COMMISSIONERS OF THE SINKING FUND OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. Proceedings of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund at a Meeting Held in Room 16, City Hall, at 2.30 o'clock p. m., on Friday, February 5, 1904. Present-George B. McClellan, Mayor; Edward M. Grout, Comptroller; Patrick Keenan, Chamberlain; Charles V. Fornes, President, Board of Alderman, and John T. McCall, Chairman Finance Committee, Board of Alderman. The minutes of the meeting held January 20, 1904, were approved as printed. The following communication was received from the Commissioner of Docks, relative to the vesting of title in all that portion of the Chelsea improvement now under condemnation proceedings, between the northerly side of Fifteenth street and the southerly side of Seventeenth street, the easterly side of the marginal street, wharf or place, and including all water rights in the Hudson river: NEW YORK, January 21, 1904. Hon. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Mayor, and Chairman of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund: SIR-I beg to advise you that Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment have been appointed in proceedings for the acquisition by the City of property required for the improvement of the water front between Fifteenth and Eighteenth streets, North river. In order that the work of improvement at that locality may not be hampered, it is the desire of this Department to secure immediate possession of that portion of the property lying between Fifteenth and Seventeenth streets, North river, and I would therefore respectfully request that, pursuant to section 823A of the Greater New York Charter, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund by resolution direct that title to the property lying between the northerly line of West Fifteenth street and the southerly line of West Seventeenth street westerly of the proposed easterly line of the marginal street thereat, shall vest in The City of New York upon a date thirty days after the filing in the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court in the First Judicial District, of the oaths of the Commissioners of Estimate and Assessment in said proceedings appointed. I transmit herewith a map showing the premises referred to above. The properties desired by the Department are as follows: 1. The bulkhead rights extending from the northerly side of West Fifteenth street to the southerly side of West Sixteenth street. 2. The bulkhead rights extending from the northerly side of West Sixteenth street to the southerly side of West Seventeenth street. 3. The land bounded by the northerly side of West Fifteenth street, the easterly side of Eleventh avenue, the southerly side of West Sixteenth street and the easterly line of the marginal street, wharf or place. 4. The land bounded by the northerly side of West Sixteenth street, the easterly side of Eleventh avenue, the southerly side of West Seventeenth street and the easterly line of the marginal street, wharf or place. 5. The land bounded by the northerly side of West Sixteenth street, the easterly side of Thirteenth avenue, the southerly side of West Seventeenth street and the westerly side of Eleventh avenue. Yours respectfully, MAURICE FEATHERSON, Commissioner. In connection therewith the Comptroller presented the following report of the Engineer of the Department of Finance: Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller: February 1, 1904. SIR--The Commissioner of Docks, in communication dated January 21, 1904, requests the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, pursuant to section 823a of the Charter. to vest title in all that portion of the Chelsea Improvement now under condemnation proceedings, lying between the northerly side of Fifteenth street, the southerly side of Seventeenth street, the easterly side of the marginal street, wharf or place, and including all water rights in the Hudson river. This property is a part of that authorized to be condemned by resolution of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, dated July 15, 1903. Commissioners of Estimate and Appraisal have been appointed but have not as yet qualified and filed their oaths of office. In consequence the date when title will vest, upon a resolution of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, to wit, 30 days after the filing of the oaths, will not be before March 1, 1904. The block between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets, with the bulkhead, is used in part by the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey as a freight yard, and the block to the north by the Consolidated Gas Company. Contracts have been let or Treasurer's orders are outstanding for the dredging of all property in this section, and I am informed at the Dock Department that the improvement can go forward as soon as title is vested. The Consolidated Gas Company and the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey should be advised at once of the intention of the Commissioners of the Sink ing Fund to vest title in order that they may have all the time possible to wind up their business at these points. The assessed valuation (1904) of the several parcels is $1,242,000, and the interest charge for carrying this property until confirmed will be about $150,000 per annum. All property required for the Chelsea improvement except the above and, (a) Block between Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets, with bulkhead occupied by Consolidated Gas Company. (b) Block between Twenty-second and Twenty-third streets, Eleventh and Thirteenth avenues, vacant. (c) East side of Eleventh avenue, between Twentieth and Twenty-first streets. (d) East side of Eleventh avenue, between Twenty-first and Twenty-second streets, is now or will be in a day or so vested in the City. Respectfully, EUG. E. McLEAN, Engineer. Mr. James W. Gerard, representing the estate of Bradish Johnson, appeared before the Board and requested that the date for the vesting of title be fixed for May 1, 1904. The Dock Commissioner, who was present, stated that he had no objection to this and recommended that it be so fixed. The Comptroller thereupon offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, deeming it for the public interest that the title to the following lands and premises and all interest therein shall be acquired by The City of New York at a fixed or specified time, do hereby direct that, provided the oaths of the Commissioners of Estimate and Appraisal appointed by the Supreme Court under the proceedings to acquire title to said lands and premises shall have been filed in the office of the County Clerk prior to May 1, 1904, the title to said lands and premises and all interest therein shall vest in The City of New York on such date, namely, May 1, 1904: 1. The bulkhead rights extending from the northerly side of West Fifteenth street to the southerly side of West Sixteenth street. 2. The bulkhead rights extending from the northerly side of West Sixteenth street to the southerly side of West Seventeenth street. 3. The land bounded by the northerly side of West Fifteenth street, the easterly side of Eleventh avenue, the southerly side of West Sixteenth street and the easterly line of the marginal street, wharf or place. 4. The land bounded by the northerly side of West Sixteenth street, the easterly side of Eleventh avenue, the southerly side of West Seventeenth street and the easterly line of the marginal street, wharf or place. 5. The land bounded by the northerly side of West Sixteenth street, the easterly side of Thirteenth avenue, the southerly side of West Seventeenth street and the westerly side of Eleventh avenue. Which was unanimously adopted. The following communication was received from the Commissioner of Docks, relative to a lease of a portion of pier at Whitestone Landing, Borough of Queens, to Elmer E. Keeler: NEW YORK, January 30, 1904. Hon. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Mayor, and Chairman of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund: SIR-I beg to recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund consent to and approve of the execution, by the Commissioner of Docks, of a lease to Elmer E. Keeler, of the entire westerly side with 120 feet at the outer end of the easterly side of the pier at Whitestone Landing, Borough of Queens, as it will exist when extended, the lease to be for a term of ten years at a rental of $1,100 per annum; the lessed to have the privilege of erecting a shed on the outer 120 feet of said pier, this shed to revert to and become the property of The City of New York at the expiration or sooner termination of the lease. The remaining terms and conditions of the lease to be similar in every respect to those contained in leases of wharf property now in use by this Department. The pier at Whitestone Landing is at present 30 feet long and 40 feet wide; it is proposed to extend the same 300 feet further outshore, making the pier 330 feet in length, and to lease the property above described to Elmer E. Keeler, of the Keeler Transportation Line. The rental is fixed upon the basis of 51⁄2 per cent. of the estimated cost of the extension, and 5 cents per square foot for the area of land under water to be occupied; an additional $155 per annum is added for the privilege of erecting a shed on the 120 feet, making the rental for the portion of the pier leased, with the privilege of erecting the shed thereon, $1,100 per annum. The total revenue received from this dock during the year 1901 amounted to $84.50, and during the year 1902, to $83.24. Yours respectfully, MAURICE FEATHERSON, Commissioner. I see no objection for the approval of the above lease. When the pier is extended, the City will have available for general wharfage the 210 feet of the easterly side of the pier, furnishing a much greater accommodation for the public than at present. EUG. E. McLEAN, Engineer, Department of Finance. In connection therewith the Comptroller offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby approve of and consent to the execution, by the Commissioner of Docks, of a lease to Elmer E. Keeler of the entire westerly side, with 120 feet at the outer end of the easterly side, of the pier at Whitestone Landing, Borough of Queens, as it will exist when extended; the lease to be for a term of ten years at an annual rental of eleven hundred dollars ($1,100) per annum; the lessee to have the privilege of erecting a shed on the outer 120 feet of said pier, this shed to revert to and become the property of The City of New York at the expiration or sooner termination of the lease. The remaining terms and conditions of the lease to be similar in every respect to those contained in leases of wharf property now in use by the Department of Docks and Ferries, and as recommended by the Commissioner of Docks in communication dated January 30, 1904. Which was unanimously adopted. The following communication was received from the Commissioner of Docks, relative to a lease of the northeasterly side of the platform recently built in the rear of the approach to Pier 47, North river, to Edwin Huerstel: NEW YORK, January 21, 1904. Hon. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Mayor, and Chairman of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund: SIR-Sealed bids were received by this Department for the privilege of maintaining an icebridge, scales and tally house for a term of five years on the following described property, to wit: The northeasterly side of the platform recently built in the rear of the approach to Pier 47, North river, the said side having a water-front length of 102.94 feet. The following bids were received: J. W. Scott Ice Company, per annum. $2,510 00 2,500 00 2,700 00 3,100 00 I would respectfully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund consent to and approve of the execution by the Commissioner of Docks of a lease to Edwin Huerstel, of No. 1,046 Boston road, Borough of The Bronx, of the privilege of maintaining an ice bridge, scales and tally house on the side of the platform described, the lease to be for a term of five years from a date thirty days after said lease shall have been approved by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, this being in accordance with the terms of the advertisement; the rental to be at the rate of $3.100 per annum, payable quarterly in advance, and the remaining terms and conditions of the lease to be similar to those contained in leases of wharf property now used by this Department. The premises are at present occupied under a permit by Willis A. Winne, at a rental of $195 per month. Yours respectfully, MAURICE FEATHERSON, Commissioner. I am of the opinion that the lease proposed may be properly approved by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund. January 23, 1904. EUG. E. McLEAN, Engineer, Department of Finance. In connection therewith the Comptroller offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby approve of and consent to the execution, by the Commissioner of Docks, of a lease to Edwin |