The New York herald., 1875-11-29
THE BROOKLYN JOBS.
Reply Of Demas Barnes to Kings
ley and Kinsella.
Statements That Should be
Legally Investigated.
BRooKLYN. Nov. q, 1875.

To TIM EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In recent issue OF your paper there appeared a
statement of Mr.. William G. Kingsley, Superintendent
ofhe East River Bridge In later issue OF the HERALD
there appeared statement by Mr., Thomas Knsela,
editor Of newspaper alleged to be principally owned
and controlled by Superintendent Kingsley AS both OF
these gentlemen discussed matters Of great interest
the cities OF New York and Brooklyn and made my
name the basis OF their remarks, ask the cour-
tesy OF part Of the space occupied by them in your
columns to correct some OF their statements.
A bridge tho East River more closely uniting
the destnies OF these great cities s Of vast con-
to nearly two millions of people Twice as much
money has already been appropriated for the work as
expended in opening $50 miles OF canal through
the forests and across the rivers OF this State Tho
mechanical features of the bridge yet matter OF
experiment, and what its final cost will be- the man
ayers decline to say believe in the bridge, and was
one of its original promoters but believe in its proper
management and that unless more economy and in
tegrity shall be exercised in the future than there has
been the first four years of its construction, 1t will
never be built II is therefore, matter OF
public interest that no msconception shall be allo wed
to exist regard to the transactions OF the who
responsible for the delay which has already taken
place and for the expenditure Of so vast q sum OF
money.
The bridge at first was to have been completed June
l. 1870 The time was then extended to June 80 1874
1t should have been completed long before this time
The cities already lost nearly 600 in
interest paid upon tho bridge debt On the presen:
plan oproceedng the interest lost paid on the bridge,
before it shall be completed viii amount to S. 500 ooo
The HERALD reports Mr. Kingsley saying
Barnes made the report of the Committee Of Fifty,
nsinuating charges OF dishonest dealings against me,
general superintendent of the bridge. He very
anxious to get into the bridge direction, and there
no stock to be had at the time | sold him $40 900
worth Of my own. He wanted to be Mayor. He has
ever since held me responsible for bis defeat" This
statement Is not fact
The HERALD also reports Mr.. Kinsella saying:-'T
sn,rted interest Mr. KinrsIsy and pII,is his
partner Mr. Keeney are riskng largo share of their
words OF these men sooner than | would the sworn
affidavit of Barnes the only man who has assailed
them.n
propose to show that Mr.. Kngseys interest in tho
bridge not "a public spirited INTEREST," that tho
why stock could not be had by those who were
willing to assist the enterprise because Mr..
Kingsley and his partners could carry it without in
vestlng any money, and because they wanted IT TO
control the organization for their personal purposes
The sentiments entertained by myself respecting the
management OF the bridge we're generally shared In by
this community.
Mr. Kingsley is apubc man. well known in
nection with legislative proceedings as member Of
the State and local conventions and for years as one
of the Commissioners for building the new Capito also
as one OF
THE ASSOCIATES OF TWEED,
Sweeny, Connolly, Murphy and Stranahan on the East
River Bridge and the person who has built most OF
the sewers and paved many Of the thoroughfares in
this city, He is known also as the contractor who re-
ceived $45600O more for building reservoir at Hemp
stead. Known, too as the person who received over
$500 600 for work done the Waabout Basin as the
who received $14l 600 for lands turned into Pros
poet Park; the man who received $3.50 900 OF tho
stock of the Nicolson Pavement Company and
$65, 900 in cash 'for his personal and polti-
cal Inf Influence as the man tn through pt;ano whom Gn
pany, and as the principal proprietor OF two news
papers in this city his partner in the newspapers being
Mr.. Thomas Kinsela- To discuss the public acts OF
person, having many claims to the reputation OF
being public man, is quite legitimate.
NOT MEMBER COMMITTEE or Pity
/ was not member of the Committee OF Fifty and
did not know OF their report on the bridge until saw
II IN the newspapers About one year after work was
begun | informed by the treasurer that 10000
of the stock had been allotted to me and that had
been made director Of the company. received the
certificates of the company, as the money was called
for not of Mr. Kingsley, as he states paid ninety
per the calls made upon me; Messrs. Kingsley
and Keeney paid but sixty per cent on theirs The
In May, 1873 Mayor elect Schroeder then Collector,
wrote as follows
sThe amendment providing for the forfeiture Of de-
lnquent stock recommended by me, first 10 get
Tweed. Swoeny and Connolly out OF the list of stock
holders and thus to weaken the influence Of w. c.
Kingsley, who always held their proxies when an cleo
ten tor Board OF Directors took place. and secondly
TO compel Mr.. Kingsley TO pay up. ("
Mr.. Schroeder and Abram 5. Hewitt made the follow
ing report on the bridge management
There had been paid Mr. Kingsley under this teen per
cent? resolution for adyances the Of S173,ooO
had been paid BY all the private on account Of
the bridge amounted to 1881 4oshowinE overpay
ment Of s1l6oz3 3 The payment Of money 70 him beyond
hypothesis consistent with the discharge OF the
directors Of their duties to the public
This looks very much If others besides Mr.. Barnes
criticised the bridge management
asked the privilege of examining the records OF the
company and was refused, whereupon resigned as d
rector. Ny resignation accepted !
lcited TO remain, being told that my departure would
ruin the company and some Of the men In IT. Ny
resignation not acted upon for year but in
the meantime had been conceded the privilege" OF
an investigation. made such investigation as could
be made without authority To compel tho attendance
Of witnesses to examine the books of those from
whom supplies procured | was prevented from
inventoryng tho stone and material, as will be seen
from the following letter Of Egbert l.. Vele, an emf
nent civil engineer, whom employed for this pur~
pose:-
Hon DKxAs BARNES. Chairman Bridge COMMITTEES
DKAR sIR-f find Il impossible TO make satisfactory esti
o. the material purchased BY the New York Bridge
To overcome the thrown the way correct
by the unnecessary shifting OF the materials
skin as professional acumen which decline to
EGBERT L. SIEIE Consulting Engineer.
Prom the records Of the company gross Irregularities
were discovered Money had been credited for stock
subscriptions before the had been paid in large
quantities OF the supplies had been purchased by Mr.
Kingsley from companies In which no and his associ-
ates were Interested; no portion OF the supplies had
ceved had been voted to Mr. Kingsley in secret man
nor; commissions received by Kingsley on all tho
supplies the pay roll and land purchased; the money
paid TO Kingsley was covered up in fictitious
like commission accounts" Especial expense ac-
counts,n construction account" &c
il was also ascertained that prior 70 the examina
tion entries had been changed on the books aud the
records mutated In various ways
Mr. Kingsley's account had been ovcrdrawn
$4,000, OF which $4,000 only had been covered
back.
Various propositions were made TO the undersigned
10 modify or suppress report OF these facts Among
them we're the Mayoralty, areturn TO Congress- large
personal emoluments, &C "a report OF the lacts''
they said "would bo ruin; II must not be made But
report was made in the least Objectionable manner
in which such facts could be stated The result is we'll
known The President, the Superintendent and most
of the directors resigned and went 70 the Legislature
for relief
Mr. Kngsley's next statement is as follows
An the money that II seemed possible 10 raise was about
R225OOO In order that the work proceed took nv
self the balance between this amount and the $5OOOO0
That Is his 1rm subscribed for a trlae over one-haf
Of the stock necessary to control the Board OF Directors