New-York tribune., 1911-10-11
OSBORNE BRINGS OUT
LAND DEALS IN ALBANY
Tries to Show Two Railroads
Received Many Acres With
out Paying State.
OLD CANAL BASIN TAKEN
Effort Made to Fix Blame on
Mayor McEwan -- Barnes's
Name Brought In When In
quiry Shifts to Bonds.
nv r.l.sranh % The rrLhnna

Nbsrv. oct lO-In an attempt 20 SHOW
that the authorities Of the city Of Albany
had concocted scheme which covers more
than ten wears - give 10 the New York
Central and Delaware & Hudson railroad:
land under water in the basin in front o
this city valued ~ millions Of dollars
James " Osborne. prosecuting attorney
for the Albanv legislative committee, to
dav sharply examined city and state Off
dsls.
Through Charles V Hooper. of the Secre
tary 81 States Office. he produced deed
transferring from the state through th'
State Land Rosrd 10 the New York Contra
about twelve ard half acres ~ this sub
merged land under certain conditions The
transfer was made under law Of 1915
s-d records of the Land Board, Mr. Hooper
admitted show that the state Eot nothing
fer the property.
II Is Mr. Osborne's contention that this
was the beginning of the scheme 70 turn
over these valuable rights 70 tho railroads
He holds thst while the CITY Is not men
toned IN the 1901 transfer. IL was the IN.
ruerce of the city authorities that brought
- about Mr. Osborne. however. did not
BRING out the fact that The law Of l@'
Authorizing the transfer was fathered hy
General Amasa 7. Parker. then Senator
from this district and p Democrat. The
basin in front OF the CITY. being the mouth
of The ola Erie Canal g state property.
Cites the MoEwan eilI of 1906
As the next link ir the working out o'
-hs scheme n turn valuable property 81
IN. state over 70 the railroads for nothin7
ar Osborne read a law Of 1905 authorizing
the state 70 grant 10 the CITY OF Albany
about FIVE and a half acres Of land in the
basin. 10 Re filed in hy the riparian own
ers 10 a bulkhead line fixed in 1893 by the
city engineer Of Albany.
And this law was introduced said MT
Osborne. by Senator James p. MoE"an
The same who IS now Mayor of the city
Nr OSBORNE produced the message oi
Navor NcEwan 70 the Board of Aldermen
DARED January :. 1911. recommending that
The land ACQUIRED from the state under the
sct Of la0S should he granted 70 the riPa'
rfan owners The Delaware & Hudson
is the largest riparian owner, and II II
stated IN the Mavor's message that the
purroSe or Er2nl0S INV l0Hu vas '''@
railroads entering Albany might have
smple freight facilities. II is the conten'
ton Of the prosecutor that Mr.. MoEwan
fn introducing the Law Of 1900. had this pur-
rose in view. but concealed IL I'm the fear
mat the bill could not he passed other
wise
Do YOU think the purpose of the MayoI
was so corrupt asked Senator Vain
wright. one # the members Of the com
n,ittes
That is for YOU IT, determine" was Mr
Osborne's reply.
"IIere is the act Of 1eNs. he added "th'
|. pu-pose in r. is concealed No one coult
have told them that its purpose was Il
grant 70 the Delaware & Hudson Railroad
o freizht ward for nothing II that hac
been MADE known you would have seer
row quickly the till would have been de-
fested
For several wears the city Of Albany has
uesn getting legislation and authorizing
lond issues n improve and bcauufy its
river front. At present the work Of beauti-
fdag a large pier in the river few hun
Cred feet from the west shore is going on