New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-05
FIGHTING A BIG STEAL.
KINGS COUNTY's DISGRACE ON THE GEN
ERAL TERM CALENDAR

WEED AND BLACKBERRY BUSHES
LIGHTED BY GAS LAMPS AT SOS
YEAR EACH-EFFoRTs TO BREAK
THE UBIQUITOUS CONTRACT.
When the Book of Jobs Is opened for account
ing. the New-Jtrech gas-lighting job ought to APP
pear in illuminated letters on the first page. with
diagram. showing how ring OF politicians com
PEELED Newttrechj taxpayers to hand over to the
Kings County Gas and Illumna ting Company about
sloss9 year for 1859 gaslamps, about half OF
which give return for value received by the
company. under a contract whose full term seems
be twenty five years.
There have been many Democratic jobs ana
scandals in Kings County. but the worst OF them
in many ways is the New-Utrecht gas-lightng Jop,
because present 1t seems 10 be fastened upon
the taxpayers OF Brooklyn for over twenty years
to come 1t the work OF Cornelius Furguesoh,
the Democratic ex-Supervisor OF New-Ctrecht' ana
his political cronies in the New-Utrecht Board OF
Improvement. before New-Ctrecht was annexed 10
the g ~ OF Brooklyn. 1t magnificent IN con-
ception and monstrous when perfected, ana stori's
of righteous indignation and the assaults OF law
yers have so far beat against II in vain. The Job
has been explained, the jobbers have been exposed
but the s2s-a-yoar gaslamps In Bay Ridge. FORT
Hamilton Bensonhurst and other parts Oh WHAT
was once the town OF Newt trecht burn on eN-
pcnsivey. Illuminating pasture lots, truck gardens
and waste lands.
winning a suit brought to break the vicious New
Utrecht contract. the Kings County Gas and illu-
mnatng Company will probably continue 10 gro"
wealthy under an agreement secured by scandaIous
methods.
WHY WERE THEY so MODEST
Only visit to parts OF the Newt trecht district
is needed to show the wrong that is perpetrated
there The district affected Is so big that one VINO
would Investigate thoroughly should ride over 1t IN
a carriage Then he will how the New-l trecht
gas-l.ghting job would be ridiculous II 1t were nor
40 henous. II the searcher after light Will WISH
the places where the 1859 gaslamps burn by h'Hh'
he will see for himself that about hair OF them
are unnecessary When the visitor happens 10
know that the price paid FOR supplying each lamp
is SIS a year-aboui double reasonable pr''c
will come 10 wonder how such JOB was ever '','-
posed upon taxpayers. even by unscrupuious pom
ticians When he remembers that Ton years
contract rveting that job upon the public treas
ury with all competition excluded was eNt'hd''
for fifteen wears he will wonder that the gas i'sh'-
ing iobbcrs stopped when they 40
I, will appear to the as,onshed observer that
those nanipuators OF agreements might easily have
arranged to draw money for supplying s'N"'"'
thousand more gaslamps in New irecht lanes al
double the present charge for each lamp
There are miles OF roadway In New-'trecht upon
which there Is not house. hut which are brilliantly
lighted every night for the benefit OF nobody pn' IN"
benenciarics under the gas-lghtng contract There
4 re lands
by day and at night buzz around the expensive gas
lets ON the borders Of tho wastes There are woods
where owls blink and boot at the strange lights thai
half penetrate the shadows made by the trees
There are cabbage beds where the plants grow big
and succuleut IN the light made by the burning on
the costly illuminant ~ the jobhcrs There are
places where only tangled blackberry thiek"t or
the friendly shock OF corn hides tho timid rabbit
from the imperiinent penetrating. shameless glar"
OF the New-t'trecht scandal
Ncw-Uirccht Is studded with gaslamps a. tho
heavens are studded with stars In places. such
a. parts OF For, Hamilton. Bay Ridge and henson
hurst and in little collections OF houses which exist
mere and there. The street lighting Is welcome and
even necessary. The taxpayers OF New tirccht
Hn1 5ns nr1pcry saw thew o not %
ject the number Of gaslamps 40 much as they
object 10 the fact that the rate charged - about
twice what ii ought to be- and tina, the contract
,xclusiy" OF all competition and runs :or
irene period Naturally rome % the people OF
New-Utrecht are glad to have their neighDorhoods
well lighted that even the wayfSrlnG man.
though fool does not In the New-ttrccht
country lanes Then. the Lighting Of the country
acres gives them "c'tyhed" appearance and IN
creases their value. just az fire hydranis. from
the neares, house are good things with which
to extinguish New-t'trecht prairie fires
The nre-h ydrant job "A product OF Cornelius
Furguesons fine Italian and Democratic hand. but
the tale OF Il is TO be COMPOUNDED with that OF
the New-rtrecht gas-lighting job told hero.
BORN OF POWER AND GREED
The New Utrecht scandal born OF the Demo
cratic ring which ruled and robbed New-Utrecht
shamelessly Mckane robbed Gravesend Cor
nelius Furgueson one OF the rings arch-con-
spirators. Members OF the Board OF Improvement
of New-utrecht were Cornelius Furgueson. John
Cowenhoven and W. Bennett Wardell. Cornelius
Furgueson. having in view the appro aching annexa-
ton OF New Utrecht to the city OF Brooklyn. which
took place In the summer OF 1894 by devious means
had corporate creature. called the Kings County
Gas and Illuminating Company. bid for the gas
lighting Of the town OF New-rtrechi 1t was never
IN fNnN 81 al q
the proposal for lighting and no other company
Then these Democratic politicians rushed through
the monstrous contract with the company. when
binds the city OF Brooklyn and the Taxpayers OF
New-Utrechi to-day. IRE contract was made on
December e. 1883. between the Board Of Improve
ment OF NewUtrecht and the company. c. Fur
gueson John Cowcnhovcn. j. Lott Nostrand. ".
Bennett Warle and William Keegan signed 1t a.
to be hand glove with the conspraors. signed the
contract president OF the company
sufficient amount of land in New-I trocht ana to
la a app ns@ F The s nN ann py Of
illuminating gas sufficient to supply the town l.
should be Of the hes, quality. This gas plant con-
Tcnth-ave. and the gas supply II is commonly sup
posed, Is drawn from that OF Brooklyn Gas COM
Utrecht bui that ~ where the company ana the
The contract protected the company in many
ways. among other things providing that the com
pany agreed 10 supply gas TO private consumers ana
public buildings on the line Of rs mains at
price TO exceed s. % thousand feet.
The full significance OF this provision appears IN
light OF the agitation In Brooklyn for cost
Ing not more than 81 thousand feet
The contract provided further that the Boarl
| agreed pay to the company for the town szS
a year for each and every lamp lighted and main
tanned. and payments were 10 be made quarterly.
The contract to remain in full force FOR ten
years. and provided that other gas or elecUc
company should have the consent OF the Board
10 extend its mains To lay it's pipes or conductors
in the town during the term OF the contract.
The burners specified were To be four-feet burners
For three-feet burners the city OF Brooklyn pays
al bout a
each New-Uirecht burner
REACHING FOR MORE.
On March 10. 1891. the conspirators. not satisned
with the first deal. foregathered and executed an
other pernicous agreement. adding injury to Injury.
and extending the terms and provisions OF the ten