The New York herald., 1877-02-09
THE STAPLETON FLATS.

WHAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS THINK OF THE
FILLING IN PROCESS NOW IN PROGRESS.
The filling In OF the Stapleton flats with ashes and
garbage from New York, commenced about week
ago and still progress, is likely TO create something
OF stir in Staten Island. The flats stretch westward
from the club house OF the New York Yacht Club
along the shore, and are the property OF Mr.. W. j.
Staples, after whom Stapleton is named. They have
been made repository for good deal Of the village
nl,h heretofore without exciting opposition or com
mept; but that their seeks To ill them in
with New York rubbish tho amour propre Of some of
tho Islanders is touched aud u maveiousIy
high pitch OF indignation Is theirs. They
won't permit il, they say, and II they only
find out who is responsible application will
be made at to prevent the further dumping of
city stuff on the flats But they don't know who Is
responsible. Another difficulty In the way of such an
application is found in the doubt as to which Is the
proper tribunal to apply TO for reefthc authorities
Of the village Of Edsewater or Of the township of
Middletown For day or two the signatures OF prop
crty owners the flats have been sought to pesi
ton 10 the village trustees asking them 10 suppress
the nuisance, Us it is termed, and some have signed
the document But not all tho property owners there
abouts OF one mind regarding tho matter In
deed, while some violently opposed to the work IN
progress there found others as zeaousy favor
II. Public opinion ls divided on the question--public
opinion In this case as is her wont in many grave
emergencies, being ali unreliable sort of jade.
To ascertain the views OF set OF the inhabitants
OF Stapletou HERALD reporter entered lager beer
brewery not far IRON the boat landing yesterday As
usual ot the local politicians gathered about
table slipping their beer, and were In excellent mood
discuss the uation. When the subject OF filling
the flats broached SAID
''The way the work Is going on now one good nor'-
caster will wash the whole thing away"
meantime" put in another speaker, "youll have
no boat landing here"
.sIf the boat landing is n,orfercd WITH what then 20
inquired the reporter.
tra holI mt In 1n In
ond speaker, "and we may take sudden step one Of
these days Wen stop THIS business, that's certain,
'pcacenbly il we can, torcbly II we must -
Have any legal steps been taken yet y? the writer
asked.
ayes, said Justice Garrett who was OF the party
IA complaint has been drawn up setting ortn that
this dumping Is detrimental to public health and ask
ing for relief; but the citizens do not know where 10
bring their SUIT and have referred the matter legal
firm here. When Is determined where jurisdiction
rests, aud when they find out who the parties that
bringing the and garbage down hero from the
the city, the papers will be served"
"You see tnat hill back Of the fals," said some one
else; "Mr STAPLES that HILL and If he wanted TO
improve his properly he could Ill In those fats with
clean earth"
.'Oh, this way is much cheaper said another
Leaving this knot oil village fathers the reporter
visited some OF the property owners living near
the fats. Some OF these were as emphaticay in favor
Of permitting and even encouraging Mr. staples pro-
jcct as the others opposed it, s.Those iois !"
said one man who owns property adjacent, "havo
been lying there for years IN an unImproved condition.
and now when Mr. Staples tries to do something with
them certain clique denounce and bitterly op-
pose him. Nobody can be injured by this dumping,
and nothing could be done with the property until
filled in. Mr. Staples will build a bulkhead
when he has filled in part OF tho space between the
shore and the pier line Then hol these ashes
with earth from hill beyond. II he Is not inter-
Tered with he Will benefit Sapleton give work TO
some OF the men now out Of employment here But
there is class OF people here that don't want any
provemens, and call every effort ior the good OF
place nuisance. These people trying 10 raise a
fuss about the filling In OF those fats They brought
paper peioning the village trustees stop around
here or signatures Yesterday and several Of us re.
fused TO sign It, refused because believe the filling
place"
1t is intimaed that the Harbor Commissioners will
stop the dumping, as It is likely TO cncroach on tho