The following communication was received from the Armory Board, relative to bill of Messrs. Werner & Windolph, architects (see Minutes, 1903, page 1130):

NEW YORK, December 31, 1903.

To the Honorable the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund:

GENTLEMEN-At a meeting of the Armory Board held this day the following was

adopted:

"Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to return the bill of Messrs. Werner & Windolph for fees for services in connection with the alterations to doors of certain armories, together with a copy of his report, and the recommendation of the Armory Board that the bill be paid, as rendered at ten per cent." A copy of the report is herewith transmitted.

Yours truly,

FRANK J. BELL, Acting Secretary.

NEW YORK, December 30, 1903.

Honorable SETH Low, Mayor, and Chairman of the Armory Board:

SIR-I beg to report in the matter of the bill of Messrs. Werner & Windolph, architects, for preparing plans and specifications and the necessary supervision in the alterations to certain armories, as follows:

The contract for doing this work amounts to $12,441. The work is located in eight armories, situated in the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. No separate estimates for the amount of work in the different buildings has been submitted, and such division of the entire contract could only be a matter of estimate.

The architects have rendered a bill for their services on the basis of ten per cent. of the amount of the contract. They state, also, that they made a verbal agreement with Mr. Gustaveson, the former Secretary of the Armory Board, to do this work for a fee of ten per cent. on the cost of it. No record of this contract or agreement appears on file in the office of the Armory Board.

I do not call to mind, nor do I find on the records of this office, any payment to an architect for fees exceeding five per cent. on the cost of the work, but the schedule of fees of the American Institute of Architects, I believe, provides for such a fee on work of this character.

If five per cent, on the cost of the work is a fair compensation for the construction of an armory (a job located at one place and amounting to five or six hundred thousand dollars), then ten per cent. is not an unreasonable fee for this work, amounting to less than $12,000, scattered in eight armories and in three boroughs, and for work which must be made to conform to existing work of as many styles of architecture as there are armories in which it is located.

It is therefore my opinion that the charge is a reasonable one, and that the verbal agreement of the Armory Board, through its former Secretary, with the architects should be lived up to.

Respectfully submitted,

(Signed)

Referred to the Comptroller.

FRANK J. BELL, Acting Secretary.

The following communication was received from the Board of Education, relative to an amendment to resolution authorizing a lease of premises known as Schumaker's Hotel, Middle Village, Borough of Queens (see Minutes, 1903, page 839):

NEW YORK, December 17, 1903.

Hon. N. TAYLOR PHILLIPS, Secretary, Commissioners of the Sinking Fund:

DEAR SIR-I have the honor to transmit herewith a certified copy of a preamble and resolution adopted by the Executive Committee of the Board of Education at a meeting held on the 16th instant, requesting the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund to amend the resolution adopted September 9, 1903, authorizing the lease of the premises known as Schumaker's Hotel, Middle Village, Borough of Queens.

Respectfully,

A. EMERSON PALMER,

Secretary, Board of Education.

Whereas, No provision in regard to water, light, etc., was included in the lease of the premises known as Schumaker's Hotel, Middle Village, Borough of Queens, leased as an annex to Public School 70 (see Journal, pages 1580 and 2633); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be and they are hereby requested to amend the resolution adopted by them on August 10, 1903, authorizing the lease of the above-mentioned premises by inserting therein the following: "The Board of Education to pay for light, heat, water and janitor's service."

A true copy of preamble and resolution adopted by the Executive Committee of the Board of Education on December 16, 1903.

A. EMERSON PALMER,

Secretary, Board of Education.

Inasmuch as it was understood that the Board of Education was to pay for light, heat, water and janitor services, I respectfully recommend that the resolution adopted by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund under date of September 9, 1903, be amended as requested by the Board of Education.

January 4, 1904.

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 August 10, 1903, approving of and consenting to the execution by the Board of Education of a lease to the City from Mrs. Catherine Sutter, of a portion of the building known as Schumaker's Hotel, Middle Village, Borough of Queens, be and the same is hereby amended by adding after the words, "the lessor to keep the outside of the building in repair during the term of the lease and to remove the icebox, washtubs, bath and hotel fixtures now therein," the words, "the Board of Education to pay for light, heat, water and janitor's service."

Which was unanimously adopted.

The following report and resolution were received from the Board of Education, relative to a renewal of the lease of premises known as Balzer Hall, Prospect and Grant streets, Borough of Brooklyn:

To the Executive Committee:

The Committee on Buildings respectfully reports that the leases of the following-named premises, used as annexes to public schools, will expire on the dates specified, and the City Superintendent has stated in each case that a renewal is necessary to afford additional school accommodations in the various localities.

tion:

Your Committee therefore recommends the following resolution for adop

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be and they are hereby requested to authorize the renewal of the leases of the following-named premises, used for school purposes, as follows:

Premises, Balzer Hall, Prospect and Grand streets, Borough of Brooklyn; owners, Adam and Elizabeth F. Balzer; annex to Public School 90; lease expires April 19, 1904; term, 2 years; annual rental, $800.

A true copy of report and resolution adopted by the Executive Committee of the Board of Education on November 18, 1903.

A. EMERSON PALMER, Secretary, Board of Education.

November 20, 1903.

In connection therewith the Comptroller presented the following report of the Appraiser of Real Estate and offered the following resolution:

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

January 13, 1904.

SIR-The Board of Education, in a communication under date of November 19, transmits a resolution adopted by the Executive Committee of the Board of Education at a meeting held November 18, 1903, as follows:

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be and they are hereby requested to authorize the renewal of the lease of the following named premises, used for school purposes, as follows:

Premises, Balzer Hall, Prospect and Grand streets, Borough of Brooklyn; owners, Adam and Elizabeth F. Balzer; annex to Public School 90; lease expires April 19, 1904; term, two years; annual rental, $800.

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

Respectfully submitted for approval,

MORTIMER J. BROWN,

Appraiser of Real Estate, in Charge of Bureau.

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 a lease to the

City from Adam and Elizabeth F. Balzer, of premises known as Balzer Hall, corner of Prospect and Grant streets, Flatbush, Borough of Brooklyn, together with the plot 49 feet 11 inches by 144 feet, situated on the northerly side of Grant street, immediately adjoining the building leased for use as an annex to Public School No. 90, for a term of two years from April 19, 1904, at an annual rental of eight hundred dollars ($800), payable quarterly, and on 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 report and resolution were received from the Board of Education, relative to a renewal of the leases of premises No. 1189 Bedford avenue, Brooklyn, and premises on Washington avenue, Grant City, Borough of Richmond:

To the Executive Committee:

The Committee on Buildings respectfully reports that the leases of the followingnamed premises, used as annexes to public schools, will expire on the dates specified, and the City Superintendent has stated in each case that a renewal is necessary to afford additional school accommodations in the various localities.

Your Committee, therefore, recommends the following resolution for adoption: Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be and they are hereby requested to authorize the renewal of the leases of the following-named premises used for school purposes, as follows:

Premises No. 1189 Bedford avenue, Brooklyn; owner, Annie J. Harr, George Harr, attorney, No. 672 St. Mark's avenue, Brooklyn; annex to Commercial High School; lease expires March 1, 1904; term, two years; annual rental, $540.

Premises, Washington avenue, between Thompson street and Railroad avenue, Grant City, Richmond; owner, Jeanne Vivian Penet, New Dorp, S. I.; annex to Public School 33; lease expires April 1, 1904; term, one year; annual rental, $300. A true copy of report and resolution adopted by the Executive Committee of the Board of Education, November 11, 1903.

A. EMERSON PALMER,

Secretary, Board of Education.

In connection therewith the Comptroller presented the following report of the Appraiser of Real Estate and offered the following resolution:

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

January 13, 1904.

SIR-The Board of Education, in a communication under date of November 12, transmitted a resolution adopted by the Executive Committee of the Board of Education at a meeting held November 11, 1903, as follows:

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be and they are hereby requested to authorize the renewal of the leases of the following named premises used for school purposes, as follows:

Premises, No. 1189 Bedford avenue, Brooklyn; owner, Annie J. Harr, George Harr, attorney, No. 672 St. Mark's avenue, Brooklyn; annex to Commercial High School; lease expires March 1, 1904; term, 2 years; annual rental, $540.

Premises, Washington avenue, between Thompson street and Railroad avenue, Richmond; owner, Jeanne Vivian Penet, New Dorp, Staten Island; annex to Public School 33; lease expires April 1, 1904; term, I year; annual rental, $300.

The Board of Health and the Department of Buildings having reported favorably as to the condition of these buildings for school purposes. I would respectfully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopt a resolution authorizing a renewal of these leases upon the same terms and conditions as in the present existing leases.

Respectfully submitted for approval,

MORTIMER I. BROWN,

Appraiser of Real Estate in Charge of Bureau.

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby approve of and consent to the execution by the Board of Education of renewals of leases to the City of the following described premises:

1. The store of the building No. 1189 Bedford avenue, Borough of Brooklyn, used as an annex to the Commercial High School, for a term of two years from March 1, 1904, at a rental of forty-five dollars ($45) per month, otherwise upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease; Annie J. Haar, by George Haar, attorney, lessor.

2. Premises at Grant City, Washington avenue, between Thompson street and Railroad avenue, Borough of Richmond, for a term of one year from April 1, 1904, at an annual rental of three hundred dollars ($300), payable monthly, otherwise upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease; Jeanne Vivian Penet, lessor,

-the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund deeming the said rents fair and reasonable and that it would be for the interests of the City that such leases be made. The report was accepted and the resolution unanimously adopted.

The following report and resolution were received from the Board of Education, relative to a renewal of the lease of premises No. 799 Vernon avenue, Borough of Queens:

To the Executive Committee:

The Committee on Buildings respectfully reports that the leases of the following-named premises, used as annexes to public schools, will expire on the dates