The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-09
THE GID QUARANTINE PURCHASE.

THE GID QUARANTINE PURCHASE.
NEW YORK, Oct. o. 1868
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
You ask an answer to the following questions con.
tanned in article on Quarantine Affairs, in your
issue OF this date:-
When authorized public sale OF the quarantine
WAat was the highest bid and who were the biddsrsa
VIVA. are shares Respectively Of Dr. swinburns and
WheSsr tho Intrinsic value Of tho property saoOoo or
he lie what tho
water 'front.' sss r. %. N,
price q piece Of properly TO aS.drupns s
Before asking these questions you state that "theIr
value In prospective Is something fabuous;
900 would be as near the mark as 81 oOo ooo,
that 'a this property has passed out OF the hands
OF the State into the keen clutches Of ring OF re-
publican politicians; the democratic vultures have
been kept entirely away this time,n &c.
Now, as was the counsel OF the Board OF ORlcers
by which the sale was made and had charge Of the
advertising and OF the negotiations which led to tho
SALE and your article casts reflections upon their
integrity and upon that OF the State ocers who APP
proved Ct the sale, deem 1t my duty to answer your
Inquiries. / cannot do this better than by stating
facts which are either matter Of record or can be
established by the testimony Of men whose standing
In the community entities them to credit
1883, and in the market without further legsa-
ton until 1885, during which time am informed
that the highest offer made for II was 5000, 000 in
1886 the Legislature passed act constituting tho
Commissioners OF Quarantine and the Mayors OF
New York and Brooklyn Board OF Commissioners
10 dispose Of the property but the power conferred
IS prevented the sale. They, however had the pro
perry and appraised by three sworn apprais
s scs 6 nam e
purpose OF removing these restrictions. This act
authorized the sale Of portion of the grounds to the
sale within certain time subject to the use OF the
landing and boarding station Tor aperod not exceed
the sum which should be received for the por.
lions sold TO the United States. II not 20
s ss at % ps ss S 's P psso ~ .as.s a.
at . suni not less than that which should be
Fixed by t9e Governor. Lieutenant Governor and
Comptroller and which was not to be less than the
appraised value. Under this act the property was
extensively advertised for sale at private SALE In the
the Staten Island papers This advertisement ap-
peared in your paper IN May, 1851. Not q single
s spsa 70 Ct sss
Officers above mentioned to TX the sum ct which 1t
be e sale at and m they sxed
the boarding station for three years. On the
sale cay q a S was rs
this city after being extensively advertised In the
daily papers OF this city and Brooklyn, and also In
the papers published On staten Island, but not y
Piled 70 The Governor and Comptroller reduce ths
again offered for sale at auction the 18th OF the
following December at TINT sum, subject 10 the
or the boarding station until the Let OF the following
May only, but there not single bid for the pro-
perty although there was large attendance 1t the
SALE and the sale was extensively advertised as be-
f.arA tn1t finf AttiI mot I'm
sold with these limitations upon the powers OF the
Board the Legislature at It's last session authorized
as should be approved by the Governor, Comptroller
and secretary OF state, or o majority OF them.
in o o o. When a Womb lae IN
eaTso before boarding station and residences for
the quarantine employees could be provided else
scrvalion OF the use OF the Health OGicer's
residence and the boarding station, for three
reservation the property was again extensively adj
vcrlsed for sale at private sae and In the month or
July the Board received two written offers for the
reservation or x2l5,O00 with II; the other was an
ofier OF 100000, subject to the reservation or
mond, 5. f. Shorthand and Michael N. Wiener. These
were the only offers ever made or Submitted to the
ana q Ie Ses the most was
proved by the Governor, Comptroller and secretary
Of state The approval was given six days before
consequently was not given after his complaint had
been made as stated In your article.
These are the simple facts in regard TO tho sale,
and think they furnish complete answer 10 your
injuries no far they relate to the manner aud
fairness OF the sale. The purchase money was re-
CURED by law 20 be paid TO the Beard, aud out OF u
they were required 70 pay the encumbrance on the
property which was Sl50 900, and tue balance they
are to apply the law directs. should have stated
Ia ITS proper place that before this sale the Board
sold two pieces Of the property W the united States
for $4,000, making the total purchase money
1889 000 II the property worth 100 900, why
did not some one bid $4,000 when It was offered
for that sunni II Cunard would Rave given 100000
for dock on the water nons, as you suggest, why
did he not purchase the errc property when II was
offered at auction for <,o0,0009
Your intimati0n DAT Dr. Swinburne and Governor
Fenton were ir.eiested In tue purchase IS news 70
me and ,resume Ia equally 80 70 them, anu
Messrs. raymond Shorthand and Wiener consu.use
rir.s VI republican politicians,o IL 10 TACT o.
whca was ignorant and presume IL not generaiy
nnown to the public. But even they are nave YET
10 learn that that fact prevented them rom
ing tho property II they were Wiling 70 give olo lor
i Il than any one else offered the Board. ,
i In conclusion Will mention single Iact when
think efIectually disposes OF any charge WHICH ma
been or can be made that political mao
ANYTHING TO do with the sale. Al the meeting OF TIT
/ BOARD az which the sale was made all OF the mem
bers were present except Mayor HOFFMAN, and tn
| sale was unanimously approved. Thus IL recetye
| the sanction OF two democrats MsJor Kalbneisc
| and Dr. Anderson and two republicans, Messrs CuI
| tiss and Cobb. The sale was subsequently approve
by three State officers, two beyg democrats and or
| republican. HaNllY w. JOHNSON.
| r,rv,ro thu lafe vjsit/lf NJ ooon IN thu ourun