New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-28
GRANTING STATE LANDS.
ront,,1ssToNERs AWAITING THE RE
TURN OF THE GOVERNOR
nrro,rA co,fPANY,s APPLICATION DEFENDS ON
THE DECISION WHETHER TO sFAh OK
LEASE STATE PROPERTY.
TsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1suSH-]

TnY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE]
Albany Oct. 1.-THE members Of the LAND i3oaru
are awaiting the return OF Governor KooseVei' oe
fore coming a decision on the apphca.lo" VI
tracy. Boardman & Plat, counsel for the AS
toria Light Heat and Power Company for the sac
IN that corporation OF sixteen and one-haf acres OF
.he States land along the East River al astoria
Queens County. All that the appraisers7John !"
Deubert OF Brooklyn and George bingham OF Ei'o
County-think the entire sixteen and one-haf acres
are worth is 50 500 80 Mr.. Deubert estimates 'ha'
xonoe land on the XII Won Kull IS worth $500 an
acre. Probably the K!ll Won Kull lot Is more IA
,orably situated. Nevertheless II ~ rated SO his"
that there is fear lest Mr.. Deubert and MI blhB-
ham may have innocentiy set too low vaiue on
,he lands described by the Astoria Light Heat ana
Power Company al Astoria. There is apprehension
in other words that 500 an acre Of AstorA IN "o'
SUFFICIENT compensation for the state
There also will come up before the Land Board
the question of whether these lands desired by INC
Astoria Light Heat and Power Company shail DO
sold outright TO that corporation or leased 10 u.
The CORPORATION desires TO buy the land. mat -
what Tracy Boardman & Plat are pressing NO
lease has been asked for by them The at''uue
OF Secretary OF State McDonough ana At'oi"eS
Camera Davies I'm favoring the leasing OF sue"
lands and not their sale however Is not no"
That has been their position in the Ian" ho''N
since February last. and they frequently nave oee"
supported by Controller Morgan. MT. Morgan Hno
taken the position that no hard ana '8Se 'u'o 80
g dlOUtfQ
ZION for such lands must he considered separator
=, some cases II is evident from his votes IN the
7an5 Board he considers fl the better policy 70
lease such lands and not sell them
TO LEASE OR SELL LAND.
Attorney General Davies said to-day; Il am glad
that Governor Roosevelt has had his sttenuon
ooued n this subject Of the lease or the sale OF
the states lands. and has written letter winch
,noirecflv Al least supports those members OF the
BOARD Of Land Commissioners, Ike myself WHO
for six months past have been steadily voting IN
favo~ Of leasing me states lands under water ana
not OF selling them. in the hope Of getting more
money for the State from this course
Inquiry TODAY revealed the fact that Tracy.
soararnar 4 Platt filed their four applications for
land for the Astoria Light. Heat and Power Com
panv with the Land Board as far back as Mdfoh
NJ The present wear At that time Assembiyman
Mazet was attempting 10 pass IN the LesisIiture
g. bill authorizing the Astoria Light Heat "no
Power Company TO construct tunnel beneatn the
East River IN which place gaspipes. through
which It intended 10 force gas from Astoria 10
Manhattan Island for the use Of the gas com
panies Of that island The bin passed the AS
sembly. but failed 10 pass the Senate. ..,u
oVVm G ,o Bcar5 received a letter from Will
slro q I3urle secretary of tho Department Of
T1ocks and Ferries OF New-YOTk. announcing thar
he Board protested against the granting Of the
Astoria company's application and requesting
nublic hearing Al about the same time Tracy
Rosr5rnan & Plat addressed letter 10 the Score
tary Of State asking that the hearing De SCI oo"n
The members Of the Land Board on May re
farred both Mr. Burke's letter and that or Tracy
Boardman & Platt TO the Standing Committee or
Attorney General Davies and State Engineer Bond
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
In their report on the application Of the Astoria
light Heat and Power Company, and similar aP-
plIcatons the standing committee said later that a
hearing had been held on June D. 1899. al which
The Board Of Docks had contended that It had the
sole right to issue or refuse grants. The committee
did not concur with this view. The committee held
70 the opinion OF Judge Chester the White
more case that after the Board OF Docks had had
the opportunity TO report their conclusions 70 me
Commissioners the latter 10 determine
whether or not grant should be made. and the
terms and conditions which were essential under
The statute The committees report ended by stat
Ing that the position taken pY ire bodFu OF lochs
was untenable.
Upon receipt Of this report the Land Board has
proceeded with the consideration Of the Astoria
companys application in the usual manner on
August g State Engineer BOND reported that the
granting Of 1S3 under the waters Of the East
River would interfere with navigation.
Finally Yesterday the appraisers OF Controller
Morgan. George Bingham and John 9. Deuberf
submitted 10 the Land BOard at its meeting theil
appraisals OF the value Of the property desired
and the representative Of Tracy. Boardman & Plat
asked that the grant be made The application OF
TRACY Boardman & Plat was tabled in executive
session however. because Of the position taken pre-
viousy by certain members Of the Land BOarC
that such lands were desired should be Lease
instead Of sold. and. secondly. because GovernO
Roosevelt IN letter intimated that the question
OF sing instead Of selling the States lands nigh
ne considered ny the Land Poard