The exact amount Plunkitt offered the auctioneer when he bought up rock to repave the city is not detailed in historical accounts. However, the context of his actions is widely understood through the concept of "honest graft," a practice he famously described.
Understanding Plunkitt's "Honest Graft"
George Washington Plunkitt, a Tammany Hall politician, operated under a system he termed "honest graft." This method distinguished itself from "dishonest graft" (which involved outright bribery or blackmail) by leveraging insider knowledge and foresight for personal financial gain, without technically breaking the law.
When it came to city improvements, such as repaving streets or building parks, Plunkitt would use his position to gain advance knowledge of where the city intended to expand or implement projects. His strategy involved:
- Foresight and Insider Knowledge: Plunkitt would learn about upcoming public works projects, like the need for rock to repave streets, before the information became public.
- Purchasing Land/Resources Cheaply: He would then quietly purchase the necessary land or resources (such as quarries or parcels of land containing rock) at a low price from their unsuspecting owners.
- Selling at a Profit to the City: Once the city officially announced its plans and the demand for these resources increased, Plunkitt would sell the land or materials back to the city at a significantly higher, but still market-appropriate, price.
This practice, while self-serving, was considered "honest" in Plunkitt's view because he did not steal directly from the public treasury, nor did he use illegal coercion. Instead, he simply capitalized on information and the natural progression of urban development, ensuring he was the intermediary who benefited from the city's growth. Therefore, while the specific financial transactions for the rock remain unquantified, his method was to acquire it cheaply and sell it dearly to the city for its repaving needs.
