New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-05
SCHEME TO BUILD
ISLAND IN BAY
Continued from page |

York. represented in Senate and AS
sembly. do enact as follows: -,
Section !. The commissioners OF the
Land Office are hereby authorized ana
empowered in their discretion, 70
grant and convey upon application anu
upon such terms and conditions as III
their judgment may be necessary or
advisable all or any part OF the fol-
loving described land under water IN
New York Harbor: Beginning at
point whose bearing Is north eighteen
degrees east from the intersection OF
latitude 40 degrees and 40 minutes
north and longitude "a degrees and 2
minutes west from Greenwich and at
distance of GAP feet from said in
tersection (said point of beginning be-
ing the point of intersection OF tangent
south % degrees east from the Statue
of Liberty and tangent south IA de-
Prees and 40 minutes west from lower
LIGHT on Governors Island; thence
south % degrees, west distance OF
HE feet: thence south 90 degrees,
east a distance of 1,457 feet; thence
north 80 degrees, east a distance OF
1864 feet; thence north degrees
west a distance of 2,s35 feet; thence
north 40 degrees, west distance OF
9O2 feet; thence south approximately
90 degrees. 55i4 minutes, west dis
lance of approximately 913 feet to the
point of beginning, the bearing lines
herein described being referred TO the
observed true north.
Section 2. This act shall take erect
Immediately"
When Mr.. Hoff was asked TO explain
the purposes of his bill, which Is Just
so much Greek to the majority OF his
associates, he said:
at is for the purpose OF giving the
Land Commissioners power to convey
the land on application" -,
"Who will make the application -
"Any one"
But isn't there some one especially
interested in acquiring this bit OF
land ?"
NO"
"Who made the surveys described in
the bill, and who drew these blue print
maps showing what some one expects
to build on the island when 1t Is
made"
"IIl tell you. 4 friend of mine, in
terested in harbor improvement. actu-
ated solely by public spirit, e these
things up, so that if the bill passed
and the land was conveyed some people
could 20 ahead with the improvement"
"Who will go ahead with the i'm
provementg"
"Well, there are some New York City
capitalists who can be got together 10
subscribe $20,000,000 to 90 ahead with
the improvement if the prelimlnaries
are made az right"
But Mr.. Hotf pleaded he did not know
who these capitalists were, nor would
he give the name Of his friend who
must have spent considerable time and
money on making the maps, which Mr..
Hoff has in his Office in the Capitol at
Albany.
Senator George Cromwell introduced
the bill in the Senate at the request OF
Mr.. Hof. Whe1 he was interviewed by
representative of The Tribune he
said:
81 do not know much about the bill.
It was given to me by Mr. Hof. 1t
seems, if it is feasible, TO be a good
plan for harbor improvement, but
whether the War Department will per
NIT this Improvement / do no: know.
/ do not know who is behind the DrOj-
ect A mani think his name was
Stiyers-came 10 me and asked me to
speak to Senator Sage. the chairman
Of the Senate Finance Committee,
where the bill now lies. on this side Of
the Legislature. had nothing to
speak about, for introduced the bill
by request, so introduced him to SEN
or Sage, to talk for himself"
This i. all that could be learned Of
Mr.. Hof's bill, which seeks to enable
the Land Commissioners to grant to
person or persons almost two miles Of
land under water in New York Harbor
upon such terms and conditions as in
their judgment may be necessary and
advisable
Any further information will be
cheerfully received.