The evening world., 1917-06-27

1916, an option was given by the
Rockaway Pacific Corporation to the
United States on the property TO
which 1t claimed title, and that option
contained the very remarkable pro-
vision that the Rockaway Pacific
Corporation, II the United States so
desired, would purchase from the
United States the fifty acres on Plumb
Island for $4,000.
Although this property was OBJ
tained in condemnation proceedings,
1t Is claimed that the title is defect
i've, although the Department OF Jus
tice has rendered. an opinion that the
United States cannot be disturbed in
it's possession. 1t is said that II the
title were not defective tho property
would be worth $4,000, but that be-
cause OF the defect 1t Is worth only
$4,000. The Rockaway Pacific Cor
poration was willing to relieve the
Government of this property for
$40, 900.
Mayor Mitchell insisted that the
, fifty acres Of land be transferred to
the City of New York In partial con-
sideration Of the transfer OF the cltys
property at Rockaway Point.
MAYOR mitchell SAYS ARMY
OFFICERS FAVORED PLANS.
"1n a letter written by the Mayor
Is the following provision:
| In conslueration OF this ces-
sion by the City OF New York to
the United States 1t is further un-
derstood that Col. Frederic V. Alb
bot, in local charge of the con-
struction and establishment OF
fortlfications for the protection OF
New York Harbor, agrees and
| does recommend to Brig. Gen.
William NJ. Black, Chief OF En-
gineers, United States Army, that
the right, title and interest OF the
United States Government TO and
In Plumb Island, Jamaica Bay,
y. Y, comprising about flfty
acres, be conveyed TO the City OF
New York; and II Is further un-
derstood that Brig. Gen. William
NJ. Black, Chief OF Engineers,
United States Army, approves OF
the,recommendation of Col. Abbot
and will endorse his action to the
Secretary OF War, who will in
turn urge such Congressional ac-
tion as may be necessary to carry
into effect the transfer"
1T was stated by Col. Winslow
Of the United States Army Engineers
that the reason the city insisted
upon this transfer was TO allay pub
lie resentment at the transfer Of tho
Rockaway Point property to the
United States.
"In the legislative investigation OF
this matter Mayor Mitchell testified as
follows:
"Col. Abbot inquired OF me
whether the City OF New York
would be willing to sell this land
10 the United States Government
at a low or nominal figure in or
der to facilitate the construction
Of the proposed fort. | informed
Col. Abbot that, as far as | was
concerned. I would answer for the
Commissioners Of the Sinking
Fund that the city would be will
inq TO make a oft Of the entire
interest in this land TO the United
States Government and would ex'
act no compensation therefor,
/. provided that enabling legislation
could be secured to permit such
gift. This assurance was later
confirmed by the members OF the
, Sinking Fund Commission.
reiterated to Col.
Abbot my offer on behalf OF the
City TO make q Gift to the United
) States of the eity's interest in all
lands lyinu within the lines Of the
proposed Government Reserva-
tion.
thereupon gave directions that
, legislation 10 enable the city to
make a Gift Of the lands within
the Government Reservation to
the United States be prepared and
transmitted to Albany
The bfll to permit gift TO the
, United States was prepared,
transmitted TO Albany. and sub
seduentlv became law"
+, CITY ELIMINATED AS A NEGO
l TIATOR IN MATTER