venient in its location than the present building is capable of being made. They represent that the site of the present court-house and jail is upon the northern edge of the great Hempstead plains; has but few houses in its immediate neighborhood, and but one public house, capable of affording accommodations only to a small part of those who usually attend court. They ask to have a new court-house and jail erected, and that the same be located in or near some considerable village nearest to the centre of population, thereby affording those necessary accommodations so desirable to all who are compelled to attend the courts; such a situation, the memorialists represent the village of Hempstead affords: the large and respectable public-houses established in this village can conveniently accommodate as many as usually attend the courts. The memorialists, therefore, respectfully request that provision may be made by law, authorizing the board of supervisors of said county to raise, by tax upon the taxable property of the aforesaid county, in the ordinary manner, any sum which they may deem sufficient, not exceeding ten thousand dollars, to purchase a suitable site, and to erect thereon a new court-house and jail; and that they have power to sell and convey the present court-house and jail, with the land appertaining thereto; and further, to authorize the board of supervisors, should they deem it expedient, to procure the money which may be necessary for the purposes aforesaid, or any part thereof, by loan, to be reimbursed in annual payments, or otherwise, as to them shall seem advisable, and most for the interest of the county. Your committee, in investigating the subject, are satisfied that the representations of the memorialists are correct. That the building now used as a court-house and jail, is in a poor, weak condition, unfit for the safe-keeping of prisoners; and not being aware of any very serious opposition to the wishes of the memorialists, they are, therefore, of the opinion, that their prayer should be granted, and ask leave to introduce a bill. No. 132. IN ASSEMBLY, February 7, 1835. REPORT Of the committee on colleges, academies and common schools, on the memorial of the trustees of the Mount-Pleasant academy. Mr. Wetmore, from the committee on colleges, academics and common schools, to whom was referred the memorial of the trustees of Mount-Pleasant academy, REPORTED: That the memorialists ask to be relieved from liabilities incurred in the purchase of marble, and other building materials, from the State quarries and prison at Sing-Sing. The circumstances under which the contracts were made, and the causes which have led to the inability on the part of the trustees to fulfil their engagements, are minutely detailed in the memorial which is annexed to, and forms a part of this report. The committee are fully aware of the importance of guarding the avenues to the treasury, and of avoiding every unnecessary appropriation of the public means. The case under consideration, however, is one of peculiar hardship, and appeals strongly to the Legislature for a liberal exercise of its powers. The embarrassments from which the memorialists desire to be relieved, have arisen in the performance of public duties, interesting and important to the community. The committee believe it to be a wise and just policy that seeks to encourage the efforts of enlightened and philanthropic citizens in the cause of education; they have come to the conclusion, therefore, that the prayer of the memorialists ought to be granted. Leave is accordingly asked for the introduction of a bill. PETITION Of the trustees of Mount-Pleasant Academy, in the village of Sing-Sing, Westchester county, for relief. TO THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEWYORK. The memorial of the trustees of Mount-Pleasant Academy, in the village of Sing-Sing, county of Westchester, respectfully shewcth: That your petitioners have, for a number of years past, been assiduously engaged in rearing and maintaining a literary institution, that might essentially aid the cause of literature and science in our favored country: That under the smiles of Providence, their academy has been rising and its pupils multiplying, until the buildings heretofore occupied by the institution had become wholly inadequate to their comfortable accommodation. In anticipation of this result, your petitioners were constrained, two years ago, to make arrangements for more enlarged accommodations: and for this purpose, they purchased a large and eligi ble lot of ground, and entered into a contract for the erection thercon of a large and substantial edifice of rough stone, whereby they became responsible in the amount of 12.000 dollars. The foundation of this building was unfortunately laid in the fall of the year, and not being sufficiently defended during the suc ceeding winter, just as the walls were completed to the height of three stories, about one-quarter of the building actually fell to the ground. Upon this disastrous occurrence, your petitioners, having no confidence in the foundation, were utterly unwilling to have the ruins repaired, and to avoid all legal controversy with the contractor, were induced to enter into a new contract, whereby they subjected themselves to additional responsibilities, for the sake of having the entire walls taken down, the foundation removed, and the whole building commenced anew. This has been done; and although the work was necessarily delayed beyond the time first contemplated, whereby your petitioners have lost about a half year's income of the premises, the building is completed, and has been occupied by the institution since the last spring. The means by which your petitioners have been enabled to accomplish, thus far, this great undertaking, under these peculiarly discouraging circumstances, have been, in addition to the avails of their former lots and buildings, the voluntary subscription of themselves and others friendly to the object, and a permanent loan of the premises; and it is confidently expected that the principal will be gradually reduced by the same and other means. But in bringing their accounts to a close, your petitioners find some demands against them which they have no available means of discharging. Among these, they would beg leave to state, is a demand due to the State Prison in this village, amounting to $106.71, principally for additional stone, rendered necessary by the entire rebuilding of the walls. And your petitioners would further state, that in the progress of the work, one of their nunber, who had previously contributed liberally to the erection of the building, was induced to become personally responsible to the agent of the prison, in the amount of $300, for materials previously furnished for the academy, and which he has paid to the agent, with the expectation that the trustees would be able to indemnify him, and discharge all other demands against them; but the latter they are unable to do, as the payment of the said sum leaves them in debt to other individuals to about the same amount, and destitute of any means to meet them. Your petitioners, therefore, respectfully, but carnestly pray, that in view of the peculiarly trying circumstances under which they they have prosecuted this laudable enterprize, not for their individual advantage, but for the benefit of our common country, your honorable body would pass an act, exonerating them from the payment of said debt of $406.71, due to the State Prison, and for the refunding of the said $300 paid by one of their number to the prison, for materials furnished in the building of their academy, and for which they are accountable. And your petitioners would respectfully add, that much as they need the sympathy and aid of your honorable body, they would not have presumed to prefer this request, were the State Prison now, as in former years, dependent on appropriations from the State for its successful operation. But having learned with pleasure, from the report of the inspectors and agent, that, for the last two years, it has not only sustained itself, but has actually yielded several thousand dollars of surplus revenue, your petitioners are induced to look with confidence to this source, as the means of relief from their present embarrassment. And they would take the liberty of stating another circumstance, which may entitle their petition to a favorable consideration: that a considerable portion of this debt has been incurred for stone on which little labor was bestowed after its removal from the quarry. Under these circumstances, your petitioners appeal to your honorable body for that relief which, if granted, will materially alleviate their embarrassment, and encourage and assist them in their patriotic enterprize, while it will not diminish the ability of any existing institution. Sing-Sing, Dec. 25, 1834. EDWARD KERNEYS, Pres't. |