ORDER RESTORED

摘要

At the time of its construction in the mid-19th century, Tweed Courthouse was at the center of political corruption in New York City. The project's lead city official, local politician William "Boss" Tweed, was the elected leader of Tammany Hall, a corrupt political club that slowly took control of the local Democratic Party, and, in turn, seized control of the city government. The organization had a history of profiting from city business by taking bribes, giving city contracts to members, and stealing funds from the city treasury. Tweed took Tammany's corruption to a new level during construction of the courthouse, which would become his final and most controversial heist. Tweed purposely inflated construction costs to a then-astonishing $13 million ― nearly twice as much as the purchase of Alaska in 1867 ― and received hefty kickbacks from contractors. The cronyism was blatant ― a carpenter was reportedly paid $360,000 for one month's labor in a building with little woodwork; a furniture contractor received $179,000 for three tables and 40 chairs.