Of piece Of property to expend In
uadrupling its vauef
We pause for reply.