The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-15

$4,000. A few years ago, we recollect that |
the amounts assessed as personal property to
certain millionairesin South street, ranged only
from SIS, 900 to $4,000 whilst it was known
they had invested in their establishments from
$l5O, 900 to $500, 900 each. If the directors of
the banks with which these parties were doing
business had rated them at SO low figure, they
would no doubt have been excessively indig-
nant and considered it an imputation on their
credit.
1t is time that some effective remedy should
be applied to these abuses. New avenues and
streets must be opened to relieve Broadway
from its overcharged traffic, to diffuse the bust
ness of the city more equally over its surface,
and to prevent persons who derive their in
comes from trade carried on in New York from
Sinking their fair share of taxation The pro-
perty interest will, we know, fight tooth and
nail to oppose every measure calculated to de-
preciate their monopoly; but their opposition
must be beaten down. If ten years ago the
Corporation had made fresh and proper sur
vey of the whole island, and endeavored to
adapt the old quarters of the city to the re-
quirements Of its rapidly increasing trade and
population, Brooklyn and Williamsburg would
not have been aggrandized at its expense, and
made cities of instead Of suburbs The interest of
the property holders in Broadway is, however,
SO strong that it has hitherto succeeded in
defeating every comprehensive plan suggested
for remedying the evils we have pointed out.
Some short time since, project called for by
the people living up town, and which would
have been great Improvement and relief
namely, that of widening Church street on the
westerly side, where the blocks are large and
the property Of but small selling value-was re-
ected by the committee of the Common Coun-
Gil, on the ground that the owners Of lots were
opposed to it, and that their opposition was
conclusive. Why, if such pleas as this were to
be admitted, the city would remain stationary,
and no street improvements would ever be eff
fected No man who desires his property to
be taken at valuation ever admits 1t, for he
knows that by clamoring loudly against it he
will get heavier amount of compensation.
1t is time, we repeat, to put an end to this
trifing with the public interests for the accom-
mediation of those Of few selfish individuals.
Let the public taxation, in the first place, be
arranged on different basis, and let all mer-
chants and traders pay for licenses upon the
amount of goods sold in their establishments,
as in Philadelphia. We shall then not have
merchants trading in New York, and spending
| their incomes in Brooklyn, Williamsburg or
New Jersey, without contributing to the taxa
ton Of the city. In the next place, let such new
| streets be made, or such old ones be widened
and extended, as will afford relief to the
redundant traffic and business Of Broadway
| An immediate way of accomplishing this would
be to widen and extend Church and West
| streets-to bring the tracks down the latter
to carry Beekman street through the Park-to
widen Robinson street and let the college
grounds also form a street-to put city rail-
roads on all the avenues, and require them to
run cars night and day to the extreme ends of
the city, at intervals of fifteen minutes-and to
grant the Hudson River Railroad the privilege
they seek to run city cars, with the condition
that they shall lay third track up to Tubby
Hook depot, or to the end Of the island. II
these suggestions be carried out, the facilities
Of living and enjoyment will be multiplied a
thousand fold in our city, and the value Of the
earnings and comforts of the laboring classes
largely enhanced.