The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-18
THE AVENUES or THE CITY,


j. u. BENNETT, ESQ.
DEAR SIR-As you are, generally speaking, much
better posted up city matters than most of your
neighbors or contemporaries, and far more truthful
and independent upon all matters of a public cha
racter, Won't you be good enough to tell us why.
In the name of common sense and common de-
cency, it is, that Yearly every avenue and highway
leading out Of the city to the northward are suf-
fered to remain, by the powers that be- in the hor
nble, impossible condition they now are, and have
been, for the last year or more. Take for instance
The Third avenue, which, az general thing, il .
fair sample Of the lot, and would be regarded az
disgrace TO the smallest specimen of backwoods vii
ge to be found in the deepest swamp Of the Misss-
sippi, or the notorious Five Points in its palm
lest days Of mud and corruption let alone the great
city OF New York, the pride and boast Of the West
ern world. And why is it Why are the travel
ling and business part of community in the upper
portions Of the city thus annoyed and put to this
great inconvenience Surely, not frem want q
funds, for FIVE minutes at the books in the Comp
troller's office will satisfy any man Of common
sense that full and ample provisions have been
made FOR these roads and avenues in sums of the
peoples oney sufficient, had it been in silver. to
well nigh pave them with dollars from end to end.
10 say nothing Of keeping them in decent order
per authorities are ignorant of the facts,
or it Is subject of universal complaint.
both loud and deep; besides, we see daily
his excelency of the nineteenth ward, whose duty
il most undoubtedly Is to call for immediate
ate nton to these grievances, passing 10 and FRO,
over these shameful roads, or rather swamUs,
when he cannot but see, If he can see anything.
their impossible condition in shape of turned over
hay wagons, mired carts and stages, broken down
vehicles Of every description, and deep cut sewer
pits OF long standing, to pass and repass which, 10
often to put life and limb in jeopardy; and yet, not
lisp sy liable il heard from this ambitious, fair
promising alderman, in beAslfo his patient losg
suffering constituents.
There are, sir, in our quiet neiRhborhood, seve-
raj barn yard philosophers and grimalkn astrolo-
direction Of the winds, and foreteN the coming u
a storm, on its arrival, by the altitude, &c, OF
pussey's back. who are unchar,tsoie enough to
tween the gentlemen Of the eighteenth and nine.
teenth wards, to maintain q studious silence and
inactiO1 in relation to these roads, and thereby
ultimately bury DlnSledim, and his line OF stages,
in the slough holes thereof; and the Conkn line
TO .become, ia that event, the legitimate and sole
heir to the patrons and passengers OF the afore-
said line.
Whether there be any truth in this queer sort Of
philosophy, or whether the unfair encroachment
Of Mr.. Conklin upon the rights OF Mr.. Dingle-
dim, by the removal of his stages from Twenty
eighth to Thirty fourth street, was with an eye
to the ultmatum above mentioned, is for time
10 develop, and an intelligent people to decide.
Much OF the evil and inconvenience OF which
we complain, is, no doubt, the result of bad man
sgement on the part OF the departments, having
charge OF the employments OF the city; in
several of which, there seems TO be an entire lack
Of system and discipline-an evident want OF
judgment and economy, or disposition to consult
the true interest and convenience Of the citizen or
tax payer. Take, for instance, the street and
Croton water departments. The former has be-
fore il application to regulate and grade, and
perhaps pave, half a dozen or more avenues in the
upper part OF the city-say from Twenty eighth to
and he same time, without any reference what
ever to the season Of the year, or convenience Of
the travelling community; said streets or avenues
sooner completed, as per contract, than tho
grade thereof is discovered TO be all wrong, and
the whole concern must forthwith be torn up and
re. graded In this way, millions of the peoples
money is squan dered and fooled away, and not
operation, along comes the Croton department,
with its sewers and water pipes, that can't be de-
layed moment, and the whole CoLcern is put
into full blast-wet or dry fall or spring, winter or
summer just as II happens; and the result 10, just
what il has been, for the last year or two,
and what would naturally be expected from
such state Of things-a shameful, impossible
state OF the streets, and nearly every avenue
| leading out Of the city to the northward.
And when, sir, are the men whom we elect and
pay, and pay Literally too, to see after our interests
In these particulars mean the Common Coun-
| Gil. Are they discharging their several duties
fairly and faithfully, in keeping vieilant superyi-
sion over these departments, and all other similar
and essential matters that tend for the general good
and well being OF the city and honest consiitu-
ency! Not bit OF II. They have too many other
and better fish fry. Among Others, the celebrated
gas fish, with large sivery scales. and filled with
fine luscious eggs, OF ayellowish tnge, is pecu-
larry rich end palatable to aldermanic slomachs,
and much sought after. Aud then, for instance.
Alderman Doolittle, Of the Nineteenth ward, wants
a job for political friend; he has nothing TO do
but Offers resolution TO establish lamp district in
some OF the open fields in the ward, or perhaps to
declare open street, neither Of which ever
asked for, or wanted, by those who have the bills
to foot Ard Alderman Do-less. Of the Eighteenth,
readily votes Tor II; and Aid. Do-nothing makes NO
objection, right or wrong but sleeps on, unul some
Fat ess contract or ferry privilege, comes upon the
carpet for consideration.
Where are the minority members, In these piping
times, not OF peace, but Of corruption In high
rlacesl Floating along with the current, as happy
rs clans, and just as Indifferent And where is the
old man eloquent" from the gallant TWELFTH
In HE sea-, like q book, and when he rises to a
question. he delivers himself like BOOK, and
wher he concludes, IL IL closed like a books and II
you will examine the back OF Il, you will find In
scribed upon pink. colored label, I" For the May
orsly OF 1852, like Book
Aad yet. sir, the good citizen who dares to
bel, or lift W his voice in condemnation OF this
corrupt and disgracefu state OF things, either IN
public or private, is 81 once coeroed INTO silence
ny threats Of prescription. II poll iclan, ne must
yield, or is csst aside " IN public business, poti-
cal power and influence u brought TO bear upon
him, and that suffers. And has il come 10 this,
that al must bow in silence, TO the great moloch
Of party, or sink ia despair IL IL high time, sir,
we left our glass habitations-thai we may not
fear their nissiles IL is high time, sir, the good
and honest citizens Of New York ehould rise up 10
their majesty and administer rebuke to the insii-
gators ~ this state Of things, no matter whom.
or where found, that shall be remembered at least
for n season.
We, sir, profess to be quiet citizens lovers Of Law
nd order, Ia every sense Of tn word, and dsclaim
II intention Of dierespect 10 the honest and faith
nj ministers thereof, and yet some Of would
certainly hesitate before they would refuse to
toUpany an honest, sober set Of bearded men TO
your City Hall, on some pleasant afternoon, when
he Common Council were IN session, and there
seize and pnion the party, and quietly parad them
through the avenue swamps aud slough holes that
we have been obliged TO wo1ow through for the
last year or two, with the Commissioner Of Streets,