The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-31 00:00:00

Intended Metropolitan Improvements.

(From the Observer)
As the time approaches for the notices for bills to
be presented to Parliament for publication in the
Gazette in November, we are happy to learn that
the Metropolitan Board of Works have agreed to a
measure of some magnitude, and of undoubted
utility. A committee of the whole body has recom-
mended that application shall be made to Parliament
in the ensuing session for powers to purchase North-
umberland House at Charing-cross, and all property
on either side, to the new premises at the National
Bank on the west, and to Northumberland-street
Strand, upon the east. This with a view to open
a wide-street from Charing-cross to 'the Thames
Embankment. If carried out according to the pro-
posed plan it will be one of the finest and most use-
ful improvements in our time. It will be fine in
an architectural point of view, and it will supply
one of the mosenecessary and desirable thorough-
fares in London. It will really and materially
relieve the Strand and Fleet-street more than any
plan that has been hitheto projected. The railway
from Charing-cross to Cannon-street will be most
useful, when opened. But there will still be wanted
a thoroughfare for private carriages and fast cabs.
There can be no doubt that the recommendation of
this general committee—having been carried unani-
mously—will be adopted by the board at their meet-
ing on Friday next. It stood upon the paper last
Friday, but was postponed, with all the other busi-
ness, out of respect to the memory of Lord Palmer-
ston.

It is intended to purchase a wide extent of pro-
perty, and to resell all that is not required for the
street for buildings of a superior class. Amongst
other things it is supposed that a site may be taken
for the new buildings of the Royal Academy of
Painting. The Royal Academy does not like to be
removed from the neighbourhood of Charing-cross.
They have realised over £100,000; and they could
not invest it better than in the grandest thorough-
fare in the very middle of London. In the present
building there has not been much done for art, but
the Royal Academicians could no doubt produce a
splendid edifice if they were left untrammelled in
their own choice and the disposal of their own money.
It is calculated that the sale of the surplus land on
ways
metropolisget
each side will go far to pay for this immense im-
powfoerrsthto
:ir pull down
ownd
ad-
vantage, we districts
hoe
fn
therail
p
we cannot believe that Parliament will re-
fuse its assent to a measure of this kind, proposed
after due deliberation for the general good by a
most responsible committee, which has been most
chary--too much so as most people think—of enter-
ing upon any schemes for the architectural improve-
ment of the metropolis and the widening of the
public thoroughfares.
We trust that the widening of Park-lane will not
be overlooked. These are the sort of schemes that
will insure for the Metropolitan Board a judicious
and lasting popularity.

The death of the Hon. D. C. Smith, Secretary
and Acting-Governor of Idaho Territory, is confirmed.
He fell dead in the streets of Rocky Bar. He was from New
York, and formerly Chief Clerk under Attorney-General
Bates at Washington.
The approaching election in the State of New
York excites much interest. The campaign was formally
opened on the 9th instant, by a speech at Yenkers, by the
Hon. Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, who defended the
President from the friendship of the Democracy. The
vote is expected to be very close in the State.