New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-08
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF. |
CHANCES AT MEN AND THINGS ON THE
1ovG ISLAND SIDE OF THE EAST RIVER.


As I pointed ont few weeks ago. the water case
s.. heen marked BIZ many surprises. Since then
thar has occurred, and probably the greatest OF
N the decision Of the General Term, which at one
sov sweeps aside all the specous claims put forward
Wv and IN bebalf OF he city officials who entered INTO
Mo bargain to purchase for $l,2j0O0O properly
hat is considered by good judges 10 be worth al inc
outside not more than S2jOOOO. The c0nH Simply
'ors that under the Annexation act by which the
.oUn OF NewLOts became a part OF BROOKLYN lno
.rv has no authority whatever 70 purchase the
cater ulant at this time The law gave them the
mower 20 make the purchase or TO acquire the properly
nv eminent domain within two years. qEesuo"
arose as TO whether the limitation OF two years ap
r,ed alike 10 both methods Of securing the properly
In his decision continuing the injunction justice
partlctt expressed grave doubt on this point. The
General Term had no doubt whatever BY nhahI
nous decision the judges declared that the riah' l"
rur,hase -0es not exist. While their decision leaves
the merits of the bargain made by Chan Jackson anu
Rutan untouched. accomplishes the purpose hau III
view in the bringing OF the suit in which MT. AeeIef
Is the plaintiff II stops the sale absolutely uIeSS'
indeed tie Court of Appeals should overrule the zen
eral Term. which, in view OF the unanmlty OIL INC
latter must be regarded exceedingly Improbable
The case was set for trial in the Special Term on
Wednesday after having been adjourned from Monday
Int II was disposed Of in moment by being srIohc
from the calendar account OF the Genera lc'h
decision This is the end Of the matter for the present.
and for all time If the Court OF Appeals taxes inc ~
view of the law rs the General Term; but IL p| Ho
means rehabtates the officials who engaged IN "I"'
is very generally believed have been JOB OF Ef
proportions Both Mayor Chaplin and Controller JACK
son have handled pitch, and they have been delIeu
thereby. This is fact that Democrats have not pce"
slow to perceive and both of the officials are 10"
known TO be ont OF the running. As to the H'uIc
of the water company no prediction can be MADE
Mayor Chaplin says that the decision is a good one
for the company and bad one for the CITY. IL Is
true that if the company's plant could have been
purchased at a fair vauatiOn-as it undoubtedly might
have been if the law interpreted by the General
Term had not stood in the wayit would have been
good thing for brooklyn and especially for tile H.
habitants Of the rweDtysiXth Ward In the present
situation nothing can be done without legislation
authorizing the purchase According to its charter
lie companys life will extend beyond the first quarter
D the next century. and during that period the people
of the Tweny-sXth Ward must pay tribute to it. As
matter of fact the people OF that ward ought 10
stand on the same footing, so far their water
supply is concerned the rest of the city, 1t would
be the height OF folly, however, to bring this about
by paying an eXtravagant sum for the water-supply
companys plant and privileges II way can be
devised for the acquiring Of the property at reason
able figure, it ought to be done.
The New-York and Brooklyn Ferry Company, which
runs the four ferries that the Eastern District
with Manhattan Island-three of them from the foot of
broadway and from Grand-st.-haS taken the bull
by the horns. Having been set quaking in its boots
by the busneSSlike aspect presented by the bridge
company which Is backed by the Brooklyn Elevated
Railroad Company, and which is seeking charter
from the Legislature, it has organized bridge company
Of its and entered Inc field as rival II declares
that the erection of a bridge in the vicinity Of Broad
way means the ruin of its business and therefore.
most illOgicaly it proposes TO build the bridge itself
and thus cut it sown throat. That is most eX-
policy. As matter Of fact its policy is
easily and generally recognized that Of the dog in
the manger. It's purpose in organizing its bridge com
pany and securing charter, if possible is to prevent
the building Of any bridge. 1t is taking this course
because it realizes that heroic measures necessary
Heretofore it has been content simply to oppose the
granting of charter to any concern that talked of
building "a bridge. Now however, the bridge project
exists strongly among those familiar with the subject
that if the Birkett bill is passed Mr.. Uhmann and his
associates will build their bridge The Senate Committee
on Commerce and Navigation has put the matter over
Tor decision until this week AT Wednesdays hearing.
six members being present, they were equally divided
on the question Of favorable report the Uhlmann
project Mr.. Uhmann proposes TO amend his bill 50
1s TO authorize the New-York RapdTransit Commits ]