The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-14
BROOKLYN DISPUTES.
The Protector Of the East River
Bridge Answers His ACcusers.
uR. WILLIAM G. ENGSLETS DEFENCE.
Estimates That Fell Far Short OF
a Necessary Outlay.

among them who corner lot or any other lot but
feels that the completed his property
will jump hundred per cent in value. This may Or
may not be deluson, but certain il Is the Brooklyn
folks very sensitive on tho bridge question They
are extremely eager finished and they are Just
wondering, IL It is 70 much as Is stated,
when Will IL be done2 There are many respecta-
bic people who maintain that the conduct Of the bridge
management has been honest able and Efficient that
the expense far incurred has been necessary and
avoidabe, that the original estimates based
experience Of any like undertaking and found by
practical test 70 be entirely fault in several grave
particulars They also contend that the real
magnitude Of the work has been greatly under
rated and that the two great towers, they
appear 70 the eye have not swallowed up all the
So 900 900 said to have been expended The founda
tons the New York side sunk eighty two feet below
the surface the labor and expense Of which few speeta
tors take into account when gazing up at the LOFTY
pier ST. 600 600, and everybody will remem
Der At what sacrifice Of life these foundations were
accomplished.
W. KNCsLEY's SIDE THE STORY.
As the HERALD seeks only the truth regard these
so-called Brooklyn jobs and willing TO open its
columns to both sides Of any public controversy, i
eheerfully allows Mr. william c, Kingsley to state his
side Of the HERALD reporter met Mr.. Kingsley
at the Brooklyn Club yesterday and had his views at
some length in reply to the charges made against him.
lie said he thought himself the best abused man in
Brooklyn though judging from his candid unconcern
he appeared ii no way disturbed by the abuse. Ho
stands six feet well proportioncd athletic man,
gu Of ygor, and, it might be said, OF youth, for Mr.
Kingsley is not yet forty years old. There is
certain air OF the rural districts about
the cut Of his clothes, the franlSness
OF bis speech and the heartiuess of his manner He
plotting schemes Of fraud, and he is rather too open
aud ingenious for conspirator a wlrepuler.
'gThe statement is wrong" he Observed 'that have
lived in Brooklyn only seven years. have been here
eighteen years and have been contractor about
twenty, or since was nineteen years Old" Having
made this correction Of statement which he con-
sidercd set aloat TO mako it appear he was an
adventurer in Brooklyn, Mr. Kingsley proceeded to
Etigmatize the abuse evelled against him the Of
spring OF personal and political malice. Mr. Barnes
who made the report OF the Committee of Fifty' no
continued, 'insinuatng charges OF dishonest dealing
against me as General Superintendent Of the bridge
formerly associate Of mine in the ownership OF
the Eagle BE was very anxious get the bridge
direction, and there stock TO be had at the
time sold him $40 900 worth OF my own. He wanted
10 be a director Of the bridge that his
uame as he sad might 60 down TO his
ycat grandchildren associated with the most
gigantic undertaking OF modern times. He also
wanted to be Mayor, and honestly worked 70 secure
him the nomination, as believed at the time he would
make good enterprisng head OF the city government,
but others in the party held different opinion and he
was rejected He has ever since held responsible
for his defeat, and hence these malicious and lying
stories he publishes day after day concerning me"
SLAP AT THE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
Mr.. Kingsley next proceeded to call in question the
he deemed honest and honorable men, but the con-
trolling spirits set Of disappointed oice-seekers
doing their best magn the characters Of those who
CHANGED 10 have the reputation Of being successful
"Why don't they come out he cried, "and show
their hands2 They but sneaks and towards hiding
their charges away from the light and running to the
Attorney General implorng him to come and help
them ont in their dastardy persecution. am ready
to meet them at any time, but the hypocrites are
afraid. What is to prevent them II they think
they have any Just Of action from going TO work
once without waiting for the Attorney General and
having me indicted by the Grand Jury' No; ali they
want to the cry Of Fraud, have an action
brought and excite sufficient odum in the public mind
against tie Jnen 20 whom they are hostile 4
THE FIFTEEN CENT COMPENSATION.
REPoRrER-How do you explain the fifteen per cent
Of compensation you accused Of having claimed,
contrary 10 the resolution OF the Executive Com
mtteeg
O salary Tor nay services General Superintendent
declined to DO So informing them that my time and
pervces were worth more than the salary that
contractor, and such, never accustomed 70 accept
salaries that took large risks and that all desired
to be put tue footing In regard to the work
the contractors under the United states government
al ofwhom receiving fifteen per cent the cost
OF the material furnished and placed position. The
contractor OF the Post Oflce in New York had fifteen
per cent for oil the he supplied dressed and
placed The contractor OF the Chicago Post Office
Tie same aud the contractors Of other buildings such
fl.n aFNfF al mon al r.
ike manner But there Is a differences between US.
Before any Of the money Appropriated by the Legs
lature could be drawn u was necessary that The
$500 900 Of stock set aside FOR private stockholders
should be paid up All tho money that Il seemed pos
sble raise about s225, 900 In order that the
work might proceed TOOK myself the balance between
this amount aud the 100000, and then the terms OF
The law fulfilled II vas agreed BY the Board Of
Directors that should receive Ateen per cent on the
amount or expenditures incurred according 70 their
resolution alter the foundations had reached three
feet above high water mark. Tho compensation then
on On expenditure 81 $l,I7g 900 was jl75 600 Some
time subsequently, at meeting Of The Board, the
question Of compensation was up for discuss ion ana
many of tile directors gave Us Their opinion that
fifteen per cent was TOO large a agarc. Then
l agreed 70 accept i've per cent provided
the Board would take al over 100000 q bridge stock
that held OF my hands They were IN justice bound
to DO this as consented to take almost bali the pr
yate stock Al time when nobody c0gd oe got 70 n
vest il and when work on the bridge could not be
carried on the legislative appropriation made avail
able unless the $780, 200 Of private stoe was taken up
The Board agreed my proposition, and then turned
over $50 600 to the company the excess Of c0mpen
saton between i've and hfeen per cent The Commit.
Tee Of Fifty said they found the word fifteen erased and
dve substituted the books The explanation o. that
is easy enough After the agreement made with the
Board IL deemed unnecessary 70 pass new reso-
luton aud II was simply ordered that the alteration OF
the word hfteenm "nve' 10 the original resolution
would be sufficient
RgroRrEa-Whai answer do you make 20 the charge
or having interest u the qaarrcs that supply stone
Tor the bridget
Mr. KNGsLEY-A very brief answer never had an
interest, directly Indirectly IN any quarry lnsmy
hlo.
REPoRrER-Have you interest 10 the sawmill and
lumber company that Is SAID 70 furnish lumber and
timber supplies for tho bridge2
Mr. KISGsLEY-None whatever. That sawmill was
established some twenty years ago aud not, as has
been stated, eoncurrently with the building or the
bridge II - true, however that bad interest ia
the purchase OF some estate on which the sawmlll
happens To stand Several u us bought NJ believing IL
20 be a safe investment II had q frontage or about
100 feet the Gowanus Canal II was no moro nor
less than ordinary investment In the hope OF ito be-
Nnv af "a 0tn