New-York tribune., 1890-08-06
MEN AND MATTERS.

All the newspaper accounts OF Hugh smith which
have read since his death represent him as an old
Ring politician and some confuse him with Hank
Smith, who a Republican politician in the days
Of Tweed But Hugh Smith was never politician
OF any sort, and, indeed, kept aloof from politics. lie
probably wished at time that he had likewise
avoided tho politicians of Ring days. for his connection
with OF them resulted in his being indicted. The
indictments were never pressed, however, and were
finally n0lle pressed when it discovered that his
connection with Tweed sweeney aud Others was of a
purely business character. smith large owner
Of unimprOved property in various localities and parts
Of some Of this lie sold Tweed Peter B. sweeney and
Thomas Murphy, then Grants Collector Of the Port;
and with the partners he bought other large
unimproved tracts of city property. But impro' emens
were suddenly, UNEXPECTEDLY and unaccounably pro-
iccted in every direction in which these four men
purchased property. George II. Purser then the
Rings in the Department Of street Openings and
smiths syndicate Of eaestate operators knew long
In advance where openings to be made and where
to buy. smith owned nearly a block at FOrtieth and
Forty first sts. and Park ave-, which the Ffthave.
stage line stable stood when the present site Of the
Grand Central Depot immense stock yard past
which the Central Railways coaches carried by
horsepower Smith sold portions the stable sits O
Sweeney, Tweed and Murphy. and almost Immediately
after Park ave improved to Forty second-st.
Tweed and the others could not hold on" to their
property, and the whole, much increased in value,
reverted to Smith after the fall OF the Ring.
This valuable site continued TO be occupied by the
Fnth-ave stage stables until the line sold years
ago. Then smith WAS the sole remaining owner. lie
projected and built the Murray Hill Hotel this land
at cost of structure alone Of <l.2O0,000. 1t is
singular fact that he projected and designed this large
hotel, supervised its construction selected the ma
eriaS to be used, from the marble and granite to the
wall paper and curtains, from samples submitted -
him he evor S.ur he mi n
ishcd, though his Office Broadway and Thirty fourth
st. mile distant. lie personally fitted
up in the hotel a splendid suite of rooms for himself
selecting hansincs carpets etc, from samples, but
never going TO them until he moved into thcm 10
die not long after Smith probably prohtcd by his
forekn0wledge Of strcetopenng plans obtained from
Purscr but he was guilty OF of the offences
proved against Tweed and Connolly. Tweed once said
10 when he In Ludlow street Jail that II ho
had Dcen let alone for few years lie would have
stolen tho city rich Io was auding TO the work In
the parks street opening departments which Peter
Il, sweeney was then directing. A year ago Mr..
sweeney said to me- talking Of the projects Of
twenty years ago. that II Tweed and Connolly could
have restrained Their subordinatcs from loJtlng the
city treasury, their fair profits from speculation in
ral estate would have satisfied any sensible men
Everybody in Office and all me newspapers are
claiming credit FOR destroying the lottery plague.
though the work is not vet completed. But all tia;
has proved practical accomplished years ago by
The Tribune I'm It's exposures IL the Kentucky
Lottery jersey City. II made 10 impossible for Dau-
phin Of the Louisiana Lottery, receive letters by
post or maintain an open public Office In this city The
Louisiana Lottery Company maintained daily paprr
hcrc ut time bu though It reached an incrrdih'
circulation through thc lottery company, It died ~cn
The lottery men abandoned it. The lottery publishes
/ . weekly paper now IN Washington at the ostens!be
price of Eve cents copy bat sends out half million
aha bon . FgIf IN try Ip.Dfl lIp
hear Of an attempt 10 establish here a free theatre
on the plan Of The Theatre Ibrc. Of Paris The pro
,ccio~, have evidently not th0aEat seriously Of the
difference IN social. political and other con'de7a'loh'
/ existing In par- and N,w-Yorh or thy would anan
/ don the b!ca a, impactcable In tn, city. In Par
the poo- Will accept free entertainment subscribed
FOR by tie rich. here the poor would resent such
proposition o. insulting. Tho Theatre Lbre " Paris
found success, IN the suburban stronghold OF Socialists
and Anarchists AT Moutmartgr Tls class OF l3rl'ia's
% - t,c theatre 10 applaud any sentiment antnEp-
u,tlc to the existing Government, no matter what us
,.,-r, or who may l., e. hoad. Americans cannot be
| induced to listen to political sentiments In Play
! Tie Theatre Lirr actors enthusiasts 70 whom
anatcur acting IS evening amusement after teif
u.s.. or SIX hoIr-' labor during tl" Giy Here peoPc
oI- e ~ tie regular members u tho stage are to1
bay 20 devote regular hours TO studying and acthg
pn-,, 100 pilys - far AS can learn tac free theatre
project here &, scheme for business purposes, headed
/ l.! a teacher Of cl1cnt'n.
Another schcmc l hear about is a Company with a
s;roug organization and ample capital for "cXploitng
PLAYS to audiences Of managers. stay and critics ONLY
! ANY author, may avail thcmsrvcs u Us facilities
without e,reusc The director, Of the company
produce auy play submitted. X II fall. the lo-, is
their. II succe, ,nl. the company r"imbur-es ita'h
from the sac or lease of the play. \ manager or
d.narlly producing au unsuccessful play doc 30 a.
heavy lo,, for performances ot the failure "lch nc
must maintain until b. get something else ready
Hence mina.cl~ are c.nry u untrcd plays, and bay
| foreign successes IN preference u new pieces. Tie
projected company VIII -ye only one performance oi
| ncw play al m,l -uilcant cost. The demand i'r
new pIa,, /, very great az ,Als umc A Vi. Palmer
| whose dependence for attractions haS lately been
wholly Oh foreign pAs. I, quoted by London paper
a. swing: "Tt, salient !",-on q the year IN Amer
lca is the fact t,At two greatest monetary successes
! have been American profuctions Public taste II
/ America ,ccms ~ Lo "nd.ng pcTccpt!oiy In the di
r.ron ol homo .nrlcs." This f. not eNacr"rR'"l' III
/ view Of the fact that y. j. Lloyds play " The 9'
/ atof uct'rd William II. Crane. who plays II on
r,yaly something over $4,000 FOR last sca'o"' "If'
| bronson howari- like Mr. Lloyd formerly Irlbuhe
! mall received ou an average Sl,2OO ""k al ''
| IA season from the various companies play
! -ncLaudOah.7