ner of Twenty-third street and Fourth avenue, in the Borough of Manhattan, for a term of four years and ten months from the 1st day of July, 1904, at an annual rental of $3,000, payable quarterly, for the use of the Tenement House Bureau and the Bureau of Buildings of the Law Department.

The necessity for this lease is occasioned by the fact that the Tenement House Commissioner requires the rooms now occupied by the Law Department.

An examination shows that the space desired is on the southerly side of the eleventh floor of the building known as the Mercantile Building, situated at the southwest corner of Twenty-third street and Fourth avenue, Manhattan; that they are well lighted, being on an open court, and the owners agree to erect the necessary partitions to make the rooms to suit the requirements of the Law Depart

ment.

After investigating the various other desirable office buildings in the vicinity and several interviews with the owner, I am able to report that they are willing to make a lease for a period of two years and ten months from July 1, 1904, make the desired alterations, provide light, heat, elevator and janitor service at an annual rental of $2,800. This rent being reasonable, I would respectfully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopt a resolution authorizing a lease of Rooms Nos. 14. 15 and 16, approximately covering an area of 2,000 square feet, on the southerly side of the eleventh floor of the Mercantile Building, situated at the southwest corner of Twenty-third street and Fourth avenue, Manhattan, for a term of two years and ten months from July 1, 1904, at an annual rental of $2,800. Lessors to erect the necessary partitions on said premises for seven rooms, two short corridors and an open space for the public, in accordance with the requirements of the Law Department; to provide light, heat, elevator and janitor service. Lessors, United States Realty and Construction Company.

Respectfully submitted for approval,

Approved:

MORTIMER J. BROWN,

Appraiser of Real Estate in Charge of Bureau.

EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller.

Resolved, That the Corporation Counsel be and is hereby requested to prepare a lease to the City from the United States Realty and Construction Company, of Rooms Nos. 14, 15 and 16, on the eleventh floor of the Mercantile Building, situated on the southwest corner of Twenty-third street and Fourth avenue, Borough of Manhattan, for the use of the Tenement House Bureau and Bureau of Buildings of the Law Department, for a term of two years and ten months from July 1, 1904, at an annual rental of twenty-eight hundred dollars ($2,800), payable quarterly; the lessors to erect the necessary partitions on said premises for seven rooms, two short corridors and an open space for the public, in accordance with the requirements of the Law Department; also to provide light, heat, elevator and janitor service; and 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, the Comptroller be and is hereby authorized and directed to execute the same when prepared and ap

proved by the Corporation Counsel, as provided by sections 149 and 217 of the Greater New York Charter.

The report was accepted and the resolution unanimously adopted.

The following communication was received from the Police Department, requesting an amendment to resolution authorizing a lease of premises Nos. 105 and 107 Second avenue, College Point, Borough of Queens (see page 255):

NEW YORK, June 10, 1904.

To the Honorable the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund:

GENTLEMEN—The Police Commissioner this day, on reading and filing communication from Deputy Comptroller N. Taylor Phillips, inclosing copy of communication from B. T. Kearns, lessor of premises in College Point, used as a station-house for the Police Department, Seventy-sixth First Sub-Precinct, stating that he desires to execute a renewal of the lease of such premises, to expire on May 1, 1905, instead of June 17, 1905,

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be and are hereby respectfully requested to authorize the execution of renewal of such lease for the period of time extending from June 17, 1904. to May 1, 1905, instead of expiring June 17, 1905, as stated in resolution of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, adopted March 29, 1904.

Very respectfully,

WM. H. KIPP, Chief Clerk.

I would respectfully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund amend the resolution of March 29, 1904, leasing the premises Nos. 105 and 107 Second avenue, College Point, Borough of Queens, for a term of one year from June 17, 1904, so that the date of expiration of the lease will read May 1, 1905.

MORTIMER J. BROWN,

Appraiser of Real Estate in Charge of Bureau.

In connection therewith the Comptroller offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the resolution adopted by this Board at meeting held March 29, 1904, authorizing a renewal of the lease to the City of premises Nos. 105 and 107 Second avenue, College Point, Borough of Queens, for the use of the Police Department, for a term of one year from June 17, 1904, at an annual rental of nine hundred dollars ($900), payable quarterly, and on the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease, be and the same is hereby amended by substituting as the term of the lease from June 17, 1904, to May 1, 1905," in place of "one year from June 17, 1904."

Which was unanimously adopted.

The Comptroller presented the following report and offered the following resolution relative to a renewal of the lease of premises at Sixth street and Vernon avenue, Long Island City, Borough of Queens, for the Board of Education:

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

SIR-The Board of Education, at a meeting held on April 20, 1904, adopted the following resolution:

"Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be and they hereby are "requested to authorize the renewal of the lease of the following-named premises for "school purposes for the terms and at the rentals specified:

Premises-Sixth street, near Vernon avenue, Long Island City, Queens. OwnerGrace M. E. Church, F. G. Van Riper, President, No. 24 Jackson avenue, Long Island City. Annex, Public School 1. District 41. Lease expires September 1, 1904. Term, 1 year. Annual rental, $1,200.

The Bureau of Buildings and the Department of Health having reported favorably on the condition for school purposes, I would respectfully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopt a resolution authorizing a renewal of the lease above mentioned upon the same terms and conditions as are in the present existing lease.

Respectfully submitted for approval,

Approved:

MORTIMER J. BROWN,

Appraiser of Real Estate in Charge of Bureau.

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 renewal of the lease to the City from the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, of the premises at Sixth street and Vernon avenue, Long Island City, Borough of Queens, used as an annex to Public School I, for a term of one year from September 1, 1904, at an annual rental of twelve hundred dollars ($1,200), and upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease-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.

The report was accepted and the resolution unanimously adopted.

The following communication was received from the Armory Board relative to the selection of a site for an armory for the Second Battery, N. G., N. Y., located on Franklin avenue, between One Hundred and Sixty-sixth and One Hundred and Sixty-seventh streets, Borough of The Bronx :

NEW YORK, April 14, 1904.

To the Honorable the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund:

GENTLEMEN-At a meeting of the Armory Board, held April 11, 1904, the following was adopted:

Whereas, The report of the Committee on the selection of a site in the Borough of The Bronx, for an armory for the Second Battery, N. G., N. Y., located on Franklin avenue, between One Hundred and Sixty-sixth and One Hundred and Sixty-seventh streets, being 202.26 feet on One Hundred and Sixty-sixth street and 300.02 on Franklin avenue, with an extension of 29 feet by 120.71 feet, was received and adopted at a meeting held January 21, 1903; and

Whereas, The owners of the premises, by communication of date March 29, 1904, have renewed their offer to sell this plot for the sum of $85,000; be it

"Resolved, That this Board does hereby select said site, beginning at a point at the junction of easterly side of Franklin avenue with the northerly side of East One Hundred and Sixty-sixth street, running in a northeasterly direction, distance 301.52 on the easterly side of Franklin avenue; thence running in a southeasterly direction and parallel with East One Hundred and Sixty-seventh street, along the adjoining property lines, distance 202.63 feet; thence in a southwesterly direction, parallel with Boston road, distance 57.5 feet; thence in a southeasterly direction, parallel with East One Hundred and Sixty-seventh street, distance 29 feet; thence in a southwesterly direction, parallel with Boston road, distance 121.42 feet; thence in a northwesterly direction, parallel with One Hundred and Sixty-seventh street, distance 29 feet; thence in a southwesterly direction, parallel with Boston road, distance 120.32 feet; thence in a northwesterly direction along the northerly side of East One Hundred and Sixtysixth street, distance 202.27 feet, to the point or place of beginning, for an armory for the Second Battery, N. G., N. Y., and that the Secretary be directed to transmit this resolution, together with the survey map or plan, to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund for their concurrence.

The survey map or plan is herewith transmitted, in duplicate.

Yours truly,

FRANK J. BELL, Acting Secretary.

I hereby certify that I have made an examination of the property described in the resolution of the Board of Armory Commissioners, and would state that the price named therein, while full value, is not excessive, and I would respectfully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund concur in the resolution of the Board of Armory Commissioners.

Respectfully submitted for approval,

April 18, 1904.

MORTIMER J. BROWN,

Appraiser of Real Estate in Charge of Bureau.

In connection therewith, the Comptroller offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby concur in the resolution adopted by the Armory Board, at meeting held April 11, 1904, selecting the site for an armory for the Second Battery, N. G., N. Y., located on Franklin avenue, between One Hundred and Sixty-sixth and One Hundred and Sixty-seventh streets, Borough of The Bronx.

Which was unanimously adopted.

The Comptroller presented the following report and offered the following resolution relative to a sale at public auction of the building, together with the machinery contained therein, located within the area of what is known as McCarren's Park, in the Borough of Brooklyn:

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

JUNE 10, 1904.

SIR-The City of New York acquired by purchase at private sale property of the American Rattan and Reed Manufacturing Company, located within the area of what is known as "McCarren Park," in the Borough of Brooklyn, together with the machinery within said building, mentioned and particularly described in the schedule hereto annexed.

The American Rattan and Reed Company has been a tenant of the building, paying rent to the Collector of City Revenue. In a communication under date of May 25, 1904, addressed to the Collector of City Revenue, the company states that it is anxious to remove from the building on June 30, 1904, as their new building is all completed and ready for occupancy. The Collector of City Revenue realizes that the care and maintenance of the building and machinery will be a charge upon the City for the reason that it will be impossible to rent the same between the date of the removal of the American Rattan and Reed Company and the time at which the property would be turned over to the Park Department, and believes that the building and machinery should be exposed for sale at public auction to the highest bidder. There was an allowance made for machinery on the part of the City, under the approval of the Corporation Counsel, approximating $11,000. The value in the schedule is approximately $13,780.

I am of the same opinion as the Collector of City Revenue, for if allowed to remain vacant, the building and contents will be destroyed, and to protect the same the City would have to employ a watchman. I would therefore respectfully recommend that under and by virtue of the provisions of section 1553 of the amended Greater New York Charter, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund authorize a sale of the building and machinery. I believe that if properly advertised tenders would be received by the Finance Department on behalf of men who buy old machinery, and bring to the City more money than would be received if this machinery was put up in bulk and sold off, as has been the custom in selling buildings and contents. I do not mean by this that the property should not be exposed at public auction, but I think ample time should be given to dealers in second-hand materials to thoroughly investigate the contents of the building for the purpose of bidding, and I so recommend. Respectfully submitted for approval,

Approved:

MORTIMER J. BROWN.

Appraiser of Real Estate in Charge of Bureau.

EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller.

Resolved, That the Comptroller be and is hereby authorized and directed to sell at public auction to the highest bidder, the building, together with the machinery contained therein belonging to the City and formerly the property of the American Rattan and Reed Manufacturing Company, located within the area of what is known as McCarren's Park, in the Borough of Brooklyn.

The report was accepted and the resolution unanimously adopted.