PURCHASE OF WEST WASHINGTON MARKET AND OTHER PROPERTY-(CONTINUED). ered against the Corporation for the possession of the West Washington Market property, and for damages, amounting to nearly six hundred thousand dollars, were set aside in July last, through the joint action of the Comptroller and the Counsel to the Corporation, and the city was thereupon restored to possession. At the time a compromise was made with Messrs. Taylor and Brennan, of their claim for damages, it was supposed that the Commissioners of the Land Office would convey all the interest of the State in these and other lands lying outside of the former grants, which had been reclaimed from the waters of the two rivers, for a sum of money which would not much exceed the expenses of surveying. But the Commissioners have taken a different view of the question, and propose to make the grant for the sum of three hundred thousand dollars. From the proceedings of the Commissioners, which are herewith submitted, it will be seen that the grant will include four parcels of land, to wit, the West Washington Market property, the lands purchased from Mr. Lowber, and the two piers near Watts and Hubert streets. The acceptance of a grant on those terms depends upon the action of the Corporation, and the Commissioners have limited the time for deciding the question to the first day of June next. From the best consideration I have been able to give to the subject, and after conferring with the Counsel to the Corporation, I am of opinion that, for the purpose of avoiding all further controversy, and quieting the Corporation in the enjoyment of the property, it is expedient to accept a grant on the terms proposed by the Commissioners, and I therefore recommend that it be done. Respectfully submitted, ROB'T T. HAWS, Comptroller. At a meeting of the Commissioners of the Land Office, held at the office of the Present ROBERT CAMPBELL, Lieutenant-Governor, D. R. FLOYD JONES, Secretary of State, PHILIP DORSHEIMER, Treasurer, CHARLES G. MYERS, Attorney-General, D. C. LITTLEJOHN, Speaker of the Assembly, VAN R. RICHMOND, State Engineer and Surveyor. On motion of the Secretary of State, the resolution relative to the sale to the Corporation of the City of New York of the West Washington Market property, and certain other lands therein named, adopted at the last meeting of the Board, was reconsidered. Whereupon, Comptroller Denniston offered the following resolution, as a substitute for the same: Resolved, That the Board, pursuant to chapter 516 of the Laws of 1860, fix the terms upon which so much of the lands mentioned in said act as the Corporation of the city of New York have asked to acquire, and which are known as West Washington Market; that portion of the Lowber property bounded north by the centre of Seventeenth street, east by the East River, south by the centre of Sixteenth street, and west by Tompkins street; the Watts street pier and the Hubert street pier, shall be conveyed to said Corporation, as follows: that the whole of said above-described property be so conveyed to the said Corporation, upon the payment by said Corporation, into the Treasury of this State, of the sum of three hundred thousand dollars, including the expenses of survey; and that a patent issue therefor, by the description mentioned in the survey of said property by O. W. Childs, upon the production of the Treasurer's receipt for the above sum: Provided, that this proposition is accepted by said Corporation by the first day of June next. PURCHASE OF WEST WASHINGTON MARKET AND OTHER PROPERTY (CONTINUED). On calling the ayes and noes, the resolution was adopted by the following vote : I certify the foregoing to be a true extract from the Minutes of the Commissioners of the Land Office. Witness my hand and official seal, at the city of Albany, this 6th day of April, 1861. [L. S.] Which was referred to Committee on Finance. HENRY P. WILCOX, Deputy Sec. of State. BOARD OF ALDERMEN, MAY 6, 1861. The Committee on Finance presented the following report on the communication from the Comptroller relative to West Washington Market, and other property claimed by the State: The undersigned, Committee on Finance of the Board of Aldermen, to whom was referred the communication of the Comptroller, relative to the West Washington Market, and other property, claimed by the State as being outside of the line of former grants, beg leave to present the following REPORT: By chapter 516, Laws of 1860, the State Engineer and Surveyor is authorized to cause a survey of the lands reclaimed from the North and East Rivers, outside of and adjoining the various grants to the Corporation of the city of New York, and the Commissioners of the Land Office are authorized and empowered to grant a release of the interest of the State in such lands to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of said city, upon such terms as shall be deemed by the said Commissioners to be equitable, in view of the expense to the Corporation in reclaiming such lands. Under this statute a survey has been made, and the West Washington Market property, the Old North Battery at the foot of Hubert street, the Watts street Pier, and the property known as the Lowber Purchase, are all claimed to be exterior to the line of city grants. From the proceedings of the Commissioners of the Land Office, it appears that a release from the State is offered to the city for the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000), provided, the proposition is accepted by the first day of June next. Your Committee would respectfully state, upon information derived from the Comptroller, that he had several meetings with the Commissioners, and finally succeeded in reducing the amount, as formerly fixed, to the present sum. He also states that, in his opinion, the terms now offered are as favorable, and, though higher than he had hoped, are as advantageous as can be expected, and your Committee therefore acquiesce in his views, recommending the acceptance of the offer, as the best means of perfecting the title to parcels of land of great value to the city, and of putting an end to expensive litigation in reference to it; and they therefore recommend the adoption of the following preamble and resolution: Whereas, At a meeting of the Commissioners of the Land Office, held April 5, 1861, it was resolved, "That this Board, pursuant to chapter 516, of the Laws of 1860, fix the terms upon "which so much of the lands mentioned in said act, as the Corporation of the city of New York "have asked to acquire, and which are known as the West Washington Market; that portion PURCHASE OF WEST WASHINGTON MARKET AND OTHER PROPERTY-(CONTINUED). "of the Lowber property, bounded north by the centre of Seventeenth street, east by the East "River, south by the centre of Sixteenth street, and west by Tompkins street; the Watts street "Pier and the Hubert street Pier, shall be conveyed to said Corporation, as follows: That the "whole of said above-described property be so conveyed to the said Corporation, upon the pay"ment by said Corporation, into the Treasury of this State, of the sum of three hundred thousand "dollars, including the expense of survey, and that a patent issue therefor, by the description "mentioned in the survey of said property, by O. W. Childs, upon the production of the Treas"urer's receipt for the above sum, Provided, that this proposition is accepted by said Corpo"ration by the first day of June next." Now, therefore, Resolved, That the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city of New York do hereby accept the grant of the several parcels of land specified in the foregoing preamble, upon the terms therein set forth, and hereby authorize and direct the Comptroller to procure the same, in accordance with the said offer and the provisions of law affecting the same. CHAS. G. CORNELL, Which was laid over, and 250 copies ordered to be printed in document form. (For which see Document No. 12.) BOARD OF ALDermen, May 13, 1861. Committee on Finance. Report of Committee on Finance, in relation to the West Washington Market property, and award of the State Commissioners of the Land Office. Alderman Dayton moved that the paper be laid over, and made the special order of business for the next meeting. Which was lost on a division, viz.: AFFIRMATIVE Aldermen Barry, Russell, and Dayton-3. NEGATIVE Aldermen Smith, Henry, Chipp, Frear, Boole, Allen, Platt, Froment, Farley, and the President-10. Alderman Boole moved the adoption of the resolution, and on his motion called the previous question. The question then being, Shall the main question be now put? Was decided affirmatively. And the question being taken on the adoption of the resolution, It was adopted on a division, viz.: AFFIRMATIVE Aldermen Smith, Barry, Henry, Chipp, Russell, Frear, Boole, Allen, Platt, Froment, Farley, and the President-12. NEGATIVE Alderman Dayton-1. And the same was directed to be sent to the Board of Councilmen for concurrence. PAPERS FROM THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN. Report of Committee on Finance, relative to communication from Comptroller in the matter of West Washington Market and other property claimed by the State as being outside of line of former grants. Which was referred to Committee on Finance. BOARD OF COUNCILMEN, MAY 30, 1861. The following was received: The undersigned, Committee on Finance of the Board of Councilmen, to whom was referred the resolution of the Board of Aldermen, directing the Comptroller to procure a release of the interest of the State in the West Washington Market, and other property, respectfully,— PURCHASE OF WEST WASHINGTON MARKET AND OTHER PROPERTY-(CONTINUED). REPORT: That they have had the subject under consideration, and have carefully examined the communication made by the Comptroller, on the 6th day of May, to the Board of Aldermen (see Minutes, page 103), and the proceedings of the Commissioners of the Land Office therewith transmitted, and, for reasons stated by the Comptroller, have come to the conclusion that it will be for the public interest to quiet the title to the property referred to, by procuring a release from the State. The resolution proposes to have this done, and your Committee therefore recommend that this Board do concur in its adoption. Respectfully submitted. Committee MICHAEL C. GROSS, on Finance. On motion of Councilman Hogan, laid on the table, and made a special order for half-past six o'clock this evening. At the time specified the report was taken up, and On motion of Councilman Barney was made a special order for to-morrow evening, after the reading of the Minutes. BOARD OF COUNCILMEN, MAY 31, 1861. The special order for the evening was then taken up for consideration. Report of Committee on Finance, recommending concurrence with the Board of Aldermen in regard to the purchase of the interest of the State in the West Washington Market and other property. Which was adopted by the following vote : AFFIRMATIVE Councilmen Barney, Bickford, Shannon, Hall, Jones, Ryan, Gross, Repper, Smith, Lent, Keech, Cleveland, Long, Curnen, Brice, Brandon, and Pinckney-17. NEGATIVE Councilmen Hogan, Miller, and Hazleton-3. The following is the resolution accepting the grant of the property, and directing the Comptroller to issue Bonds of the Corporation for the same: 66 66 66 Whereas, at a meeting of the Commissioners of the Land Office, held April 5, 1861, it was resolved, "That the Board, pursuant to chap. 516 of the Laws of 1860, fix the terms upon which so much of the lands mentioned in said act, as the Corporation of the 'city of New York have asked to acquire, and which are known as the West Washington Market; that portion of the Lowber property, bounded north by the centre of Seventeenth street, east by the East River, south by the centre of Sixteenth street, and west by Tompkins "street; the Watts street Pier, and the Hubert street Pier, shall be conveyed to said Corpora"tion, as follows: That the whole of said above-described property be so conveyed to the said Corporation, upon the payment by said Corporation, into the Treasury of this State, of the sum "of three hundred thousand dollars, including the expenses of survey, and that a patent issue "therefor, by the description mentioned in the survey of said property, by O. W. Childs, upon "the production of the Treasurer's receipt for the above sum, Provided, that this proposition is accepted by said Corporation by the first day of June next." Now, therefore, Resolved, That the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of New York do hereby accept the grant of the several parcels of land specified in the foregoing preamble, upon the terms therein set forth, and hereby authorize and direct the Comptroller to procure the same, in accordance with the said offer and the provisions of law affecting the same. Adopted by the Board of Aldermen, May 13, 1861. 66 Adopted by the Board of Councilmen, May 31, 1861. D. T. VALENTINE, Clerk of Common Council. CHAMBERLAIN'S REPORT. CITY OF NEW YORK-DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, HON. ROBT. T. HAWS, Comptroller : CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, January, 1862. SIR-I respectfully submit the following report, showing the receipts and disbursements of the City Treasury for the year 1861, and the balance remaining in the Treasury at the close of the year. The balance of cash in the Treasury, and on deposit in bank, December 31, 1860, as per my last annual report (see Comptroller's Annual Report for 1860, folio 121), was as follows: |