New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-17
THE CITY's CONSENT ASKED.
FOR THE SALE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
ORPHAN ASYLUM GROUNDS.

ARGUMENTS PRESENTED TO THE ALDERMEN
BY THE TRUSTEES or THE INSTITUTION.
A petition by the trustees OF the Roman Catholic
Graham ASYLUM asking for the consent OF the city
authorities 10 the sale OF the asylum grounds At
F'ifth-ave and Fifty-drst-st. was laid before the
Board OF Aldermen yesterday. IL was ordered
printed and laid over for further action. The petit
ton alleges that the present quarters OF the asy'
lum are inadequate and antiquated ana tnat
ampler and more adequate quarters can be found
for the Institution further uptown. Archbishop
Corrgan signed the petition.
The asylum grounds ior the sale 0. which the
consent OF the city f. desired comprise the entifs
block bounded by Fifth-ave., Finy-hrst-st. Mad
ison-ave and Fifty second-st. They are on the
opposite side OF Flsth-ave from the Vanderbilt
houses and on the opposite side OF Flfty-hrst-S.
from 81. Patrick's Cathedral They were trans
ferred 20 the trustees OF the asylum by the city
fifty years ago on the condition that they shouid
forever be occupied by the asylum or USED ior
asylum purposes and for that reason the consent
NJ the CITY must be- obtained before the grounds
can be sold The present value % the property 10
said to be about 100000 based on the recent sale
OF the St. I.ukes Hospital grounds at Fifth-av~
and Ffty-fourih-st.
Il was said last evening that the trustees OF the
asylum had 10 purchaser for the property In
yiey but would place the property in the market
as soon az the consent OF the city authorities couid
be- obtained As an argument for the consent OK
the city IL was said that the property - al pres
ent free from taxation. but II II If sold 10 private
persons II will be used building sites, and the
buildings probably will cost as much as the
grounds The city would therefore be able 10 tax
property worth x,GOOyD or more. III the asylum
authorities can sell the grounds they VIII be able
TO buy a much larger tract OF land In the northern
part OF the city possibly near one OF the pupne
parks and erect larger and more suitable build
ings for the institution.
Prominent Catholics said last evening that they
believed there was legal objection 10 the sale OF
the asylum grounds II the consent OF the city could
be obtained, and they thought the sale "ouid Do
beneficial the city well as to the asylum
IL has seemed many that the asylum ought not
to occupy restricted grounds in part OF the city
where the value OF land IL so enormous, when u
might occupy larger and less valuable grounds W
a region where the children OF the institution could
have better air and more room for play The re-
moval OF the asylum also would be A benefit 10
other property in Fi.th-aye. and Nadlson-ave
There a report years ago that the late
William II. Vanderbilt wanted 10 buy the asylum
property as a building site Cor an art museum. but
at that time the trustees OF the asylum were said
not to be willing TO sell the property, even IL the
consent OF the city could be obtained. II the re-
ports were true. Mr. Vanderbilt had a plan 10 es-
tablish an extensive museum ana give 10 II MS COL
lection OF paintings SO far could be learned nst
evening the property II IL Is sold. probably Will Do
divided up into sites for fashionable dwellings