66 "hundred and forty feet to a point sixty-five feet westerly from the westerly side of East Forty"eighth street, as laid down on said map; thence southerly parallel with said East Forty-eighth "street one hundred feet; thence easterly two hundred and twenty-five feet to the centre line of "the block between East Forty-eighth and East Forty-ninth streets, as said streets are laid down on said map; thence southerly along the centre line of said block two hundred and ninety-one feet eight inches to the fence standing on the southerly boundary line of the said premises at a "point sixteen feet and eight inches southerly from the northerly side of Clarkson street, as laid "down on said map; and thence westerly along the said fence nineteen hundred and sixty feet "to the place of beginning. "The said two parcels together containing twenty-six and sixty-two one-hundredths acres, "as shown upon a map or survey of the same made by Fred Thomas, City Surveyor, September, 1895, with all the buildings and improvements thereon, occupied or used for the insane on "the 1st day of October, 1895, together with their equipment and fixtures for the term of five years "from the 1st day of October, 1895, with the privilege of extending the same from year to year, "not exceeding five years additional, etc." No renewal of the lease was made at the expiration of the five-year term, the premises being occupied on a hold-over lease. There appears to me no objection to giving a renewal of the lease for the year commencing October 1, 1901. It will be noted from an examination of the inclosed diagram, made from the description of the lease of 1895, that the property extends into the streets as laid down on the maps of the city. Respectfully, EUG. E. MCLEAN, Engineer. Filed. At this stage of the proceedings the Chamberlain appeared and took his seat in the Board. The Comptroller presented the following report of the Engineer of the Department of Finance relative to the application of William P. Wuest for an opportunity to purchase premises on DeKalb avenue, west of Classon avenue, Borough of Brooklyn: Hon. BIRD S. COLER, Comptroller: OCTOBER 23, 1901. SIR-On September 25, 1901, the following application was received: "I am instructed by William P. Wuest to write to you making application for an opportunity of purchasing premises on the south side of De Kalb avenue, 100 feet west of Classon avenue, being about 84 feet front and rear and 100 feet on each side, and being further known as Lots Nos. 5, 6 and 7, on Block 55, in the Seventh Ward of the Borough of Brooklyn. "Kindly advise me of your determination in the matter, and oblige, The records of this Department show that on March 30, 1889, the former City of Brooklyn purchased a site for station-house, etc., on the southwesterly corner of DeKalb avenue and Classon avenue, Borough of Brooklyn, the same being 184 feet 1 inch on DeKalb avenue by 96 teet 7 inches on Classon, by irregular. Consideration, $24,250. A station-house and appurtenances were erected for the use of the Fourth Precinct, but such improvements only cover a plot 100 feet by 96 feet 7 inches on the corner, leaving vacant a portion of the land acquired. This vacant portion is shown on the tax maps of the Seventh Ward of the Borough of Brooklyn as Lots Nos. 5, 6 and 7, on Block 55, being 84 feet in front by 100 feet deep. Under date of October 5, 1901, a letter was addressed to the Commissioner and Chief of Police setting forth the facts as above stated, and requesting to be informed if the vacant lot was used by the Police Department for any purpose, or if any plan was contemplated for its im provement. Further, if not required for police uses, that the same be turned over to the Con.. missioners of the Sinking Fund. In reply, the Chief Clerk of the Police Department, under date of October 12, 1901, addresses the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund as follows: "The Police Commissioner this day, on reading and filing communication from Edgar J. Levey, Esq., Deputy Comptroller, dated October 5, 1901, and report thereon of David McMahon, Sergeant in Command of Headquarters Squad, Brooklyn, "Ordered, That the plot of land purchased by the former City of Brooklyn for stationhouse purposes, adjoining plot occupied by the station-house of the Fifty-sixth Precinct, southwest corner of DeKalb and Classon avenues, Borough of Brooklyn, as shown on tax maps of the Seventh Ward of Brooklyn as Lots Nos. 5, 6 and 7, on Block 55, being eighty-four feet in front by one hundred feet deep, be and is hereby turned over to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund for such assignment as may be desirable, or to be sold for the benefit of the City, the Police Department having no use for such plot for police purposes." I do not see the advisability of disposing of this property at the present time, as it appears to me to be a desirable location for a number of the many purposes for which the City is now buying or leasing property, possibly for a library site. The plot is valued on the assessment rolls for 1901 at $3,500, and in my opinion has a market value of between $7,000 and $8,000, the latter price being approximately the proportion of the total price paid in 1889. I would therefore advise you that I consider the application to purchase the plot should be denied and the applicant be informed that the same is not for sale. The Collector of City Revenue should be informed of the action of the Police Department in turning over the property and should be instructed to take charge of the same until an assignment is made for some other City purpose. Respectfully, EUG. E. McLEAN, Engineer. Application rejected. The Comptroller offered the following resolution to ratify and affirm appraisement heretofore made. (Application of Herman Igel. See page 388.) Resolved, That the appraisement and fixing of the minimum or upset price for the interests of the City in the following premises : Parcel No. 1-Lot known as and by the number seventy-eight (78) upon the assessment map for the "Opening of Neptune avenue, from Ocean parkway to West Sixth street, in the Town of Gravesend," now the Thirty-first Ward of the Borough of Brooklyn, in The City of New York, which was sold to the City of Brooklyn at a sale for unpaid assessments held on the 9th day of August, 1894. for the sum of $8.09, and which said lot was thereafter leased to the City of Brooklyn for one hundred years. Parcel No. 2-Lot known as and by the number seventy-nine (79) upon the assessment map for the "Grading of Neptune avenue, from Ocean parkway to West Sixth street, in the Town of Gravesend," now the Thirty-first Ward of the Borough of Brooklyn, in The City of New York, which was sold to the City of Brooklyn at a sale for unpaid assessments held on the 9th day of August, 1894, for the sum of $2.03, and which said lot was thereafter leased to the City of Brooklyn for one hundred years. -at the sum of eleven dollars and fifty-six cents ($11.56) for Parcel No. 1 and two dollars and ninety cents ($2.90) for Parcel No. 2, the purchaser to pay the auctioneer's fees in each case and seventy-five dollars ($75) for each deed delivered for the expenses of examination, advertising, etc., as made by resolution of this Board adopted October 11, 1901, be and the same is hereby ratified and affirmed. Which was unanimously adopted. The following communication was received from L. Horstmann relative to an assignment of the lease of Lot No. 1010 in Wallabout Market: BROOKLYN, N. Y., October 17, 1901. To the Comptroller of The City of New York, New York City, N. Y. DEAR SIR- In view of the fact that I am in bankruptcy, I am unable to comply with the requirements necessary to obtain the lease of the Lot No. 1010 in the Wallabout Market, for which I made an application, and would respectfully request that you substitute Mr. John H. Hoeft as lessee in my stead. Yours respectfully, L. HORSTMANN. I hereby agree to accept the assignment of the above-mentioned lease on the same terms and conditions under which the same was sold. NEW YORK, October 22, 1901. JOHN H. HOEFt. In connection therewith the Comptroller offered the following resolution : Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby approve of and consent to the assignment by Mr. L. Horstmann to John II. Hoeft of the lease of Lot No. 1010 in the Wallabout Market, purchased at sale held June 6, 1901, under a resolution of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, adopted May 17, 1901. Which was unanimously adopted. The following petition was received from Thomas Pitbladdo for a quit-claim deed of the City's interest in a portion of the old Gowanus road in the Borough of Brooklyn : Hon. BIRD S. COLER, Comptroller: BROOKLYN, October 15, 1901. SIR-Inclosed please find application of Thomas Pitbladdo for sale by Sinking Fund Commissioners of City interest in that part of old Gowanus road therein specified. Prompt action upon same will be appreciated. Respectfully, Attorney for applicant, No. 175 Remsen street, Brooklyn, N. Y. To the Honorable the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund of The City of New York: The petition of Thomas Pitblad do respectfully shows: That he and his grantee hereinafter named are in possession under claim of ownership of all that plot of land known and designated on the assessment map of the Eighth Ward of the Borough of Brooklyn, The City of New York, as Lots Nos. 2, 2A and 3 in Block 18, and shown on the diagram hereto annexed. That portion of said plot marked “Gowanus Road," in dotted lines on said diagram lies in the bed of the old Gowanus road, which was formerly a public highway and was abandoned and discontinued at this point after Third avenue was opened and improved, over a half a century ago. Your petitioner and his said grantee have perfect record title to the balance of said plot. Neither the City of Brooklyn nor The City of New York has ever released to your petitioner or his grantors or grantee any rights therein that may have remained in the City of Brooklyn at the time said road was discontinued. The whole of said plot has been in the possession of your petitioner and his predecessors in title for a great many years. Said petitioner having taken title thereto by deed from William Hatfield and wife October 5, 1878, which said deed is recorded in the Kings County Register's office, in Liber 1332 of Conveyances, page 171. The plot is occupied by three brick houses fronting on Third Avenue, which have stood there for over nineteen years. For many years the whole of said plot, including that part which lies in the old road, has been included in the annual assessment-rolls, and taxes, assesments and water rates have been levied and laid thereon and have been paid by your petitioner and his predecessor in title. That said whole plot is bounded by and described as follows: Beginning at a point on the northwesterly side of Third avenue distant forty (40) feet two (2) inches northeasterly from the northerly corner of Third avenue and Twenty-fifth street; running thence northwesterly, parallel with Twenty-fifth street, one hundred (100) feet; thence northeasterly, parallel with Third avenue, sixty (60) feet; thence northeasterly, again parallel with Twenty-fifth street, one hundred (100) feet to the northwesterly side of Third avenue, and thence southwesterly along the northwesterly side of Third avenue sixty (60) feet to the point or place of beginning. That the interest, if any, of The City of New York in that portion of said plot which lies in said old road is not of substantial value, and the late City of Brooklyn released its interest in a great part thereof to the abutting owners, it having been the uniform practice of the late City of Brooklyn to give quit-claim deeds to the abutting owners for a nominal consideration upon their application therefor, and on March 31, 1879, a resolution was adopted by the Common Council of Brooklyn authorizing the execution and delivery of such releases to the adjoining owners on their applying there for and paying the usual fee. And your petitioner is informed and believes that in applications similar to this the present City has appraised its like interests at a nominal sum. That heretofore your petitioner sold and conveyed to Frederick A. Davis said Lot No. 2, situated on the northwesterly side of Third avenue, 40 feet 2 inches northeast of Twenty-fifth street, northeast 20 by 100, shown in shaded lines on said diagram, by full covenant and warranty deed, dated and recorded February 1, 1887, in Kings County Register's office in Liber 1714 of Conveyances, page 85; and that as to said lot so conveyed to him, this application is made at the request and for the benefit of petitioner's said grantee and does not seek to acquire any right or title in said land against said grantee. Petitioner owns the balance of said plot. Therefore your petitioner prays that all the right, title and interest of The City of New k in and to that part of the old Gowanus road included within the boundaries of the plot above described may be offered for sale according to law, and that the interest of the City therein and the expenses of such sale, examinations, conveyances, etc., be appraised and fixed. State of New York, The City of New York, County of Kings, ss. : Thomas Pitbladdo, being duly sworn, deposes and says that in making the application hereto annexed for the sale by The City of New York of all its right, title and interest in and to |