The Placer herald., 1872-05-04

times demanded.
HOW ROBESON GOT RADICAL
RASCALS RUNNING RIOT.
George M. Robeson's sudden rise from
poverty to afflucnce since he became nominal
Secretary of the Navy under the immaculate
Ulysses S., is accounted for by the New
York Sun. The recent transfer by +. &.
Cattel, of Philadelphia, af $36, 900 worth Of
Washington City property to Robeson, was
the Suns first clue. Going behind it the
Sun finds that Cattell is Philadelphia ship
chandler and brother of ex-senator Cattell Of
New Jersey, himself big contractor, and
that f. G. Cattell of Philadelphia supplies
the navy-yards at Philadelphia, Brooklyn
and Mare Island with everything consumed
there, under contracts awarded him without
competition and without proposals. Robson
would have given him the Washington navy
yard on the same terms, but Sam Brown
was an incumbent that he could not dispos-
sess. Now, however, he has been bought
off by swindling live oak contract of $500,
600 in Louisiana, and probably after this
month the Cattell sway will include that
yard. Some of the contracts made by Cat
ell on behalf of the navy department, shows
how he became able to transfer Washington
City property to Robson. The Tennessee,
of San Domingo memory, laid up as worth
less since that, her first service, was built in
1864 in the Brooklyn yard and cost 81 ,50O,-
600 there. Then Porter expended another
quarter of a million on her, and her hull was
condemned as unseaworthy. Six months
ago Robson and Cattell, secretly, and with
out proposal, contracted with John Roach 4
Sons Of this city to build an entire new sci
of engines for the rotten steamer Tennessee,
Robson and Cattell agreeing to pay 500,
600 for the job. No board of survey ever
condemned her present machinery, and not
an engine builder in the country, save Roach
& Sons, knew that the navy department
even contemplated such repairs, and engine
builders are unanimous in the opinion that
there is profit of at least $3.50, 900 in the
job.
TORPEDO BOATS.
Last Winter Congress appropriated half a
million for the building of two iron torpedo
boats. The contracts for supplying the iron
plates have been given by Cattell to Grant
striker of Philadelphia, named Pennock. The
price to be paid is 1924 per ton, and any
honest iron dealer would gladly furnish the
plates at $50 ton. 1t will take 1,50O
tons for each boat, and Pennock will make
3 1000 times the difference between 1924 and
$3.50, less his divy with Cattell, Robeson &
Co., who are known to be his partners.
ANOTHER SOFT THING
Is found in the shipping to California from
Philadelphia, by Mr.. Bowen, of 100000
and S00,0 900 bricks for store-house in the
Island navy yard. The appropriation is
100000. The bricks were sent to New
York by canal boat, and there by ship
around Cape Horn, with freightage equal to
the original cost When the vessel arrived
at her destination she had cargo of brick
dust, not more than 900 bricks remaining
whole. The bricks could have been bought
in California at an advance on the invoice
cost in Philadelphia Of not more than ten per
cent but if they had been bought in Cali
fornia Cattel & Co. could not have raked in
their dvy.
THE LAST JOB
Put up by the Cattell-Pobeson ring takes
shape in the bill introduced in the House by
Mr. Townsend for the building of twenty
iron-clad sloops-of-war, on the broadside
principle. In this job Robson, Cattell &
Co. expect to realize fortune for each of
the firm of Roach L. Sons, nominally John
Roach of New York, +. G. Cattell of Phila-
delphia, A. G.. Cattell ex-senator, George
M. Robson, Secretary Of the Navy, Tom
Florence and Sam Archibald, late of the old
firm. This enterprising firm purchased the
Chester iron and steel works just previous to
the introduction of Townsend's bill for twenty
iron-clads, to cost SAC, 100000.
Robeson. who was poor man when prac-
ticing law in New Jersey, is likely to be a
very rich man before he quits his LUCRATIVE
Office in Washington.