The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-07-05

The business OF opening new streets and
Y ideuiug or otherwise modifying exist NO
uloroughfares is from all appearance, ono
@ the most prolific sources of prof. IN tboso
who are in favor with the officials ,<bo ru,e
over us. In tho unpoctic YER ,ocu,ar the
rtcalings are immense. The publc is never
permitted 10 know just vi a, tho cos, Of such
Improvements ir, and ,ence the opportunities
for the illesitlma' appropriation of the mo-
ney raised ior snch purposes are very great
The procc" .ngs incidental to street opening
are oil ; >ich mixed and complicated nature
rearing the Joint exercise Of legislative,
judicial, and executive authorty-as TO DEFY
investigation and battle all attempts to dis
cover alleged irregularities or fraudulent
transactions. Take, for instance, the famous
Job of opening Church street, which has
been agitated almost from the time whereof
tho memory Of the oldest inhabitant runneth
not TO the contrary
Nearly five years ago the Common Council
directed the commencement Of the proper
proceedings in tho Supreme Court to secure
tho opening of the thorough fare from Fulton
street southward. The Court appoint
cd Commissioners to assess damages,
and in December, 1868, the report
of these Commissioners was filed and duly
approved. Under the statutes three month";
was then allowed before the city authorities
might proceed to take possession OF the pro
perty and open the street. During this
time, however, certain members OF the Com
mon Council made formal demands on the
Commissioner of Assessments for share oil
the enormous fees that would accrue to that
,fficcr c.. tho completion of the job. The
Comm ssioner refused to treat with TIL
.itys Legislators, and in consequence the lat
Ter declined taking any further action. Thu
The property holders on the line OF the pre-
Ioscd new street were left in an cmbarrnssc'
ambition. Their property was liable to b
Itken at any timo by the city, circumstanc
which prevented their leasing it; while j
The mean time they were compelled to pa
lakes upon it as upon other property. Thu
for fifteen months the matter was suffered
remain in uncertainty, awaiting an adjus
ment between the Common Council and til
Commissioner Of Assessments of this vexe
question of the pickings
At the expiration Of this time the Counc
yielded TO the force of publ opinion an
ordered the street opened. The owners
lots were officially notified that the sire
was to be opened Immediately, and wnIa'
10 remove their buildings, which the Col
missioners appointed by the Court 10 asse
damages had allowed to them in part pa
ment for their lots The owners at on
proceeded to dispose Of their buildings soI
Of which were nearly new fourstory strr
lures with elegant marble fronts and eve
modern establishment. One Gcntlem
sold his store for $4,000, to be taken do
and removed and others realized SINH
large sums, But Just "a the owners w
dispensing Of their property and preparing
remove it, an advertisement appeared sigi
by the Street Commissioner, Offering all
building material within the line OF the ST.
for sale at public auction. The owners
tested against this threatened appropriai
Of their property, and produced the alida
Of the Commissioners to show that, In
award nf damages deductions had haAn "