New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-16
WOODEN PAvEMENTs.
THEIR COST UNDER THE RING.

THEIR COST UNDER THE RING.
80 rup yops--pSsCsrPrIoN OF THE DIP
rrrrNr PAYMENTS THEIR COST AND WhhhE
THEY HAVE BEEN LAiD-rwEED AROUSED.
mrs Nr,y ooMPANY-How AN OLD JOB WAS
REVIVED.
cne of the most extensive frauds ever per-
vetratsd upon the cltiEens and property-hoders OF
~. Metropolis the most important one just now DO
csu.e Of It's proposed extension and system in the
ftur IA that connected with the laying Of wooden pave
nss IA the streets This is subject which never has
heen thoroughly exposed before, for the reason that Its
niauy has until been of that peculiar kind which
required no suspicious record to make the city ledgers
balance correctly In the long list Of sinecures everything
was accounted for; but which legitimate and
which fraudulent, remained secret with those
whose interest 1t to keep IL 30. batterV,
however combinations borne OF the magnitude ana
cost Of these industries have to fe new system
has naugurated, and concentration OF power
begun which weakens and subordnates the interest
OF the petty schemers who had everything at frst In
their own hands These naturally feel especially as
they can do nothing but stand aside and permit their
stronger brethren in crime gather in the lions share
Of the spos before their Some OF them nave oeen
unable restrain their inignaton they have talked
very foolish thing to do-and they have been heard
Clues have thus been furnished which enable one to
trace these proceedings from their beginning to tho
present time and to ferret out the designs oil the
principal schemers for the future.
HOW SECURED.
The first wooden pavement laid in this city at the pub
lie expense if may believe the official records of the
Croton Aqueduct Departmental is claimed that many
papers lost mislad in transferring these ITO"
the custody of the old regime to the new-was inc
Nioolson in Nassau-st, from Pine to Wall, In 1885, F'o
dollars per yard the price paid by the city Tor Ina'
and for has been laid SINCE and the custom mas
deposit the OF 50 cents yard IN tne
OF Mr.. Morgan Jones, matchmaking apphcauon anu
before the ordinances passed. Ihis ~ cents pei
yard was be paid into the hands OF the common
Council by Mr. Jones Immediately after the passage by
them Of the desired ordinance or ordinances authorizing
,ho Nicolson Company to lay their pavement at the
rate OF IS per yard certain specified streets the agree
ment being that Company should take the risk OF the
disapproya Of the CroOn Aqueduct Board the Mayors
Veto or of special acts of the Legislature multiplying the
proceedings OF the city officials. In all cases the Common
Council were retain the deposit if they passed the or
dinances This deposit required in every instance,
and the Nicolson Company have always advanced 1t;
but they have refused to enlarge the amount although
repeatedly urged do So and promised increase on
their rates per yard Other companies have from time
TO time sprung up claiming this that ancied improve
ment or alteration the Nicoson patentthe McGone-
gal the Stafford the Miller, the Stow. the Paul.
the Hamer and Others for nstance-all of which have
been eagerly recognized by the corrupt Commonalty
upon the payment of the 80 cents deposit and in such
cases whatever ordinance they asked for instantly
passed.
One of the greatest patent lawyers in the country
expressed his opinion in the OF several we'll
known and influential Iproperty-owners who came to
consult him on the subject short time ago, that not
single wooden pavement this country is protected by
patent that stand the test Of law There Is no new
idea their construction laying down; and should
any person choose TO ignore their pseudo patents and
pave any street with imitation Of any OF them the
owners OF the patent seemingly nfrnged cannot he
SAYS recover one cent OF damages in any court But
the city paws S. IS so and &c so per yard for
what ia barely worth O. under the plea that royalty
lust There are in this city two Boston contractors.
men who are able and willing TO furnish any reasonable
amount Of security the faithful performance of their
work. who anxious TO obtain subcontracs TO lay all
the wooden pavements needed in New York for
q 12t per square yard They will furnish all the mate
ra labor etc. and agree TO do their work in frsclass
manner; and then they expect to make large profit
out Of the job square yard OF any wooden pavement
ever laid here the contractors 81 for material
and labor wood gravel sand etc Two dollars and
half per yard would be very fair price when con-
slider that contract is given out for less than thousands
OF thousands of yards and all above that sum
may be regarded profit without an investment, II
not fraud and swnde the greater and more wicked in
proportion to its amount AS full statistics have been
collected possible to obtain, and figures will show
better than any words could tell the extent and
unity Of the jobbery.
THE NICHOLSON.
The Nicolson pavement the first wooden pave |
ment introduced into this city. II is controlled by
company who pay royalty TO the heirs Of the inventor
after whom it is named. Similar companies in other
large cities have purchased sole rights" 20 lay in
their respective districts. The leading individuals in
the company here are Richard B. Connolly and Charles
O. Waterbury the latter being its President Its office
Is ut No. 16 wall-st Every knows the appearance
OF this pavement, its ingredients and how II Is lad
The following carefully prepared tables show the
ar,ount I'm square yards of Nicholson pavement now
covering the streets of this city public expense and
where II has been laid and when: