Since May 1, 1910, the lessee has held the bulkhead under a permit at the pleasure of the Commissioner of Docks.

The rental proposed for the two year lease is the same ($2,425.50) as the lessee has been paying since May 1, 1905. No increase is recommended as the lessee is to be required to expend about $800 to erect a hoist that can be used by the general public at the prevailing rates for such services. This improvement is recommended by the Commissioner to increase the opening wharf facilities on the North River.

I am advised that in view of the proposed improvement, which is to be of no special benefit to the lessee, the rental figure is reasonable.

I, therefore, transmit a resolution, which, if adopted, will approve the request and recommendations of the Commissioner of Docks.

Respectfully,

WM. A. PRENDERGAST, Comptroller.

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby approve and consent to the execution by the Commissioner of Docks of a lease to Thomas Stokes and Sons, Inc., of the bulkhead between Pier 69, near the foot of West 29th street and Pier 70, foot of West 30th street, about 155 feet, for a term of two (2) years, at a rental of two thousand four hundred and twenty-five dollars and fifty cents ($2,425.50) per annum, and in accordance with other terms and conditions included in the communication dated May 27, 1911, from the Commissioner of Docks, the lease to contain, in addition, such other terms and conditions as are usually included in leases of wharf property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Docks and Ferries.

The report was accepted, and the resolution adopted, all the members present voting in the affirmative.

The Deputy and Acting Comptroller presented the following report and offered the following resolution relative to an issue of corporate stock to the amount of $150,000, the proceeds to be used for remodeling and reconstructing the Third Battery Armory, in the Borough of Brooklyn:

To the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund:

June 28, 1911.

Gentlemen-At a meeting of the Armory Board held June 26, 1911, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That pursuant to the recommendations of the Committee on Armories, at a meeting held June 23, 1911, an appropriation of $150,000 be and is hereby made for the remodeling and reconstruction of the Third Battery Armory, 165-179 Clermont avenue, Borough of Brooklyn, this amount, in conjunction with the sum of $15,000 appropriated in the annual budget for 1911 for repairs to said building being requisite to reconstruct the building in accordance with the plans and specifications submitted; that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be requested to concur, and to authorize the Comptroller to issue corporate stock to the amount of $150,000 therefor.

The armory building in question has not sufficient floor space to properly accommodate this battery. The roof of the building is in an unsafe condition, the skylight having been blown off during a recent wind storm. The building does not afford sufficient fire protection. By remodeling and reconstructing this building the cost will be kept within one-third the cost of a new building. The reconstruction of the present building appears to be the most practical solution of the problem.

It is proposed to excavate for and build a basement under the drill ring and erect partitions therein which will provide a gun room, pistol range, magazine room and storage room, and enlarge the present coal storage room.

The present ground floor will be remodeled by enlarging the drill ring and forming a large stable, a harness room, blacksmith's shop, armorer's room and workshop. The second floor will be remodeled by the removal of the galleries and the installation of larger and fire-proof galleries. A rearrangement of some of the rooms that open on to the galleery is also contemplated.

The third floor of the administration part of the armory will be enlarged by extending it through to Vanderbilt avenue. This floor is to be partitioned off, forming a waiting room, squad drill room, feed room and storage intake room. A new story is to be erected to provide quarters for the janitor.

The two fronts of the building are also to be remodeled by the removal of one of the towers and the erection of two large windows.

The present roof trusses are to be reinforced and an entire new roof put on the building.

The proposed improvements appear to be necessary for the proper remodeling and reconstruction of the building, and from an examination of the rough drawings submitted, the estimate of cost appears to be reasonable.

Therefore, I recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund concur in the resolution of the Armory Board, quoted above to the extent of appropriating funds to the amount of $150,000 for the purpose of remodeling and reconstructing the Third Battery Armory.

I submit for adoption the resolution appended hereto.
Respectfully,

WM. A. PRENDERGAŠT, Comptroller.

Whereas, The Armory Board at a meeting held June 26, 1911, adopted the following resolution:

Resolved, That pursuant to the recommendations of the Committee on Armories, at a meeting held June 23, 1911, an appropriation of $150,000 be and is hereby made for the remodeling and reconstruction of the Third Battery Armory, 167-179 Clermont avenue, Borough of Brooklyn, this amount, in conjunction with the sum of $15,000 appropriated in the annual budget for 1911 for repairs to said building being requisite to reconstruct the building in accordance with the plans and specifications submitted; that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be requested to concur, and to authorize the Comptroller to issue corporate stock to the amount of $150,000 therefor.

It is,

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby concur in said resolution in so far as to authorize an issue of corporate stock to the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) and that for the purpose of providing means for the payment therefor, the Comptroller be and is hereby authorized and directed, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 231 of the Laws of 1908, to issue corporate stock of The City of New York in the manner provided by section 169 of the amended Greater New York Charter, to the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) (exclusive of Architects' fees), the proceeds whereof to be used for the purpose of remodeling and reconstructing the Third Battery Armory, 165-179 Clermont avenue, Borough of Brooklyn.

The report was accepted, and the resolution adopted, all the members present voting in the affirmative.

The Deputy and Acting Comptroller presented the following report and offered the following resolution relative to a renewal of the lease of premises 408-410 West 15th street, Borough of Manhattan, for Department of Street Cleaning.

To the Honorable, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund:

June 28, 1911.

Gentlemen-Hon. William H. Edwards, Commissioner of Street Cleaning, in a communication to your honorable Board under date of February 24, 1911, requests a renewal of the lease from James S. Herrman of the Street Cleaning stable premises at 408-410 West 15th street, Borough of Manhattan, for another term of ten years, from September 1, 1911, at an annual rental of $7,000 a year, the same as now paid, and otherwise upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease, except as to the covenant for renewal.

The premises consist of the five-story and basement brick stable, 50 feet by 100 feet, on a plot 50 feet by 103 feet 3 inches. The building was erected ten years ago for the Department, upon plans approved by the City, and is of heavy construction, having iron posts and steel girders throughout, and built to sustain a weight of 150 pounds to the square foot on all floors. The basement, second and third floors are concreted. The building has electric elevator 8 feet by 16 feet, a platform scale, electric lights, water and four toilets, and contains a total of 118 stalls, besides office, blacksmith's shop, forage room, harness room, Superintendent's office, drug room, harness shop, hot water heater and boiler and storage room for carts.

An effort was recently made by the Division of Real Estate of this Department to find another suitable stable in that section of the City at a lower rental, but without

success.

The rent asked for this renewal, $7,000 a year, is the same as paid by the City for the past ten years.

Land

The property is assessed for the year 1911:

$24,000 00

19,000 00

$43,000 00

$28,000 00 22,000 00

$50,000 00

$82,500 00

The rent is, therefore, 81⁄2 per cent. on the appraised value by the Division of Real Estate, 14 per cent. on the appraised value by the Tax Department, and 163-10 per cent. on the assessed value.

There is no other similar rented stable in the neighborhood with which comparison may be made.

The lessor pays taxes and makes outside repairs, and the lessee pays water rates, furnishes heat and light, and makes such inside repairs as it may deem necessary.

Deeming the rent reasonable and just under the circumstances, and the same as paid for the past ten years, I respectfully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopt a resolution authorizing a renewal of the lease of the stable premises at 408-410 West 15th street, Borough of Manhattan, being a five-story and basement brick stable 50 feet by 100 feet, on plot 50 feet by 103 feet 3 inches (118 stalls), for the use of the Department of Street Cleaning, and to be known as Stable E, for a period of ten years, from September 1, 1911, at an annual rental of $7,000, payable quarterly; the lessor to pay taxes and make outside repairs, and the lessee to pay water rates, furnish heat and light, and make such inside repairs as it may deem necessary, otherwise upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease, except as to the covenant for renewal. Lessor, James S. Herrman, 407 West 14th street, Borough of Manhattan.

Respectfully,

WM. A. PRENDERGAST, Comptroller.

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby approve of and consent to the execution, by the Commissioner of Street Cleaning, of a renewal of the lease to the City of stable premises at 408-410 West 15th street, Borough of Manhattan, for use of the Department of Street Cleaning for a period of ten years, from September 1, 1911, at an annual rental of seven thousand dollars ($7,000), payable quarterly, the lessor to pay taxes and make outside repairs; the lessee to pay water rates, furnish heat and light and make such inside repairs as it may deem necessary, otherwise upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease, except as to the covenant for renewal; lessor, James S. Herrman; 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 adopted, all members present voting in the affirmative.

The Deputy and Acting Comptroller presented the following report and offered the following resolution relative to a sale of encroachments lying within the lines of Robinson street, between Bedford avenue and Rogers avenue, Borough of Brooklyn.

To the Honorable, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund:

June 28, 1911.

Gentlemen-Pursuant to section 1553 of the revised Charter, the authority to sell buildings situated upon land owned by The City of New York is vested in the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund.

In a communication dated June 22, 1911, the President of the Borough of Brooklyn requests the sale for removal of the encroachments lying within the lines of Robinson street, between Bedford avenue and Rogers avenue, in the Borough of Brooklyn, and states that these encroachments stand in the way of improving the street, and it is very urgent that they be removed as soon as possible. He also states that the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, at the meeting to be held on June 29, 1911, will adopt a resolution vesting title in the above proceeding.

I, therefore, request that a resolution authorizing the sale of these encroachments, after title is vested therein, be adopted by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, and such a resolution is herewith transmitted.

Yours respectfully,

WM. A. PRENDERGAST, Comptroller.

Whereas, The President of the Borough of Brooklyn has requested the sale of certain buildings, etc., hereinafter described, located in the Borough of Brooklyn, acquired for street opening purposes.

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, by virtue of the powers vested in them by law, hereby authorize and order the sale, after title therein has vested in The City of New York, at public auction or by sealed bids, at the highest Inarketable prices, of all the buildings, parts of buildings, etc., lying within the lines of

Robinson street, between Bedford avenue and Rogers avenue, in the Borough of Brooklyn, all of which are more particularly described on a certain map on file in the office of the Collector of City Revenue, Department of Finance, 280 Broadway, Borough of Manhattan, upon the terms and conditions for the sale of buildings, etc., as authorized by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund at a meeting held October 4, 1910.

The report was accepted, and the resolution adopted, all the members present voting in the affirmative.

The following communication was received from the Commissioner of Docks submitting for approval a tariff schedule for municipal ferries:

April 15, 1911.

Hon. WILLIAM J. GAYNOR, Mayor, and Chairman of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund:

Sir-I herewith present for your consideration, with recommendation for adoption, revised tariff for vehicles on the municipal ferries running between the Borough of Manhattan and the Borough of Brooklyn, the 35th Street Division, and between the Borough of Manhattan and the Borough of Richmond, the Staten Island Division. The attached schedule shows the present rates of the 39th street and the Staten Island Divisions and the proposed rates. As will be seen from this schedule, there is at present no constant relation between the rates charged on the 39th Street Division and the rates charged on the Staten Island Division. The object of this proposed revision is to establish an approximately constant differential between the various charges on the two divisions and also to correct what would seem to be one or two excessive charges in the team rates between Manhattan and Richmond.

In the proposed rates, those on the 39th Street Division remain practically as at present. They compare favorably with the competing lines and have been the subject of no comment by the patrons of this division. Furthermore, this division serves a large, well built-up section of South Brooklyni, so that any decided changes in these rates would seem inadvisable. This 39th Street Division tariff is used as a basis for computing the rates on the Staten Island Division, with an approximate differential of 60 per cent. That is to say, each charge in the Staten Island Division tariff is approximately 60 per cent. higher than the same charge in the 39th Street Division tariff. While the distance on the Staten Island Division is approximately 60 per cent. greater than the distance on the 39th Street Division, this differential is based not only on this fact, but also on the difference in the quality of the service, i. e., the size of the boats, regularity of schedule and general effectiveness of the service.

During the past year I have, at their request, received many delegations from the various civic and business organizations of the Borough of Richmond in regard to the inequalities of the present schedules. These organizations, through their representatives, have requested an equalization of rates between the 39th street and the Staten Island Division, claiming there should be no differential in municipal transportation between the different Boroughs of the same City. Such a radical change, entailing a decrease of approximately 50 per cent. in the revenues of the Ferry Bureau, I am not now prepared to recommend. But I believe that the relation between the two schedules should be on some definite ratio, which is effected by the schedule attached. Then, with the upbuilding of business in the Borough of Richmond, should the total returns from the vehicular traffic on the Staten Island Division increase sufficiently to justify further reductions in the rates, they can be made by simply changing the differential between the tariff of the two divisions.

It is estimated that the present reductions and changes herewith recommended will reduce the ferry receipts, based upon last year's returns, some $23,000 or $24,000 per annum. Such a reduction in the receipts of a public utility, which is evidently not conducted for the purposes of profit, I believe to be justified both by the benefits that will accrue to individual citizens and concerns in Staten Island, and by the fact that the City will then be able to regulate its ferry receipts by a change in the differentials instead of arbitrary changes in particular rates. The organizations of the Borough of Richmond have advised me that they desire to appear before you to speak on this schedule and to express the needs of these reductions. CALVIN TOMKINS, Commissioner of Docks.

Yours respectfully,

Proposed Revision of Tariff for Vehicles on the Staten Island and Brooklyn Divisions of the Municipal Ferries.

All measurements will be taken from the foremost permanent part of any vehicle exclusive of pole and extend aft over the vehicle and load, the after measurement being over all.

Vehicles carrying a single bale of hay, a single sack of feed, not more than five empty barrels or empty boxes or sacks used to transport merchandise are classed as "light" and charged accordingly.

Vehicles carrying mechandise in whatever quantity other than above excepted will be classed as "loaded" and charged accordingly.

Any vehicle too wide or too high to pass through the team gangway may be taken on one end of the boat and the boat turned around at the other terminal to discharge the vehicle from the boat when the traffic will permit.

The tariff for such vehicles will be $10.

The Committee to which this matter was referred presented the following report: