The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-05
WOMAN BESTS G. F. MURPHY.
YRS. SHERIDAN WINS OUT IN
PIER PRIVILEGE FIGHT.
O,erbds in Open Competition and Is
Ready to Meet the Company Of which
Murphy's Brother Is President, II
She Does Pay More for Less Room.

she Does Pay More for Less Room.
Charles F. Murphy. the leader OF Tam
MANY Hall. has been checkmated by
woman Mrs. Theresa A. s. Sheridan, who.
hv virtue of being the highest bidder in
an open competition, has secured the dump
;rp.board privie ges at the new pier at the
foot of Ninety-seventh street, North River.
Mrs Sheridans husband, the late H. P.
sheridan, who died at Key West while en-
saced on a Government contract there In
a. autumn Of 1890 did dumping and light
snpe business here in which he utilized
he old pier at the foot Of Ninety-seventh
street, which, at the time. he leased from
J. d and 7. Crimmins. At just about the
time of Mr.. Sheridan's death the pier passed
10 the control of the Dock Department.
and Mrs. Sheridan. who had decided to carry
on her husbands business, found that in
stead of dealing with her husbands friends.
the members OF the Crimmins firm, she
would have to do business with the then
Tanmany Commissioners Of Docks.
After awaitingJ j. Sergeant Grams return
from Europe she sought him to learn upon
what terms she could continue in the use OF
the pier privilege. offering to lease the pier
Mr Cram told her, Mrs. Sheridan said last
syening, that he would have to consult
with his associates, particularly Mr' Muir
pphhyy's dictum was that she might have the
Use Of the pier dumping privilege at
stipulated rental on permit revocable at
any time. but that she would not be per-
mttcd to lease the pier. She accepted the
liter her husbands death she got notice to
appear before the Dock Board and show
cause. why the permit should not be re,
voked About the same time she received
an invitation which for short time puz-
Fled her very much.
1T was an invitation to call at the Office
man Of New York" said Mrs. Sheridan last
evening ~ looked queer but ! went.
business for the munifcient sum Of the
cost Of the dumping board which l had
Il refused to sell for any such price, and
Mr. Gaffney said that Of course he would not
dumping board would certainly be erected
street If did not sell out. declined just
the same. The new pier was built. and
bulkhead for the time being. When the
pier was ready it was leased to the New
York Contracting and Trucking Com.
pany, of which John j. Murphy, Charles F.
Murphy's brother, Is president. and dump
ing board was built upon 1t.
7Then came various attentions from
Mr.. Murphys friends in the Dock Depart
ment, The company leasing. part OF the
bulkhead next to my dumping-board en-
croached persistently upon my part, so
that could not load my boats without
shifting them, and that companys craft
hanged into mine. so that had bill for
repairs in one month OF something like
$500. Boats were crowded INTO the slip
lowed out and shifted many times over in
P fuebost services for this amounted
sometimes to so . day; Appeals ste to the
peals to the Superintendent Of Docks were
Finally. after the new administration
came in. I went to Commissioner Hawkes.
conntered i he'd already been obliged
to threaten the deputy commissioner that
would sue the department or the city
for projection to my boats. which !! was
ing-board. M. Hawkes. looked into. the
matter at once. and presently the dock
master was sent to The Bronx. He came
around to pay his respects before departing,
he would be back about Christmas time.
I'm the meantime, Mr.. Murphy's friends
had gone among the contractors who we're
in the habit Of using the pier for dumping
through influence. to use the New York
Contracting and Trucking Company's pier
.They we're 40 successful that from 1856
loads a day they brought the business at
nv boa I'd down to six loads day, and finally
70 three loads, but IN part this was due
TO the strike trouble, which has interrupted
work on the subway.
There re some contractors who Will not
20 to the Murphy pier, as they do not like
the way they have been treated. Mr..
Murphy evidently thinks that he can drive
awny so much business from me that he
will make my business unprofit. BILE. but he
who feels thet she hasa right to ma Ike liv-
ing and is competent to do 80 on business
principles.
"W-hen the second new pier was built at
Ninety-seventh street, Mr.. Hawkes.. who
had set out to break the Murphy monopoly
if possible. determined to le,se the privi-
leges at public auction We did so to-day,
and / secured the Dump g.board privi-
lege by being the highest bidder. at sl,s75
year for five years.
For her S1,s75a year Mrs Sheridan leases
only about one-quarter OF the new pier,
while the Murphy company leases the
whole of the Ninety-eixth street pier for
estimated annual profits Of the whole pier
are about $4,000. The Murphy concern
received its privileges from the Tammany
Dock Board four days before Mr., Murphy
and his associates went out OF office.
It looked as though Mrs. Sheridan would
have been put out before they went. in
order to make the Murphy monopoly more
neighborhood. but for the fact that Mrs
Sheridan had paid quarters rent just
bafore election in November. so that her
tenure held till February, when the new
administration came into ONCE.