New-York tribune., 1879-10-31
WEEDS RAILWAY RING.


the whole scheme to have been deiber-
ntoly planned and systematically carried
out. There was a complete Ring of
officials spectators and contractors engaged
in it, some for pecuniary profit at the ex-
pense Of the State, some for political reasons,
and possibly some who were led into 1t
through ignorance or neglect of their duties.
The Railway Ring of Smith Weed was COM
posed of the following persons:
Governor Lucius Robinson.
Controller F. Z. Olcott.
Superintendent Pilsbury.
Smith NJ. Weed.
Ex-COngrcssman Andrew Williams.
Assemhlyman w. p. Mo6ers
John OBriCn, Democratic State Committee
man.
William Ernest Smith. Democratic State
Committeeman.
1t also appears that not only was State
property transferred tor n nominal sum, out
also that United States property was secured
by the transaction without consideration.
COMPLETE EXPOSURE OF WEEDS SCHEMES.
FURTHER pETAus OF THE PLAN TO GRAB lHk
STATE RAILROAD To CLINTON PHsON-IHE
PREPARATIONS FOR TIM JOB And IHE WAY II
WAS CARRIED OUT-wFAKNEss OF ATTEMPTED
EXpLANATlONs SHOWN.
Previous statements IN ThE TRIBUNE have set
forth that the Plattshurg and Dannemora Railway.
seventeen miles in length, was built last year by
the State under the prcrext Of economy. 1t
WIS claimed that II would be the means
OF making Clinton Prison self-sustanIng. and
render unnecessary the construction OF an
other prison in more accessible part of
the state Ii was urged by Superintendent Pills.
bury that this road could be built for $500, 200 !;
that "a new prison would cost 81 100000 and there
would thus be n saving of SSOO,OOO. 1t was
further argued that the road could be run for
So. 900 "a year. and that the advance in the price
paid for convict labor in consequence OF the facilities
for the transportation OK materials would be large
The Legislature convinced by these plausible
arguments and the bill was passed by the twothIrds
vote necessary TO pass an appropriation measure.
That Legislature was inadvertently called Demo-
cratic Legislature by The TRIBUNE where 1t was
intended to say that Democratic legislators passed
the bill The Assembly of 1878 had 90 Republican,
81 Democratic and 2 Greenback members. Both
parties supported the bill as an economical measure.
One Of these Republicans was William L. Mooers,
of Clinton County. close personal friend of Smith
Weed, sometimes famiarly spoken of as - Smith
Weed Republican," and generally understood TO be
a mariner OF Mr.. Weed in the drug business Mr..
Weed WAS IN the Assembly while the bill was pend
He lRlBINt mas bNdituf "hN
its progress with great interest. weak defence OF
their part in the leasing of the road made by Gov
ernor Robinson and Controller Olcott laid great
stress upon this statement, which was designated
As TRIBUNE falsidcatOu." because Mr. Weed has
not been member of the Legislature since 1874. Ii
was never stated that he was "A member But Mr. Weed
was there within the bar of the House. as a lobby
ist for this particular bill and urging il with an
earnestness which caused suspicion that he had
an unusual interest III his friends bill That bill
was drawn 10y Mr. Weed, though presented by his
partner : and this significant and important fact
has not been denied.
The bill as passed provided for the letting of the
contract to the lowest bidder. 1t is not known
what competitive bidding took place. but IT was
fouud that the contract let for the whole road
10 John OBrien and his father-in-law, MI. Ryder.
of Rhinebeck. Johu O'Bren is recognized as one OF
Smith Weeds personal representatives, on the
Robinson State Committee, and Is now actively
working for Governor ROhinson's reelection. And
not only did he obtain this fat job, hut also that of
enlarriug Clinton Prison. which measure was pro-
yidcd for by Chapter $40 Of the laws of the last
session passed May 21 after the road had been fin
ished and after Mr. Pilsbury had opened negoti-
stons TO lease IT, This act limits the expenditure
to 5000 900 appropriates 100000, and requires
that the enlarged prison, which all urge cannot be
made to pay nor the railway either, shall he
capable of holding l, 200 prisoners. Mr.. OBren
was elected to the State Committee as an avoVed
anti Robinson man. and came to the election at the
Astor House last year as such. But he voted with
the Robinson wing of the committee, and IN expla-
nation of what was looked upon treachery ne told
Major William II. Quincy and Edward
Kearney that he had 10 do so or his
contracts would be taken away from him.
lie then had the contract to build the State
railroad He has since got the contract to enlarge
the prison at Dannemora, and evidently has made
his peculiar politics pay
INTERESTING DATES AID LETTERS.
singular coincidence of dates gives evidence
Of the systematic way in which the scheme
was planned aud the impatience with which
the plnnder was seized The road was
ordered 10 be bailt in April 1873; the
work was let by contract to OBren and
Ryder IN a short time thereafter; they built II
and turned it over to II. Barber, jr, Superin-
tendcnt. on December 80. 1873; he began
operating 1t on January l. 1879; Mr. Pills.
bury offered to lease it In the following Feb
rnarv 10 Thomas Dickson Mr. Williams, Mr. Moves
and Mr.. Dickson organized the ChateauRay hali
road Company on May TO- Ie'p ana on yuy ~ IT.
leased n ana turned il from the control OF H.
Baiber ir as State Superintendent, to h: Barber.
ir az Superintendent for the company. lhere are
two other significant dates connected with this
matter which may be best impressed on the read
eT's mind by the following official dOcumentst
OFFICE OF TIE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE}
STATE or NEW-Y YORK, ALBANY. June 20, 1879.
My DEAR SIR: Yours of the 17th instant is re-
ceiyed. The names of the incorporators Of the
Cbateaugay Iron Company are Smith NJ. Weed.
Andrew Williams and William Ernest Smith. Very
respectfully yours - oLohoE SiOs,
Deputy Secretary Of State.
Orrrcr OF THE SECRETARY or STATE OF 1HE(
Sr4rF OF NFW- YORK, ALBANY, June 26 1879
MY DEAR SIR: Yours OF the 25th inst II received.