§ 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.