New-York tribune., 1873-03-01
PLANS OF PLUMBER.
A WJspoM-HoUsE JOB.
u.rY A MILLION TO BE STOLEN in THE PuR-
CHASE OF A NEW PUBLIC STORE.

uALP MILLION TO BE sIOLhN IN i"H '""
CHASE OF NEW PUBLIC STORE
When Thomas Murphy was Collector of the
rort plan was devisod by himself and several IN
,ad persons having for ts object the securing OF
d,ng for the Appraisers Office and public store, and
AZ sale 70 the Government at more than douDe its vaIoe
.a n presumabe division OF the excess OF the amount
.d above its real value between interested persons
me Congress Investigating Committee presented MI
Murphy 10 the public In such hight that the scheme was
-mited oanguish but is now again revived measures
having been taken obtain the necessary legislation
and appropriation by Congress for the purpose
Al Iaght and weststs there s situated large build
,ng once used sugar refinery, but for some time
past employed for warehouse purposes This building
has been the market for sale for Is months at soO
and the building remained unsod until within week or
two This building is the which Mr. Murphy pro
poses TO have used for the Appraisers Office, and ae
eondingly Mr. Mullett architect OF the Post-oioe
building has written letter TO the authorities at WASH
tngton recommendingthe purchase Of the building Tor
the purpose named for sOOOOOo 1t is urged that the
prcsent public store unfortunately situated IN Green
vicst near,Rector that egress 10 1t Is ditncuit ana
that there is danger from the sparks escaping from the
dummies OF the Elevated Railway which Is piaceo III
sose proximity to the building The merchants ana I'D
porters of the city, while admitting the desiraeeness OF
changing the SITE object decidedly TO having the new
store 30 far up town, most OF the heavy LOADS
which pass into the Appraisers hands have to
he crted from Brooklyn and the lower part OF the CITY
on the East side. THIS would involve heavy ex-
rens 10 the merchants in the additional charges which
would be made for cartng goods such great distance
Thomas Murphy told trustworthy merchant short
time ago that he int nded that building in Lighst
sheud be used for the purpose as no other building
ontd answer and that should all his influence to
induce the necessary legislation which would produce
tha. result The matter will soon be brought beIore
Congress for the scheme Of punder Is concealed In one
of the Appropriation bills, and viii be sueoessfa unless
rn,or3 3aFo Il II
following statements:
William H. Fowler Of No. ISL Broadway, real estate
broker states the building at Lalght and Mest-ss
"a certain knowledge, has been IN the arHe or te
past years. 1t is nnadaped TO any oter purpOso
than tsat OF susaa b g,med @ nndesrable an sorts
of prices been askedfor IT, from s5ooOO 70 SoOOy
In is opinion il worth over SoOO al the utmost
and not over $4,000 year rental can be obtained for
ID is unadaped every respect for the pnrpose OF
despand the hight in the Of the building is very
poor ne ceilings are low ana the S VERY st n
order adapt it to the purpose OF pGDe sSCfS W iH is
10 make afidayt TO these facts whenever IL sh" DC
R spader OF No ia Broad-st stated that he was In
teresed a short time ago IN project 10 convert tns
building at Laight and Wessts, into warehouse and
for this purpose IL was proposed that warehVus,,ns
sempany should bo formed, In which hlmssli, MT MI
Opdyke and the owners Of the building should oe nter
ested. The owners, esteeming II " g09n oppoltuS t
for dspOsing Of old and useless building NJ lahey
price, proposed 10 cell 1t to the company loI sSg9 80 9 ~
the projectors felt CONVINCED that II hey paid SSSSo IN IN
csb, with the understanding that SoVoo OF SoVvo VI
should taken, tneN NOuu incu ne hoic
than tney would able to realize either at regular OF
forced sale The stated that they woud pIoDa
bly have an opportunity 70 do better consequently no
Arrangement was entered into. The building Is now
used warehouse purposes ana IS rented IN sres,
propCrton whatever the interest the $4,000 whch
was ered thcm. Mr. spadeT is, OF course, Wiling 70
prominent warehouse man. whose name for the
present kept secret states hat ne mas seen ,e eSv
sent Washington, aud that IL recomaehas t1e pat-
Of the building named FOR SlOoOo that ne Elbows
fft11a "a
Of the measure, which be believes VIII soon DC passeu
Ano1hef witness states that Mr.. stenmetz, who is
acting architect in the POStOhce building, showed
him Null etPs letter ana tnat IL ieeounenue1 @ 1Ie
adapted to the purpose ana worth $oOVO' 70 inc 0o'
ernment
TRIBUNE reporter called upon Mr.. Steinmetz 10 OBJ
tain information in regard 70 the building He said;
know what action has been taken in regard TO the
@ @ @ q Snaas aG 0 3 pubs ss c ssST 1 Of the
Treasury and has named three buildings as desirable
saSaS fsS ESs aT tnS S at Sdnc located cat
reveal state secrets if did have reason to believe
await the the Secretary of the Treasury be-
fore giving the information. refuse TO state whether
am Fee state that the whole matter rests WITH ae
Secretary Of the Treasury who VIII choose tDe DuIuhs
recommended by Mr. M1liett and myself
STATEMENTS OF OWNERS.
Mr. Paul n. SpOROrd who formerly owned the building,
told reporter Of TIE TRIBUNE Wednesday that his firm
was longer in possession Of the property IN question:
having sold 10 few days ago 10 jacob CfOmWtu OF NO
lg5 Unon-s Brooklyn. Later in the dsy MT. Cromwell
made the following statement to the reporter;
thought the building in question Of Spoford Bros,
several weeks ago. half million OF dollars, and
Am owner OF although not III iu possession be-
cause the present tenant has not yet vacated it, The
building erected 10 II years ago as sugar re-
and S7SOOg0 purchased 10 OF the heirs OF
the original owners who are so scattered tnat u re-
quired weeks 10 get the deed fuily signed.
In the course angry legal fight between these heirs
leased the building warehouse to man named
Wood who took possession of 1t in 1S70 and who has
occupied IT, In December the Government adver-
tsed for proposals for lease OF building III place OF
the Greeuwich-s, and as had then nearly con
ended ny negotiations for the purchase OF the property
made my bid. The following month commission
came here from Washington 10 examine the several
buildings offered, and saw mine among the 0thers. 1
have agent In Washington with whom L nave ID
trusted the matter When bought the building knew
gettAg for less than its value, and thought 1t
very good bargain. 1t snot old building and not
Is very light II could not DO used storehouse,
the floors too close together they having
constructed for another purposes but as they are OF
has offered TO remove them Tor the material
do not know Thomas Murphy, and would not know
him If met him. neither have had any coIllnu-
nieatiOn with hm Indirectly. IL my agent has do not
know OF IT, think the building, with such changes as
spoken Of would be suited TO the requirements or
tOehOuse in fact do not know OF any other In
the city which would be better for the purpose. am
f.eourse anxious that the Government should lease
the building and II it does will not sell II for OOOOOO
i was offered S75O0oo by railroad company for the
Building yesterday but not willing 10 sell IL Tor that
Many prominent merchants have told me voluntarily
that there another building in NeW-fork better
lOcated for the purpose and they anxious that It
should be used. shall be glad, OF course II the Gov
erDment pur ebases 1t, but think 1t is worth $,OQ0QO.
WATER METER FRAUDS CONTEMPLATED.
THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS AUTHOR