New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-18

opesous ia tho most that be has a right to expect In
this ease il was very different; merchants laid aside
their Iegers upon hearing the subject named, drew mp
chair the reporter aud entered upon the theme IN all
its details. As they would be called aside occa-
sonally hy business they would say "Don't
stir; want to talk with you more" As other gentle
men nteres.ed IN real estate would enter the counting
room or Office ihoy would be called into consultation on
the subject 10 which al were deeply Interested to tho
temporary NEGLECT Of al other business In some In
stances the dealers ont for gentlemen who could
give facts or fg which they had forgotten could
not give with perfect accuracy.
All agreed poiut-that the property owners Of
New-York had been swinded TO use their own Words
for many years past. by system which had been de
vcd organized and continued for tho sole purpose of
robhing the public; that the downfall Of the Ring had
apparently produced less beneficial results in this mat
ter than in others; and that though an attempt
at reform had been made in the APP
pontnent OF better class OF men as com
missioners no roal reform could be effected until the
system was destroyed root and branch The new Com
mssloners wero groen in the business, and came
or less under the power OF a set Of men who were
familiar with al its details, and Commissioner
expressed H. "SwndeS were all the time sticking up
in spite OF all they could do"
In respect 20 the corruption into which the system had
fallen under iag ruleia greed and all united in
declaring that the best method of putting end to the
present frauds was by the uprOodng Of the system.
There difference Of opinion TO the best
that street openings should be placed in the
hands of body of men. and that all
the streets on the upper part OF the
island and included in the Central Park Commissioners
survey should be declared open at the same time. Not
only all of the opinion that the present assessments
strcetOpenngs at least ten times greater than
they ought be- but that the Of opening all the
streets would not be greater under honest commits
son than shat of opening single street under the pres
ent system.
The connection between "openng streets paper"
and actually opening them to travel is intimate that
many propertyowners favored placing the two classes
of duty hands. of serious complaint
with the long lapse Of time between the
two processes Sometimes years were allowed
to pass after the streets had been declared
open and the property-owners assessed, before
such improvements were made would render the
property productive This justly considered great
hardship and which could, in the opinion of many,
be removed by having everything relating TO streets
under the control of single Board. That such Board
could he up Of honest has been demonstrated
by the Central Park Commission, which was honest and
efficient in the midst Of corruption and inehiclency
The alleged corruption and fraud is carried accord
ing TO the testimony OF all with whom the reporter con-
versed through the appointment Of an army OF subor-
dnate officers, who generally believed to be per-
fecty unnecessary The surveys of the Central Park
Commission, made by Mr. J. J. serrel are those which
the Commissioners required by law to follow and no
new maps are necessary Hence the charges Of the
veyors are exOronate their very face The apprais
ers employed by the Commissioners are unnecessary or
the Commissioners unfit for their positions The
duty the latter 10 award and apprase the for
mer can do no more
for tho heavy assessments Tor street openings
1t said that the charges of the surveyors clerks
appraisers &c, fictitious as those Of the Ring
tradesmeu and that "a proportion of the money OBJ
by assessments find their way into the hands OF
are at the head OF the entire system
"THE WHOLE THING AEiOUTRAGEoUs FRAUD"
WIN r. Raynor large real estate dealer and owner.
He entered upon the subject of street openings with
great readiness, saying that there subject in
which the property owners Of New-York felt so
immediate an interest. The present system, he
said, is all a yillainous system OF wholesale rob
berry. Ten fifteen years ago $40 a lot was
charged for opening streets Now on Northumberland
hftyseondst they are charging SAC lot and Carmans
estates made to pay about 500 lot. The street
perfectly laid out before the Commission took hold Of it,
Ss1t was not Laid out on paper The whole thing Is
There is absolutely nothing to do but to draw
map and s. would pay the Surveyor and the Com
mission generously Tor all their work. The City sur
sSss ceas srinde. the second was much fairer
and he hoped would be confirmed as delay was dam
aging the property owners by the unsettng OF values
much worse tuan the oyercharges Mr. Raynor thought
that board should be appointed take charge of the
entire work Of seeet openings. The evils complained Of
mission Tor each separate job. He would have the
Board declare all the streets open at once and SIT until
the work completed Five dollars session would
be ample pay 70 sucn commission, ana ne cO91 name
n
be glad to serve al that for the sake OF having the
work done honestly and well. This opening OF streets
this is the opinion OF every respectable prop
eriy-hOlder in the city. In many instances the
opening only done paper, and there the property
lies year after with work done on it; but there
delay IN collecting the assessments; TINS Is promptly
RaynOr thought the street improvements other man ex
tending widenng shauld be left in the hands OF the
Park some other public Commissioners The puOhc
had suffered quite much IRON tins as from the other
branch OF the ring business" They had been sWlndled
by means OF tue Wooden pavements sewerage. and in
every possible way. This should be remeded by getting
honest men on tue Board But Improvements were per
petualy needed nothing should be given TO the pro
posed Board for opening streets whcn WOud MAKE IL
than mere temporary BODY WIN speclal duties
winch IL would be expected TO perform and then Dissolve
"AHoTHER OF THE ABONIEATIONs OF NEw-YoRK."
The Hon. sandiord /. Church. large prOperty-owner
and pubucspred citizen, has given TO the subject Of
street openings much and careful attention He eK
pressed himself pleased that another OF the abomina
tons OF New-York government to its share
Of the attention Of THE TRIBUNE The laws relating to
the subject he said been made the instrument Of
OF the most oppressive forms Of taxation under which
propertyOwners in this city have been made to suffer
The evil originated in clause in the Constitution which
Is right ITSELF and only becomes wrong by dishonest
Ieesafon or corrupt execution the laws. The Con-
stutiOn provides that private property shall not be
taken public use without compensation; ana
further that the compensation TO be made
Tor such property, when not 10 be paid by
the State, shall be ascertained by a jury
or nv NOT ess than three commissioners appointed by
court of record as shall be provided by law. These
are all the provisions OF the Constitution the subject
the details Tor carrying them out having been conhded
70 the Legislature. The laws in force subject
provide that three commissioners SHAH be appointed by
Court Of Record the application of the President Of the
Central PARK Commission, upon previously published
notice days. the duties VI the Commissioners being
70 determine the relative benefit and damage TO the par
teswhOse lands 10 be taken, awarding the damage
and ssesing the surplus OF benefit and TO report the
whole 10 the court The cost OF the proceedings Is adj
usted BIZ court and Is charged 20 the owners OF the
land. II the report is confirmed the street opened
though not a spade been put in the ground or
fan