New-York tribune., 1896-10-04

a railroad into Broadway The hr,j cnch between
them came in 1853 when was member 81 the
Board Of Aldermen. The question Of a grant OF the
franchise for the proposed railroad In Broad"'N
came up before the Board. was opposed to ROAD
In that thoroughfare. l. seemed. however. TO nave
been all arranged that the resolution In favor Of the
road should be rushed through. Just before the
vote was taken man leaned over the desk ana
said I will give the city $4,000 for that franchise
or so oo year for 1t in perpe,niiy. Tho rate OF
interest was then per cent ! sad 10 hlin' a.
rose and pointed to my desk PLEASE sit down ther"
and embody that proposition in writing. The man
did so The name signed ~ the Offer was that OF
A r. Stewart. | had never seen him before.
Il immediately arose and announced 10 the Board
that | had an offer in writing for the franchise AZ
81 10000 or $1,000 annually Cries OF Who ~ IL
came from several members Of the Board I'M
madia.ely a 7 Stewart / answered Then there
was big commotion. Those who thought they had
the thing all slated to 90 through were thrown into
a state OF CONSERVATION. Immediately one o' thelr
number moved 10 adjourn. and adjourn the! did' TO
get their breath. suppos".
After the adjournment Mr. Stewart came 10 me-
and saving he knew nothing OF such matters asked
my advice as to what course TO pursue tod MN
10 wait until he heard from me, and when The mat
ter was come up again would send Tor hlm ana
that then he should have carriage waiting IN
Chambers-st. and should come into the Board room
and wait for q signal from me and when he got the
signal 10 drive to the Mayors house-Mr Wester-
Welt was then Mayor-and take him away and keep
him out until or o'clock the next morning MT
Stewart said he would follow my instructions
Ten days before the expiration OF the year me
franchise question was 10 be brought UP again: ~
had been Kept quiet ana aPpatt'S @ y cn' The
II could be rushed through AT the idst Iioc.tt. ~
men who We're engineering the job knew mat, th9t me ne
# become a law without his signature upon the ex-
piration OF the ten days. Inc manager OF ny
scheme for the railroad company had been shre%n
enough to take in some men who were close lrenns @
of the Mayor. and he had told me that ne coua no No.
measure He told me. however. that ne would take
a ride with Mr. stewart If he should cal. you & see
the point | was aiming at was 10 prevent the meas
ure when passed by the Board. from reachihg e tne
Mayor until the following day 80 tb ihst 9Ia no OF
the Of office Of the existing BoatI ana M thls ms
Sy 1In the next Board Of Aldermen. had found cut
what the plan of the manpuiators OF M sne scie"S
Sea hs waS day dame Mr. Stewart on
At the proper time gave him the signal and lWsg n,S
his carriage and driven TO the Mayors house
The Mayor was not at home Du had leit worS se ,na'
Away Mr. sewart IN hot pursuit Ao,bee As ee
pected something and away he went at Inii @ @spoeo'
he the M Ma2r at hs and GTo% on al
pace As he drove away the same carriage ne had @
peared and some one jumped out and hastened int into
the house Mr. Stewart passed from ron Serr,anc ,gn
rasn,ion msn ii 1hG m favor OF the raroad his
d he ha1d. aHns es eens mdngs
MIR Stewart took the Mayor away and Kept MN
AWAY until the vice. sma' hours or the next DAY
And so he killed the scheme that year. various
attempts were made to get the road into broadway
from that time but the best that Mr sharp could
do was 10 get the old Broadway and Seventh Ave-
nue. Railroad route. which left Broadway f at
Irnion Sauare and went down University Place:
II was not until Mr.. Sharp had got the General
Surface Railroad law OF 1854 passed. under which
snecial commission OF three could be appointed by
he General Term Of the Supreme Court to pass on
The advisabity of the granting OF the franchise
sf,er failure 10 obtain majority interest OF prop
erty-owners along the proposed route that ne Sc
cured The franchise for the Broadway Surface Rail
road Company between Union Square and the South
Ferry But since this approval OF the railroad. sus-
taned by the General Term reIuired also ths con- on
franchise was not perfected until the famous
Tl ,odle' Boa rd Of Aldermen had made some history
for themselves and had laid the rails. as IL were.
on which some OF them rode to Sing sing prison, ri on.
Mr. stewart ! offer was never considered lie dd NOT
renew H. because ne was opposed TO surface raii-
road In lower Broadway, and because the Danger
polnt was not again reached In his iiietime wne!e
a. large an offer TO the city seemed necessary 10
en- bic MIN 10 put the franchise into his pocket.