New-York tribune., 1869-06-03
SELLING 4 CITY RAILROAD FRANCHISE.
MAYOR HALL AS AUCTIoNEER-THE TWENTY.
THIRD-ST. RAILROAD FRANCHISE--GEO LAWS
PARTY THE PURCHASERS

MAYOR HALL AS AUCTIoNEER-THE TWENTY
THIRD-ST. RAILROAD FRANCHISE-GE0. LAWS
PARTY THE PURCHASERS.
In the last Legislature there was bill in
troduOed by the friends Of the Erie Railroad which
authorized corporation consisting mostly Of Erie men,
to construct surface railroad on Twenty thirdst New
York Before the had made much progress the
Governor vetoed the One.hundred -Gfthst
bill, which had almost similar provisions, the ground
that the franchise should be sold and not given
The Erie people took the hint and amended their bill
to provide that the franchise should be sold at public
auction In this shape the bill passed. signed by the
Governor and the Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund,
who were authorized to make the sae announced through
the that 1t would take place yesterday at in
the Governors Room II did take place before large
audience-a mixture OF street railroad men, Tammany
politicians, Eric Ring, Albany lobbyists. and
Bowery boys, the latter being attracted by
the novelty Of seeing Oakley Hall initiating
the ancOneers OF Chatham-st It wasn't good imita
and 9s any more than thev could the picture on the wall
Before the sale, the Commissioners OF the Sinking Fund
held meeting to arrange the terms which that the
persons purchasing the franchise should give bonds OF
order within four months time The road is to bo
structed the most approved pan and subject to the
The then thrown open to the crowd awaiting
outside Mayor Hall took position in the western part
OF the room. surrounded by Controller Connolly Henry
Smith, John n. Hackett, and a few other city officials.
Directly In front Of them James Fisk jr. In an un-
the famous protector Of Broadway surface railroads. VIM
Rchardson, late Of the Dry Dock line. and now OF the
Atlanc-st road, Brooklyn; l.. f. Sheppard, grandson
by marriage Of Commodore Vanderbilt host OF lesser
lights IN the political and railroad world. and amosteyery
member OF the Albany lobby 10 an unusual expert.
for them. This the first time franchise waste be
disposed OF without their having hand in the purchase
Everybody good natured. and everybody Oging
Fsk and mechanically betting that he would be the pur.
chaser MI Han read the terms OF sale in condensed
and inteigibe manner, and then announced that he
would receive bids The first that OF James Fisk for
5000 The second $4,000 the third $4,000 and sub
segueut $4,000; Fisk went $1,000 better,
aud then II up 10 $4,000 Fisk again advanced
$1,000 and other parties offered more The last figure
offered by Fisk $4,000 and although 10 very evil
dent throughout the rOom by the bidding Of certain par
ties, that there job put up by outsiders To make
the Erio folks pay well for their whistle, II did
not succeed. The bidding then became very spirited
between other railroad men, and the price was run
up 90 $1,000 at which figure IL was Knocked down 10
sidney a. IeOmans OF No West FOureeuth-st. Every
body asked who Yeomans," and when tnat gentle
man gave George Law and John kerr ~ his suretes,
every knew tnat ne was the representative OF the
great Surface Railway ring Of this city. There we're
many who argued from this that the road would never
be hu bat the penalty (S5OOOCO is too large To give any
weight To such suspicious The road Is u run ON twenty
ihird-st. from North 90 East River.