The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-23
THE NEW CUSTOM HOUSE SITE.
All the Deeds In Possession OF the Govern
mept-CoIlcctor Bidwelrs Prompt Work.

ment-Collcctor Bidwelrs PROMPT WORN
WAsHrN6roS. Jan. 22.-The Treasury De-
partment OH Jan. IL sent an acRhowi'
edyement to the Hon. George II. blhwe'.
Collector Of the Port. of the receipt ot
all the deeds and other papers covering the
property located upon the Bowling treen si'e'
where the new Custom House will DO erecten'
thus closing a real estate transaction oil very
large proportions In q remarkably snort t'ihe'
when It il taken into consideration that thers
we're sixteen different parcels on TINS si'e'
nearly all OF them owned by estates "hefe
Ave or six heirs were interested. res'ulhg III
different PARTS OF this country and In Europe
and In some instances minors. who were rep
resented by guardians.
Immediately after the passage oil the Dill Ny
| Congress providing for the sale OF the old Gus
| tom house site and the purchase OF the BOWL
ing Green site. Collector Bidweli interviewed
the owners and representatives OF the various
| parcels included In the site with the view OF
securing from them an option TO sell 10
the Government at private sale. In order that
| the expense and delay OF condem nation pro-
| ceodlngs might be avoided. Hs found them
| very much dlsinclined 10 meet the Government
In this matter. owing 10 the fact that. after the
| former condemnation proceedings when were
| forced upon them. during which they were put
to considerable. expense and trouble pending
their suits. tho award was not paid because
IL was found that the Government lid not have
| enough money TO acquire the site. therefore,
fne,lny that they had bsen unIusty
treated by the Government before. It
was difficult to convince them that II
would now be to their Interest to throw
no obstacles In tho way OF the Govern
ment acquiring title. After numerous private
c~onferef ces between the Collector anu the
owners and their representatives. a meeting
was called by the Collector at which. at the
suggestion OF the Collector. they appointed u
committee of their own to interviewthe parties
agree 70 accept the amount OF the old award.
plus 4 per cent. to cover tho increase 10
value since that ime at which hsnrs tms sts ~
could be purchased safely wlthln the llnits OF
the present appropriation.
The Collector was then confronted with an
other difficulty. The owners Would NOT either
Individually or collectively. sign any agree
ment giving the Government an option TO
purchase at any stated price. FINALLY. ,aner
many conferences with me com mi;Iee' az, ons
parcels. excep two. agreed TO accepta certain
price which In the aggregate, would bring she
amount to be par" nn 'GE ' Ms 1r neesssaT Ts' 10 d Si thIs.
because the Secretary OF the Treasury could
no, purchase and pay Tor any single parcel un,,
| I'll IN WAS ue0nltfIy usCeTNdll6u WnuN a VI
the other parcels could be purchased Tor. N
order to be sure that the total would not exceed
the amount o. the appr'prlstion. C3ndemna;
ton proceedings were immediately instituted
against the owners Of the two parcels who did
not enter into the agreement, aud we're carried
to a speedy and successful termination;
The Treasury Department sent TO the Col
lrctor 10 disburse for the purchase o., the site
81 lN7. 900 Il. Finally. after the title, 70 the
property had been thoroughly searched TO the
s~atisfact on. OF the Government, all OF the
ovners or their legal representatives, met in
the presence Of the Collector and the necessary
legal %document1 OF transfer vera prompt,y
Collector, who. In turn, presented the owners
with checks representing the amount OF their
respective Interest in the he p Scw s;k f ReS i sssFs
warded To the Secretary Of State at Albany TO-
be hled in accotdance with the provisions OF
mary matters Ia Connection with the payment
OF water rates. &c. ali tho deeds and papers In
tho ~. m n, ,Gs we coii sTE5 by ia a V %asRInst tSpfe wGssc
they will be placed on, permanent file. thus
completing the close OF the transaction within
AZ Tho beginning. all Of the business men
with whom The Collector conversed. ana all OF
the real estate experts who expressed an opln-
erty could, never be purchased within the
limits Of the appropriation. which they as
serted wns TOO small to cover the property:
the sit" was so.im.sIa.33. Ofthis sum l,440.-
S7a.35 remained from the appropriation
provided in a former till, while In the present
act, Congress appropriated an additional
S75O.0OO. The fact u.s., however, that only
81, lSj. 534 81 was actually expended by the Col
lector. which amount covered all Of tha pur.
chase price and incidental expenses connected
herewith, and leavesa balance remaining in
his hands of Si.+6S,l3 TO he turned over. By
him to the Treasury Department In addition
~ this sum, the Treasury Department holds a
balance Of S2.S72.3I. thus making the entire
cost Of the new site S4,3iO4S less than the
total nmount available for its purchase.