of Queens, leased for the use of the Board of Education at a yearly rental of $1,500. In reply I would say that it would be impossible for me to execute the same at that figure.

Before the buildings were altered they rented for $1,600 per year. I consider $400 in excess of that sum little enough for the wear and tear of six hundred and thirty children. Last year it cost me $280 for plastering. Sixteen class rooms had to be replastered. Some of the ceilings had to be taken down and put up new in order to make them safe. Then the rooms were painted and glazing done, makThere is constantly some repairs needed. When all these things are considered, the interest on $13,000, taxes and water rents met, there would be very little left of the rental at $1,500 per year.

ing an expenditure of $354.

Trusting you will give this matter your immediate and just consideration,
I am, respectfully yours,

Laid over:

MARY A. WILLIAMSON BOYD.

The following report and resolution were received from the Board of Education relative to a renewal of the leases of premises Nos. 306, 308, 310, 316 and 318 East Ninety-sixth street, Borough of Manhattan:

To the Board of Education:

The Committee on Buildings, to which was referred a report and resolution adopted by the School Board for the Boroughs of Manhattan and The Bronx, requesting that the lease of the premises No. 306 East Ninety-sixth street, which expires February 4, 1902, and the lease of premises Nos. 316 and 318 East Ninetysixth street, which expires February 1, 1902, occupied by Public School 150, be renewed, respectfully submits the following:

The Borough Superintendent has reported that these buildings are greatly needed for school purposes for a longer period, and recommended that the leases be renewed.

In addition to the premises mentioned in the report of the School Board, the building Nos. 308 and 310 East Ninety-sixth street, the lease of which expires on August 16, 1902, is also occupied by Public School 150, and the property is owned by the same estate. Your Committee therefore took steps to secure from the agent for the owners a proposition covering a lease of the entire property, and he has agreed to lease all the buildings for a term of four years at an annual rental of $8,400, which is considered reasonable.

It is further recommended that the lease of No. 306 East Ninety-sixth street, which expires February 4, 1902, and that for Nos. 308 and 310 East Ninety-sixth street, which expires August 16, 1902, be made to terminate February 1, 1902, so that the new lease may begin on that date.

13

The following resolution is submitted for adoption:

[JANUARY 24, 1902.

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be, and they are hereby, requested to authorize the Comptroller to execute a renewal of the leases of premises Nos. 306, 308, 310, 316 and 318 East Ninety-sixth street, Manhattan, occupied by Public School 150, for four years from February 1, 1902, at an annual rental of $8,400, the other conditions to be the same as those of the existing leases; the leases of premises No. 306 and of Nos. 308 and 310 East Ninety-sixth street to terminate February 1, 1902. Henry A. Conolly, agent for the owners.

A true copy of report and resolution adopted by the Board of Education on December 26, 1901.

A. E. PALMER, Secretary, Board of Education.

In connection therewith the Comptroller presented the following report and offered the following resolution:

To the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund:

GENTLEMEN-The lease of premises Nos. 316 and 318 East Ninety-sixth street, Borough of Manhattan, occupied by the Board of Education, expires on February 1, 1902. The leases of premises Nos. 306 East Ninety-sixth street and Nos. 308 and and 310 East Ninety-sixth street expire on February 4 and August 16, 1902, respectively.

These premises are all owned by the same estate, and the Board of Education has requested that the leases of Nos. 306, 308 and 310 be made to terminate on February 1, and a new lease of the entire property be made for a term of four years from that date, at an annual rental of $8.400. This is a reduction of $1,500 from the rent heretofore paid for these premises.

The Engineer of the Department of Finance, however, in a report made to me dated January 14, 1902, is of the opinion that $8,400 per annum is excessive, but the owner of the premises, with whom I have conferred in regard thereto, has refused to accept less than $8,400 per annum; and as the Board of Education reports that these buildings are greatly needed for school purposes, and that there are no other suitable premises to be obtained in the immediate neighborhood, I recommend that a lease be authorized at an annual rental of $8,400, as requested by the Board of Education.

Very truly yours,

EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller.

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby approve of and consent to the execution by the Board of Education, of a lease to the City, from Henry A. Conolly, Agent for the estate of Edward D. Conolly, of premises Nos. 306, 308, 310, 316 and 318 East Ninety-sixth street, Borough of Manhattan, when approved as to form by the Corporation Counsel, for a term of four years from February 1, 1902, at an annual rental of Eighty-four hundred dollars ($8,400), payable quarterly, and water tax-the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund deeming the said rent fair and reasonable and that it would be for the interests of the City that such lease be made, and

Resolved, That upon the execution of the above lease, the existing leases covering premises Nos. 306, 308 and 310 East Ninety-sixth street, which expire February 4. 1902, and August 16, 1902, respectively, are hereby terminated and cancelled.

The report was accepted and the resolution unanimously adopted.

The Comptroller presented the following report and resolution relative to an amendment of the lease of premises No. 209 East 23d street, Borough of Manhattan, occupied by the College of the City of New York:

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

SIR-At a meeting of the Trustees of the College of the City of New York, held December 17, 1901, the following resolution was adopted:

"Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be, and they hereby are, respectfully requested to amend the lease of the premises known as No. 209 East 23d street, Borough of Manhattan, so as to provide for an additional rental of five hundred ($500) dollars per annum for the remainder of the term from May 1, 1902, thus making the rental from May 1, 1902, Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) per annum; said rental of Fifteen thousand dollars to entitle the College of the City of New York to the use of the whole building, provided the College authorities assume the expenses of janitor's service, cleaning, lighting and heating; owners, the Trustees of the Cass Realty Corporation in Liquidation."

I have been informed by Mr. Hutchinson, a representative of the lessor, and also by Mr. Mulqueen, one of the Trustees of the College, that the resolution is in error and that it should have provided for the amendment to take effect on January 1, 1902, according to Mr. Hutchinson, and on February 1, 1902, according to Mr. Mulqueen, instead of May 1, 1902, as recited.

The lease of the upper floors and part of the basement was authorized by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund on February 19, 1901, for a term of three years from May 1, 1901, at $14,500 per annum, the lessor to furnish heat and light until 5 P. M. and janitor's service.

From my report to the Comptroller, dated February 14, 1901, I quote as fol

lows:

"The building is of fire-proof construction throughout, and the two lower floors are finished for store and office purposes. The upper floors are occupied as power lofts.

"The building is wired for electricity and heated by steam throughout; the radiators on the first two floors and coils above.

"The property is assessed on the tax books for the year 1901 at $85,000. "It will be necessary to make quite extensive alterations in the building, to make it suitable for school purposes, and it is estimated that the sum of $10,000 will be sufficient to cover the cost.

"Under the terms of the proposed lease, the sum of $4,500 is to be paid in advance on May 1, 1901, and the balance of the rental for the first year, namely, $10,000, is to be reserved for the payment of the alterations. After the first year the rent is payable quarterly at the end of each quarter.

"The services of a janitor, light and heat are estimated to cost $3,000 per annum, and as the alterations, which are necessary to fit the premises for school purposes, will amount on a three-year lease to $3,300 per year, the yearly rental of the building alone will thus be reduced to about $8,200, which I consider to be full but fair rental."

From this it will be seen that in fixing the rental, the amount estimated as the value of the service to be renderd by the lessor was a factor.

It is now proposed to have the City assume the care of the building, including the cost of heat, light, &c., and pay $500 per annum in addition to the present lease, or an advance of $3,500, the City in return to have a lease of the entire building, which includes the two stores on the ground floor and part of the basement heretofore reserved.

The two stores contain a floor space of about 4,500 square feet, and I am informed were offered for rent at $2,700, including heat. In consequence, I do not consider that the proposition as made is a good one for the City.

Mr. Mulqueen states that the additional room is needed at once.

I consider that the lease of the entire building to one responsible tenant, such as the City of New York, is a decided advantage to the lessor; in consequence the City should have certainly as favorable terms as others.

I believe that a just and reasonable amendment to the lease would be for the lessor to give possession of the stores and basement to the City on February 1st, 1902, and continue the service of heat, light and janitor until May 1, 1902, after which time the City is to assume the cost of such service, the rent to remain at $14,500 per annum.

I would therefore propose such terms be authorized by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund.

Approved.

EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller.

Respectfully,
EUG. E. McLEAN, Engineer.

Resolved, That the resolution adopted by this Board at meeting held February 19, 1901, authorizing a lease of the building No. 209 East 23d street, Borough of Manhattan, with the exception of the ground floor and basement, for the use of the College of the City of New York, for a term of three years from May 1, 1901, at an annual rental of Fourteen thousand five hundred dollars ($14.500), the lessor to furnish heat, light and janitor's service, be and the same is hereby amended so as to provide that the City shall have possession of the entire building on and February 1, 1902, and that the lessors continue the service of heat, light: tor until May 1, 1902, after which time the City is to assume the cost oʻ

vice; the rent to remain at Fourteen thousand five hundred dollars ($14,500) per

annum.

The report was accepted and the resolution unanimously adopted.

The following communication was received from the Board of Education relative to an assignment of the land and premises, Nos. 49, 51 and 53 Ridge street, Borough of Manhattan (See minutes, 1901, page 265).

NEW YORK, January 9, 1902.

To the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund of the City of New York:

GENTLEMEN-At a meeting of this Board, held on June 12, 1901, preambles and resolution were adopted asking for the assignment for school use of the land and premises known as Nos. 49, 51 and 53 Ridge street, Borough of Manhattan, adjoining Public School 92 on the north, which were acquired for use as a police station.

On June 20, 1901, action was taken by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, notice of which was transmitted to the Secretary of this Board, to the effect that the said Commission at that time was not empowered to act favorably, but would be under the new Charter after January 1, 1902.

Under date of January 2, 1902, a communication, of which the following is a copy, was received from your Secretary:

"At a meeting of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, held June 20, 1901, certain resolutions were adopted, in relation to an application of the Board of Education for the assignment of the premises known as Nos. 49, 51 and 53 Ridge street, Borough of Manhattan, for school uses, a copy of which was duly forwarded.

"The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, as now constituted, and under the new Charter, are empowered to make such an assignment as was then requested, and will be in a position to take formal action on proper application from the Board of Education."

In view of these facts I would respectfully renew the application made by this Board on June 12, 1901, copy of which you have.

Very truly yours,

MILES M. O'BRIEN, President, Board of Education.

I would respectfully approve of the application of the Board of Education dated June 12, 1901, for the assignment of the premises known as Nos. 49, 51 and 53 Ridge street, Borough of Manhattan, for school purposes, which application was presented to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund on June 20, 1901 (Minutes page 264), when definite action was deferred owing to the limited powers of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, under the Charter.