Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-29
The Case OF Mr. Corcoran

kii''r Star since this EN- nent hapks- 49,.
plilauthropisJ has appeared in the new role a.
leader OF the obstractionists tn the District. il
may be well TO notcs one OF two incidents m
his life which are not generally known.
The foundation OF Mr.. COrcoran's yreat
wealth - Tar a. his real estate property i con-
cerned. was laid in the year i>lS. when the gov
eminent offered for sale large portion OF the
land in the District owned hv H. The burk M
inns land was purchased by Mr.. COrcOrAu come
OF i at the extremely low hgures OF one rriIl-
anu even one halt mill pei foot That same
property u to-day worth from = dollar 20 Two
dollars and half per foot: aud the rand ,yroWfb
OF Nashington and the improvements Of ne
board OF Public Works have effected this great
increase of value. Thusmuch tor the or etu OF
that large amount OF real estate which M CO..
cOTan owns here. the lust taxes tor which he
now hesitates 10 pay.
-, II i well known that when the var brose out
MI. Oorcoran's sympsth.e- were entirely with
me south, but u u not generally understood
mat he re-orted TO very small suhterfupe iU
order TO retain some OF his most yaiualie nm.
perry, and prevent lie cOufsc alton. Relieving
OF hoping that the secessiOni--s would event.,
ANY succeed. ami thinking that Washtnv-op
Would be the theatet OF contention, AIR. C6rcn-
ran quietly converted a large rOrtion oil H..
wealth into cash. and, with over a miillon ,t
dollars ln gold started Tor Iurore. H. SautI-
menis being well known 10 the government
lhe general then IN command OF the city uatf-
ned bis agent thar the large residence IN m.
corner OF Connecticut avenue and Il s--eet
would IN accOrdancr with regui ations esf4b-
llshed, be taken Tor hospital purpose and in
strueted him to deliver the kevs by a CERTAIN
Jay: he agent, in great trepidatiou ina
mediaiely telegrsrhed Mr.. Corcorsn, who
had not yet sailed, but va sr5ptiuy
Al the New York hotel that .Fran1
rendezvous for rebels OF every shade OF Syfnpa-
my " New York city, ami askCd for instrur-
uohs. Mr. Corcoran AZ once seut a dispatch to
the french Minister in this city, begging him
10 Jake possession Of the house and olcipy H.
Mhen the officers demanded the Use OF the
pudding they were accordingly met by tue
french Minister, who asserted that he had
rented The premises OF Mr.. COroeran Bv this
means hls beautiful residence wa- saved from
every harInr aud the government wa debarred
us nse Tor hospital PURPOSES
MI. Corcoran remained in Europe during he
ehufe war, ana the success OF the mon forces
alone preserved that property which nov con-
suIutes much OF his fortune. He was most len
iehtly dealt With by the government, even a
large rental being paid him tor such OF III
buildings as were used az government offices
during times Of need; ana this, too, in the face
OF ms well known hostility 10 the cause which
iiumphed. Surely be should lie the last 70 lend
ms name 70 the opponents OF improvements
winch have enhanced the value OF Lts property
an hundred fold, or 10 subscribe 10 vague and In
definite charges Of fraud ana corruption against
those whose only proven crimes appear % b.
their devotion 10 the CniOn aud their ambition
Tor me prosperity and beautifying OF the ma
tons csPitai.
CITIZEN AND Ta.pay-rR