The following communication was recived from the Sheriff of the County of New York, relative to a renewal of the lease of offices in the Stewart Building:

NEW YORK, September 26, 1904.

Honorable Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, New York City:

GENTLEMEN-Mr. Edward D. Harris, the executor of the estate of Henry Hilton, has called my attention several times to the fact that the rent for the offices occupied by the Sheriff has not been paid since the 1st of May of this year, and that nothing has been done in respect of the renewal of the lease.

In considering a renewal of the lease, I desire to call your attention to the additional fact that it has been rumored that the Surrogates' Court expects to give up its present quarters in the Court-house Building, and remove into the new Hall of Records Building within a very short time. The Surrogates' present offices are in the space formerly occupied by the Sheriff, and it is quite probable that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund will direct the Sheriff to go back again into the Court-house. In any event, I hope to bring the matter to the attention of the Commissioners as soon as some definite information is obtained from the Justices of the Surrogates' Court.

Meantime, it is important for you to consider whether the lease should be made for any length of time for our present offices.

Faithfully yours,

MITCHELL L. ERLANGER.

Inasmuch as the Sheriff is a hold-over tenant for the rooms occupied by him for a period of one year from May 1, 1904, I cannot see how I can recommend any other course than that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund adopt a resolution authorizing a lease of the premises for a period of one year from May 1, 1904, upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the present existing lease.

MORTIMER J. BROWN,

Appraiser of Real Estate in Charge of Bureau.

In connection therewith, the Comptroller offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Comptroller be and is hereby authorized and directed to execute a renewal of the lease to the City of Rooms Nos. 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79 and 80, in the Stewart Building, No. 280 Broadway, Borough of Manhattan, occupied by the Sheriff of the County of New York, for a term of one year from May 1, 1904. at an annual rental of nine thousand six hundred dollars ($9,600), and upon the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing lease; 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.

Which was unanimously adopted.

The Comptroller presented the following statement and offered the following resolution, relative to the refunding of Croton water rents paid in error:

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

SEPTEMBER 27, 1904.

SIR-Applications have been made, as per statement herewith, for the refund of Croton water rents paid in error.

The applications are severally approved by the Commissioner of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity or the Receiver of Taxes, and the amount so paid, two hundred and three and sixty-four one-hundredths dollars ($203.64) has been deposited to the credit of the Sinking Fund for the Payment of the Interest on the City Debt.

George A. Martin, Secretary, The Railroad Co-operative Building and
Loan Association

42 00

Receiver of Taxes.

Robert H. E. Elliott

7.00

$128 89

74 75

$203 64

Resolved, That a warrant, payable from the Sinking Fund for the Payment of the Interest on the City Debt, be drawn in favor of the Chamberlain, for the sum of two hundred and three and sixty-four one-hundredths dollars ($203.64), for deposit in the City Treasury to the credit of "Croton Water Rent Refunding Account," for refunding erroneous and overpayments of Croton water rents, as per statement submitted herewith.

Which resolution was unanimously adopted.

The Comptroller presented the following statement, and offered the following resolution relative to a refund to John Gibb, of assessment for Prospect Park improvement, paid in error:

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

SEPTEMBER 26, 1904.

SIR-On January 29, 1902, John Gibb overpaid the following assessment installment for Prospect Park improvement, viz. :

Installment 1902, Ward Nine, Block 114, Lots Nos. 1, 2, 3, 43; amount, $67.05; interest, $0.75; total, $67.80.

The amount so overpaid was deposited in the Sinking Fund of the City of Brooklyn; the refund will be made through account "Refunding Assesments Paid in Error, Borough of Brooklyn."

The resolution herewith is necessary to reimburse this account for amount of assessment and interest so to be refunded.

Respectfully,

I. S. BARRETT, Bookkeeper.

Resolved, That a warrant payable from the Sinking Fund, City of Brooklyn, be drawn in favor' of the Chamberlain, for the sum of sixty-seven dollars and eighty cents ($67.80), to be deposited in the City Treasury to the credit of "Refunding Assessments Paid in Error, Borough of Brooklyn," to refund John Gibb, through this account, this amount of assessment and interest for Prospect Park improvement, overpaid in error. Which resolution was unanimously adopted.

The following communication was received from the Department of Street Cleaning, relative to a lease of premises, Nos. 42-46 Hamilton street, Borough of Manhattan: NEW YORK, September 26, 1904.

Hon. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Mayor, Chairman, Board of Sinking Fund Commissioners: SIR-On the 27th of October, 1903, I wrote to and requested authority from the Sinking Fund Commissioners to enter into a new lease with Mr. Philip Collins for a stable owned by him at Nos. 42-46 Hamilton street, now occupied by this Department, and which, under the terms of the new lease, were to be enlarged, added to, altered, etc., and the lease was to be for a period of five years, at a rental of $7,000, and the new lease was to be a substitute for the two existing leases now in force, one for a stable and one for a yard, now in possession of this Department.

There was no action taken on this request, and as our requirements for additional stable facilities in that neighborhood have become imperative, I again communicated with Mr. Collins on this subject, and he has agreed to enter into a new lease, make the alterations, additions, etc., etc., at a new rental of $7,000 per annum, but for: period of ten (10) years instead of five (5), and as we shall need these added facilities in the very near future, it is earnestly requested that as early action as possible may be taken in this matter.

I beg to direct attention to the fact that on August 27, 1904, I communicated with you on this matter, inviting attention to the letter of October 27, 1903.

Respectfully,

JOHN MCG. WOODBURY, Commissioner.

In connection therewith the Comptroller presented the following report, and offered the following resolution:

Hon. EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller:

SEPTEMBER 27, 1904.

SIR-At a meeting of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, held April 11, 1895, a resolution was adopted authorizing a lease of premises Nos. 44 and 46 Ham

ilton street, Borough of Manhattan, for a term not longer than nine years and six months, at an annual rental of $5,100, Philip Collins, lessor, for the use of the Department of Street Cleaning. The land leased was about 75 feet front by 173 feet deep, and Mr. Collins, the lessor thereof, was to erect a new stable 40 feet wide by 173 feet deep, leaving a yard 35 feet by 96 feet, containing a blacksmith shop. This lease will expire March 1, 1905.

At a meeting of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, held December 28, 1899, a resolution was adopted authorizing a lease of the premises Nos 42 and 421⁄2 Hamilton street, Borough of Manhattan, for a period of five years from the date of occupation, at an annual rental of $900, for the use of the Department of Street Cleaning. The combined properties were known as Stable "G," Department of Street Cleaning. This lease expires on March 1, 1905.

The Commissioner of the Department of Street Cleaning, in a communication under date of October 27, 1903, requests the approval of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund to the cancellation of the two leases above quoted, expiring March 1, 1905, and permission to execute a lease in lieu and instead thereof, of the premises Nos. 42 to 46 Hamilton street, Borough of Manhattan, for a term of five years, at an annual rental of $7,000, payable quarterly.

It is the intention of Philip Collins, the lessor of the present property, to erect a building 35 feet by 95 feet near the vacant yard of the property embraced in the lease which was made in 1899. The new building will be adjoining the present stable, and will give stable room for 37 additional horses in the second story. The runway for the horses located in the present building is to be removed and a new runway for the accommodation of both the old and the new stable is to be built in the yard, so that the horses may go direct to the stable when unhitched from the carts. It is the intention that the first, or street floor, shall be the yard or driveway for carts entering from the street. The second story will be the stable-room for horses, and, from the plans submitted, it is the intention to carry the weight of the second story by 5 24-inch high beams, thus giving clear yard space.

All that has been submitted to this office in order to form an estimate as to the construction and probable cost of the building is a blue-print and a skeleton specification. As I understand it, the building is to be especially constructed for the Department of Street Cleaning, the specifications and plans drawn to be submitted by the owner. The rent is not to commence until the building is completed and the Department of Street Cleaning in possession. Upon the completion of the building, the additional expense to the City in the way of rent will be $1,000. The architect informs me that the cost of the construction of the new building, including the removal of the old runway from the old building, will be in the vicinity of $10,000.

I have had the property known as Stable G, now used by the Street Cleaning Department, examined, and have examined the plans and specifications for the addition to be made by the owner, and am of the opinion that the rental asked, $7,000, is, under the circumstances, reasonable and just, and that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund may properly authorize the Department of Street Cleaning, subject to the approval of the Comptroller, to execute a lease of the premises for a term of ten years from the date of occupation of the new building, upon the surrender and cancellation of the present existing lease, at an annual rental of $7,000, payable quarterly, the lessor to pay all taxes and assessments, to make all such repairs to the roof, or other repairs as may be deemed necessary by the Commissioner, the City to pay for the Croton water used on

the premises, and to make the necessary inside repairs. I would further respectfully recommend that the owner of the premises be requested to file a copy of the plans and specifications with the Engineer of the Department of Finance, and before the lease is entered into by the Department of Street Cleaning, the Engineer of the Department of Finance inspect the building and make a report thereon to the Comptroller as to whether the building is constructed in accordance with said plans and specifications, for the needs and requirements of the Department of Street Cleaning.

The owner of the premises has signed an option that if at any time The City of New York acquired the property for park purposes, in that event he will permit the City to quit and surrender its lease irrespective of the time the lease is to run. This option was brought about by the fact that there was at one time a proposition to acquire the entire block for park purposes.

The owner of the premises will have to make a number of repairs to the walls of the present building, for an examination shows that unless repairs are made, the building, in its present state, may be considered in an unsafe condition.

Respectfully subr.itted for approval.

Approved:

MORTIMER J. BROWN,

Appraiser of Real Estate in Charge of Bureau.

EDWARD M. GROUT, Comptroller.

Whereas, The City is in possession of the premises extending from Nos. 42 to 46 Hamilton street, in the Borough of Manhattan, under two leases, both of which expire on March 1, 1905; and

Whereas, The owner, Phillip Collins, proposes to make certain improvements, consisting of the erection of a new building 35 by 95 feet, and the connection of the new building with the old building by a runway, of the asphalting of the present yard in accordance with plans and specifications submitted, and proposes the surrender of th two existing leases and to substitute therefor a new lease covering all the said premises, at a rental of seven thousand dollars ($7,000) per annum; therefore be it

Resolved, That upon the surrender and cancellation of the existing leases, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund hereby approve of and consent to the execution, by the Commissioner of Street Cleaning, of a lease to the City from Philip Collins, of premises Nos. 42, 422, 44 and 46 Hamilton street, in the Borough of Manhattan, being the premises now under lease to The City of New York, and the building to be built in addition thereto, for a term of ten years from the date of occupation of the new building, at an annual rental of seven thousand dollars ($7,000), payable quarterly; the lessor to pay all taxes and assessments and to make all such repairs to the roof or other repairs as may be deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Street Cleaning; the City to pay for Croton water used on the premises and to make the necessary inside repairs. Before the lease is entered into by the Commissioner of Street Cleaning, the owner is to file a copy of the plans and specifications with the Engineer of the Department of Finance, and the Engineer of the Department of Finance to make an inspection of the building when completed and to report thereon as to whether it is constructed in accordance with such