The New York herald., 1875-12-03
A NAVY YARD AT AUCTION.
THE OLD PHILADELPHIA NAVY YARD SOLD FOR
ONE MILLION DoLLARs-THE PENNSYLVANIA
RAILROAD COMPANY THE PURCHASER.

THE OLD PHILADELPHIA NAVY YARD SOLD FOR
ONE MILLION DoLLARs-THE PENNSYLVANIA
RAILROAD COMPANY THE PURCHASER.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 2 1875
The singular spectacle OF q United States Navy
Yard offered for sale auction witnessed In this
city to-day, at the Philadelphia Exchange. The an
nouncement has been standing in the advertising col
umns Of various newspapers throughout the country
for month past that Messrs Thomas Sons, auction
eers OF this city, would sell to the highest bidder the
site Of the old Philadelphia Navy Yard the description
OF which, stripped much possible Of legal yerbage,
is as follows
DESCRIPTION or THE PROPERTY.
All that certain lot or piece OF ground, with
the buildings and improvements thereon erected,
which may be standing at the time OF
sale, situate on the southeast corner Of Front
and Prime streets, IN the city OF Philadelphia,
thence extending south along the east side OF said Front
street 677ll feet 10 point 2S471 feet northward
from north side Of Reed street. thence southcastwardy
along ground now or late Of heirs OF Albert Benton
deceased 222 10 feet crossing the side OF 0tsego
street the distance Of 2454 north Of the north
side oil Reed street. thence southwardy line parallel
with SAID Front street 20 feet thence southeastwardly
crossing the east side OF Osego the distance OF
,104 feet northward from the north side Of Reed
street and east side of Meadow street at the distance
| of7L94 feet northward from the north side OF Reed
street. ,l9L9A feet more or less, to point the
north line OF Reed street. at the distance of "a rect
Of the west side OF Delaware avenue thence
wardy along the SAID north line Of Reed street to the
river Delaware; thence northwardy along the
thereof 70 such line shall be hereafter determined
by the Board of Port Wardens the northern bound
ary thereof thence IN westerly direction along the
same TO the east line OF Delaware avenue, at point
where the same the south line Of Prime street.
and thence northwestwardy along the said south line
OF Prime street l3l l0 feet Front street the place
of beginning together with all and several the
wharves, wharf lots improvements riparian and other
rights and appurenances hereunto belonging, extend
ing eastwardly Of low water mark into the river Della
ware.
The Commissioners appointed by Congress TO direct
the sal wpra he tvin pant
Hon. George NJ Robson, Secretary OF the Navy /;
Hon B. H. Bristow, Secretary or the Treasury; GEN
era A. A. Humphreys, Chief OF Engineers United States
Army, and Mr.. Thomas Cochranc, President Of the
Board of Revision oil TAKES, of this city.
The terms OF the SALE according the advertisement
that the purchaser should make deposit of five
per cent at the time Of the sale and pay the balance
within thirty days the commission reserving the right
to postpone the sale reject any bid which they might
deem not for the interest of the government
SALE.
The time appointed at to-day and the place
the Philadelphia Merchants Exchange, but the un-
usual character of the sale and the general curiosity
among business men to know who would be the pur-
chaser purchasers occasoned large crowd to as
semble at that hour The United States Com
mission represented by Secretary Robe
and MI Cochrane and among the notables present
E. G. knight, the railroad official and banker;
John Rice, the Centennial contractors Collector of the
Fort CowIy william welsh, the shipping merchant.
who has become more widely famous by his attacks
upon the Indian Ring A. j. Cassatt, Vice President of
the Pennsylvania Railroad; William Henry Rawley coun-
sci for the commission and many other well known rail-
road men, rS estate owners, mercnants shippers and
lawyers At the hour appointed Mr. Barnes the
auctioneer took his place and read the terms of the
sale announcing that in accordance Herewith he would
hrst endeavor TO dispose OF the property WHOLE
failing in which he should be obliged to offer the ground
in lots together with all and singular the buildings and
improvements, docks, wharves, rights interests
privileges ways, waters, Liberties, easements, fran
chises, riparian rights heredtaments and appurtenan
ces thereto belonging or in anywse appertanng 1t was
started at $500 600 for the entire property and up
by the hundred thousand very speedily until 5000 600
was reached
Mr. BARNEs-Do hear million Gentlemen it
will be knocked down at 5000 900 unless
Mr. j. Lowber Welsh of the firm of s. 4 W.
Welsh, to which Mr.. William Welsh belongs was stand
ing beside Mr.. John G. Bultt well known lawyer in
this city with whom he had been holding whspered
conferences. Mr.. Welsh nodded his head
Mr.. BARNEs-Thank you. One million dollars am
offered One million, one million one million turning
to Mr.. Rawie the counsel for the commisson) that is
the best can get, sir, believe.
Mr.. RAwLE-Go on, Mr. Barnes.
Mr.. BARNEs-0ne mion-once; one million-twice;
million-three times, and sold-brnging down his
hand
SOLD FOR ONE MILLION
There murmur of curiosity, and the crowd
gathered about Mr.. Welsh TO know why quiet mer-
chant should buy such elephant a navy yard
whom he represented and what TO be done with
it, &c.
The auctionecr in response to all these queries
which were also addressed to him. announced NAs so
many want to know who the successful bidder Is will
say, with his consent, that the property knocked
down to Mr. j. Lowber Welshn-
Mr.. WELsH-For John Bulitt Esq, attorney.
attorney for whom 9p demanded the crowd.
Mr.. BULLITT-For J. O. Bartlett, Esq, attorney.
That is all that can be said
BOUGHT IT
The Commissioner refused to tell who the lawyers
were, and all OF rumors we're rife II was gener-
ally believed for while that Drexel Co., bankers
and S. W. Welsh shipping merchants, had purchased
the property jointly Again IL reported that either
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad the Pennsylvania
Railroad the buVerg. Nobody n knnv
the truth. After careful inquiry however, your cor.
respondent afterward ascerained that the real pur-
chaser was the Pennsylvania Railroad Company They
will lay their tracks through the that the city
will open through the ground and finish the almost
completed circuit of the city which the rails of this i'm
portant and powerful company form along the
water fronts OF the Delaware and the SchuylkI The
purchase Of the old yard by Mr. Scots road occasions
surprise among those who have been familiar with
the policy of the company The removal of the ship
ing and stores to League Island the naval station
has Just been finished.