The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-13
ANOTHER BATCH OF TAmMANY CLAIMANTS.
A Correction.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Your article In Yesterdays issue, headed "An-
other Batch of Tammany Claims, does great injus.
tice to Messrs. Traphagen,. McClave and Seaver.
the Commissioners for opening the public drive
from 156th street to the Kingsbridge road at In
wood street.
In the first place they were appointed by Judge
Brady in October, 1872 not in ls7O71, and poll
tical influences were used to their appoint
ment Judge Brady has often stated that he in
tended that it should be a model commission
hence he appointed Mr.. Traphagen, an eminent
lawyer, well versed in law relating to real estate;
Mr.. McClave, well known real estate broker
especially conversant with the value OF unim-
proved real estatein the upper part of the island,
and Mr.. Seaver, President Of the Adriatc Insur-
ance Company, position that renders him an ex-
pert in the valuation Of buildings.
These gentlemen did not employ any appraisers,
being fully capable of making the valuations them.
selves. and appointed myself real estate broker.
having a knowledge Of the methods Of making the
calculations necessary for the proper adjustment
of awards and assessments as their clerk.
Again, their lees, as charged, allowed and taxed,
were only $4,000. and not $780, as stated, this lat
covered under mandamus for his services as Com
missioner on the Riverside Park.
AS to the law OF 1852, eminent lawyers hold that
Il does not apply to streets not the map of 1913
at any rate Mr.. Green paid one Of the Commission
ers for opening Madison avenue extension 81, ESQ.,
which, II the law OF 1852 was applicable should be
reduced to $500 or thereabOuts.
The length Of the public drive is Is, 216 feet
nearly three miles. The surveys were made in
the depth OF winter. All the valuation for benefit
and damage, and all legal forms, were fulfilled by
the Sd OF June, 1873, when the report was con-
rmed, TO the full satisfaction OF all parties inter-
ested, not single objector appearing against it or
the taxation of costs.
As to myself, j can only say that the Commits
soners In their anxiety to be Just and fair in their
action, adopted q mode OF valuation and
assessment by square feet, and graduating scale
OF value per loot il cents and mills, involving cal
cuations to three places Of decima1s. In order to
get the WORK forward rapidly this required that the
Surveyors assistants and myself should frequently,
night after night, be up until one aud two O'CLOCK
In the morning, and fully earned my salary.
am not, and never was, an attache of Mr.. Pur-
ser's office, and never have had any appointment
from him.
The ten days. notice for taxation OF costs, the
twenty days notice for confirmation OF report and
the thirty days ensuing for appeal gave Mr.. Green
ample opportunity to make objections, II any he
had; but at this late day. he asks the Corporation
Counsel to make his objections before the same
judge who taxed the costs aud confirmed the re.
port, both Of whom, when the matter was before
them for taxation and confirmation, expressed
the great qualification at the pr0mptness and fair
ness with which the Commissioners had conducted
'"'n '''''' "A'' ' '''p JAMES HocG.