Year: 1865

their virtual mastsn me Manhattan company was Or
ganzed with capital Of Ave hundred housand dollars;
its capital now Is four million dollars


do not think that the people are prepared 70 have
stockholders Of gas oompsnies Bot this is portion Of
aware that the stockholders in this company among
our most respectable citizens and the largest holders
form snd do"hsss sLe,s IN -, ,h. re-
might secure their public praise faithful officer but
should do 50 would feel that did not deserve the
oommendation. / have long ance concluded that che
best praised not always the deserving and have
schooied myself 70 rely for my recompense as public
Ofcer on the consciousness OF doing right, however
much temporary interested clamor may incensed
and cry out.


required by law that all bids for contracts shall be
opened in the presence of the Comptroller shall not
attend be present any opening for bids for the pro-
posed substituted contracts and shall in rcCog


There other, and in my Judgment strong reasons
against the action Of thu Common Council The first con-
tract made by the Corporation light the streets Of our
pany and bears date May ~ 1929 II rectes that In
consideration Of the covenants to be performed by the
and ' 70 farm M let " to the company tho %sis right
Of laying or placing under ground pipes In all and
sOuS Of line nnns H Sason.y from IL. East vsr
the foot Of Grand street to the North river at the foot Of
Canal street for conducting gas for lighting the public
lamps In the streets and parts OF streets south 0f said
line and the houses and buildings fronting front
on bounded by the streets parts Of streets south Of



restrictions under which the grant TO continue and


expressly stipulated that II the company did not
sossss re nsS al the
thereby "demised should be revested In the Cor
poration' as fully and .'completeIy. as Il this in.
denture had not been executedn This contract con
tinued until the 18th day Of Nay 1853 and expired
thai day by its limitation. hold that by the pro-
visions Of that contract the exclusive right Of the city
control the public the purpose or laying gas
pipes and furnishing gas was distinctly recognized and
established independently Of all other considerations and
that utad aanff ~
continuance Of the contract The contract having expired
streets reverted 70 the Corporation All the contracts
mado with the Manhattan Gas Company and that with
the Harlem Company contain the same provisions in this


This recognition Of right and ownership by the Corpo
ration in the streets In connection with gas companies
is important and valuable property, and may be
turned 70 very profitable account in charging these
panes In the future annual rent other adequate
consideration for their further use Of the stree which
they have turned TO such useful private advantage with
out any compensation heretofore 10 the people, The
resolutions Of the Common Council do mot take this
ershp into account and make provision for It's
walton protection, but virtually surrender IL The
resolutions direct the making Of new contracts without


The New York and Harlem companies ere in the posi-
ton, with reference to the Streets Of tenants holding
over after the expiration OF the ter and have right
70 the streets for their pipes single day without the
authority OF the Common Council and are necessarily
dependent the Corporation for their very existence


There are no contracts outstanding with either the
New York or Harlem companies, the former being paid
dollars and eighty seven cents per lamp per
annum under the demand for that amount the latter
continuing TO receive twenty eight dollars and eighty
cents per lamp the stipulated be paid under
their contract, which expired on the 9th day Of Decem
Der, 1858.


But in addition to all this in all the contracts hereto
fore made with these companies have before stated
carefully considered provision Is made for the protection
OF the public interest At every point where 1t needed
guarding with the exception Of the changes between the
rst and second contracts with the Manhattan Company
to which have adverted BY the resolutions OF tho
Common Council provision for public protection is to
be required This would be In itself nsuperable OBJ
lection.


There are still other objections equally strong TO my
attending the opening of the bids for the contracts
ton Of the Street Commissioner issued in pursuance Of
the resolutions Of the Common Council which is an
nexed divides the city into four districts being prac
cally the districts In which the New York the MAnhat-
TAM the Metropolitan and the Harlem have exclusive pos
session do not md any authority for this division aud
The practical effect OF II will be- that neither company
competing with the others, each will be at liberty to
charge any whatsoever In its district matter
how exorbtant and there will be relief Whereas IL
the invitation included the whole city, there might be
competition each being at liberty 70 override tho other
tage. is true inconvenience might be suffered while
the pipes being laid by company mot In pos
session Of certain distrcts but do not how this
convenience be ultimately avoided without IN abso-
Lutte Surrender Of the city TO the gas monopoies their
own terms


In order that proper estimate may be formed OF the
extent 70 which the burdens Of the city may be increased
under the proposed contracts would that the
bills for lighting the public lamps for the year 1894
cOrdng 70 the existing arrangements amounted to about
$4,000. Al which IL respectfully submitted,


MATTHEW T. BRENNAN, Comptroller