"Whereas, At a meeting of the Board of Health held October 15, 1902, a report from the Assistant Sanitary Superintendent of the Borough of Manhattan was submitted, showing that from an inspection of the said markets the unsanitary conditions remained unchanged, and a copy of said report was duly forwarded to the President of the Borough of Manhattan and to the Comptroller; and

"Whereas, It has been reported to this Board by the Assistant Sanitary Superintendent of the Department of Health in the Borough of Manhattan, under date of February 25, 1903, that the same premises still remain in an unsanitary condition: therefore be it

"Resolved. That, in the opinion of the Board of Health, the further use of Union Market, Catharine Market and Clinton Market, in their present condition, should be discontinued, and the Comptroller is hereby ordered to discontinue their use as such within thirty days of the date of this order; and it is further

"Resolved. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Comptroller of The City of New York."

I was duly served with a copy of the resolutions and caused an examination to be made of the conditions at Catharine Market.

From the reports made to me it was evident that the market buildings were beyond repair, and as only six actual market stand holders are tenants in the two buildings, and an exceedingly large amount of space was devoted to restaurant purposes, I was of the opinion that the market, as such, had ceased to be of a character which the City should maintain.

The stand holders, however, made a strong protest that the building should not be removed until the end of their most profitable season-to wit, the summer monthsand which would allow them sufficient time to make arrangements for other quarters.

I therefore decided that if the Board of Health made no objection the stand holders could remain until November 1, upon which date the market was officially closed.

The building being absolutely valueless to the City, and fearing that same would soon become a public nuisance, I gave orders to the Superintendent of Markets to have same removed, and this has been done.

The market having been abolished and my duty in connection therewith having ceased, I now desire to turn over to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund the land for such disposition as they may see fit to make of the same.

During the previous administration I had some correspondence with the then Commissioners of Parks upon the advisability of the land being assigned to his Department for improvement, and it would seem to me desirable that this piece of ground should be in the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks.

Respectfully,

EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller.

The property was accepted, and the question of what disposition should be made of it laid over.

The Comptroller presented the following statement and offered the following resolution, relative to fines payable to the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Brooklyn Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children,

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Medical Society of the County of New York, New York County Medical Association, Forest, Fish and Game Commission:

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

February 3, 1904.

SIR-The following fines imposed by Court of Special Sessions, First and Second Divisions, have been collected at dates stated, January, 1904, and are payable, pursuant to law, to the several societies named:

To New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, section 5, chapter 122, Laws of 1876:

To Brooklyn Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, section 5, chapter 122, Laws of 1876:

To American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, section 6, chapter 420, Laws of 1888:

To Medical Society of the County of New York, secore 153 chapter 661. Laws duizended by thege of Law of 1895:

To New York County Medical Association, section 153, chapter 661, Laws of 1893 as amended by chapter 398 Laws of :895:

To Forest, Fish and Game Commission, section 187, chapter 20. Laws of 1900. Amount of the following fines for violation of Game Law imposed and collected in 1903, viz:

All the above cases were prosecuted by the officers of the several societies to which fines are payable. The amount collected has been deposited to the credit of the Sinking Fund for the Payment of Interest on the City Debt.

Respectfully.

I. S. BARRETT, Bookkeeper.

Resolved, That warrants payable from the Sinking Fund for the Payment of the Interest on the City Debt be drawn in favor of the following societies, etc., being the amount of fines imposed and collected by the Court of Special Sessions, First and

Second Divisions, in the month of January, 1904, etc., and payable to said societies, pursuant to law, viz.:

New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Brooklyn Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals..
Medical Society of the County of New York...

New York County Medical Association.

Forest, Fish and Game Commission...

$450 00

100 00

100 00

375 00

575 00

70 00

Which resolution was unanimously adopted.

The Comptroller presented the following statement and offered the following resolution, relative to the refunding of Croton water rents paid in error:

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

February 4, 1904.

SIR-Applications have been made, as per statement herewith, for the refund of Croton water rents paid in error.

The applications are severally approved by the Commissioner of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity or the Collector of Assessments and Arrears, and the amount so paid, two hundred and ninety-four dollars and sixty one-hundredths ($294.60), has been deposited to the credit of the Sinking Fund for the Payment of the Interest on the City Debt.

Resolved, That a warrant payable from the Sinking Fund for the Payment of the Interest on the City Debt be drawn in favor of the Chamberlain for the sum of two hundred and ninety-four and sixty one-hundredths dollars ($294.60) for deposit in the City Treasury to the credit of "Croton Water Rent Refunding Account," for refunding erroneous and over payments of Croton water rents, as per statement submitted herewith.

Which resolution was unanimously adopted.

The Comptroller presented the following statement and offered the following resolution, relative to the refunding of amounts overpaid for street vault permits: February 3, 1904.

Hon, EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

SIR-The following application for the refund of amount overpaid for street-vault permit is respectfully submitted, viz.:

Applicant, Edward Nicholson; location, No. 178 Madison avenue; overpaid

$15.11.

To the application is attached the affidavit of the owner and the certificate of a City Surveyor, and the refund is recommended by the Superintendent of Highways, approved by the Commissioner of Public Works and the President of the Borough of Manhattan.

The amount paid was deposited to the credit of the Sinking Fund for the Redemption of the City Debt No. 1.

Respectfully,

I. S. BARRETT, Bookkeeper.

Resolved, That a warrant payable from the Sinking Fund for the Redemption of the City Debt No. 1, be drawn in favor of Edward Nicholson for the sum of fifteen and eleven one-hundredths dollars ($15.11), refunding him this amount overpaid for permit to build street vault as per statement submitted.

Which resolution was unanimously adopted.

A communication was received from Mr. Philip I. Cootey, relative to his services and disbursements in connection with bill introduced in Congress providing for a cession by the United States to the City of a portion of the Cob dock in Wallabout bay, East river.

Which was laid over.