The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-08
THE SAILORS SNUG HARB0R.

Application Of the Corporation to the Lesfsia.
ture 10 Take the Tax on Their Property
Immense Value Of Their Real Estate-Origtns
Progress and Increase Of the Institution.
few days ago the refreshing Intelligence was
Mashed across the wires from Albany that the corpo-
ration OF the Sailors Snug Harbor had made an ap-
ptcaon to the Legislature to pass an act exempting
them from tax Of $4,000, which had been levied
on their vast property In this city. The gentlemen
who inaugurated this extraordinary movement were
probably cognizant or the fact tnas the S0ons OF the
State capital who make our laws are not aware OF
the extent and character Of the real estate which
they seek to relieve OF fair and equitable burden,
or they could not have made such an audacious re-
quest with the least possibility OF Nearly
three generations have elapsed since the beQuest
was made which led to the establishment OF the
institution, and its valuable possessions have long
since been forgotten by the living. We propose in
this article to give comparatively brief account OF
the origin OF this charity and the valuable acres In
the heart OF broadway with which 1t was endowed.
Apart from these facts, ordinary mortals would
labor under the impression that real estate-the tax
on which amounted to $10,000-must be very pro-
ductive and should not be exempt from assessment
But whatever view may be taken OF this application
1t can scarcely be deemed Opportune at time when
the echoes Of grave charges against the manage.
ment er parte though they be- have scarcely died
away in the Supreme Court Of this city, where they
are TO be the subjects OF investigation. We shall now
proceed to give the
ORIGIN OF THE INSTITUTION.
The Sailors Snug Harbor, which Is located near
the westerly banks Of Staten Island the result OF
bequest made by Captain Richard Randall in the
year 1901. The benevolent founder OF the institu-
ton was formerly master OF q British ship which
made we believe occasional voyages to this port;
ondn al
cruelty to which men OF the sea were subjected and
their helpless poverty IN Old age he resolved to be-
queath the greater portion Of his property for their
benefit The captain, 1t appears was an English
man by BIRTH and after he retired from his nautical
profession ne purchased an immense tract q land
mansion on the ground for many years. A number Of
the acres were then known as the goose pasture
and the land was bought at cheap price, for there
were indications then that 1t would ever advance
In value. When Randall c0nsecrated It to the be-
nevolent purpose to which it Is assumed to be ap-
priated now he seems to have labored under the
Impression that it would not be SUFFICIENT to enable
the trustees he named In his win TO found the insti
tuition, and accordingly he left IN addition, what
may be regarded as large fund to commence the
benevolent enterprise. He did not, however, live to
its origin to the instincts Of his Kind heart and
princely benevolence and although the institution
exists the name Of its noble founder Is almost for
gotten.
THE ACRES OF REAL ESTATE LEFT TO THE INsTI-
TUTE.
The estate with which Captain Randall endowed
the Sailors Snug HarbOr was very valuable when he
made his win, for In the beginning Of the present
century New York presented some evidences OF its
future progress. The ground adjoining bis mansion
and farm embraced nearly the great area now bound
ed by Broadway, Eighth street, Twelfth street and
University place. and this the property with which
the institution was endowed, and which the corpo-
ration desires TO be relieved Of taxation, in common
with Its broad acres on Staten Island: II was
originally valued at $4,000, the estimate having
been made when the will was executed. Some
idea Of its pr0ductveness forty years ago
may be realized when It Is known that
the rental OF the comparatively few houses
on the grOund-f0r 1t was then almost deserted
was $4,601, while the income from other property
left to the institution by Randall yielded about co.,
making total OF &c. COL, at period when the rental
OF the estate held by the corporation OF Trinity
not much larger In addition to this property the
Trustees received rental from three houses located
respectively at % Front street and so Water street
and from lot and wharf in South streer, the latter
yielding, sixty years ago, $3.50 per annunl. We find
from report Of the Mayor Of this city In the year
1917, few years after the charity IN operation
that the corporation OF the institution In that
year had leased improved lots; that build
ings were being rapidly erected on o portion Of
stock various commercial and financial companies,
which yielded In dividends and interest 38.65o %.
The report closed with the significant paragraph
THE value OF the real estate OF the corporation
been very much enhanced, and promises In short
time to be productive OF much good to the honest
tars for whom its generous donor designed It,"
There was ample justification for this paragraph,
for the income Of the trustees had nearly doubled IN
a decade. The following diagram Of the property OF
ton has been amply realized within the past ten
yeara:-