New-York tribune., 1890-04-02


MONEY USED TO BUY PROPERTY
TO SELL At AN EXORBITANT
PRICE TO JERSEY CITY
THE CRIME TEN
YEARS OLD.
Orestcs Cleveland has been long potent figure
in Jersey City politics lie has been five times
elected Mayor of that city, and has Just been
placed in nomination for the sixth time for that
high and honorable office. Mr. Cleveland's cam
didacy represents a ring of politicians in Jersey
City of methods dsreputablc and corrupt that
respectable Democratic newspapers have been un-
able TO offer any better reason why Mr.. Cleve-
land should be reelected than that he is per-
sonally honest. THE World" speaking last SUM-
day Of Mayor Ceveand's denomination, said:
The Democrats Of Jersey City have done much bet
ter than at time expected of them in re-
nominating Orestes Cleveland for Mayor. Mr. Cleve-
land i, able man and vigorous executive officer,
personally honest and desirous of honest government.
lie has rendered the city good service in the past But
he has not fought the corrupt political ring there at
all points. Perhaps no man who his nomination
tnd election to these politicians could do any more
than Mayor Cleveland has done, and the sort Of man
they would choose if they dared would give them their
way wholly unchecked.
HIS Personal HONESTY
Since all that the people and property holders
Of Jersey City have between them and the cor
rupt political ring there is the personal
honesty" of Mayor Cleveland, all the light which
can be obtained should be turned upon the
personal" character of Mr.. Cleveland There
ic cio onfa in fbe of
life which 50 far has never been written, and
until presented to the public by The Tribune this
morning hes never been known outside the circle
Of handful of business men and some banks in
this and other cities, including Brooklyn, Hart
ford and Springfield The following plain, I'M
vanished tale can he substantisted in every par
ticular. and those Who read il may draw their
own conclusions AS to whether Mr. Cleveland is
personally honest man
Tile Joseph Dixon Crucible Company Of Jersey
Cry is a corporation, the charter of which is
dated March II, 1868. 1t began operations in
a splendid factory at Monmouth-st. and Rail-
road-ave. ~ May l. 1868. Orestes Cleveland
its first president. The company succeeded
TO the business Of Joseph Dixon & Co., of whom
the partners were Joseph Dixon and Orestes
Cleveland. After Going successful and money
making business for thirteen years the company
failed on January 4, 1881, owing nearly
81, ,25O,OOO. The true story of that fail
has never been given 10 the world. Mr.
Clcyeland's part in bringing about the collapse
as told by one who was financially interested in
the company at that time is here given:
AGIGANTIc DEAL PLANNED.
Mr. Cleveland, who had been for years an
active Democratic politician and had already
served three terms Mayor, conceived the idea
of making money ont of speculation which
should involve the buying of piece of land
known as the Harrison estate and selling it to
the city n site for courthouse and other
public buildings This could not be done in his
own name, mixed up as he was in the politics
of Hudson County. without exciting a scandal. 50
lie kept in the background. The Dixon Crucible
Company at that time were buying supplies largely
from the firm of Fowler. Champion & Co.. dealers
in yhemicals and crushed linseed oil, at No. IL
Tronr-St.. in this city. What Mr.. Cleveland did
house. was selected, and allowed himself 10 he
lscd as Mr Clcvclands stooLpiceon All being
prepared Mr. Ccveands real estate brokers
cured an option on the Harrison estate. Mr..
Champion bought it, all the papers having been
drawn up and made ont in the la,tcr's name.
Then tic attempt was made 10 sell the property
70 ,hc cay in the old old way. 50 familiar TO the
students of Jersey City politics Of the past and
present
The Board of Aldermen were the proper people
to bay il. and they did buy il fer an immense
pricc-S35 80 Ooo. The proportion of this TO
The value of tie property he inferred from
the statement that recently with all the growth
Of Jersey City in the intervening years, the prop.
crfv was bought by the Pennsylvania Railroad
ter $4,000
HOW THEY WERE BALKED.
Probably il is incorrect 10 say that the Board
Of Aldermen bought il. They tried 10 buy il.
They passed resolution of purchase, which, how
ever was killed by Mayor Charles II. O'Nell
This was a great setback to the success of Mr.
Clevcand's speculation. There came a pause
The scheme stopped. But the property
was paid for by Mr.. Champion, partly by
mortgage and partly in cash. The cash was OBJ
tanned by Mr. ClcvcIands making the Dixon
rncible Company's notes and drawing them 10
the order Of Joseph Dixon n Co, an extinct
firm whose affairs were all settled up, and who
had no legal existence al all These notes were
sent 10 Fowler, Champion & Co., and by them
discounted in Ncw-Nork and Brooklyn banks, and
the money used in the cash payments on the
Harrison estate.
The sale having fallen through the project
was an elephant the hands of its promoters