New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-16
THE EAST RIVER BRIDGE.
MR. KINGSLEY'S REPLY TO THE COMMITTEE
ON NIFTY

CuECK-ALBANY EXPENSES.
Mr.. Kipcsley has sent to The TRIBUNE the
following reply TO the report from the Committee
of Fifty concerning the management of the New-foiR
Bridge Company:
MR.. KINGsLEY's CARD.
70 TIE Edifor Of The Tribune.
SIR: ,Upon my return home on Saturday found
among my papers document designated as report OF
n b-Commttee Of Committee OF Fifty, wherein
tumble OF false and malignant charges are fuiniha'eu
against the Bridge Company and myself Inc VISITS VI
several reporters for the purpose of mtervewins me o
,l subject have induced me believe that TINS docu
ment merits reply, and propose lnsteao OF r to
through the somewhat clumsy FORM Oh an r, wnon
mi what have TO say these gentlemen sooery upon
parer. -. .,o rr,dcs Comnanv q,
mai Erookyn hos no voice in the management OF us
affairs This doubly false; Brooklyn cou,u honu 40
represented anywhere IN TWO ways rrs h meT ppDI ~
srooliyn are represented in the Company by Henry r.
n9Tnsy bS aaG s Barnqs Seymour L.
NcCRc James g 7. stranahan John W. Lewis, Mnhaln NJ
Rr"okyi be better represented than this These men,
n must remembered not only give as security t or
CHARGERS but as private parties @h tsey s faHg
made considerable investments IN SrOoS, 81 BROOK
iyn IA represented by tie Mayor Controller and C ny
S Ss% pnrcRae of the bridge by either
both cities after its completion at an advance OF St per
sens Spon the cities Te stock held by private parties
is wholly unproductive. The law provides that no diy
TIE i IrdSe cannot be flushed inside of seven
years from its commencement An 1dvI6CT u mo S
than per cent on the money invested by them s1,:
The Committee state that payment OF amounts que
from New-York City has been DELAYED by an INJUNCTION
Not only has there never been injunction res raining
SssS S5e n H" .n her f for ss
Right here it viii be proper to notice what TTersD
Twcod, sweeny, and Connolly with the Bdgc SOmp9ny
ought MT 70 Sd some and to Brooklyn in bearing the bur
dens OF this stupendous undertaking. AN ACT ., .9
McSe n"cessSry in either cy before it could contribute
the buding of the bridge Esry in 1897 set
lug the assent Of the City of Ser sG }6e
ss v gsffT9 fo % "nd tie as q
listing tho cooperation of some oil INC t ie9Hg Masr
Tgeea sWoeny' and Connolly we're not only among the
most influential men In New OrK pt ther %
than he character either Of the members of the sub
Committee OF Fifty Times have sadly cnange en Win ba
Company their disposition to Re main IN ITS dieSoFy Is
end But h great CITY Sr sS before % TS and
other men. viii equal power anu % 1 her
w referenee to the allegation that much of the lum
YORK and brooklyn Saw Mill and Lumber Company in
which said 10 be interested 1t Is Only neceSly 10
for lumber during three years, the whole amount pn
by the rgs g, cGman + 81 sS S cO@ps IS has Been
In existence years. and already stated by me treas
nected with H. these purchases made Of that Saw
Min because il was the cheapest vender at the tine
Among other inuendoes OF The sub COMMITTEE some
stress is sought be laid upon the fact that having re-
ceiyed my compensation about which T.. s6s SPsak
hereafter the OF $4,000 returned soONO tnereoi
10 the Company. The fact mat the company mus re-
n t 70 nav me- ought to rebound my credit but
here again an insinuation nduiged Which renders an
3, receive and did receive i've per all expen
durcs up 10 when the towers should reach nigh
water mark A discussion, however arose with the EX
ecuye Committee and myself as to whether this sh9ud
he applied to purchases Of land winch the company sa
NIL Sfrc Of
believed myself entitled 10 percentage on inns cXehu
rai occis Of the Company Alter tie subject mad been
discussed several meetings OF the Executive Com
mittee it appeared too exacting and it was
conciuded not 10 he allowed aud bereupOn 1t re-
turned. The President and the treasurer eonnnee N
this instance in ALL were the only power which c9ud
draw dollar from the moneys OF the Company. L. or
having teen thus pad this amount. its return by me
could be made tie basis OF an insinalon against my IN
tegry only by vino were seeking ends other than
come now to the matter which the subcommittee
r,rd "a OF most import in the building of the
bridge. viz: the reception by me at the hands Of the
Company Of the sum Of $2So in lieu OF the services
now past six years since became imbued with the con
cssai bridge, which spanning the East River. should
connect Brooklyn and it's harborront more solidy aud
directly with NewYoTk and the interior and constitute
IN Itself the most immense ana e dhrlnes s rue
A. length Tic first act 13r TIE aa Of RGge
the Legislature in 1861 Ivy me. lt, of course met with
opposition Congress referred the matter to the secre
oSeTs 10 invcs, cate the questions whether the pro-
posed bridge would interfere with the navigation OF the
IA River and whether the plan of construction Of the
bridge provided for such strength and soidty in the
,onpleted should render ITS overthrow or
downfall unlikely and unquestiDnaDle This Board or
alzed. and engaged IN the taking OF testtnonyfor
come months. TIE assent Of Congress was at length OBJ
tanned Then came the irsome, weary business OF get
ting Brooklyn and New-York and men of standing to
subscribe Their, at length, the work Of building the
East River Bridge became a fixed fact. Up to that mo
n1ent the Company had not expended dollar, had
anybody bur myself 1t had been my business and
OF pocket than quarter OF million before blow
was sI;iok HAD put it out, TO- when chances of re-
iuhursc:nCnt were hopeless in the extreme.
When tho subject Of compensation was considered,
some talked OF 20 per cent some Is some 10, and some 8,
hgh-water marx. With my concurrence, the directors
nnaily fixed at five per cent, and this is the sl25OOO
lime aII the face OF onehai the adversities AS
contractor taking charge OF grand
enterprise it is wei nigh ss1iicant Very respect
general Superintendent New-Yorl Bridge Co.
BrCOl!yH, April 10, 1872
MIR. KINGsLEY'S ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION.
Before the preceding card was sent to the
newspapers "a reporter OF THE TRIBUNE paid visit to
MI Kingsley, who expressed himself to max
ing any other reply the report Of the Committee of
Fifty than the card which he intended TO publish Be-
ing told that circulating to the effect that the
check $5OOO said TO have been returned by him to
tie Bridge Company was not really retained, and was
sim subject his order, he said: II wish 1t to be dis
tnctly understood that when sent that check from my
hands lost all control it. The check deposited
either with Trust Company in the Atlantic Bank
and was Immediately used by the Bridge Company.
should like this to be known"
In explanation OF the $4,000 compensation first
received by him. Mr. Kingsley said that the sum,
before was reduced by the return Of the $4,000
exorbitant charge and that his services were
worth the full When reduced 20 sl25OOO
a "a pp1 parx rafa of Ia lgo