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Real estate record and builders' guide: v. 12, no. 286: September 6, 1873

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Real STATE AND BUILDERS' GUIDE? Vol. XIL NEW YOEK, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1873. Publislud Weekly by m im ESTATE RECORD ASSOCUTION. TERMS. One year, in advance......................$6 00 All communications should he addressed to C TV. STVEET, Whitinb Building, 345 and 347 Broadwat. SPECIAt NOTICE. The fearful accidents occasioned by open hatch-ways can be prevented by the use of the Sinclair Self-Adjust- ing Hatch Cover. The oflices of the Company where all information in regard to these covers can be obtained are located at 309 Broadway. By the advertisement printed in another column, it will be seen that our most prominent firms have availed themselves advantageously of this invention, and we have seen the testimonials of numerous others who have thoroughly tested it, and who speak of the Hatch Cover in terms of unqualified praise. GHATZ'S GRABS. The Comptroller certainly deserves tlie tbanks of tax-payers for tlie ardent manner in wiiich he opposes the claim of Mr. Gratz Na¬ than for $1,250 as one of the commissioners of the extension of Madison Avenue from One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Street to Harlem River. This Madison Avenue business was one of the last jobs of the Ring, and has cost the city already a good deal, any number of hangers-on of the old Ring having in part suc¬ ceeded in securing their spoils. Gratz, how¬ ever, did not get his fees, and now makes ap¬ plication for a mandamus. The Comptroller makes two answers to his application. First, that by the act of 1863, the fees of commission¬ ers in street openings are limited to an aggre¬ gate of thirty cents per lineal foot. The number of lineal feet in this case was about 3,773, giving costs for all the commissioners together of $1,131.90, of which Mr. Nathan's share would be but $377.30 ; second, that Mr Gratz Nathan was at the time of his appoint¬ ment of such commissioner first clerk of the Corporation Attorney, and that by the charter of 1870 any head of department or bureau or clerk thereof was prohibited from having any interest in any contract work or business to be paid for out of the city treasury, or. "n any as¬ sessment under any city ordinance. Mr. Nathan claimed that it had been de¬ cided by Judge Gilbert that the act of 1862 only applied to the opening of streets laid down in the old map of 1801, wliere the prop¬ erty having long been dedicated to public use, and no buildings having been erected upon, them, the awards for damage were merely . formal and nominal; that in this case the act of the Legislature of 1869 opened a street not on the map, and gave large discretion as to the area of assessment, which was actually ex¬ tended to Fourteenth Street; that the Comp¬ troller had actually paid the other two Com¬ missioners, and was responsible to the city for the excessive payment, if Mr. Nathan's claim was not correct; that the Court had already adjudicated the matter when Judge Fancher himself taxed the costs at $1,250 on the report of Mr. Pritchard, referee, and that was final. Mr. Dean replied that the reasoning of Judge Gilbert in the Broadway widening case did not apply to a case like this, where the property taken was comparatively unim¬ proved ; that this money had to be paid out of the city treasury in tlie first place, and the cfty might or might not reimburse itself by assess¬ ments. The Comptroller mainly insists that the Legislature intended to secure, by the act of 1870, the whole time of its employees, and that if, by their other duties to the city, other employees became necessary, that the city should not thus be compelled to pay double. Whatever may be the decision of Judge Fancher, the honest tax-payers of New York cannot but uphold the hands of Comptroller Greeu, who insists that the business of the city shall be conducted in as economical and busi¬ ness-like manner as that of any well-regulated, S3'^stematic mercantile firm. MECHANICS' No. 286 -lENS, It strikes us that the Coroiit-r's jury in hold¬ ing the builders, Crawlbrd & Newman, re¬ sponsible for the disaster iu Eleventh street, did not pay sufficient attention to the testi¬ mony of Mr. Laimbier, who was of opinion that " it was wrong for the contractor to un¬ dertake the construction of such a building." " The building," he said, " ought to have been erected new^from the base." " Such an alter¬ ing of a building," he said, further, " was false economy." Now were Crawford & Newman simply the builders or also the architects ? If they were, the verdict may be just; but if they were not, and simply the builders, or, rather, executive officers of work which they were ordered to do by those who planned it, name¬ ly, the owners and the architect, tlien we say the verdict is notably unfair. If we may be¬ lieve Mr. Laimbier's testimony, and his expe¬ rience in building is exceedingly valuable, all the bracing of the westerly walls would not have prevented a catastrophe; for, he says, '• it was wrong to undertake the construction of such a building at all," And if that is the case, not th« builders and contractors, but the owner and architect should be held responsible. As to the jury's recommendation that Mr. Adams should be authorized to appoint an in¬ spector for each ward in the city, this subject has been heretofore touched upon in The Record, and we do not see how the Depart¬ ment can enforce our Building Law with the small number of men now in its employ. NEW YORK. Aug', and Sept, 39 Broadway, s. e. cor. 14th st., Union Square Theatre. (Continu¬ ation,) James A. Dunbar and Spencer D, Jacksoii agt. Sheridan Shook........................... 200 00 1 Broadway, e. s., 50.3 n. 4Dth st., 50,2x—, 8 houses. Thomas Rooney agt,------Clark................... 40 00 1 Carmine st, (No. 61), n. s., bet. Varick and Bedford sts. Wm. J. Gessner agt. John Brieut......... 'ol2 50 3 Cherry st. (No. 75), s. av. cor. James slip. Patrick Corbett agt, Charles Kelly.................... 13 75 2 East Broadway (No, 44), n. s., bet. Catharine and Market sts. Wal¬ ter Powers agt. Fischer, Carpenter & Guthal........................ 990 00 28 Fourth av., n. e. cor. 62d st., 225 on street. Loftus Collamore agt. Mr. MeCormack................. 551 54 29 FORTY'-FIRST ST. (No. 531 W.), N. s., bet. 10th and llth avs. Juo. M. Canda and Jno. H. Swartwout agt. Jno, Hulse...............';.. 5S0 01 29 Fifty-ninth st, (No. 57), n. s., bet. Madison and 4tli avs. Isidor Cohn agt. Anita C. Post............... 15 00 3 Forty-eighth st,, n. s., 100 Fiio:\r 7th av, (Continuation.) William Whan agt, Asher Heclit.......... 457 00 4 FORTY-FiKST ST, (Nos. 440, 442, 444, 446, and 448 W,), bet. 9th and 10th avs. (Continuation.) Her¬ man Kowtowski agt, WUliam Wenner and Andrew Ewald et al,, 116 49 3 Forty-first st. (No. 531 W.), n. s. Michael Cassidy agt. Mr. Henry Fessler.......................... 175 00 3 Fifty-ninth st. (No. 57 E.), n. s., abt. 223.4 e. Madison av. John Sullivan agt. Mrs. A. C. Post..... 62 25 4 Fiftieth st. (Nos. 406 and 408), s. s. (Continuation.) Herman Kow- touski agt. Martin Karl or Carroll et al............................. 120 00 3 Houston st. (No. 292 W.), n. s., 125 e. Greenwich st, (Continuation.) Elias Wasson agt. Henry Well- brock............................ 108 00 Lexington av., s. w. cor. 74tii) St., 13 houses on s. s. of street.. Lexington av., s. e. cor. 74th .. St., 13 houses on s. s. of street.. Lexington av^^ w. s., bet. 73d f and 74th sts., 2 houses.......— Lexington av., e. s., bet. 73d and 74th sts., 3 houses.......... John Sheehy agt. Henry Knicker¬ bocker........................... 30 Madison av., w, s., 20 n, 132d st., 3 houses. W. S. Anner and S. W, Miller agt, John N, Hay ward..... 4 Madison av,, w. s,, 20 n, 132d st., 60x80. Wright & Norton agt. Jennett Smith and John N. Hay- ward ............................ 4 Same property. G. L. and J. M. Schuyler agt, same............... 3 Nassau st,, w\ s., ext'dg from ann St. to Fulton st, T. Kellard and 68 other small claims agt. James G. Bennett amounting to............ 30 Nassau st., ext'dg from Fulton St. to Ann st. P. H. Murray agt. James G. Bennett................ §2,800 00 3 Same property. Thomas Kellord agt. same........................ 38 00 39 One Hundred AND Fifteenth st., s. s!, 170 e. Ist av. (Continuation.) M. O. Reilly agt. Ann H. MarshaU 185 00 1,457 00 656 76 105 18 755 54 3,109 15