New-York tribune., 1891-04-25
duty Ills successor will be Commander George W
sumner.
THE APPRAISERS STORES SITE.
Mr.. LINDLEY's BOND PROTECTS THE GOVERN
MENT FROM PAYING MORE THAN 100000.


MENT FROM PAYING MORE THAN 100000
Washington. April "A (specIaD.-The attempt made
on Tuesday last by Ncw-York newspaper TO cast
suspicons OF jobbery and corruption on the seiecton
and purchase of the site for the new Appraisers
stores In this city has caused surprise and indlgna
ton here where the real facts OF the are known
In view of the mistaken statements made. 1t may be
well to recall these facts In a concise way.
The matter Of the selection OF Appraisers Stores by
the Treasury Department has been which has had
great deal Of attention here for the last two years
Mr.. Window personally gave IL much thought. ana
visited Ncw-York several occasions TO familiarze
himself with the locality and needs Of the service and
the wishes Of tho merchants. II was his conviction
that the Appraisers stores should be with The Custom
House, at Bowling Green, but the merchants thought
differently and after full and free conference with
them several occasions, he deferred TO their wishes
and agreed to select uptown site II
they would secure legislation permitting this to 90
| done. The law as passed providing for
site for Custom House and Appraisers stores re-
QuIred them t. be in the vicinity Of each other Inc
merchants most directly interested In the matter Sc
cured an act OF Congress authorizing the separation oil
the Sites and several Of them visited Washington at
different times to confec with the secretary on the
subject. He had four sites for an AppraSersStores
and received number of proposals. but either the par
GELS Of ground offered too small or the price was
considered excessive. The square upon which is stu
! ated tho property occupied by the Appraisers
| Stores, bounded by Laght, Washington, Hubert and
West sts. containing less than 10000 square feet was
| offered for $s30,000 The square bounded by West,
King, Washington and Charlton sts., with the excep-
ton of four lots which werc to be acquired otherwise
containing 40 700 square feet, offered for S3o0OoO
Part Of another square in Peaclst, the area OF which
was not given, offered for $725,000 The square
In West-st between Third and Fourth st5 near Canal
containing Al 900 square feet offered for $6e67Oo
| ftIIv ,fnfp nf +bagp
sides, concluded that of them entirely suit
able or altogether within the proper limit Of cost for
the purpose desired The various merchants assoca-
tions OF NewYOr took lively interest in the matter
and by delegates visited Washington frequently. FL
nally the Secretary in order to dispose OF the subject
stated to them that IL they could find square OF
ground in New-York of sufficient which could be
purchased for 100000, the location Of which was
satisfactory to them would buy for Appraisers
stores. John Lndley, who has been present several
occasions with the merchants and had suggested GER
tain properties to the Secretary invited by them,
as it is understood to visit the different properties they
had examined, and he finally made offer to the Gov
ernment to convey cause to be conveyed upon
certain date all Of the ground in the block bounded by
Washington, Barrow, Greenwich and Christopher sts'
with the exception OF three lots for the sum Of 1920
OOO and to furnish bond TO indemnify the Govern
ment against the payment of any sum greater IMAM
| $4,000 for the remaining property to be taken by
condemnation proceedings. These two sums aegre-
gated 100000. The area Of the square was $4,000
feet, and the site approved and urged by leading
merchants most directly interested in the subject amons
whom were John Sloane, James McCreeTy, Mr. Con-
stable Mr.. Gibbs and Others. The Department accepted
the offer of Mr. Lindley to transfer in the manner
stated this square to the Government for the price
named-Sj00,0O0 A bond with ample sureties, was
! filed by Mr.. Lindey requiring him TO pay to the
Government any amount in excess OF $oOOOO whlch
! should be awarded to the owners OF the remaining
property upon the result Of condemnation proceed
| lngS Drafts then drawn for the payment for
| the balance of the property. and made out as re-
quested. for about 32 900 to the Trinity Church
corporations which owned the greater portion OF the
square, and the other for 100000 to Mr. Lindley.
| His bond is ample. and IL is only matter Of con-
! lecture how much he will have to pay the Govern
| mcnt under il. The question of the price for any
parcel or paICels embraced in the portion Of the
| square which the Government accepted not
deemed a matser requiring investigation on the
part Of the Department, for the reason that the
specific contract referred TO- entered into after an
examination as to the market value OF the whole
block, involved the requirement Of title TO all OF
the property for the originally agreed up0n viz,
| 100000. The Obligation on the part Of the Depart
ment to pay the amount agreed upon became es-
tabished at the time that it accepted 31r Iindley
offer TO convey all of the square except four lots
and TO furnish bond for the payment OF any excess
| of $4,000 which may be entailed by this con-
demnatlon proceedings to acquire these.