New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-22
4STOR TENANTS DISCONTINUED
THEY OBJECT TO THE TERMS on WHICH I'm.
LEASES OF CERTAIN PREMISES ARE TO BE-

LEASES OF CERTAIN PREMISES ARE TO BE-
GRANTED-IN THE HANDS OF REFEREE.
Ten OF the tenants holding twenty-year leases on
Aston properly have unit I'd In making issue on the
terms submitted for renewing the leases Of tho
lands for the next twenty years. They are G. w.
Smith, OF the grocery firm Of Smith & Sills; Fred
erlck Nathan, No. M Park-ave.; Thomas X. Harris,
executor of the estate of James Van Buren,; Louise
j. Merritt. james Slater, Charles A. Flammer r.
H. Walsh, Cecilia A. Forshay. James Devlin OF
No. 227 West Forty-ffth-st., and Mrs. Richa Zor-
kowski. Most of this property is in Forty fourth
ST. between Broadway and Elghth-ave., ard In
Forty-slxth-st between Eighth and Ninth ayes.
The tenants are represented b. Frederic r. Coudert
and Charles A. Flammer. while the Astor estate II
represented by Eiihu Root and Charles \. Peabody.
The suit brought against the Astor estate Is BY
Mrs Zorkowski. Stephen p. Nash has been ap-
pointed referee and reference was held at his
office No Ct Wall-st., Wednesday afternoon. The
plaintiffs bro ught witnesses 10 show that the prop
erty had deprecated in value since the lease was
made twenty years ago. II was then owned oy
the Aston estate, and Is now held by william
Waldorf As:or. AT that time the property was
unirnproved, and. being anxious to improve 1t. the
estate made what then considered liberal terms.
Leaseholders were TO have the privilege OF two
renewals for twenty years each, and the property
was restricted to private dwellings,. At that time
money was at per cent but Mr. Astor gave a
valuation 10 each lot and fixed the land rent at
per cent OF the valuation 1t was stipulated that
in case the and landlord could rot agree at
the expiration of twenty years on the terms for
which the property should be released. each
should choose al arbitrator and these two should
select the third.
As the landlord AMI tenants could rot agree on
the terms for releasing the property for another
twenty years. the matter was submitted TO arbl-
tratlon as the lease provided. Mr. Aston selecting
George X. Read. and the tenants selecting James
A. Lynch. These two arbt:rators selected Inomas
G. Acton president OF the Notwithstanding Bank,
az the th.id arbitrator. Hearings were held before
these arbitrators. and James y. Lynch. the arbi-
traitor selected by the tenants. favored increasing
the valuations to higher figure than Mr.
Aston asked for. The tenants protested 10 MI
arbItrators legally provided. and that 1t was en-
trely out OF his hands The case OF Mrs Ior-
kowsk was agreed upon by these tenants 10 DO
brought for trial, and the suit was brought IN the
Superior Court and Mr.. Nash was appointed ref
cree TIE property Is No. % West Fcrty-fourth-
st Twenty years ago the land rent WAS fixed at
$50 wear M. Astor's agent wanted $50 for the
nnxt term OF twenty years. The case was brought
before the arbtrators and they raised the rental 70
5000 The lot is nearly 10 feet wide and 100 feet
deep one of the tenants said 10 Tribune reporter
yesterday: $50 - -,
'Ir 500 o year is demanded for this land the
property will hardly be worth having. We cannot
yet 81 800 a year rent. and the medium figure be-
tween the experts the two SIDES places tho
value Of the house ut about $4,000.
The reference will be continued Wednesday In Mr..
Nash's office Steps are beng taken 70 organize an
Astor Tenants Association.