New-York tribune., 1907-07-14
LIE VINO LIKES HIS FARM
NOT HIGH, HE SAYS.
Can't See Hoe City Officials Made
1t $545, 900 in 4qucduct Case.

pO4c,DDD tU A1TNtNUIt NNot'
Herman d. lie Vino. Of The Dry Goods Econ
oInst.' owner of a farm three four miles north
east of Peekskiu, across which the city desires
right of way whose claim for damages is reported
by the Law Department to be $545 coo says that he
does not expect any such bill of damages and in
fact, never made claim for any such sum. Henry
T. Dykman. counsel for the city in connection with
water rights in Westchester and Putnam counties,
has mass Of papers on fle in the Law Depart
ment some OF the letters suggesting specific sums
for damages and apparently signed by Mr.. Ie Vino.
Mr.. Dykman is generally regarded as an accurate
man. He figures out Mr.. Le Vinos aggregated
claims TO be s545 o0 as stated in The Tribune yes
terday.
he saw In The Tribune pictures OF his queer rail
road and spring house. He IS about thirty-hve or
forty years old, has been for years with The
Dry Goods Economist" and he says that his farm
IS costing him a good deal more year by year
than he receives for his products. but he does not
mind that, as he IS having good uIhe Watching
There are a number Of inaccuracies in tho items
7,,,r,ortirr 70 Iaye been obtained from M Dykman
and published in to-dny's Tribune said Mr. La
Vino yesterday TO Tribune reporter.
Il never made a claim for $J45.VD damages. l
don't know how those items agEregating that sum
happened TO get into Mr bykmanS papers.
never wrote him anything which would warrant
him making any such computation or deauc'i%"n. on
Again, the article stated that bought the farm
in the summer OF 1905 the inference being that l
got hold OF the property with the idea OF making
the city paw a stin price for right Of way. l
bought the place IN 1901, largely for sentimental
reasons. I married a Gale. and this waE the oio
Gale place. The place had been in the Gale ianly
since 1895. II was sold IN 1901 20 Lewis ToWpkius,
ana four weeks later I bought it from Tompklns
It's a fine place, and I'm very fond Of IT.
Il stand by my guns with reference 10 the state
luent that il "A natural park for gam" and Wild
fowl \ wild deer strollod into my harnyard last
winter and partridge and quail are abundant II
the city runs its aqucduct line through II the
blasting Will drive all the wild fowl. II is not
all stony ground / have spent thousands Of dol
lars IN Improving the place and raise great deal
work there pretty nearly all the time. and part Of
the year team IS busy drawing manure from
PeeksIlir I had offer OF $4,000 for the place
about a year ago.
How about that railroad? II does not look Ike
a railroad built in good faith" It was suggested
well il was built in good faith. just the same
said Mr. lie Vino, and ultimately hope To con-
meet It with the Putnam & Westchester trolley
Iiro ~ which am vice-prcsdent and which has
about three miles in operation The road cost me
onlv a few hundred dollars TO build. The ralS
weigh only twelve pounds to the yard hut they are
heavy enough for the traffic Of the road which VIII
be slate from quarry on the place. Ihere Is
large deposit OF slate on the place
DO you wish to be understood as saying that
twelve-pound rail is heavy enough Tor Ifelght
road over which you to operate cars loaded
why. yes" said Mr.. lie Vino without hesita-
ton that is heavy Il rail as contractors use
for their private railroads
Ever see a twelve-pound rail used on a stand
asked the reporter.
Don't know as have" was his reply. but
am confident that the rail IS heavy enough for my
'If you go to blasting out slate and running a
trolley line and quarry, what becomes OF your
deer quail, rabbits and partridge? Wouldn't that
be worse than a trench for the buried aqueduct2'
Mr. lie Vino did not make an audible reply to this
question. lie went on TO tell of the scenic beau
ties of his farm and spoke elOqucntly OF the view
from Gallows Hin.
From Calloyvs Hill" he said. you all around
That's where youn land. Herman, before the
newspapers get through with you," said ono Of
Mr.. lie Vno's office associates. jocularly tapping
him the shoulder Mr.. lie Vino joined in the
nirth at his own expense. although he looked
proachfully at his tormentor.
Mr.. lie Vino produced Geological Survey map
and directed attention TO a small pond his farm.
There Is the pond which Mr. Dykmans en-
ginecrs could not find. said Mr.. lie Vino
How about the Miracle Spring? 1t is alleged
that it is dry at this time?" asked
well that is true said Mr.. lie Vino. Il don't
understand why II is dry either. 1t never has
been dry before. 1t has been running spring for
generations and tho old settlers always called it
Miracle Spring. I am not making any charges. but
II Is Just possible that certain people who in
terested in getting a right OF way through my farm
for little or nothing know why that spring is dry.
Why lot of old men and women around the
countryside have been in the habit for years Of
going to that spring and filling their jugs. It's
water possesses curative properties OF high order,
In their Judgment
Il want to say that my farm is not for sale.
Some time my may be profitable. AS 1t is
now l suppose my hay costs me 800 ton and my
apples five cents apiece. l don't want the city to
take even ten of IT.
Among the papers in Mr.. Dykman's possession
there is an unsigned memorandum in connection
with the letter of December g. 1906 which says:
II have just learned that most Of the farmers
around Peekskill have placed their claims In the
hands of lawyers Mr.. l. is in a position to Elanip-
ulate these people over tho lawyers heads in the
interest of the city If tho city wishes him TO do
This is a mere suggestion and take it for what il
IS worth"
wien the attention Of Mr. lie Vino was called to
this he said: II don't know who wrote that. If 1
he'd written such thing that l would not
snoken of myself as Mr.. L.. That paragraph may
have been turned In TO Mr. Dykman by ono
who wanted 10 do a little grating. | do not know