The New York herald., 1921-06-19
CITY ASKED TOPAY
$275,OO0F0R FERRY
mot WORTH $14S,O0O
Comptroller Craig Says Cor
pOratiOn Counsel Neglects
to Offer Facts to Court.
APPEAL NOW PENDING
Condemnation of Astoria
Ferry Followed Decision
for City Operation.
QUOTE COMPANY FIGURES
Corporation Counsel O'Brien
Becomes Incensed When He
Is Asked About Matter.
QUOTE COMPANY FIGURES


Is Asked About Matter.
Comptroller Charles L. Craig ad-
dressed yesterday to the Sinking Fund
Commission a letter setting forth that
the city is being asked to pay con-
demnation price of s275,0OO for ferry
property which the owners themselves
admit in court documents is not worth
$14S,000, and that Corporation Coun-
sci John P. OBrien, for some reason
which the Comptroller did not under
take to explain, has neglected to lay
that information before the Appellate
Division, where the condemnation
price is being appealed at the instance
of Mr.. Craig.
In addition to the foregoing price
the papers Of the New York and East
River Ferry Company show that ST.
900 worth Of repairs are necessary to
make the property usable, so that, ac-
cording to the Comptroller's figures,
the Corporation Counsel's recommen-
dation would make the city pay total
Of $4,000 :or the property in shape
to use-more than twice as much as
the company was willing to admit the
property was worth.
O'Brien shows Anger.
The statement of alleged facts is laid
before the Sinking Fund Commission for
its consideration without comment or
recommendation from the Comptroller
When a newspaper reporter called the
attention OF the Corporation Counsel to
Mr.. Craig's letter Mr.. O'Brien became
so incensed that he threatened to make
it personal matter with the reporter
If he published anything which reflects
on me-"
In January. 1919, when the ferry COM
pany stated its intention of abandoning
operation of the ferry, which runs from
Manhattan TO Astoria. the Board of
Estimate brought a mandamus action to
compel the company to continue its SER
vice. The company made such a good
showing of the poor condition of its
property and business that the court re-
fused the city's petition.
In that suit the company's brief stated
that the value of its three ferryboats
was estimated at $4,000: while the
assessed valuation of its terminal land
and structures was s6s,000. making q
total of sl5s.000. which, the company
contended. WAS more than the fair and
reasonable val-ie OF the said assets"
For Municipal Operation.
Grover r. Nhalen. the Mayors Com
missioner OF Plant and Structures. then
asked to be allowed to take the prop
erty over for municipal operation, and
later told tn. Beard of Estimate the
company was willing to sell for s227.-
900. but that he was unable to recon-
mend the acceLtance of such PROPOSE
ton.
Condemnation proceedings were begun
and last April IL the Corporation Coun-
sci transmitted to the COMPTROLLER the
courts estimated damage. the award be-
ing for s23o.750 exclusive of the ferry
boats, for which an additional appro-
pristion of $4,000 has been made since) .
with interest at per cent. from Sep
tember IS, 1920. Despite the fact that
the courts figure was more than $4,000
higher than the company had proposed
for its property. ferryboats included. and
more than 100000 higher than it's value
pleaded by the company in the man
damus suit, Mr. O'Brien's letter trans
mitting the award to the Comutroller
recommended that its provisions should
be complied with"
The Comptroller protested TO the
Corporation Counsel that the award
should not be accepted and urged him
to appeal II. referring to the company's
figures set forth in the mandamus suit.
The Corporation Counsel did appeal
placing the case in charge OF Assistant
Corporation Counsel Mayo, who is also
in charge OF the condemna ton OF prom
erty for the Staten Island piers The
Comptroller decided to call the status OF
the case to the attention of the Sinking
Fund Commission when he discovered
from a transcript of the minutes that
the mandamus suit figures had been
ignored by the Corporation Counsel, and
that the city's own expert, Martin Nc
Hale. who Is also making appraisals OF
the staten Island pier property testified
tnat the property, exclusive or the ferry
boats. was worth s1sl 900. as against the
protest in the mandamus suit
that IL was not worth its assessed valu-
alton OF SIS. 900
Upon rece ~ OF the abstract of dam
age and order OF confirmation from the
Counsel said the Comp
troller. Il directed that no steps should
be taken to pay the award until further
directions from me-"
Extract From Records.
The information concerning the COM