New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-03

dent Of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, OF
information which, will be seen from what fol-
lows below. shows that Governor Robinson signed
bill approprating So. s65 81 TO the State rail-
way while there was IN her hands for approval the
lease of the same road at Il year for 100
years. 1t was also learned, as conclusive of
proof and undeniable the part of SUI
perintendent Pilsbury. that he decided 10 lease
the State road two months after it began
running, when it was in an Incomplete condition.
even to the absence OF ballast on the roadbed The
several features of this great imposition on the
people of the state by the JOINT efforts of Smith
Weed and his friends and of either negligent or
guilty officials, so positive and glazing that an
investigation by the next Legislature cannot be
honestly avoided.
THE VARIOUS INCIDENTS ARRANGFDIN THEIR ORDER.
chronological statement Of the various Incl
dents in the railway grab of Smith Weed. Superin-
tendent Pilsbury, Controller Oloott, Governor Rob-
inson and the rest will be found to be very edfyng
reading 20 the general public, however disagreeable
tire array Of names. dates and facts may appear TO
those implicated The following is the highly sig
nihcant table, prepared from the best undisputed
data:
JANUARY %. ls77.-Chaieaugay Iron Company smith
Weed, AnGTuo Williams, and william Ernest SMITH.
Incorporated.
APRIL 90 1s7s.-Bnl appropria!ng 100000 for rail-
make Clinton Prison selisusainlue). passed the Sen
ATE Signed on The same day ny GovSrnor Robinson on
I? sign a. "a favor 70 him. see letter below from
NJ. q. Everts.l This bill specially provides
that the superintendent Of Prisons IPiisbur) might
lease the road subject to the approval of the Con
trollor tOlcotu and the Governor tRobnson). Among
Iymen Grady, Of New-York: and Nelson. of Rockland
County The first opposed II on the ground that it
ground aud further argued That 1t gave 10 the super
inteudent OF PrIsOns the Controller and Governor
IN lcas "A
rate, road not built and whose value could not be
named indicating that his opposition to a measure 30
dear to him (smith Weed sayored of inerattn and
asked the reasons for such opposition. The Assem-
5lvman replied that he opposed the bill only be-
cause OF the clause encouraging the system OF con
clause authorizing the lease OF the projected railway
lie did then suspect that Weed and his associates
were to be the Iessees
O'Bfon (Smiih Weeds personal representative on the
Robnron state Committed and TO Ryder. OBrien's
made public by any OF the several defendants Of the
"rab."
JANUARY J. 1879 H Barber. r.. as superintendent Of
The road Tor the state began operating the road (nd
continued II for SIX months at loss he says. OF 800
amcDtb; Controller olcott says $1,000 month";.
FEBRUARY, 1s79.-Mr. Pilsbury. having after two
months test found that the incomplete road would
moi nav for Itself determined To lease It, and begged
the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company TO
lesSe ana BY "1 Thomas DcSsCD president Of the
Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. who bears IN
iafion to- smith Weed than that OF personal counsel
and client. and associate stakeholder IN the Crown
Point Iron Company OF which more anon
road for the "Chateaugay Railroad Company"
(which was rot then existence) for the nom
ina nns a a very " small traction Of the State
freight over The road ni9 re
discovered by legislative investgatioD) and the terms
are agreed upon
ta) The railroad company to pay 81 year rental; to
offic
plies only free. The supplies OF the prison now come
largely from the farmers in the vicinity, who pay
the expenses OF transportation to the prison. The
road itself runs through very barren country, but
The farmers IN Chazy, Beekmantown, Peru P,atts
burg aud Champlan; VINO pay ,hel LOVE own way 10
IN The State and its contractors pay rates fixed
dent and Controller for all wood, timber, stone and
Srtces furnished or manufactured BY the contrac
TORS. BY this clause or the lease O'Brien. who has
bs materials at the expense Of the State at any ex
orhitant rate the COMPANY may assess But the
Sdie, not O'Brien, must pay
Appu 1s7y-Mr. Dickson wrote 10 Governor Robinson.
Conirolcr Olcott and Attorncy-General schoonmaker
}on, This Mr.. Dickson. on Friday last and volun-
iarly told TRIBUNE reporter IN this city After de
nreclatn the value in February or March by refusing
Tor The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company 10 touch
road "noi worth dime" on April Mr. Dickson
made proposition 10 lease III al hoinnai Ieh ior
company not Then iorineu'
MAY 1s79-lease executed, says Mr.. Dickson, though
dated July /. as the implicated officials assert: The
fSsd Sss was Tea y cxccuied IN Ma, re t a
1oropriaiing S72 sos "a FOR he road wds pending IN
he Legislature Ia other words Governor k91dnson
approved almost simultaneously bill giving $1,000
~ railway and lease giving that railway to cor
poraiion TOR 100 years at 81 ayear rental
MAY i3 ls7g.-The appropriation as above named
passed TIE senate aud was signed the same day by
,y,,h the less,es IL should he noted That up TO this
date the road either unfinished or the money thus
aonroprsted was a gift TO the lessees. III I'M
ap,.hld "a was doubtless the case. then
NJ Pilsbury leased and Governor Robinson and Com
,,s'r ~ The completed road could have been tested.
An excuse for the lease IL that the Ioan couu ho pay
because the region through ~ien run was uis ,
tied and wild. But what guarantee was was thete Tor
upposing that such would be the case lou years or
twenty years Lenoef
NAY II ls79--The Chateaugay Railroad Company was
Incorporated one month and hni i'et Dcas oo
1nu,rcated with Robinson Olcott. fiisbnIy anu
Srhoonmaker. Offering nominal rental Andrew
Williams Weeds partner) Thomas Dickson tMeed :
client aud partner IN he crown folnt iron moiAs'
md Tulius N. NOyes Weed credltor) incorpOrh-
tors OF course there Is not any evidence o. any nS
Vnrk" here for all are honorable men, so To speak
49, 81 is7g-Ine Act 10 enlarge Clinton Prison, which
80 n,t een Understanding and could NOT be made 10
nay without the rei way passed the .uIe az
propratiug 100000 Tor such NoIH. nv u n,
stsr'ca fhe nil the same day. weeds mtn, obtlth'
Sc.,ne the tractor. From the foregoing II Will be
Seen mat IN 1878 Psbury demanded tnni me rnan De
Init 10 make Clinton Prison self-susthinlhg; ihh' IA
is-o he aecideA that the railroad wOuid nO pay LOT
Itself lei alone the pii-on and 80 leased hnn t.ei
decided that CLINTON Prison was "'' ''S ''s" ~
cot 100000 10 enlarge H.
-, 1szo The road was turned over from IL.
Rarnsr lr State superintendent. To "a pa'p.I ~ =
countys superintendent, when Tue mummy =, 50n -,
,nr mad sull bring uDcOmpeteh' iirin FiioDp W
urno rv,ceu,ly Mr.. BarDcr Is g0od mihaht i"i
,,riyafe II not Tor public enpioyer''
Novrxnxs l. ls7g-Thc Chaican2:y ksilNaS ~ III ~,
av ~ make Tue state Road pay tr.ae barber Jt' 10