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. 799 Vernon avenue, Borough of Queens; owner, William Nelson; annex to Public School 77; lease expires March 1, 1904; term, one year; annual rental, $600.

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.

In connection therewith the Comptroller presented the following report:

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 leases of the following named premises, used for school purposes, as follows:

"Premises, No. 799 Vernon avenue, Borough of Queens; owner, William Nelson; annex to Public School 77; lease expires March 1, 1904; term, one year; annual rental, $600."

The Board of Health and the Building Department report adversely on the proposition of the Board of Education to renew this lease. The Building Department states:

"The building is a three-story and basement frame, brick basement, building, 25 feet front by 45 feet deep, with a 10-foot extension on south side two stories high, the main building being about 37 feet high, the first floor being divided into four rooms, all of which are heated by a hot air furnace, the pipes of which, under basement ceiling, are very close, without any protection. In one place in the kitchen the plaster has fallen, and the same has been substituted by paper, being put over the place which sags close to hot air pipes; also in basement hallway the hot air pipe is about 3 inches from the basement stair partition, which has no protection. The second floor is reached by a 3-foot wood stairway, 71⁄2-inch riser; is divided into two classrooms and two cloakrooms, with a 3-foot hallway between the same, all of which is heated by stoves. The third story, which is an attic with a mansard roof, divided into three rooms, two of which are classrooms, one of which for an exit, is forced to come through a room before reaching a hallway, which is 2 feet 10 inches wide. The floor is reached by a 3-foot stairway, with 17 raisers, each being 7-inch. The doorways of classrooms open in, blocking the exit. The conditions on this floor are very dangerous, and provision should be made to provide other means of exit for the 54 scholars that are housed in the two classrooms. This floor is heated by stoves. I would suggest for

safety, if the additional exit is not provided, the use of the upper floor be dispensed with."

The Department of Health reports:

"The four rooms on the top floor were found to be poorly ventilated and lighted, and overcrowded with pupils, and entirely inadequate for school purposes. All the rest of the building and surroundings were found to be in a fairly good sanitary condition." I would respectfully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund refuse to authorize the renewal of this lease until such time as the building has been put in a condition which would be satisfactory to the Department of Buildings and the Department of Health of the Borough of Queens for use by the Board of Education for school purposes.

Respectfully submitted for approval,

MORTIMER J. BROWN, Appraiser of Real Estate in Charge of Bureau.

Approved: EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller.

Which was referred back to the Board of Education, with a copy of the report.

The Comptroller presented the following report of the Appraiser of Real Estate and offered the following resolution, relative to the renewal of the leases of premises on East One Hundred and Sixty-seventh street, premises on White Plains avenue and premises on One Hundred and Fifty-eighth street, for the President of the Borough of The Bronx:

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

January 5, 1904.

SIR-In a communication under date of December 23, 1903, Hon. Louis F. Haffen, President of the Borough of The Bronx, requests the renewal of a lease of the premises on East One Hundred and Sixty-seventh street east of the Southern Boulevard, Mrs. Eliza N. Gray, owner, at a monthly rental of $25, the present lease of which expired on January 1, 1904.

The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund at a meeting held January 24, 1902 (See Minutes, Sinking Fund, page 17), authorized a renewal of this lease for a period of two years, the lessor to pay taxes, assessments and water rates, and I would respectfully recommend that this lease be renewed upon the same terms and conditions as the old lease, which expired on January 1, 1904.

He also asks for a renewal of the lease of premises on White Plains avenue, opposite Logan street, estate of Anna M. Shiel, owner, at a monthly rental of $35, which lease also expired on January 1, 1904.

The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, at a meeting held on December 24, 1902 (See Minutes, Sinking Fund, page 1169), authorized a lease of a large room on the ground floor, together with the basement and cellar, of premises located on the westerly side of White Plains avenue, opposite Logan street, in the Borough of The Bronx, for use as a branch Engineer's office for the Topographical Bureau, for a term of one year from January 1, 1903, with the privilege of two annual renewals at the rental of $35 per month, the owner to put the premises in first-class condition,

and to keep the same in good and tenantable condition during the term. This lease. was twice amended by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund at meetings held January 7 and March 11, 1903.

I would respectfully recommend that the request of the Borough President be complied with, and that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund authorize a renewal of this lease for a period of one year upon the same terms and conditions as was in the lease which just expired on January 1, 1904.

President Haffen also requests the renewal of the lease of the premises on One Hundred and Fifty-eighth street, 50 feet west of Tinton avenue, Annie J. Hillman, owner, which expires on February 1, 1904, at a monthly rental of $20.

The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund at a meeting held March 4, 1903 (see Minutes, Sinking Fund, page 223), authorized a lease of the premises on the south side of East One Hundred and Fifty-eighth street, 45 feet west of Tinton avenue, in the Borough of The Bronx, for storage purposes for the Topographical Bureau of the borough, for a term of five years from February 1, 1899, at a monthly rental of $20. It seems that the former Board of Public Improvements had been in possession of the premises from February 1, 1899, to December 31, 1901, and that since December 31, 1901, the Topographical Bureau of the borough has been in possession, using the building for storage purposes. The matter of this lease had been referred to the Corporation Counsel, and his opinion was returned, stating that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund could authorize a lease covering that period, which the Commissioners, at a meeting held March 4, did so authorize.

I would respectfully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopt a resolution authorizing a lease of the premises on the south side of East One Hundred and Fifty-eighth street, 45 feet west of Tinton avenue, in the Borough of The Bronx, for storage purposes for the Topographical Bureau of the Borough of The Bronx, for a period of one year from February 1, 1904, at a monthly rental of $20; Annie J. Hillman, owner.

Respectfully submitted for approval,

MORTIMER J. BROWN,

Apraiser of Real Estate in Charge of Bureau.

Resolved, That the Comptroller be and is hereby authorized and directed to execute renewals of leases to the City of the following-described premises for the use of the President of the Borough of The Bronx:

1. The premises on the north side of One Hundred and Sixty-seventh street, Borough of The Bronx, 100 feet east of the Southern Boulevard, for a term of two years, from January 1, 1904, at a monthly rental of twenty-five dollars ($25); the taxes, assessments and water rents to be paid by the lessor; otherwise upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease; Eliza N. Gray, lessor.

2. Premises located on the westerly side of White Plains avenue, opposite Logan street, Borough of The Bronx, for a term of one year, from January 1, 1904, at a rental of thirty-five dollars ($35) per month, otherwise upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease; Mrs. Anna M. Sheil, lessor.

3. Premises on the south side of One Hundred and Fifty-eighth street, 45 feet west of Tinton avenue, for a period of one year, from February 1, 1904, at a monthly rental of twenty dollars ($20); otherwise upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease; Annie J. Hillman, 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 Comptroller presented the following report and offered the following resolution, relative to a renewal of the lease of premises known as the Williamson Building, corner Potter and Steinway avenues, Borough of Queens, for the use of the Department of Education (see Minutes, 1903, page 1023):

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

January 18, 1904.

SIR-At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Education held on the 21st day of October, 1903, the following resolution was adopted:

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

Premises, Potter and Steinway avenues, Queens; owner, Margaret A. Williamson Boyd; annex to Public School 8; district, No. 42; lease expires, February 15, 1904; term, I year; annual rental, $2,000.

I had this building examined by the Department of Health and the Department of Buildings and found that it was in such a condition as to make the use of the entire building for school purposes absolutely out of the question. A full report was made thereon to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund in a communication under date of November 11, and a copy of the same, I understand. was transmitted to the Board of Education.

The Bureau of Buildings of the Board of Education, in a communication under date of January 6, 1904, through Frank A. Collins, Deputy Superintendent of Queens, requested an interview with this office, and later Mr. Collins called upon me, the object being to find some way by which the Board of Education could continue in the use of the school building until the new school, No. 84, now in course of erection, will have been completed. This office refused to change its report in regards to the use of the entire building for school purposes, and so informed him at the time, and in a communication under date of January 13, 1904, called the attention of Mr. Adams, who is Chairman of the Committee on Buildings of said Board, to the condition of the building and the report made by the Building Department and the Department of Health.

I understand the Board of Education absolutely require the use of this property, and if under the conditions the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund agree to authorize a renewal of the lease, as requested by the Board of Education, I would

respectfully recommend that in so doing they designate that the ground floor only of the building shall be used for school purposes.

Respectfully submitted for approval,

MORTIMER J. BROWN,

Appraiser of Real Estate in Charge of Bureau.

Approved: EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller.

FLUSHING, N. Y., January 6, 1904.

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller, City of New York:

DEAR SIR-Being personally conversant with all the details of the premises the lease of which is sought to be renewed, on the corner of Steinway and Potter avenues, Long Island City, belonging to Mrs. Mary A. Boyd, and which has been in use as an annex to Public School 8, Borough of Queens, since before consolidation, the Hon. Richard H. Adams, Chairman of the Committee on Buildings, at its last meeting, directed me to seek a personal interview with you, the object being to find some way by which we may continue in the use of these premises until the new school, Public School 84, now in course of erection, will have been completed.

The Assistant Superintendent of Buildings of the Borough of Queens thinks fire escapes should be erected on the front. This the owner refuses to do on the ground that a one-year renewal does not warrant her in expending $1,500 for something which will be of no use to the premises when the Board of Education moves out.

Mr. Adams thinks it would be unwise for the Board of Education to expend $1,500 for a fire escape, in view of the short time this building will be needed and the expected early completion of the new school.

We have had our Inspectors out all the fall, as their other duties permitted, inspecting buildings proposed for school purposes to find if possible suitable quarters to take the place of this building, but in all cases the rental asked, the cost of fitting up, or their unsuitability, have brought all our efforts to naught.

May I have the honor of conferring with you on this specific matter by or before Monday noon, January 11. that I may report to Mr. Adams at the next meeting of the Committee on Buildings, to be held in the afternoon of the above date.

Very respectfully,

FRANK A. COLLINS,

Deputy Superintendent of School Buildings, Borough of Queens.

Whereas, The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, at meeting held November 18, 1903, returned the application of the Board of Education for a renewal of the lease of premises at Potter and Steinway avenues, Borough of Queens, with directions to either have the owner comply with the requirements of the Department of Buildings, with reference to fire escapes, etc., or look for another location for school purposes; and

Whereas, It appears that the owner refuses to comply with such requirements, and that this particular piece of property is the only place obtainable in the neighborhood; and