New-York tribune., 1909-11-07
HEALTH BOARDSUED
DISPOSSESS NOTICE is
SERTED.
DR.. Darlington Says .CityS
Health May Be Endangered
and He UW Fight.

and He U'W Fight,
Here I am: here stay" Napoleon IS
supposed TO have said. in French. Of
course. as he stood with his men I'm the
shadow of the Pyramids. and that is
the way Or Darlington. Health Com
missioner. views the departments occu-
patton Of the building at 55t, street and
Sixth avenue. But he will have TO an
swer dispossess summons on Thursday.
II was served on him last week by coun-
sci for the executor Of the estate Of H.
J. Brsker
As told exclusively in The Tribune. the
Health Department rent was raised last
spring from $4,000 to $4,000 a year. and
after refusing to pay the increase il was
expected that # would be compelled 10
get out. The lease expired on May 1.
The city refused 10 renew il.
Stafford A. Crummey. counsel for
Austin b Fletcher. who is the executor
of the estate. had the summons served.
owing to the persistent refusal of the
city to pay the additional rent check
at the old rate. $4,000. was received for
the quarter ended August l. but this was
sent back. At the hearing unless the
city decides 10 pay the advance and the
proceedings are quashed. there will be a
new defence.
This the counsel for the executor will
meet by bringing a suit for damages. it
was said Yesterday. The defence will be
that the health of the city will be i'm
perilled by a removal of the department
without adequate preparation Of suit
able quarters.
ASK METZ FOR RELIEF.
That was what D. Darlington meant
when he quoted Napoleon. The matter
Of a settlement or suit is in the hands
Of Charles A. O'Nen. Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel and he will base his action
on advices he may receive from Con-
troller Metz. Mr. Metz is considering
just what To do. The Department OF
Health has depended for relief upOn the
Controller and the Board Of Estimate
and Apportionment The necessity Of "a
now building was suggested before the
present administration took hold Of af-
fairs. and the expectation that something
would he done in that way for The de
partment has been held right along
Last August DR.. Darlington recon-
rended that the building in the course
Of construction AT the southwest corner
Of 10th street and Irving place be pur-
chased az a cost Of $3.50 900. The Board
of Health had adopted q resolution IA
voring II. and as IL was not completed
=
70 suit the various bureaus of the de
partment But the building. which is
owned By the Kip's Bay Realty Com
pany. was not bought
II was said last night that the pur-
chase OF the present structure would be
considered if it were not for its disad-
vanta geOus situation. II could be added
TO. II was pointed out. ar A cost of little
more than $150O00. and that with the
offer by the executor Of the property TO
sell for s450oOO. would make the total
expense of providing adequate quarters
S60OO0o But the principal visitors are
persons from the far East or West side
and the place is difficult Of access. and
several carfares have 70 be paid 10 get
there. a city official said last night.
The Health Department needs a new
building The place now occupied. with
several floors of a building adjoining. is
wholly unsuitable IN account Of location
and lack Of conveuiences for tho practi-
cal work Of The numerous bureaus. 1t
viii be impossible TO move i'm a hurry or
TO move at all until the right kind Of a
place is prepared for it,
BUILDING SHOULD BE DESIGNED
The department should have build
ing of at least twelve stories. especially
designed for il. Its work is of tncreas asing
importance and the right kind of facili-
ties are imperatively necessary. II viii
b. found. I believe, that the dispossess
proceedings viii be discontinued by the
city agreeing 10 pay the added rent. The
old rent was based on the former value
ot the building. but il has increased
greatly in value and the taxes have in
creased in proportion
The building was bought ny Richard
Croker for the Democratic club. but was
not accepted by that organization. He
transferred the property to Fl. J. Braker
T. was occupied at one time by the New
York Athletic Club The present record
vault of the Health Department was the
swimming pool Of the club. This was
hewn out Of solid rock. perhaps the only
swimming pool Of the kind in the coun-
try at that time Mr.. Croker is said 70
have paid $4,000 for the property.