New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-02
TOWN TALK ABOUT PERSONS AND THrxuS,

PERSONAL, POLITICAL AND Legal.
HIGH BUILDNds-Insurance companies are conskruees
ing two OF the most important and ambitious of the new
many stored buildings going In the lower part Of th
city Tho Mutual Life, az is well known is building
structure the old Post ONCE site to rival the ZQu
tables massive pile. The Williamsburg Fire is budip1 -
Broadway and Lberty-st, ON the old Jumel pro- 90
for which 1t paid the big price Of 000 and has
down valuable building TO make place for nnar one
Both buildings will be up high the law slowss
RAPID INCREASE OF VALUEs-"I know OF no becto4
illustration OF the rapid increase Of city property vaus
ton, remarked Thomas Kirkpatrick the jeweller "thaR
that OF the Goeet property which have just vacated ut
Broadway and Nineteenth-st. Tho two buildings which
have been torn down cost the Goslets $1,000 only.
They never put Q dollars worth OF improvement on
either though and others did, Last ysar their
from the ct least $4,000 paid for my build
ing and the taxes which often up to $500
year. fine building is to be erected for Of tho
Jewey manufacturing firms, and the site IL now valued
at $3.50, 000" The old mansion opposite in which the
surviving member Of the Goelets still resides SUR
rounded with farm fowls and animals and decrepit with
old age is not to pass away until the occupant docss
CUSTOM HOUSE CoMPosER.-"In ramble about
the Custom House," said old Army acquaintance rU
Gently, 81 came across face strangely familiar II
was that of clerk whom did not know as. such;
but was certain had him frequently before Ia
however for many days. and would probably not have
able all had not accidentally run across
his portrait autographed sheet OF the music Flag
OF the Free by Harrison Milard 1t was the face OK
the Custom House officer in his youth. had not seen
him in twenty years. During the war some OF Mards
patriotic songs with stirring choruses were very popu
lar. remember seeing Rousseaus Division OF Rose
cranss Army making forced march through mud fooe
deep and o binding rain storm into Tullahomas
Tenn, singing the Flag Of the Free! Mr..
Millard-he was Captain OF the Regular
Army then-served on Rousseau's staff Ha
very popular at Rosecranss headquar'
ters where Captain Hunter Brooke Assistant Adutant
General Calvin Goddard, now OF NewYork; Captain
Morton McMichael, now Of The Philadelphia NORTH
American I believe, and Colonel Charles Thompson.
Of the Union Trust Company, OF Newfork all tnen
on Rosecranss staff maintained sort OF musical club.
The staff never moved without piano, believe Mil
lard was good pianist and sang we'll On one occasion.
when Rosecranss staff quartered In the house OF
prominent rebel at Bloomfield, KY. rebel young
woman of some spirit hearing Milard play one or two
patriotic airs asked him II he could not favor the mousse
hold with THE Bonnie Blue Flag, then the fayorito
rebel song. Certainly he replied, and complied With
the request by playing it with one hand aud Yankee
Doodle with the other"
STOLEN IYpIcTMESTs.-"This is not the first time
said Ambrose L. Purdy the lawyer who loves aJoke az
much as he does fee, "that DistrctAttorney McKeon
has lost indictments from bis Office Years ago. when he
was for the first me he used to carry
the few score OF untred indictments IN tin box and
kept It in his private One night 1t was stolen by
somebody who evidently thought the box contained
bonds and the Disguised thief threw the bundle IN tho
East River When recovered all except four OF the n
dctments were soed and destroyed by the salt warer
Mr. McKeon explained the fact in Court when James
Brady was present whereupon Brady, who was often
opposed to him his defence Of criminals rose and ina
learned friend that at last Mr. McKeon had been able
10 franc one indictment which would hold water. BY
the wsy" added Mr.. Purdy, inquiringly, "whas was
the need OF making all tbs over the recently stolen
indctmentsf The who stole them was TOOL 10 SUD-
pose that the inyaldated them. Inc smart thing 70
have done would have been TO conceal oil knowledge OK
the loss frame new Ones and haul the indicted up uuer
pectedly for trial But no longer In the District.
Attorneys Office" he added with Sigh and shrus OK
the shoulders, as II to say "what else can you ex'
pecti"
AN EXPERIENCED OFFICERS vrEws.-Naval officer
Graham who is living Montclair greatly improved
health thinks II would wise to take time 10 improve
the doing the business as well as the person
mel OF the Customs Service The work Of simplify ngthe
mode OF doing public business has not Kept pace sna
Naval officer says with the smpncaon ofthe methods
NJ private business In banks and railway
Offices shorter and simpler methods have been found Tor
doing all things. These abbreviated methods have re-
suited in reducing the clerical force required 10 MINI
num- General Graham believes that II the Governments
should make equal progress In adopting improved FORMS
modes aud regulations and in reducing TO the smpess
form the whole Customs machinery large part OF 'ne
present force could dispensed with as useless These
vicws are worthy of serious confederation coming az
they do from an officer who has had experience In three
departments OF the public service