New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-30
ASSESSMENT ABUSES.
BRooKLYNs SEWERS COST DOUBLE.


cULvERTs.
The excitement occasioned by THE TRIB-
E exposures of tho past and present conduct and the
scheue OF the Brooklyn Rng manifests itself not only
On be aydity with which THE TRIBUNE is daily sought
for but also in numerous other ways ConRratuatory
leters upon the course OF The TRIBUNE are constantly
being received at this Office aud property ex
pre tho belief that its efforts TO break the Ring and
secure genuine reform win prove successful A sure
sign Of dissolution is also TO he in the efforts OF GER
tain persons to show that they never were conneceu
with the Ring had in fact always opposed It, but are
acquainted with Of its designs, which they aro
now Eager 10 disclose From these and other persons
much interesting information has been giVen' anu
further investigation, guided by these statements nas
revealed the fact that, in still greater degree than mas
yet been made public, the Board OF CITY WORKS op |
presses and defrauds taxpayers, favors oer'aiu 0O
tractors, and employs incompetent suooruin"oS' "H'
keep the accounts Of the departments III " O"""'- WI
satisfactory prOperty-owners 80,
IT is sboyn that all the sewer pipes OF every siSe lalo
in Broolyn streets have be purchased by the con-
tractogs from one rm and lately has been arranged
that ALI the new manhOes plates and cuverts used are
20 be obtained from a single hrm
The sewerage system Of Brooklyn was planned ana
adoped By the citizens Board of Water and Sewerage
Commissioners 1t provides for dividing the city into
sewerase districts Each OF these districts has large
djsohargng sewer empying into udeWater ana prancn
ing from these mains lateral sewers consisting OF
pipes Of various from 10 to IS inches in diameter
The pipes which were used for many years by the Sew
eraRe Board we're made OF burnt stoneware and were
imported from Scotland. Very few Of them are now
used The price OF nearly throe times the cost
of those at present laid down. yet the assessments are
vastly greater than when they were used At that
time the laying of the pipes cost the prop
ertyowner about S60 for a lot of 2bOO square
feet. In some cases the assessments have
amounted during the past year to $50 lot for
sewerage As the chief expense is In the cost OF the
pipe IL difficult TO account for this dferenoe IN
The pipes now used arc composed OF kosen
dale cement and gravel and can be made Tor less tan
one-thrd the the stone pipes. But no oompeu
ton is permitted in furnishing them only one hrm Is
allowed 10 supply them The contractors are Informed
when proposals for dong the work are advertised IOr
leach subdsrict being contracted for separately tnat
they must base their bids upon the purchase OF inc
pipes at a certain mandatory. The firm which Is so
favored with the patronage Of the Board OF CITY works
at the beginning of each sends to all contractors
list OF prices Of pipes The prices is needless to cay
are more than what other manufacturers chare
so that only competition that can take piaoe between
tho contractors lies the cost OF labor and the supply
ing OF iron-work But 1t has lately been arranged 80
that even the iron frames must be obtained from
single frIn The contractors compelled to purchase
the man holes and ouvertpates from foundery which
has been doing years for the city The favored
firm is Howell saxton, Who or two cases, have
been charged with extortioD.
One OF these cases is worthy About four
years this firm, through their foreman put In pro-
posa ~ amPpOsts for the city at az so each
through the Street Commissioner, Robert Furey. Tho
contract held In allegiance, but the Common Council
directed 5000 ampposts be erected throughout the
city Among those most prominent in urging the pass
age of these ordinances Robert II. Whiting, the
present Commissioner of City Works, and at that time
Alderman from the Twentieth Ward. which, as may be
supposed was soon supplied with of the new lamp
IN Tho aifU Thp nriQa MI
upon amppOss was SIS apiece, which was paid to
Howell saxtou, who had previously agreed TO furnish
them for Sl2 So The matter was exposed In the local
Brooklyn newspapers at the time, and, as may be ex-
pected created great deal of excitement MI Whiting
discovering opportunity in which he might obtain
considerable popularity at little cost moved that COM
mittee OF Investigation be appointed The committee
met and Dir Whiting conducted the prosecution a num-
Der Of witnesses examined most OF whom were iron
founders They testified in regard TO the value OF the
posts all Of them were persons from whom Howell
&saxton, anticipating investigation, had purchased
small titles of lamp posts paying them SIS apiece,
the rate pai by the city them, that wnen called
upon 10 testify before the investigating committee the
ron-founders were confronted with the fact OF their
.aes at SIS apiece and accordingly gave evidence which
appeared 10 that the ampposs were furnished az
fair cost the city although all OF the witnesses
had previously sold them at lower rates. Only
witnesses favorable 70 Howell & Saxton were
subpenaed the committee made a withdrawing" re-
port and nothing came Of it. Mr.. Whiting expressed
his Indignation 90 the conduct of Howell saxton, but
since he has Commissioner OF the Board OF Cy
Works has permitted them to enjoy the especial favor OF
tb oard TO the extent OF obtaining large amounts OF
work from the city.
The manner in which Howell saxton have again OBJ
tanned the contract for supplying the castings appears
fair on its face but cOnoeals scheme OF fraud The
BOARD of Cty Works lately received proposals, without
sdyerts,ng from two three ironounders for supply
Ing castings for sewers. There was no public call for
proposals The three favories simply invited pri-
yately TO compete, and were enabled to Ak their
nriees for the work furnished with the understanding
,a whoever was successful the work should be divided
among them. As each Of these ironfounders a par
hcular friend Of the COMMISSIONERS 1t is presumed that
the latter are perfectly satisfied with the arrangement
ASSESSMENTS FOR NOTHING.
There a. however serious reason to beeve-and this
opinion seems generally entertained by taxpayers
that they are called upon pay, in the form OF
easements Tor Ppes that been laid, culvers
that have never been built, and iron-work that has
never been used for their benefit Under the system
sdopted by the old Commission in the matter OF
aagging setting streetamps aud other street improve
unents detailed statement OF every item OF expendl'
e incurred in each enterprise was set forth In the DO
ginning Of each assessment roll These items, added To-
Gather formed the amount OF as essment The gross
gums we're then divided by the Board OF Assessors be-
tween the lots benefited by the Improvement each one
hearing It's propOrtonas share BY that system every
lx-payer was informed OF the cost OF pavement the
number Of feet laid the cost perOot the surveyors fees
and all the items OF expenditure In the matter on
sewers the Board Of City Works conceal, at present. all
these details aud have adopted system which affords
the taxpayer DO insight into the cost Of the items
which swell bis assessment TO amount be Is
startled 70 contemplate. In calling for pro
Dosals for sewer-pipes the Board OF City Works
specfy no particular size OF pipe. but ask for