premises on the east side of Haven Avenue, between 176th and 177th Streets, Borough of Manhattan, occupied as a station house by the 42nd Precinct, for a period of one year from July 1, 1916, at an annual rental of $5,000, and upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease. The Comptroller, in a communication to your Board under date of June 16, 1914, recommended this lease for a period of two years from July 1, 1914, at a rental of $5,000 per annum, the same as now asked, and said report was approved and lease authorized at a meeting of your Board held June 10, 1914. I, therefore, respectfully recommend, the rent being reasonable and just and the same as previously paid, that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopt a resolution authorizing a renewal of the lease of the premises on the easterly side of Haven Avenue, between West 176th and West 177th Streets, Borough of Manhattan, known on the tax maps as Lot 500, Block 2139, Section 8, for use of the Police Department, for a period of one year from July 1, 1916, with the privilege of renewal for an additional year upon the same terms and conditions, at an annual rental of $5,000, payable quarterly; the lessor to pay taxes and water rates; the lessee to make such inside and outside alterations and repairs during occupancy, as it may deem necessary, and furnish heat, light and janitor service; the lessor to have the right to terminate the lease upon giving ninety days' written notice of their intention so to do, in which event, they shall refund to the City three months' rent, otherwise upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease; lessor, Roxton Realty Company, 30 Nassau Street, Manhattan. Respectfully, ALEX. BROUGH, Deputy and Acting Comptroller. Resolved, That the Comptroller be and is hereby authorized and directed to execute a renewal of the lease to the City, of the premises on the easterly side of Haven Avenue, between West 176th and West 177th Streets, Borough of Manhattan, known on the tax maps as Lot 500, Block 2139, Section 8, for use of the Police Department, for a period of one year from July 1, 1916, with the privilege of renewal for an additional year upon the same terms and conditions, at an annual rental of Five thousand dollars ($5,000), payable quarterly; the lessor to pay taxes and water rates; the lessee to make such inside and outside alterations and repairs during occupancy, as it may deem necessary, and furnish heat, light and janitor service; the lessor to have the right to terminate the lease upon giving ninety days' written notice of their intention so to do, in which event they shall refund to the City three months' rent, otherwise upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease; lessor, Roxton Realty Company, 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 the members present voting in the affirmative. Department of Correction-Hiring by, of a House at Denton Crossroads, New Hampton, N. Y. The Deputy and Acting Comptroller presented the following report and offered the following resolution: To the Honorable the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund: May 11, 1916. Gentlemen-The Commissioner of the Department of Correction, in a communication to your Board under date of May 3, 1916, requests the hiring, without the necessity of entering into a lease, of an eleven-room house at Denton Crossroads, New Hampton, N. Y., for a period not to exceed six months from March 1, 1916, at a rental of $25 a month. He states that the removal of the Reformatory from Hart's Island to New Hampton, and the large number of employees working in the construction camp, has forced them to provide temporary outside accommodations from March 1, 1916. I therefore respectfully recommend, the rent being reasonable and just and the City being in possession, that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopt a resolution authorizing the Comptroller to pay rent at the rate of $300 per annum, payable monthly, to Elroy Givens. Middletown, N. Y., for use of the eleven-room house at Denton Crossroads, New Hampton, N. Y., for use of the Department of Correction, for a period not exceeding six months from March 1, 1916, without the necessity of entering into a lease. Respectfully. ALEX. BROUGH, Deputy and Acting Comptroller. Resolved. That the Comptroller be and is hereby authorized to pay to Elroy Givens, rental at the rate of Three hundred Dollars ($300) per annum, pavable monthly. for use by the Department of Correction. of the eleven-room house at Denton Cross Roads. New Hampton, New York. for a period not exceeding six months from March 1, 1916-payment to be made without the necessity of entering into a lease. The report was accepted, and the resolution adopted, all the members present voting in the affirmative. County Officials, Bronx County-Payment of Rent Authorized of Space Occupied by in the Bergen Building Annex at Tremont and Arthur Avenues. The Deputy and Acting Comptroller presented the following report and offered the following resolution: To the Honorable the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund: May 13, 1916. Gentlemen-On March 30, 1916, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopted a resolution authorizing the Comptroller to pay to William C. Bergen without the necessity of entering into a lease therefor, rent for a period of not more than two months from March 1, 1916, at the rate of 75 cents per square foot per annum, for the space occupied in the modern fireproof building adjacent and adjoining to the present building known as the Bergen Building, located on the southeast corner of Tremont and Arthur Avenues, Borough of The Bronx, and more particularly set forth in said resolution. A lease of the space occupied in this building was authorized on June 23, 1915, for a period of ten years from October 1, 1915, or as soon thereafter as the building is ready for occupancy. Owing to present war conditions, Mr. Bergen has not as yet been able to receive the materials necessary to entirely finish the jails to be erected in the building. The lease cannot be executed until the jails are constructed. It will therefore be necesasry to authorize the payment of rent for the remaining portion of the building now occupied by the different departments, for a period of at least one month from May 1, 1916. I therefore respectfully recommend the adoption of the attached resolution. Resolved, That the Comptroller be and is hereby authorized to pay to William C. Bergen, without the necessity of entering into a lease therefor, rent for a period of not more than one month from May 1, 1916, at the rate of 75 cents per square foot per annum, for the following space in the modern fireproof building adjacent and adjoining to the present building known as the Bergen Building, located on the southeast corner of Tremont and Arthur Avenues, Borough of The Bronx, to be used as follows: 1,000 square feet in the front of the third floor, for the use of the Justices and Clerks of the Court of Special Sessions. 1,700 square feet in the front of the third floor, for the use of the County Court. 1,040 square feet in the front of the fourth floor, for use as a law library for the County officials. 1,660 square feet in the front of the fourth floor, for use of the County Clerk. 4,300 square feet in the rear of the fourth floor, for use of the County Court. 7.000 square feet (the entire fifth floor), for use of the District Attorney 7,000 square feet (the entire sixth floor), for use of the Surrogate. 2,700 square feet in the front of the seventh floor, for use of the Commissioner of Jurors. 4,300 square feet in the rear of the seventh floor, for use of the Coroner and the Court of Special Sessions. The report was accepted, and the resolution adopted, all the members present voting in the affirmative. County Court, Bronx County-Assignment to, of Space in the Bergen Building To the Honorable the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund: May 15, 1916. Gentlemen-On June 23, 1915, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopted a resolution authorizing a lease from William C. Bergen of 47,965 square feet of floor space in the modern fireproof building to be constructed adjacent to the Bergen Building, located on the southeasterly corner of Tremont and Arthur Avenues, Borough of The Bronx for use of the different departments, more particularly set forth in the resolution. This lease was executed on October 11, 1915. Since that time it has been deemed advisable to make some changes in the location of the various departments. The 1,700 square feet of space which was set apart for use as a library can be more conveniently used by the County Court, and the 1,040 square feet designated for use of the District Attorney as a Grand Jury Room can be used for library purposes. I therefore respect fully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund assign to the County Court 1,700 square feet of space in the front of the third floor in the addition to the Bergen Building at Tremont and Arthur Avenues, Borough of The Bronx, and 1,040 square feet of space in the front of the fourth floor of said building, to be used as a library. Respectfully, ALEX. BROUGH, Deputy and Acting Comptroller. Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby assign to the County Court of Bronx County, 1,700 square feet of space in front of the third floor in the addition to the Bergen Building at Tremont and Arthur Avenues, Borough of The Bronx, and 1,040 square feet of space in the front of the fourth floor of said building, for the use as a library. The report was accepted and the resolution adopted, all members present voting in the affirmative. President, Borough of Brooklyn-Approval of Action of, in Allowing the Lord Construction Company to Occupy Certain Land on Neptune Avenue Near Stillwell Avenue, in the Borough of Brooklyn. The Deputy and Acting Comptroller presented the following report and offered the following resolution: To the Honorable the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund: May 15, 1916. Gentlemen-The City is the owner of a strip of land averaging about 20 feet in width, running northerly from the northerly line of Neptune Avenue to Coney Island Creek, some distance easterly of Stillwell Avenue, Borough of Brooklyn. The Lord Construction Company is at present constructing an elevated railroad terminal at Coney Island and has erected temporary tracks alongside of and adjacent to the strip above mentioned. The President of the Borough of Brooklyn, in a communication under date of May 5, 1916, states that it will be of much benefit to the City if Surf Avenue is relieved, during the busy season of Coney Island, from the storage of material and the obviation of the necessity of the use of Surf Avenue by the Lord Construction Company, and that the only question involved was as to the compensation that should be paid for the use of the strip above mentioned. Inasmuch as the City is very anxious to have the terminal completed as quickly as possible, and the City relieved of any damages during the construction thereof, the use of this strip by the contractor is mutually advantageous both to him and to the City, and the charge therefor should be nominal, providing the contractor furnishes a bond indemnifying the City from any damages that may be incurred for the use thereof. The amount of this bond should be at least $10,000. I, therefore, respectfully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund approve the action of the President of the Borough of Brooklyn in allowing occupation by the Lord Construction Company of a certain strip of land owned by the City of New York, located about 170 feet easterly from the intersection of the northerly line of Neptune Avenue and the easterly line of Stillwell Avenue, Borough of Brooklyn, and running northerly to the southerly line of Coney Island Creek, having an average width of 20 feet, for a period not to exceed one year from May 18, 1916; the Lord Construction Company to pay to the City the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) for the use and occupation thereof, such use and occupation to be at all times subject to whatever rules and regulations may be imposed by the President of the Borough of Brooklyn; the Lord Construction Company to file a bond in the sum of Ten thousand dollars ($10,000), which bond shall be approved by the Comptroller as to sufficiency, indemnifying the City from any loss or damage that may result from the use of the above mentioned premises by the Lord Construction Company. Respectfully, ALEX. BROUGH, Deputy and Acting Comptroller. Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby approve of the action by the President of the Borough of Brooklyn in allowing occupation by the Lord Construction Company of a certain strip of land owned by The City of New York, located about 170 feet easterly from the intersection of the northerly line of Neptune Avenue and the easterly line of Stillwell Avenue, Borough of Brooklyn, and running northerly to the southerly line of Coney Island Creek, having an average width of 20 feet, for a period not to exceed one year from May 18, 1916. The Lord Construction Company to pay to the City the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100) for the use and occupation thereof, such use and occupation to be at all times subject to whatever rules and regulations may be imposed by the President of the Borough of existence prior to the year 1664. That as your petitioner is advised, most of the other roads of the colonies were laid out in 1704, but there is no direct evidence to show at what time prior to 1704 this road was first used. That said road is not mentioned in any of the early deeds of the two properties which are located on the east and west sides of where said Lane was later established. That as your petitioner is informed and believes, the experts in the office of the Commissioner of Records for Kings County have recently made an exhaustive inquiry as to the origin of De Bruyn's Lane and have failed to find any records which establish its existence prior to the evacuation of New York by the Dutch. That said experts are now of the opinion the assumption heretofore made that De Bruyn's Lane was a Dutch road is based on the fallacy that because said road has now been located at the line of division between the tract which was patented in 1643 to Anthony Jansen and the patent granted in 1657 upon "the Plantations," that therefore said road was then in existence. That the descriptions in said grants make no mention of such Lane but rather they speak of the Woodlands as the dividing line. As a street is a much more certain monument than a woods, if this street had then been in existence it would have been the most natural thing to refer to it as the boundary line. That no mention is made of said Lane in the later patents given by the English in confirmation of the earlier grants. That while certain investigations have shown a condition which would infer that at those early and dangerous times it would have been convenient for the inhabitants to have such a roadway at this point, no proof of its existence can be found. That the presumption usually is and should be in favor of the English origin. That therefore your petitioner believes the interest of the City of New York in the premises for which a release is sought is merely nominal. Tenth That the portion of De Bruyn's Lane for which a release is sought and the premises adjoining owned by your petitioner are within the city block bounded by Twentieth Avenue on the West, Eighty-fourth Street on the North, Twenty-first Avenue on the East and Eighty-fifth Street on the South. That said Twentieth Avenue was duly legally opened in or about the year 1890 and the fee thereof is now vested in the City of New York; that said Twentieth Avenue is now physically opened and in use as a street; that there is no further need of De Bruyn's Lane as a street at the location in question, and said Lane is in fact obliterated by the present layout of the streets; that the gore lot for which a release is asked is not of sufficient size to be of any use for any other public purpose. Eleventh That your petitioner, as owner of the adjoining property, claims the exclusive right to a grant by the City of all its right, title and interest in and to the premises hereinabove first described, for which he hereby offers to pay such sum as may be fixed as the value of the interest of the City of New York in said De Bruyn's Lane, together with any taxes and assessments which may be a lien thereon. Wherefore your petitioner prays that your Honorable Body determine the value of the interest of the City of New York in and to said gore lot and that the same is not needed for any other public use, and direct that a deed of the premises hereinabove first described from the City of New York to your petitioner be executed in accordance with the Statute in such case made and provided. Dated, New York, March 18th, 1916. RUDOLPH TOWNSEND, Petitioner. State of New York, City of New York, County of SS.: Rudolph Townsend being duly sworn, says, that he is the petitioner in the above entitled proceeding; that he has read the foregoing petition and knows the contents thereof; that the same is true of his own knowledge except as to those matters therein stated to be alleged on information and belief, and that, as to those matters, he believes it to be true. RUDOLPH TOWNSEND. Sworn to before me this 21st day of March, 1916. MAY M. BERTGES, Commissioner of Deeds of the City of New York, residing in Kings County; certificates filed in Kings County Clerk's Office No. 9-A, and Register's Office No. 8001, and in Queens County No. 1530. My commission expires Jan. 25, 1918. In connection therewith the Deputy and Acting Comptroller presented the fol lowing report and offered the following resolution : To the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, City of New York: April 28, 1916. Gentlemen-I am in receipt of a petition from Rudolph Townsend, stating that he is the owner of certain property known on the Tax Maps of the Borough of Brooklyn, as Lots Nos. 1 and 6, in Block 6334, Section 19, and requesting a release from the City of its interest in and to that portion of DeBruyn's Lane abutting the premises in question. The property for which a release is sought is a part of the land formerly in the bed of DeBruyn's Lane, which was duly closed from 86th Street to the Kings Hignway by an order of the Commissioners of Highways of the Town of New Utrecht, dated the 21st day of July, 1891, and filed in the office of the Clerk of the County of Kings on July 30, 1891. The premises requested to be released have been appraised by the Division of Real Estate of this Department at $1,000. Under the rule adopted by the Commissionrs of the Sinking Fund, this may be conveyed for 50 per cent. of such appraisal, or $500, plus an additional charge of $12.50 for the preparation of the necessary papers. I therefore respectfully recommend that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopt a resolution authorizing a release to Rudolph Townsend, of the City's interest in and to all that certain gore lot, piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York, which was formerly a part of the road known as De Bruyn's Lane, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the point of intersection of the southwesterly side of Eightyfourth Street as now laid out with the southeasterly side of DeBruyn's Lane (now closed); and running thence southwesterly along the southeasterly side of said De Bruyn's Lane 113 feet 814 inches more or less, to the point of intersection of the southeasterly side of said De Bruyn's Lane with the southeasterly side of Twentieth Avenue as now laid out; thence northeasterly along the southeasterly side of said Twentieth Avenue 111 feet 54 inches more or less, to the point of intersection of the southeasterly side of said Twentieth Avenue and the southwesterly side of said Eighty-fourth Street; and thence southeasterly along the southwesterly side of said Eighty-fourth Street, 22 feet 6 inches more or less, to the point or place of beginning. -in consideration of the sum of $500. plus an additional charge of $12.50 for the preparation of the necessary papers. The release to contain the following terms and conditions: That the grantee is the owner of the premises abutting those to be conveyed. That the grantee waive any and all claim for damages arising out of the closing of the street or avenue. The deed not to be delivered until the grantee has paid whatever taxes and assessments are liens against the premises to be conveyed. Respectfully, ALEX. BROUGH, Deputy and Acting Comptroller. Whereas, Rudolph Townsend in a petition addressed to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund requests a release of the City's interest in a portion of De Bruyn's Lane, in the Borough of Brooklyn, abutting premises owned by him, and more particularly hereinafter described. Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby determine that the land described as follows is not needed for any public use: All that certain gore lot, piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being in the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, City and State of New York, which was formerly a part of the road known as DeBruyn's Lane, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the point of intersection of the southwesterly side of Eightyfourth Street as now laid out, with the southeasterly side of DeBruyn's Lane (now closed); and running thence southwesterly along the southeasterly side of said De Bruyn's Lane 113 feet 84 inches more or less, to the point of intersection of the southeasterly side of said DeBruyn's Lane with the southeasterly side of Twentieth Avenue as now laid out; thence northeasterly along the southeasterly side of said Twentieth Avenue 111 feet 54 inches more or less, to the point of intersection of the southeasterly side of said Twentieth Avenue and the southwesterly side of said Eighty-fourth Street; and thence southeasterly along the southwesterly side of said Eighty-fourth Street, 22 feet 6 inches more or less, to the point or place of beginning -and be it further Resolved, That pursuant to the provisions of Section 205 of the Greater New York Charter as amended, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby authorize a release to Rudolph Townsend, of the interest of the City of New York in and to the property hereinabove in this resolution bounded and described, in consideration of the sum of Five hundred dollars ($500), plus and additional charge of Twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50), for the preparation of the necessary papers. The release to contain the following terms and conditions: |