N.Y. State Law § 31: Cession during ownership by the United States and use for purposes thereof, with sundry reservations

§ 31. Cession during ownership by the United States and use for

purposes thereof, with sundry reservations. Title and jurisdiction to

the following tracts or parcels of land has been ceded to the United

States upon condition that the jurisdiction so ceded should not prevent

the execution on such tracts or parcels of any process, civil or

criminal, issued under the authority of this state; nor the operation

within the same of the laws of this state, or the ordinances of the

common council of the city of New York, for the general regulation of

the civil police of such city, passed before the date of the deed of

cession, and not incompatible with the purpose for which such cession

was made; and that the United States shall retain such use and

jurisdiction so long only as such tracts shall be used for the defense

and safety of the city of New York:

1. In the city of New York. A tract of land and land under water, in

the city of New York, described in a deed dated May 6, 1808, as follows:

"Beginning in the Hudson river at a point in the continuation of the

south line of Hubert street, bearing N. 79Á 30' W., from the

southeasterly corner of Hubert and West streets, distant 200 feet

westerly from the permanent line of West street, which said permanent

line bears S. 10Á 15' W., from the southwesterly corner of the state

prison wall; thence N. 10Á 15' E., parallel to the said permanent line,

305 feet, to a point in the continuation of the north line of Laight

street; thence N. 79Á 30' W., 300 feet into the Hudson river; thence S.

10Á 15' W., 305 feet to a point in the continuation of the south line of

Hubert street aforesaid; thence S. 79Á 30' E., 300 feet, to the place of

beginning," acquired for the defense and safety of the city of New York.

2. In the city of New York. A tract of land or land under water in the

city of New York, described in a deed dated May 6, 1808, as follows:

"Beginning at a point in the line of the present battery, six feet

southerly of the most southern external angle formed by the main battery

and the present bastion, which said point is 497 feet 11 inches on a

course S. 36Á 20' W., from the southeasterly corner of the brick house

situate at the corner of Marketfield street and Broadway, now or lately

belonging to Robert Kennedy, and is also on a course S. 89Á 10' W., 264

feet 1 inch from the northwesterly corner of Bridge and State streets;

thence N. 16Á 10' W., 310 feet; thence S. 64Á W., 500 feet; thence S.

26Á E., 300 feet; thence N. 64Á E., 425 feet, to the place of beginning;

all of which courses are to be run as the magnetic needle pointed on May

6, 1808," acquired for the defense and safety of the city of New York.

3. In East river. A tract of land under water in East river at the

Wallabout bay, and adjoining the navy yard of the United States,

described in a deed dated April 3, 1810, as follows: "Beginning at the

southerly end of the dam of the pond at the navy yard, at a point

designated on the map or chart comprising a delineation of the said

parcel of land hereunto annexed, by the letter A, from which point the

easterly corner of the commander's house at the navy yard bears N. 29Á

45' W., the steeple of the Reformed Dutch Church at Brooklyn bears S.

62Á W., and the south corner of the dwelling-house of Jeremiah Johnson

bears N. 80Á 25' E., and running from the said point designated as

aforesaid by the letter A, N. 52Á 30' E., 2,290 feet to a point from

which the north corner of the dwelling-house of the said Jeremiah

Johnson bears S. 70Á 30' E., designated by the letter B, in the said map

or chart, and running from the said last-mentioned point N. 7Á E., 1,580

feet, to a point from which the southwest corner of Thompson's house on

the Long Island shore bears N. 76Á 45' E., the steeple of the Reformed

Dutch Church in Brooklyn bears S. 48Á 25' W., and the steeple of St.

Paul's Church in the city of New York bears N. 79Á W., and designated in

the said map or chart by the letter C; and running from the said

last-mentioned point S. 70Á W., 2,480 feet to the north corner of the

navy yard, designated in the said map or chart by the letter D; and

thence southerly along the navy yard to the place of beginning; all

which courses and bearings are taken as the magnetic needle pointed on

April 3, 1810," acquired for the defense and safety of the city of New

York.

The free and common use of the waters not appropriated by the United

States for wharves or fortifications to the eastward of the navy yard of

the United States and the westward of the east boundary line of the land

above described, is reserved to the people of this state.