The New York herald., 1873-09-25
LONG ISLAND CITY.
The Alleged Frauds in the Four.Year.
Old Municipality.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY
Mayor Debevoise Rises to Explain and Wipes
Away Much Mud-Why the Bonds Were
Signed and Sold in New York City-The
Mayor Had Nothing To Do With
the Water Boards Purchases.

Mayor Debevoise, of Long Island City, was 'at
home'' to the HERALD reporter who called at his
house yesterday, and submitted TO an interview on
the subject OF his connection with and agency in
the transactions which brought forth the resolu-
tions OF impeachment against him In the Board OF
Aldermen on the previous day. He had yesterdays
HERALD in his hand, one bright particular column
OF which he had evidently studied most industri.
ousy. After preliminary conversation with ref
erence to the contents OF that column,
to wit, the substance of the charges
preferred by the Investigating Committee
OF the Board of Aldermen against the
Mayor the City Judge, the Board OF Water Com
missioners and the Commissioner of Public Works,
Mr. Alexander Moran, as an er oDicio member
thereof, Mayor Debevoise took the report in yes
terday's HERALD for his text, and volunteered the
following uerbattnp statement, without any inter-
ruption from the reporter, refreshing his memory
and holding on to the thread of his story by an oc-
casional glance at the paper. The Mayor, by the
way, is tall, well built and handsome gentleman,
with mild, humid eye and unpredatOrlal-
looking cOuntenance, conveying no idea by
his general appearance and facial expression that
he is the wonderful expert his opponents represent
him to be at those little games at which the old
Tammany Ring was perfection itself, the Christian
statesmen OF the last Congress were clumsy ar
lists and the heather Chinee is peculiar" Having
complmented the HERALD on It's spirit OF fair play
as evinced in its representatives industriously
seeking for the other side Of the story after pub
fishing the charges and action OF his opponents,
Mr. Depevoise explained as follows-
THE MAYORS STORY.
81 was elected a year ago last spring Certain
members OF the Common Council-I shan't say who
Tor l don't care TO go into personalites-ca to
me in reference to some appointments. made
their appointments. Last spring some ten Aid ar
men were to be elected There was split in the
democratic party, and some of the Aldermen seek
ing election wanted me TO remove the friends of
others and put in their own friends instead. l did
not wish to remove men who did not deserve re-
mova, and l refused to make the changes they
desired. On that
WAR WAS DECLARED
against me, and 1t has been carried on ever since.
In January last the Common Council authorized
the issue of water bonds to introduce water into
the city. The resolution that passed the Common
Council contained an lnterllneation, as set forth
in to.day's HERALD. This interineation was made
Dy the Corporation Counsel, Mr. Burnett 1t is in
his handwriting, and not in mine as stated, and
1t was made before the resolution was introduced
in the Common Council at all. Alderman Lon
ergan, Chairman of the Committee on Pub
lie Works, was present when the interlineaton
was made by the Corporation Counsel on the
morning before the resolution was introduced and
1t was Mr.. Lonergan who introduced 1t. This inter-
hneation, as anybody can see, was necessary; for
some one should have the right to deem when the
bonds should be issued, otherwise such vagueness
and Misunderstanding would arise would pre-
vent the sale OF the bonds. ON the passage OF that
resolution ordered
THE BONDS
TO be Autographed, and when that was done and
they were signed or partially signed, thought it q
rrant do Slfar n ha nffu nfN nvp
York, with ready access to the Safe Deposit Com
pany, than to carry them about Long Island City,
also considered it safer to have the City Clerk
over and sign them here and 1or the same reason.
l then proceeded to dispose OF the bonds as
as to power l sold them at par Oh the
face oil them without refere-ce to a
fraction Of interest upon them which everybody
knows was an excellent sale as the bonds could
not be worked OF III an ordinary market except at
a very considerable discount Off the par value
We might even have to pay commission, but that
was saved by my exertiOns. When the water
bonds were signed by the City Clerk 1t done in
and in order that might count the bonds imme-
diately and put them in the Safe Deposit COM
ABOUT THAT EXTRA BOND.
The number signed at the time was 200 bonds of
$1,000 each, and not 3O0-from No. to No 300
both inclusive. When the blank form first came
from the photographer took the blank numbered
81" folded 1t and carried 1t over to Long Islam
City, without signature or execution to be shown
to the Water Board in order that they might
pass upon the form OF the blank. When Mr..
U'Grady the City Clerk, came over here did not
have tnat blank form NO. l) with me, and after
wards took 1t over to him and had him to sign it..
In regard to what was stated about my not Keep
worst part OF the story |, as Mayor had no neces-
sity for keeping financial accounts at all. When
bonds were sold or financial transactions were hau
in regard to the Water Board as well as any other
branch oil the city government,
THE VOUCHERS
were passed by the City Treasurer, whose books
hnv 10 transnctiOna I did n an
books; but assisted Mr. Lyddy's memory with q
little memorandum book, which l kept with me
always, showing how the Treasurer's books stood
on that matter.
In regard to the purchase Of the Gasman farm I
have to say that the whole subject OF a plan Tor the
introduction of water into Long Island City was
referred by the Board for a report to Mr.. A. r.
Ketchum, OF Buffalo, an engineer OF great promi-
nence in that branch of the profession. Ae gave
the matter his most careful considera-
ton. Long Island City Is so situated that
it is impossible except at an expense OF some mil
lions Of dollars to introduce water from any large
lake stream so as to insure to the city an absO
lutte and unquestlonable supply Tor the future as
well as the present. This large amount was lar be-
yond the means OF our city at present. The only
source, therefore, from which to obtain water was
LOCAL WATER SUPPLIES
as could be made available. This must consist
OF natural spring. Mr.. Ketchum reported that
there were, within the city limits three Important
sary Ma;s' that ali these sources should @ be
acquired by the city and thus secure them against
incompatible with supply Of wholesome
water. These three sources were the
Gasman farm, the Milk Spring. and the
Painter Spring, the latter being a
small, isolated spring OF less Importance than the
Others The Board, Of course, proceeded at once
to bargain Tor the purchase OF Gasman farm and
Mix Springs. Had they belonged to any one else
the action OF the Board would undoubtedly have
been much commended and everybody delighted
at the expectation OF finding an adequate supply
of water. Both these water sources. however,
happened to belong to the gentleman for whom l
had lor years been
ACTING AS AN AGENT
for the sale OF building lots. One hundred and
eight lots OF the Gosman farm which were deemed
by Mr.. Ketchum the engineer, as necessary to be
obtained by the city, were purchased at $500 lot,
which, in my opinion, was very advantageous
transaction for the city. Upon inquiry, In re-
gard to the purchase Of some Of the prop
erty next adjoining none could be obtained
at less than $500 lot. This Gosman
property Will give to the city a million gallons a
day OF pure spring water. Criticism has been
made that this property, when sold to the city,
had Just been purchased at 81, 200 an acre by the
owner The property was purchased by him In
1910 tpur 0vA mt ha no wa saf