The New York herald., 1875-11-10
HISTORY OF THE wALLABouT EXTENSION

thought would be very unwise 70 give his knowledge
10 the public
HISTORY OF THE wALLABoUT EXTENSION
SKETCHES OF LUCKY LOT OF MEN.
"Why do the people Of Brooklyn permit themselves
70 be robbed by rngs2" is question more easily
asked than answered. detailed explanation
OF why they cannot help themselves would
be too long and tedious. Suffice it
to say that when every department, including the
Board of Education, is grasped in the entaclcs Of the
poypus Ring that governs the city, when even the saw
nes banks at its mercy and tho city deposit banks
tremble at it, 1t easy what hercuean task it
must be to destroy so formidable a monster Acres
upon acres OF real and houses by the hundred
have been condscated by this
ALL-DEvouRISG MONSTER
to satisfy for patent pavements laid down
miles away from the property conascated. The gentle
men who live the Heights (of responsibility in
measure responsible for this state Of things The city
funds are deposited in the thirteen banks Of Brooklyn
and the gentlemen the Heights are directors or
shareholders of them. The savings banks hold
of the city bonds, ana thus connection
of interest In some degree secured be-
tween the city government and potent social
influence The banks in their monthly reports
days publish statement Of their capital and the pub
lie is left IN the dark TO whether the city funds may
be the only capital some Of these banks possess In
every possible direction the Ring which is by
confined few men, but embraces in its aids and
quite full brigade Of citizens in every walk Of
le has thrown out its intrenchments and no blowing
or rams horns Will bring down its walls Yesterday the
HERALD gave pretty comprehensive idea Of the
imposition on the taxpayers By means OF the Hampstead
reservoir. To-day is presented JOB Of similar
Characteristic Wallabout exteason--which was kept
going for years and was only abandoned when an in
yestigaton threatened by the Common Council
THE wALLABoUT EXTENSION.
The need Of closer and more convenient communica-
tion between Brooklyn and Williamsburg was long ago
felt by the people of both sections Of Brooklyn
Wallabout Creek deep horseshoe indenaton OF the
coast hne in front OF the Navy Yard Years ago 1t
penetrated far inland and at low tide presented vast
mud ltwas gradually crcumscrbed, but 1t long
continued be barrier the way OF short and easy
/ intercourse between Williamsburg and Brooklyn. a
project do away with the roundabout method of
communication between the cities received with
favor On all sides 1t was mooted as usual through
the Ring organ and its merits sung from day 10
DAY. lobby Of Brooklyn politicians found their
way to Albany wiIha bill already fixed and every pro-
on the treasury. The Bill passed with tho
active aid OF the Brooklyn delegations in Senate
and Assembly, who were IN duty bound 10 help for
ward any OF the Ring, seeing that TO the Ring
they owed their Official existence. Under the Walla-
bout Commission act three men-AeXander McCue,
Seymour L. Hustled and Anthony +. Campbell-were
appointed Board of Commissioners, the act said,
'ior the improvement Of lands in and near Wallabout
Bay by laying out and constructing basin dock and
Streets and further they were authorized TO lay out
grade and pave street and sidewalk upon Washington
1 avenue The appropriation for the work was not To
exceed $3.50 600 1t a very lat goose TO
| pluck; the Commissioners sat down 70 the
4 task and determined not alone 70 tako their
4
| only improvement for which their existence could bo
justified the extension Of Washington avenue from
Flushing Kent avenue the thing Tor which the peo-
! pie or Brooklyn and Williamsburg were all along
camorng This they determined should proceed so
slowly that its progress might be as imperceptibe as
the growth OF an oak tree This finished, they had no
other earthly business as q commission; but Il was
TOO RICH a PLUM
10 drop. As long they could show the extension
was unfinished they had an excuse for remaining in
existence Commissioners. There were other irons
In the fire at the same time and il would spoil the fun
I laIf tn he tax inns fh0pn ~
years 10 construct half mic Of street. but to put the
basns and docks IN order SO that vessels might come
IN and pay tolls to the commission, occupied only six
months. In section Of tile act creating the comms-
sion Was a clause as follows
The said Streets basins, DOCKS &c. shall be under
the exclusive control and management Of said Comlns-
Eioners until they shall be fully Completed
The pregnant meaning Of this little joker will be un-
dersocd when u Is stated that all the energies Of the
commission were directed 10 making room Tor vessels
and barges in the basins and cvyng OF the cargoes toll
or two cents ton What this amounted 10 In the year
may be inferred from the fact that the heels Of the
improvement Of the basins and DOCKS forty hfy
ses might be observed lying there at one time The
docks and basins continued TO yield
A REVENUE
but the improvement the people OF Brooklyn and Will
liamsburg sighed Tor languished Starting with $780,
600 the act framed BY the Commissioners themselves
declared 'for the purpose Of paying for the said Wash
ngton avenue basins and DOCKS all other expenses
necessary and incident thereto and for which the
Common Council OF the city Of Brooklyn are author
lzed 70 issue bonds for an amount not exceeding $3.50
O00" the same commission managed TO spend 81, 200
COO As they went with the work they other
improvements" ahead that, II properly presented
to the Legislature, would be quite sufficient TO
keep them gong Tor the term Of their
natural lives In March, 1865 they he'd an
passed authorizing them TO determine the wharf
line on the norheriy side 81 the canal TO construct
swing bridge Of forty i've feet span and TO erect
more piers In the basin then established on the heels
Of this another act passed directing the Commis
soncrs o cxcavate lay 0ut and construct Kent
basin along the course of Waabout Creek from Wash
ngton avenue 70 Hewes street. clause was inserted
IN the act giving the Commissioners power instruct
the City Treasurer al any time 70 bonds in their
favor "For the completion OF the works the plea
went, another act was passed, In April 1862 granting
further of SOC 900. making total in figures Of
$3.50 600, but the expenditure for the Kent avenue
basin was fixed at no particular sum, and might be
called unlimited
THE IRRRPREssBLE CONTRACTORS
Kingsley Keeny crop up IN this as IN most other big
'imprOyements' carried Of lato years in Brooklyn
They are foremost the East River Bridge and Hemp
stead Reservoir, besides hundred smaller enterprises.
Kingsley X Keenys profits on tho Wallabout improve
ment are estimated at $500 600. The following is
Thur modest little bill for "pegging away" at their
own sweet discretion several years on the Walabout
exteDsions-
PAID KINGSLEY AND KEESY
1sGZ Sept 29.. 900
Sept u 80. 50 go Nov. T..... - 2O3
Oct I.. I. $40 Dec. 2..... ~, 1856
Nov 6 30O70 Dec. 30.... 50, 500
Dec So. 23s25 -$375, ,G23
Dec si M40O 1869
fS8537 Feb, O.. f38, 1888