The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-09-16
COMMENTS ON NEW YORK
POLITICS.
NAYORALTY QUESTION
IDENT ARTHUR, AND THE
MOROSINI SCANDAL.
New YORK, September 5, 1886.

MOROSINI SCANDAL.
New YORK, September 3, 1885,
Special Correspondent.
At last the work that so many wise
prophets declared would never be effected
has fairly begun. The subway commits
sion, took on Monday last, the initiatory
steps for burying the vast net work of
wires, that for so long time have i'm
peded travel and disfigured the already
choked thoroughfares of this city. Near
ly sixteen months of legal bubble, expert
mental tests, surveys of changes, and what
not, the spade and pick struck the ground
and the first stone was lifted from the
pavement at the northeast corner of Sixth
avenue and West Twenty-fourth street.
At the very commencement of the work
an attempt by the department of public
works to retard the progress, through red
tape agency, proved abortive. Wild ru-
mors of injunctions were flying about
during the day, but none had been served
when the first days labor ceased. The
trench is to be feet wide, feet deep, and
the conduits are placed at the minimum
distance of Is inches below the surface of
the street Each conduit is 3 feet long,
III inches high, and 1879 inches in width,
pierced longituindally with II ducts,
through which the wires will run. Each
conduit weigs 450 pounds, and is made of
coal tar pitch. Two of them will be
placed side by side, edgewise. One con-
duit will be reserved for the exclusive use
of the telephone companies, which, with
their constantly increasing business, re-
quirea large margin in view of future de-
velopment. The other conduit is reserved
for telegraph wires. To the Brush Elec-
trio Light company is allotted the west
side of the avenue, and the work of en-
tombment in their case is necessarily de-
layed for the present, because the electric
current used by the light companies is so
strong as to interfere with the wires of
the telephone and telegraph. The long
delay to which this work has been sub
jected rendered its commencement under
such auspices as the attendance of many
of the officers and members of the COM
mission peculiarly happy one, and an
earnest of its energetic prosecution.
Sixty miles are to be laid for the tele
graph and telephone companies, while it
is expected that nearly two hundred miles
will be required for the light companies.
The interference with the water and gas
pipes, however, resulted in impregnating
the air with an aroma not to be mistaken
for that of the breezes of Araby, and
while it gave pleasure to the directors of
the gas companies by visions of prospect
i've purse bulge, materially lessened the
crowd of sight-seers, and especially ban
ished those of delicate olfactOries.
The appointment of Gen. John New
ton, whose engineering skill is cherished
by all the pilots of the East river for his
marvellous success in removing the OBJ.
structions at He'll Gate, meets with hearty
approval and most earnest support from
, all lovers of good municipal government
He fills the position from which Rollin M
Squire was removed at the instance OF
, Mayor Grace, through Gov. Hill. What
especial fitness the reconnaissance of
the department of public works ever ex.
hibited for his position, other than the
granting of large and profitable contracts
to Maurice B. Flynn 4 Co., has never yet
been developed. With an enormous
patronage under his immediate control
used entirely to further the fnancia
interests of ring of contractors
5 under various firm names, the head o
each one discovered to be Maurice B
Ilyuu, DICSCubo Ou6 VI bllc Illus
stupendous systems of robbery for which
even the frequently feeced taxpayers OF
this city were not prepared, and in daring
if not in extent equaling the astounding
, exploits brought to light in the history OF
the Tweed ring.
To the work of cleansing this Augean
, stable, General Newton has devoted him
self, and as the head of the department OF
public works, his reputation for personal
integrity, his scientific attainments and
great practical experience angur we'll foI
the upright and efficient discharge of the
duties of this, the most important of ouI
city departments.
The political situation looking toward
the mayoralty is decidedly mixed. Al
ready rumors of political deals are rife
1t has been the impression tor the past
months that the unwonted vigor indi
Gated in the mayors action in the matter
: of the removal of Rolin M. Squire indi
Gated no unwillingness for a second term
but now comes the statement that he does
not desire a denomination, and will not
accept it. The general opinion is, how
ever, that he will be compelled by the
presence of the best public opinion in
New York to accept a nomination, and
doing SO would be elected by large ma
jority over any candidate that could be
named, or any combination that could be
formed against him.
He has added greatly TO his grip on the
public confidence, in his prompt action
and thorough work in the removal of the
commissioner of the department of pub
lie works, and the appointment of his sue
cessor, who is no sense politician, nor is
he concerned in any ring or deal. | think
/ from the present outlook that it is not al
all unlikely, that a grand mass meeting OF
! citizens interested in clean and econom
ical ministration of the ciIv's business
will be held, and Mayor Grace placed be-
fore the voters by general public opinion.
The republicans, generally, are in a dis.
organized condition, and following az
: they always do, the suggestion of the an
cient Micawber. A plan, however, among
the machine men, is being discussed, and
meeting with favor among them, that hav.
, ing received so little from the democratic
factions through former deals, it would
, be better to throw themselves on the
mercy of the Union League bosses, fol
low their lead and trust to the chances foi
recognition in case of success.
This plan suggests the nomination OF