New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-14
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE. THURSDAY DECEMBER
NO MANDAMUS ISSUED.
LAND BOARD RECEIVES ASTORIA con-
PANY'S MONEY-PATENT READY FOk
GOVERNORS SIGNATURE.
TrY TELEGRAPH TO 1HE rRrsUNE.I


Aharv De, 12-Governor Roosevelt now has In
his hands the patent issued by the state Lana
Board on December to the Astoria Lignt, hee'
and Power Company for sixteen and one-hair acre'
OF land under water at Astoria. The company mas
maid TO the Secretary of State through Tracy.
Boardnan & Plat the sum of sSo5S ~ TOT tne la"'
and SOS patert fees. Then the patent was sent "
Governor Roosevelt for his signature
Secretary OF State McDonough said to-day:
expected all day yesterday to receive nouce OF
an Injunction desired by Corporation Rnard
t s,rtber nroceedines in regard this grant to
the Astoria company but no NOTICE cam nrt would
e enon board from doing something It has al,
ready done And do not think Governor hoos &c.
some lawyers tried to mandamus Governor Morton ran
in Civil Service Reform case. but the courts nep
f for an r"e executive right The authorities Of New.
York have especially pssea oEd tf their not
believe. sincerely because or the Value we I'D
put on this land We $50 sold a5Se
Company two months ago, but they mace no ns Sr
upon that. Now they select this Astoria grant TOT
In my judgment have acted in the interest Of
the State when accepted 500 an acre Tor tnls
land Why the State only received $50 an acre rel, In
1874 for land under water on either sde OF ~ n.s
feven big gas plants from NewYcrk city and put
them in one gigantic plant at Astoria. Surely that
wSgd be rom he built vp portion Of the city
AS to the question Of whether the State or the
city Of h a cana dsd OF
at present but am in fay9r Of the city ;s Sgb
when he suggests that bills should be introduced In
the LEGISLATURE comforting control r Of these ans,
OF Kings, Queens and Richmond to the city.
LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR.
Governor Roosevelt formally informed the Land
Board to-day of his receipt OF letter from Cor
poration Counsel Whalen Of New-York requesting
him not to sign the patent awarded by the Land
Board to the Astoria Light. Heat and Power Com
pany and asserting that the lands at Astoria de-
sired by the Astoria company worth 100000.
instead of 1858 Corporation Counsel Whalen's let
ter to the Governor ended with this request; May
ask therefore, that you will withhold your sigma
ture to the letters patent until the question OF an
Injunction can be formally passed upon by Special
Term Judge OF your district"
! Those in attendance to-day's meeting OF the
| Land Board were Speaker Nixon, Secretary OF
| State McDonough. Controller Morgan, Attorney
! General Davies State Treasurer Jacket and State
Engineer Bond The letter of the Governor was
presented by the Secretary of State 1t read as
| follows
! State of New-York Executive Chamber.
Albany, December H. 1899.
| Commissioners of the Land Office. Albany. y. Y
Gentlemen: The inclosed letter from John Whalen,
! esq Corporation Counsel Of the City OF ew-forK'
I should like information as to the grants of land
under water made since the greater New YoIK
charter went into effect and of some Of those made
before | would like TO know the prices pad anu n
the conditions of each grant. should IKE 10 Know
| whether information about these various gran
| was furnished to the city authorities, ana WIdS
| nrotests II any were made in reference 10 tnelh.
This is the first time the Corporation Counsel mas
! written me a letter about any one, ana snouLu
like to know In what respect II at ALL the preseI'
| grant differs from the former ones, so as 70 a.
count for the unusual action on his part. stou h
| like information to the original cost vi AN uio
property of the Astoria Gas Company on tne d aa
| cent upland and the amounts Tor whicn we 10
| dsposed OF other similar property. Rave 'ns -,
parian rights on either side of the proposeu gran
| been disposed Of. and. II so, at what pre-! i
| short would like complete information TO sho"
Gas Company is made under condltlons IlOiS w ia
! favorabIe than those granted other parties. anu
especially IL the amount asked Is IN any pr
greater or less and whether or not the CIT!
! tios have ever before taken the action they III"
rake Is or is not this grant carrying OUT l.e '
| memorial pocy of the Board in all grams
want ali information that will enable me 70 ioon
into the matter We must carefully guaru So
| and citys interests, and to do so IT Is equaly
| necessary 10 refuse any improper grant 10 q sN.u
cornoration and on the other hand TO reluse, -
| no induenced on behalf OF some rival corpoid alum
| against a legitimate and proper grant. I can,
| I Incose certain papers whlch nave pe'" '
! me In the matter. Very truly your S1;OocEvEIT
state Treasurer Jacket moved that A'''i"oy
General Davies. Controller Morgan and secretary
~ state McDonough furnish the Information ue,
| irod This motion was adopted, and me boai ,i
| nroceeded TO other business. The ihlorHia''o" W"
! be- promptly furnished to the Governor