The New York Herald

The City and Its Real Estate—Curious Developments.

The city of New York is certainly most unfortunate in the management of its property and finances. It is not only plundered by its civic functionaries, but permitted to be plundered by outsiders. We say nothing now of the manner in which it has been victimized in the matter of the Louvre property, the Fort Gansevoort property, the West Washington market property, and the city railroad franchises. There were all positive acts of plunder. But it seems that the city is being also defrauded to a considerable extent by the gross and culpable negligence of officials. Recent developments have been made which show up a very curious state of facts.

It seems that our very efficient Comptroller was waited on, not long since, by a mysterious individual, with an offer to disclose, for a consideration, the fact of the city's ownership of certain property of which her officials knew nothing, and which had been for years in the undisturbed possession of parties who had not the slightest legal title to it.

The Comptroller was somewhat dumbfounded by this extraordinary proposition, and conceived it his duty to acquaint the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund thereof. They in their turn directed him to prepare a list of all the property owned by the city. In complying with this order some curious discoveries were made. For instance, it was ascertained that some valuable property was in the possession of parties against whom a suit was commenced by the Corporation twenty-three years ago, which suit is not yet determined. A very fine commentary on the fidelity and activity of the various gentlemen who have held the fat office of Corporation Counsel for the last quarter of a century. Then, again, it was discovered that the city owned at Williamsburg property worth at least $50,000 which had never been entered on the lists of real estate. What capital Comptrollers this city must have been blessed with! Whether these discoveries have anything to do with those which the party whose offer set these inquiries on foot was prepared to disclose, is a matter of uncertainty. The probability is that they have not, and that this well posted person might still make a large percentage on the property which his information would enable the city to recover.

We respectfully suggest to Mr. Haws the propriety, first, of renewing negotiations with this mysterious individual; second, of causing immediate steps to be taken for the recovery and proper registration of the property which has been discovered, and third, of not letting the matter rest until a full and intelligible list of all the real estate belonging to the city be made out by his department, so that there need be no more cheating allowed in that line. The thieves, official and otherwise, who congregate in and about the City Hall, require to have a sharp lookout kept upon their actions; and it depends a good deal upon the Comptroller whether their villanous schemes shall be frustrated. Keep a keen eye upon them, Mr. Haws, and hurry up the documents.