The evening world., 1891-04-21
New Appraisers Stores sits Lots
Bought First by Barney
Biglin's Friend.
One Hundred and Twenty Per
Cent. Profit In a Few Weeks.
Mr.. BIglin and His Friend LlndIey
Say Their Motives Were Pure.

Real estate dealers were in state OF cousid-
derable commotion over the report Of the big
profits made by those who engineered the sale
of at least part OF the property selected by the
Treasury Department as the site OF the new
appraisers stores.
The site chosen by the late Secretary Win
dom early in the Winter comprises the block
bounded by Christopher, Barrow, Washing
ton aud Greenwich streets, and is covered at
the present time by an aggregation OF small
structures, many OF them In q very shaky and
tum0ledown condition.
There are twenty-tw lots in the entire block,
and seyenteen OF these are owned in fee by the
corporation OF Trinity Church. The others
belong to private owners
According TO the records OF real esta'e trans
5ers IN the RegIster's once two of these lots
fronting on Washington street. and owned
respectively by Mrs. Margaret A. Chamberlain.
Of 66s Washington street, and william Burns,
OF 6s6 Washington street. were recently sold to
the Government for the sum of S9s, 200.
They were both purchased from their origi-
nal owners not long ago by LAWYER John Lind
ley, OF the Washington Building, at s22, 800
apiece, and the transaction apparently repre-
sents profit of s54, 900 to the last seller.
Previous to the time Of the selection Of this
site for the proposed Government building, lots
In that vicinity hSd sold for 81. 800 to $40, 900
apiece, according TO location, and the enor-
nous advance represented by the prices
at which the recent transfers were made mas
amazed the old-time members Of the real estate
fraternity and has given rise to the suspicion
that there Is a big political deal concealed in
the transaction.
BARNEY BI5LIS IN 1T.
According 10 Mrs. Chamberlain, the owner
of one of the pieces of property referred to.
Mr.. Llndley, who eventually purchased the
let from her, was introduced to her by Barney
Blglin, the wel-known Republican leader.
MIR. Blglin's stables are located IN Washing
ton and Leroy streets, only block away from
ile new Appraisers Stores site, and he is well
acquainted with all the people in the neighbor-
hood.
The sale of the lot for s22, 800 10 Mr.. Lindley
was negotiated, Bo Mrs. Chamberlain says.
through ner lawyer, John Vincent, and she
thought she was getting a very good price
for 1t,
HE WAS Mr.. BURSs's FRIEND, TOO.
1t also appears from the statements OF Mr.
Burns the owner OF the other lot, that he
made the acquaintance of Mr.. LndIey through
Mr.. Biglin, who was an old friend of his He
says that he afterwards met Mr.. Hepburn, the
Solicitor of the Treasury Department, with Mr..
Lindley at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. and that
when he was asked to name his prce he said
SEA, 500, which was afterwards agreed upon.
Both of these persons were greatly surprised
when they heard that the property sold by
them for s45, 600 had been reconveyed to the
Treasury Department for 500, 900. aud could
hardly believe Il possible that SO great an ad-
vance could have been secured.
ALL SQUARE, SAYS LINDLEY.
MIR. Lndley, who has negotiated the sale OF
ttese pieces OF properly TO the Government
denies very emphaticaliy that there is any one
interested in the transaction excepting HIM
self.
"It is true. " he said, "that was introduced
to these parties by Mi. Biglin, who has known
them for years, but Mr.. BiRiin himself does
not possess one penny's worth OF Interest in
the property or in the transactions themselves.
''rhe securing of those lo,s for the Govern
ment involves many complications, and the
story that have made $780, 900 out of the trans.
action is ridiculous.
uhEAT dANf EArENSEb.
"Then there are great many expenses con.
nected with the insuring OF the title AMI the
payment of damages, to persons who occupy
the premises for business purposes which viii
bring the amount Of such expenditures up &c
avery high figure.
''Another thing which has not been iaker
into account Is the fact that these two sale,
represent only portion Of the transactions IN
which have been interested in securing tc
the Government the new site for the Ap
praisers' Stores, and whicn includes much O
the property owned by Trinity Church.
HAD TO PAY OTHER PEOPLE.
'In all or these there was the same din
Guilty, that Of securing tho fee and the lease
hold rights In each case, and the price which Il
eventually paid by the Government for tn,
property represents not only the purchas,
price Of the fee, but the cost OF acquiring al
those other rights and passing good title.
"The transactions hre all perfectly open ant
above-board, and they are all on record 80 tina
any one who taxes the trouble TO look int,
them and examine them can see for himsel
Just what has been done. There is nothing O
all in this talk about other parties beng inter
estcd.
al am under bonds 10 the amount of $3.50, OO
to deliver this property to the Government,
aud as stated before cannot tell how l an
gong TO come out. That ia al; have to sal
about the matter"
Mr.. BIGLlN SAYS IT'S NOT "DEAI-"
Mr. Biglin, who was found AZ his ONCE II
Leroy street this morning. denied that he wa
10 any way interested in sale or purchase o
property for the site of the new Appraisers