The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-10
THE BROOKLYN RING.

The Brooklyn ring promises TO be as no.
torious as the Tweed ring and seems to
have been as profitable to its members.
The tax payers of that city have been hav-
ing the financial transactions of this ring
investigated, and have laid the result, in
the form of afiidavits, before Governor
Tilden for his action. From published
statement, we CLEAN few figures, showing
in some measure, the extent of some OF the
alleged frauds. By authority of an act OF
the legislature, the common council was
empowered TO expend one million four
hundred thousand dollars for building a
''storage reservoir" at Hampstead, and al
though competent engineers declared that
40 such reservoir was needed, and, when
needed, could be constructed for two hun
dred thousand dollars, the whole sum was
expended. No competition was allowed.
an offer from responsible source to do the
work, as contracted for, for some half q
million dollars less than was actually paid
was disregarded, a quarter of million
QOllATb NlOlC tuuii thC atuOups atthOAhHSN
was paid the contractor. who was men,
Der or creature of the ring, and now, al
though the reservoir will not hold water
when completed, the contractor demands
half million more to finish it. 1t is estl-
mated that the stealings on this contract
already amount to a million of dollars.
The East river bridge seems to have been
still greater swindle. Brooklyn's pro-
portion toward building the bridge was
nine million dollars, and the managers,
without advertisement, furnished the sup
plies, owned or were interested in the
quarries and mills from which stone or
lumber was obtained, received commissions
on bonds sold and voted TO themselves one
seventh of all the funds received. The
committee seem to have made contracts
with themselves, purchased supplies in the
same manner and audited their own bills,
and then when an investigation was threat
ened mutlated or destroyed the records.
Commissioners were appointed to con-
struct street across "Wallabout flats
with power 10 expend two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars thereon, but they
expended one million two hundred and
sixty thousand dollars, paying eight hun
bred thousand dollars thereof to one or two
of their own number. In order to obtain
requirement. of an avenue, signatures were
cut from petition for dispensary ant
made to, do duty to one for the requirement.
and three hundred Thousand dollars
swindle was the result. Out of Prospec
Park the ring profited largely, paying three
hundred thousand dollars more-one mil
lion six hundred and eighty thousand dol
lars in ALTO one of their number fo
fifty acres of land than they had paid to al
outsider for three hundred and twenty
acres, and expanding ten million of dollar
ON the park when only four hundred thou
sand dollars was originally appropriated.
These are only specimens of the ring
work. Other fraudulent petitions wer
manufactured, other streets were openet
or paved, sewers were constructed, tn
taxpayers were defrauded and swindled
money was lavishly expended and fount
its way into the pockets of the members
of the ring and it was the disclosures mad
by the tax payers investigating committee
that worked the political revolution il
Brooklyn last week, and it is the fear o
the consequences that has led the ring t.
contest the election of Daggett, the new
republican sheriff. These frauds in
democratic city, in the "city of churches,
cause to pale the dongs of "Boss' Shep
herd and his ring in the ''city of republi
"can Office holders, and opens up anothe
excellent field for administrative reform.