to compel a railroad company, at the company's expense, to relocate tracks dangerous to human life.

March 6, 1917. Senator George F. Thompson, Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee originally appointed to investigate the Public Service Commission, made public a special report on the West Side plan assailing the proposed contract. The report recommended that chapter 777 of the laws of 1911 be repealed, and that new legislation be enacted giving local authorities power to eliminate dangerous grade operations of railroads, and placing certain restrictions on their transactions.

March 6, 1917. The committee appointed by the Public Service Commission to examine the value of lands proposed to be exchanged by the City and the railroad company, held its first conference with the Port and Terminals Committee.

March 8, 1917. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court granted an alternative writ of prohibition staying temporarily the investigation of the West Side project which was to have been conducted by Justice Cropsey in the Supreme Court March 10. The writ was obtained on behalf of Mayor Mitchel and other city officials.

March 10, 1917. Sigfried Cederstrom, real estate expert of the Public Service Commission, who had made a preliminary report on the West Side plan and who believed the plan should have a public airing, resigned under the apprehension that he was being prevented from pursuing the investigation.

March 10, 1917. Two large paintings were displayed in Grand Central Terminal, showing the present appearance of Riverside Park and its appearance after the proposed changes. They were "loaned and exhibited at the request of R. A. C. Smith."

March 11, 1917. Hon. Travis H. Whitney, Chairman of the committee of the Public Service Commission appointed to confer with the Port and Terminals Committee of the Board of Estimate, issued a statement of 21 typewritten pages, most of which was a criticism of the West Side plan, but which also denied that there was any attempt to gag "Mr. Cederstrom,

March, 1917. Senator Burlingame introduced in the Legislature a bill providing for a Legislative investigation of the West Side plan.

March 13, 1917. The National Sculpture Society held a meeting to discuss West Side plan.

March 13, 1917. The members of the Port and Terminals Committee and the sub-committee of the Public Service Commission held a long conference in the Comptroller's office concerning the values of the lands and easements to be exchanged. Certain suggestions for modifications of the proposed contract, said to look to the rental of land to the railroad at rates periodically readjustable, instead of conveying land in fee, were forwarded to Mr. Ira A. Place, Vice-President of the railroad company.

March 14, 1917. Hon. Charles E. Hughes argued before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in Brooklyn in behalf of Mayor Mitchel and other city officials for a permanent stay of the proposed special court investigation of the West Side plan. Justice James C. Cropsey and four other justices heard the arguments and reserved their decision.

March 15, 1917. Mr. Place replied to the suggestions made under date of March 13, rejecting them as impracticable. Public Service Commissioner Hervey had a conference with Governor Whitman at Albany.

March 18, 1917. A long conference was held between Mayor Mitchel, Comptroller Prendergast, Corporation Counsel Hardy, and Mr. Place, at which the latter agreed to some modifications of the proposed contract.

March 20, 1917.

The Public Service Commission made a report to Gov. Whitman, recommending

"That Chapter 777 of the Laws of 1911 should promptly be repealed and a law enacted to take its place drawn upon the following lines:

"First. Providing for changing the grade of the New York Central Railroad as at present established upon streets and highways and abolishing the use of steam as a motive power.

"Second. Requiring the company, within a specified time, at the company's expense, to construct its road to conform to the newly established grade and to operate the same by electricity. "Third. A declaration that the present operation upon streets at grade with steam power constitutes a public nuisance.

"Fourth. Requiring the company, within a fixed period, to abate such nuisance by removing its tracks from the grade of streets and operating its road by electricity.

"Fifth. Authorizing the City and the Company, within a certain time, shorter than that above specified, to agree upon and carry out an alternative plan as to the new grade and location of its tracks, upon terms and conditions, including provision for additional facilities, as set forth in the act or in accordance with provisions of existing general laws; and

"Sixth. Providing that if, within the period specified, the company does not construct its road to conform to the newly estab lished grade, the proper local authorities shall remove the present tracks."

March 21, 1917. Senator George F. Thompson introduced in the Legislature a bill to repeal chapter 777 of the laws of 1911, etc. City officials telegraphed to Gov. Whitman asking him to defer action on the Public Service Commission report.

March 22, 1917. The Port and Terminals Committee sent a long letter to Gov. Whitman, outlining ten concessions which the railroad company is willing to make. They relate to spurs and sidings to private property, the crossing of the New York Central line by the lines of other railroads, the connection of other railroads with the New York Central structure between 59th and 30th streets, a separate franchise for electric service duets outside of the easement area, the height of the roof of the Manhattanville yard with reference to its being covered by the City at the City's expense, the relocation of columns in 10th and 11th avenues in the region of the 30th street yard, the clarification of the language of the contract with respect to the surrender of franchise rights by the railroad south of Canal street, and the insertion of a clause to provide for liquidated damages.

April 3, 1917. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Second Department, ruled that Mayor Mitchel and other city officials and Vice President Ira A. Place of the New York Central Railroad would not have to appear in court for examination as to the proposed plans. All five Justices concurring, the court vacated the order signed March 2 by Justice Cropsey of Brooklyn on petition of J. Bleecker Miller as counsel for a committee of five citizens, requiring Mayor Mitchel to explain in court details of the plans.

April 16, 1917. The suit of the Society for the Prevention of Municipal Waste for a permanent injunction to prevent Mayor Mitchel and the Board of Estimate from entering into the proposed

contract with the New York Central Railroad Company began before Justice Manning of the Supreme Court in Brooklyn.

April 18, 1917. Justice Manning dismissed the above-mentioned application for a permanent injunction to restrain the Mayor et al from entering into the proposed contract. He added that he would vacate any injunctions which may have been granted in connection with the case.

May 1, 1917. Ottinger bill passed the Senate.

May 2, 1917. Ottinger bill passed the Assembly.*

LIVINGSTON MANSION AT DOBBS FERRY The announcement in the newspapers of August 27, 1916, that Mr. Messmore Kendall of New York City had bought the old Livingston mansion in Dobbs Ferry, N. Y., with a view to its preservation as an historic monument gave much pleasure to those who were concerned about the existence of this interesting landmark. (See plate 49.)

On June 14, 1894, the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution dedicated a monument on the grounds in front of this house bearing the following inscription:

WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS.

Here, July 6, 1781, the French Allies under Rochambeau joined the American Army.

Here, August 14, 1781, Washington planned the Yorktown campaign which brought to a triumphant end the War for American Independence.

Here, May 6, 1783, Washington and Sir Guy Carleton arranged for the evacuation of American soil by the British.

And opposite this point, May 8, 1783, a British sloop-of-war fired 17 guns in honor of the American Commander-in-Chief, the first salute by Great Britain to the United States of America.

WASHINGTON

ROCHAMBEAU

Erected

June 14, 1894

by the

New York State Society

Sons of the

American Revolution

* On May 7 Mayor Mitchel formally disapproved the bill but it became a law by the Governor's signature June 3, 1917.

The portion of the above inscription referring to the meeting of Washington and Carleton is an inadvertence, owing to the fact that in olden times the name of Dobbs Ferry was applied to both ends of the ferry, and a landing at "Dobbs Ferry" might have been on either the west shore or the east shore of the river. In this particular case, the conference between Washington and Carleton was probably on the west side of the river at Tappan.

The records of the Revolution are full of references to events which occurred at Dobbs Ferry on the eastern shore of the Hudson and give to the old Livingston Mansion a high distinction among the historic landmarks of the Hudson Valley.

The house derives its name from Peter Van Brugh Livingston, a native of Albany, and the son of Philip, second Lord of Livingston Manor. This house was his country place. He enjoyed the friendship of Washington, and on more than one occasion was consulted by him. He was one of the founders of the College of New Jersey, at Elizabethtown, N. J., which afterward became Princeton College. On April 22, 1774, he was one of the party who threw overboard a cargo of tea brought by the ship Nancy into the Harbor of New York. The Dobbs Ferry place was sold by Van Brugh Livingston to Stephen Archer in 1836, and was his residence until his death in 1877. It was purchased by the late Joseph Hasbrouck M. D. in 1882. The latter was a descendant of an old Huguenot family and former Vice President of the Holland Society of New York. He died October 2, 1912.

Mr. Kendall, the new owner, is an enthusiastic lover of American history and intends to treat the property with every possible respect for its historic associations.

CROTON POINT PARK PROPOSED.

Since November, 1916, the Society has been making active efforts to enlist private generosity in the creation of a public park at Croton Point. Dr. D. Bryson Delavan of New York City, who first laid the project before the Board of Trustees, is Chairman of the Society's special committee on the subject.

Croton Point projects from the east shore of the Hudson River on the north side of the mouth of Croton River, 32 miles from 42d street, New York City. It is shaped somewhat like the leg of a