The New York herald., 1876-11-30
SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS.

SALE OF UNUSED CITY PROPERTY PETITION
FROM THE COUNCIL OF POLITICAL REFORM
INTERESTING STATISTICS.
meeting of Commissioners of the Sinking Fund
was held in the Mayors office Yesterday afternoon.
Comptroller Green, Mayor wickham, Recorder Hack
cit, Alderman John Reilly and City chamberlain Tap
pan present
Some routine business transacted after which
Recorder Hackctt inquired to whether any opinion
lad been received from the Corporation Counsel In
accordance with request from the Commissioners
TO the powers OF tho Elevated Railroad Company to
their tracks the Battery and what steps
be taken protect the cys interests this
tion. Mayor wickham answered that no opinion had
yet been sent In.
Mcssrx william II. Webb. Phillip Bssinger and
Joshua C. Sanders, from the Council OF Political Ro-
form, handed q communicate advocating the sale
OF unused public properly belonging the city, the
proceeds TO bc applied TO tho liquidation Of its debts
This forth that the possessed
oil large Of such property, situated
parts OF New York and Brooklyn, from none OF which
is it receiving income adequate to its value, and
which is the occasion for large annual expenditure
over and above ali receipts derived therefrom. II
fortyscven lots mostly situated in the lower parts Of
the city. which valued by the commission ap-
pointed by the city in 1870 appralsa Its real estate
Twenty ono lots and plots OF land mostly
unrcnled, valued at.................... $500
Thirteen plots OF land, leased for terms OF
fifty aud ninety nine years, at a nominal
rent to several charitable and religious
institutions, valued at. 2,723, $50
Market property, valued at t............ 4,267, ,374
Dock property, valued by the appraisers
Of dock property recently appointed at $4,000, 600
Making total OF. f...............s 500, l66, ia
The city also claims ownership OF large amount Of
underwater lands, the value OF which Is estimated
much greater sum than that OF its wharf structures
and which u is leasing as II IS required at do
tcrmined by the vnluc OF the contingencies upland.
The OF mana ming this property has averaged Tor
the last nve wears more than $400, 600 per num-
alter deducting all rents paid contracted 10
be paid ON account OF il, much or which is
never collected. According to the report OF the
COMPTROLLER madc in s2 ON tho real estate Of the city
IL appears due tne city for OF
tho sum OF Sail, 100, nearly the whole OF which had
been placed in the hands OF the Counsel to- the Corpo
ra Ton for collection, but which still remains uncol.
cctcd ihe city incurrng thereby heavy legal expenses
iu what seems TO he a fruitcss effort 10 secure
their COLLECTION. Much Of this property, especially
the unoccupied portion, Is situated that II
be idyanagcously used, at least Tor many years
not the business OF municipal corporations to
engage in real estate enterprises, TO hold
!, for speculative purposes Tho document then goes
on 10 give why the city should not hold
more real property than Is needed for public pur-
poses and states thar the leases Of weny-one houses
lots and eighteen vacant lots belonging to the CITY,
ana vaiucd at $4oU, 00O expire In May next. Franklin
Gouyerncur and Eighteenth ward markets
longer used needed for market purposes, ana have
bc,one an Expense to the city. These markets, tho
aggregate value of wnlch $780, 900, the Commission
ers OF shc sinking Fund are authorized 10 sell by
recent acL the Legislature With such property re-
licvcd any cmbarrassmens as 10 title. tho work
OF selling can be undertaken and prosecuted SO
tar the true interests OF the city may re-
qurc. The cily is paying annual rents to
the extent nearly $40 900 tor the OF
departments aud other pubic purposes The
greater portion OF This sum- not the entire amount,
might be saved TO the cry afcr the hrst year BY the
occuration 9, ~ own propsrsy ,or sne Transaction o.
ited up for It's purposes by expenditure less than
the rents paid IN single year Tor tne use OF those
private individuals. The city owns eighteen lots aud
houses the lower part OF Chatham street, the centre
ol the Official business OF the city The buildings IN
this street. the loases Of which expire May next,
capable, after suitable and Inexpensive alterations
of accommodating every onlcc OF the central
department. the ciiy government Tor which II Is now
paying 10 private parties SIS, 900 per snnum, and
the time the first floors OF the buildings could
ho rented Tor business purposes The communication
then proceeds with statement that other like In
stances c want Of economy on the part OF tho CITY
In the matter Of rents M eht be gwen. The Same
economy which private persons OF ordinary prudence
practice IN relation to their property in the matter Of
rents u exercised by the city would save to II. II wc
consider what II loses and pays IN rents at least
Alier some short remarks from Comptroller Groen
upon the aoovc SUBJECTS the Commission adjourned 10
MUNICIPAL MOTHS.
Mr.. James $. Tnayer, tho nominee for Comptroller
called at the Mayors Office yesterday. He has not yet
siguincd his intention accepting rejecting the po
sltion OF Comptroller In the Board OF Aldermen
arc directed by Mr.. John Kelly to confirm him. Being
questioned In relation 10 the matter he said that he
would not be able to decide several days The con-
dton OF his health and business necessities 10 I'M
dcrstood, Will finally determine the matter as FAR as
Mr. Thayer Is personally concerned
Thomas G. callarhaD, SUPERINTENDENT Of lamps ana
gas, has resigned stephen NcCormlck ch'c' clerk oi
the bureau, wll be appointed In his place
AJavits OF discharged attacncs OF tho Park Depart.
ment yesterday scntin to tho Mayor once, shu
soon alter transmitted 10 Mr. William H. Martin. ono
OF the impeachcd Commissonots Tue examination
Will be continued before mayor Wickham on Friday
The Board OF Estimate and Apportonment will meet
tomorrow for tho purpose Of considering changes
made by tho Aldermen In the provisional estimates Tor