The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II, Part 55

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II > Part 55

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Nothing is more natural than that the Inspector and other officials should have wished to be identified with a matter of so much importance in their own district, and it could not have been otherwise than galling to them to be in ignorance of what was going on, when others claimed to know all about it. The fact is, that they hadn't the remotest idea of what was in the air.

There is not very much more to be told. It is officially de- clared that the matter is closed, so that, of course, it is settled now to all intents and purposes. It was not an agreeable thing to bring rival real estate men here when they hadn't a ghost of a chance, or to permit delegations to flood the Treasury Building with useless arguments, but there was no alternative-to be secret was to be successful. The affair has a comic side, thanks to the opposition parties and the Dutch Church people. The latter slept as peacefully as children while the real work was being done, but when the battle had been lost and won, though they didn't know it, they became delightfully energetic and in- dustrious. The trouble with the Dutch Church people was that they thought they held the key to the situation, and could afford to display a good deal of indifference. As for the gallant cap- tain, he was the most famous man in Washington. He can in- dulge in more sonorous vituperation to the square inch than a

dozen major-generals. He was going to see about this thing. He wouldn't have it. He would have the matter thoroughly in- vestigated and generally shown up. He would not tolerste it if he knew himself. Some things he might poseibly stand, but this never ! So it went on, Mr. Grace taking his revenge in twenty- page communications, remarkable for nothing but very much bad temper and very little style. It is & fact that but for Lieb- mann's bold operations and Moody's remarkable adroitness the Federal Building enterprise would have dragged drearily through indefinite years, and the people of the city generally are well satisfied with the choice.

The selection of this site excited the opposition to euch an ex- tent that they demanded a Congressional investigation. The history of this is given in the following speech by Hon. Darwin R. James :

"Mr. Speaker, -The question of the selection of & site for s public building at Brooklyn has occupied the attention of this House to some extent this session, because of charges of collu- sion between the sellers of certain pieces of real estate and the officers of the Government, whereby an exorbitant price was to be paid for an undesirable piece of property. These charges were made in writing, were general in character, and were not made by residents of Brooklyn, but originated in this city snd were worked up in the lobby of this House. They were never en- titled to the consideration which they received-in fact, were not entitled to any consideration whatever, and, in my judgment, never would have received any except that a reputable daily paper or two, notably the New York Journal of Commerce, thinking there must be some truth in the reiterated charges, called upon Con- gress in a leading editorial to investigate. This editorial was sent to members of the House, and resulted in the drafting of 8 resolution providing for an investigation. These charges were all traceable to this city, where there seemed to be a head- quarters from which scurrilone articles were sent to journals in New York, charging collusion and frand, and in several in- stances mentioning the names of Congressmen who were said to be aiders and abettors of the thieves. These charges were out- rageone and slanderous in character, and were put forth by selfish and disappointed persons for selfish ends, and the names of upright and honorable men were held up to the gaze of the public as those of thieves and rogues. Not only were corruption and collusion charged in these newspaper articles, but other arti- cles of a different character got into the journals, giving & po- litical turn to the matter, so that the 'frand' in the purchase of the site for the public building at Brooklyn hecame s matter of national political importance. It affords a remarkable illus- tration of what a few unscrupulous persons can accomplish when they diligently set themselves about it. Having aocess to certain public journals, they use them to traduce honorable men, creat- ing a public sentiment against them and the work in which they are engaged, and they even force upon this House of Represents- tives an investigation of a Government transaction which was absolutely honest, and entered upon after deliberate and careful consideration. In my remarks upon this floor on April 18th when the question of an appointment of a committee to investi- gate was under consideration, I said, 'So far as the purchase of the site for the public building at Brooklyn ie concerned, I have no reason to doubt that every transaction in connection with it has been upright and honest.' To show that my words were founded on reason, I quote from the report of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, as published in the Record, on page 5376: 'Every opportunity was offered for the introduction of evidence to sustain the charges, and we unhesitatingly report that there has not been introduced before us a scintilla of evi- dence which in the slightest degree reflects upon the integrity of the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the supervising architect, or any other officer of the Government. We therefore recommend the passage of the following:

' Resolved, That the charges of corrupt or collusive action on

867a

THE JOHNSON STREET FEDERAL BUILDING SITE.

the part of the Secretary of the Treasury, or of some of his sub- ordinates, in connection with the selection and purchase of a sits for a Federal building in the city of Brooklyn, have not been sustained.'

This finding of the committee disposes of the charge of collu- aion and fraud. It was a charge which never should have been made, for which there never was an occasion, but which, having been made, should never have been considered, because it was not made by responsible parties. The matter of the desirabil- ity of the sits, and the price agreed to be paid for the same, are subjects which are not reported upon by the committee, although evidence was taken under these heads, for the reason that the resolution under which the committee acted did not require it. The House, therefore, on June 5, recommitted the report, with instructions to investigate these matters, and espec- ially the purchase of the plot from William A. Husted. As to the desirability of the sits selected, there is, of course, a diver- aity of opinion. Both at the first and second hearings before the committee, abundant evidence was forthcoming for and against the choice. Some of the most conscientious and careful citizens testified on either side of the question. My own choice was for the aslection of some other site. The other members of the Houss from Brooklyn preferred another site, the one known as the Dutch Church sits. Secretary Folger preferred the Bosrum place site, which he himself looked at. The Commis- sioners appointed by the honorable Secretary selected as their choics the corner of Washington street and Myrtle avenue; the citizens who gave consideration to the subject generally ac- cepted the decision of the Commission, although there were many who were locally prejudiced in favor of other sites. The mass of the people, as well as the Brooklyn Congressmen, agreed that the building should be near the City Hall. The question of a auitable place for the Federal Building was under consid- eration as early as 1868, when a commission was appointed to select one. For ahout sixteen years this matter has been more or leas under discussion. Sites which were offered to the Commission at that time-desirable sites fronting on the City Hall square-have in several cases been built upon with sub- stantial edifices, and have long been out of the market. There were left, however, three sites which could be purchased, or procured by condemnation, any one of which would have been acceptable to a large number of people. The Dutch Church property could have been purchased for two hundred and scv- enty-five thousand dollars. This, with the Court street front, would have furnished a site which would have satisfied many; but the Court street front could not have been purchased at less than three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, if it could have been purchased at any price. It might have been condemned, but it is doubtful if it could thereby have been acquired at a lower price. The Secretary construed the law literally, holding that he could only acquire the property through purchase. I consider that the price of this site was $625,000. The Boerum place site, preferred by the Secretary and recommended by Supervising Architect Hill, in all probability would have cost over $800,000. It contained several plots which the owners did not offer and did not wish to sell at any price. On this plot is the Long Island Savings Bank building, for which $140,000 is demanded. Ths other site alluded to is the one at the corner of Washington and Myrtle avenue, the one selected by the Commission. This site could have been purchased at $600,000 at the tims the Commission selected it, as the parties advocating its selection had options for nearly all the plots, the figures ag- gregating about $600,000. At this present time it is doubtful if the property could be purchased at sven $850,000. It will thus be seen that the Secretary was shut up to two courses : Either to do nothing, or to accept a site not so desirable as those men- tioned, as the cost of any one of them would have consumed the larger part of the appropriation for site and building. The Sec- rstary decided to wait, but the citizens of Brooklyn were urging

action and pressing him to come to some decision. As early as January 9 ths Brooklyn members of Congress called in a hody upon him and insisted upon something being done. At thisin- terview it was arranged that Supervising Architect Bell* and myself should visit Brooklyn to examine the various sites men- tioned, as well as other sites, and report. The visit was made on January 18. Various sites, in addition to those which were gen- erally discussed, were looked at. The Johnson street site was not considered on that day, although it was incidentally noticed in passing. On the following day Mr. Bell examined it alone somewhat carefully, I having returned to Washington the pre- vious night. Nothing definite resulted from the visit except the confirmation of the Secretary in the opinion that the most de- sirable sites were unattainable, and the securing of diagrams of various plots, together with their assessed valuation. The Johnson street property was offered to the Secretary about Feb- ruary 1 by Mr. Leonard Moody, a responsible real estate dealer, at the sum of $450,000, and on February 9 the supervising archi- tect made a written report to the Secretary recommending it as a suitable site. This property is situated one block north of the site selected by the Commission, and is about 200 feet from the present Post Office. The plot is 197 feet on Washington and Adams streets, and 235 feet on Johnson street. It is on the highest ground in that part of the city, and one block from the City Hall plaza. Washington street is the direct thoroughfare to and from the Bridge, and is destined to become a great artery. The New York Post Office and United States Court-rooms are but a short distance from the New York Bridge landing, about as near as the Johnson street site is to the Brooklyn Bridge landing. Washington street has seen many changes. Not many years ago it was the place of the residence of the wealthy. Then the tide of fashion set in another direction, and the prop- erty gradually sank to a low price. Within a few years property facing on it has been purchased by far-sesing individuals, who held it for an advance which was sure to come, as it was to be the outlet to the Bridge. I refer to this fact as a reason for the diversity of views as to valuations on the Washington street lots. The price at which it was offered seemed excessive, but the testimony of the witnesses examined shows that no other plot of the same size, within the same distance of the City Hall, and equally desirable, could have been purchased at so low a figure. The purchase was managed with much ability. The Secretary gave an order as follows. [See Secretary's letter, page 865a.]

Mr. Moody secured the assistance of Mr. Herman Liebmann, a partner in one of the most reputable business firms in Brook- lyn, to enable him to carry the proposition through, as he (Moody) was not strong enough financially to undertake so large an operation. The Liehmanns, for there are two of them (brothers), occupy a large retail store running through from Fulton to Washington street, and own about half of the block, the southerly half of which was offered to the Government. It will be seen that, if the sale could be effected, the adjoining property of the Liebmanns would be greatly benefited. It was for this reason that they consented to purchase the lots, some thirteen in number, and turn them over to Moody. Mr. Liebmann proceeded quietly to buy, the sellers knowing nothing about the purpose for which he was buying; but, unfortunately for him, before all the lots had been taken, and before certain leases had been gotten rid of, it got into the public journals that the property was being acquired for the Government, the result of which was that prices rapidly advanced. At this juncture, Mr. Liebmann would have withdrawn had he not already purchased so many lots that he was forced to carry through what he had undertaken, and the result was that he paid $501,082.50 for what the Government was to pay $450,000 for. Meantime, he has been losing in interest, at six per cent., seventy-five dollars per

* Mr. Bell, in the interim, had succeeded Mr. Hill as Supervising Architect.

868a

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

day, while this examination progressed, besides being subjected to many other expenses and annoyances, not the least of which was that of being published in the papers as a thief and scoundrel."

Here Mr. James quoted the report of the Investigating Com- mittee, showing that the transaction was above reproach, and continued :

"I have no question but that, had it been known that the pur- chase was being made for the Government, the cost would have reached six hundred thousand dollars. One lot, 22x100 feet on Washington street, was purchased by Mr. Liebmann from a Mrs. Titus for thirty thousand dollars, on which ten per cent. was paid and an agreement duly signed. When it became known that the lot was to go to the Government, Mrs. Titus tendered back the ten per cent. and the agreement, and stated that she had sold under misapprehension ; that the property was worth more, and that she would not execute the deed. A suit is now in court to compel compliance with the contract, but meantime the Secretary has relieved Mr. Moody from conveying it and the corresponding lot on Adams street, so that the Gov- ernment plot will be 175x235 feet, and the total cost will be $408,500. The public building is to be used for the general Post Office, for the United States District Court, and for the office of the Collector of Internal Revenue. February 9, the Supervis- ing Architect filed his report with the Secretary, recommending the purchase of the Johnson street site. On February 16, the Secretary sent the order to Mr. Moody to purchase it. During the week intervening, the pressure on the Secretary to purchase other sites was intensified, and at one time he had nearly con- cluded to purchase the Dutch Church property without the Court street front. Presuming that I knew the president of the Board of Trustees, he requested that I write asking him to com- municate with him direct, as to price and terms, which was done. Against this plan the Supervising Architect filed written objections. The size of this plot is 145 feet on Joralemon street, running through to Livingston street 310 feet. On this street the frontage is 140 feet. After taking off forty feet on each side for an open space, as the law requires, the plot left would have been very unsuitable. With high walls on either side, at a dis- tance of only forty feet, the light would have been shut out from the lower story. It would have afforded insufficient accommo- dation, particularly for the United States courts and attendant offices. The business is so large that two court-rooms, two jury rooms and other extra rooms are required; besides, the architect would have no opportunity for architectural display in planning the edifice. The city of Brooklyn is growing with astonishing rapidity. Its population is seven hundred thousand, and in a very few years, at its present rate of increase, it will reach one million inhabitants. Probably no other city in the United States is making more rapid progress. It should have a public building commensurate with its importance. If any mis- take has been made, it is, perhaps, that a much larger sum was not available under the law, so that the Secretary could have selected such a site as would have entirely satisfied himself, and in so doing he would, beyond doubt, have satisfied the larger

part of the citizens. The Johnson street site is the best attainable with the means at his disposal, and is desirable because of its proximity to the City Hall and other city and county offices, its accessibility to New York by way of the Bridge and Fulton Ferry, and its close proximity to Wall Street Ferry. It is within one block of the business centre, upon a street which must, in the nature of things, become the great avenue from Brooklyn to New York. The business of the Post Office is undoubtedly the most import- ant to the general public, although, under the existing system of collecting and delivering of letters by carriers, it is not visited so much as it otherwise would be, except for purchase of stamps, money orders, etc. I append a report of the postmaster for the year 1883. The business of the United States Courts is very large, in some branches of law, notably admiralty suits, one-fifth of all that are brought to court in the United States being tried in Brooklyn. I append statistics from the annual reports of the Attorney General. The Internal Revenue office located here is one of the largest and best managed districts in the country, and was visited, in the month of May, hy eleven thousand people for the transaction of business, its receipts aggregating three millions per annum, It may not be improper for me to state that I have had no personal interest in the selec- tion of any particular site. My action has been guided hy reasons which seemed to me to be wise at the time. The Honor- able Secretary himself drew my attention to it. I objected to considering it, and advised the selection of the property at the corner of Adams, Willoughby and Pearl streets, and he requested me to ascertain its cost. It was found to be about $650,000. It was then, after having exhausted every desirable site near the City Hall, and when the Secretary had decided to buy the Dutch Church property alone, without the Court street front, that I held it to be far preferable to buy the Johnson street property."

The statistics alluded to by the Congressman show that Brooklyn is well favored with Government litigation, and that its Internal Revenue business is not far behind that of any revenue district in the country.

The result of the Congressional investigation showed that there was no foundation for the charges made, and that the purchase was as honorable and legitimate a business transaction as was ever consummated, and that Mr. Moody deeded the prop- erty to the United States Government June 20, 1884, receiving therefor a check for $408,500.

Mr. Moody went home from Washington after five months' fight, which he will probably recollect as long as he remembers anything. The weight of the load he has had to carry can he appreciated only by those familiar with the phases of legislation. He displayed qualities of endurance, and especially for delicate and effective manipulation, which surprised veteran legislators; and, what is more remarkable than anything else, when the forces he had to deal with are considered, is the fact that he has won his fight without soiling his fingers. The opposition parties were beaten at every point. They had all the advantages which are presented where a single objection may block legislation in- definitely, but they were outgeneraled to the last, thanks to Mr. Moody's tact, skill and perseverance, and the justice of his cause.

(For the above wo are largely indebted to the columns of the Brooklyn Eagle.)

UNITED STATES INTERESTS

KINGS COUNTY.

PLURIBU

POST OFFICE, NAVY YARD, FORTS, INTERNAL REVENUE, ETC., ETC. BY

Army Oftiles. A.M. M.D. Editor.

T HE U. S. POST OFFICE IN BROOK- LYN .- JOEL BUNCE was the first and (in 1819) THOMAS W. BIRDSALL, the second postmaster of Brooklyn, the office being in their store at the corner of Front and Fulton streets. He was succeeded by ERASTUS WORTHINGTON, a native of Colchester, Ct., who was for several years connected with the Long Istand Star. His intelligence, activity, courteous and winning manners, and his enthusiastic love of music, made him a favorite in Brooklyn society. He was a stationer and bookseller ; and, during his incumbency, the office was removed to Fulton street, nearly op- posite Hicks. In 1824 the office was held by Mr. BEN- NETT, then by Mr. S. E. CLEMENTS, "an eagle-nosed Southerner and active politician;" and later by JOSEPH MOSER, whom we have noted on page 116. In 1829, ADRIAN HEGEMAN kept the office, in connec- tion with books and stationery, in Fulton street, near Hicks, and served twelve years. In 1841, the late GEORGE HALL (ex-Mayor) was appointed post- master, and the office being inadequate to the popu- lation, was removed from Fulton street to a small room in Hicks street, opposite Doughty. It remained there a few weeks and was then removed to a new building, twelve by twenty-five feet, put up for the purpose, in Cranberry street, between Fulton and Henry. At this time the whole force of the office consisted of the post- master, one delivery and marking clerk, who acted as assistant postmaster, and had in addition a small sta- tionery stock, which he found plenty of time to attend to, and the mail messenger, Benjamin Richardson, who took the mail twice daily to New York, and was the only letter-carrier of the village, and like many other historic personages survives in the memory of many, owing to a highly gifted dog which always accompa-

nied him. This benevolent quadruped entered with .spirit on the business of letter-carrying and evinced a remarkable relish for the virtuous shins of our ancient citizens of thirty years ago.

During Mr. Hall's reign the gross receipts of the office amounted to less than $5,000 a year. In 1845, Mr. HENRY C. CONKLING succeeded Mr. Hall, and the office was removed in Fulton street to between High and Nassau. During his term, in 1848, the large fire occurred in this city, and the post office was burned down. All matter belonging to it, however, was saved and removed to a place of security, and the office was opened in a rear room of the Appentices' Library, on the corner of Cranberry and Henry streets. Here it remained only a short time, and was then removed to No. 6 Court street, in Montague Hall. The business gradually increased, and the office now boasted three clerks and six letter-carriers. In 1849, Mr. Conkling was succeeded by GOLD S. SILLIMAN, Esq., in whose reign nothing particular occurred, the business pro- ceeding quietly and increasing with the population. Three more carriers, however, were added to the force. In 1853, Mr. Silliman was succeeded by DANIEL VAN VOORHIS, Esq., and the office was again removed to 337 and 339 Fulton street. Here it remained some five years, and in 1857 Mr. Van Voorhis was succeeded by Mr. WILLIAM H. PECK, and the office, which now em- ployed about twenty carriers and five or six clerks, migrated to Montague street, near Fulton. In 1861, GEORGE B. LINCOLN became postmaster and held the office over five years. By this time the business had so greatly increased that it had some ten clerks and thirty carriers. It was during Mr. Lincoln's term that the money order department was opened, and several re- forms were also made to facilitate business.

866

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

GEORGE BURT LINCOLN was born at Hardwick, Mass., in 1817; left his father's farm for a country store when fifteen years of age; and, at the age of twenty-one, in 1838, commenced business on his own account in New York city. He early became interested in National politics, and in 1843, while residing in Mas- sachusetts, he joined the old " Liberty Party," and was a member of the Faneuil Hall Convention, which first nominated Henry Clay for the Presidency. In 1852, he became a resident of Brooklyn, and active among the anti-slavery voters of the city. An earnest worker in the Fremont campaign of 1856, he was, in the words of Gov. Cullom, of Illinois, "among the first to name Abraham Lincoln as the next candidate of the Republican party, and did much to bring about his nomination."

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The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II, Part 55

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co Number of Pages: 1345

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345