New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-22
OPENING OF ALBANY ST
SPEECH OF COUNCILMAN NORTH IN FA-
vOR OF THE EX TENSION.
Delivered in the Board Of Couneiines. Dee IS.

MI. PRBsInISI: Affer so mucn useless deoAe on
trfing ibemes it is refreshDg 70 have before US sub
Jet Ike the present. veil calculated to call into
exercise the sober judgments of our minds.
IL is question Sir, which concerns directly large
portiou'of our c'zens, and interests indirectly the
whole community; contest between tso great and
powerful corporations the cones,ahts beng nearly
equal.
II one has the advantage in porer the other has in
vz.y Of purpose and actOn-In short this body IA TO
take part in a oorlot which has been going for
long period OF years be.wt the Muse,pa! Corpora
ton Of hev York and the Religious Corporation Of
Trinity Church. And it is for this BODY TO decide
who sball prevail
Mr. President this Manhattan Island Is far-famed
for its unrivaled commercial position. With
pi.pt length and breadth for nerce its noble bay
would ride the Daves OF the world, while It's basins
would afford anchorage for the shipping Of I'll Deti
This lizard and bay have gwen to our City i's
world .rero rned commercial cnerac.er. snd have
ma. it, beyond al competition, tie Ne--00)lis Of
America with The fair prospect in pc f.'--e y: be-
con ing the commercial metropolis OF he w,rld.
Other cities are remarkable for manufacturing ad
ysbtsges whatever therefore, affects rbeir lfsc-
tories Iecessaiy effects their general prosperity.
But Ibis City, being ds,incvely conmercJ, be-
comes at once concerned IN whatever t~Dds To in
crease or contract Der commerce, because her pros
I II.
snd the vibration IL felt through al the classes and
all The occupations of our citizens
Is it Lot, then IN thii light core than any other
THAT we ere to view the Iestion before u
Certain peculiarI'ies mark every maritime city,
First IL the sbippiug moor.d at ,he wharges aud
pi.rs: fh.D The adjacent stfefts, lined with com
mer cal arehOu, es shipping Offices and stores fr
tuby merchandise; then follow AGENCIES, exchange
Offices insurance companies, and backs then In the
wider and eligible streets, you will find the jDb
bers Of such merchandise as requires room for con
v.niei ce and dipsy then the retailers sGl further
in he interior the privse residences.
Tbs Classification is not only natural and sppropn
att. but il IL to the pro per and system ATTIC
crow th OF large cities There is maritime CRY Of
Ibis country where thee aspects are not AZ once pre-
sen'ed to the eye except, Mr.. President, he cry Of
Mr. York
itir srar se yet nevertheless true the Metropolis
OF America the natural order Of things In.
stead Of fu nsbpg, she ought and could, .blnd
pro,s fer al the wants of her business comnuoy,
her cbaDts are driven 70 adjacent shores for
house ard slipping acconmt dstion
Ard this too il face Of the fact Tint there lies 1cRg
The Bov and neo5cst nc shipping, large tIrt1ry aOr
entiyelg utiess for such proposes and Dey burte9
from commerce and iS0iard from as act,cnv.
A terrtory one third Of mile from Cedar.st. TO
Battery place than onefhird OF mile alJo the
river std at least half that distance along Cedarst
from Broadway 10 the river This region embraces
population OF 10 coo inhabtaDts-a young city 10 it.
seli-who are sbu: out from convenient in,erc l1rse
"a
stones throw OF II.
Progress has marked nearly every other portion of
ouI City, yet Sir, this faea region has remained, for
the last half century unchanged 10 it, features while
ltss-fayored portions have felt the appro ich OF the
giant tread this has scarcely seen bis shadow. To-
stead Of broad streets We base the foot paths
of oldeu time; where stG'ely commercial palaces
ought this day 10 tower upward and overlook our
splendid bay, we have yet but little more than
coutb dilspidated buildings Of former genert tons.
Ill k,a1o G,I sk,o.
ressnl IL it not papabe that while other portions
Of the City have had streets adjusted to the conven
fences of commerce. the portion under con,i anon
has been, for half century. denied such improve
meIts
Look, Sir, at few figures, and then tell me if you
netC any other reason.
Above CeCar.st there are ls6 feet of streets 20 sol
feet Of territory while below Cedar, tembracns the
region ub6er discussion there but - feet Of
to 100 feet Of terrory-tbat is to say, the street
eony enences above Cedar rs l to }; while below
they are as / to 49,
Believing, Mr.. President, that one will dispute
this self evident proposition, proceed to PROFOUND
another inquiry why bas no stree been opened Or
of docks ard slips been compelled To IanspIr their
passengers and baggage and freight all around this
obscure res ion
Have there been attempts for generations past,
TO change the aspect OF 1t
Has ho ore, among noble, enterprisng citizens,
stepped forward TO wrest this valuable spot from
malaria and fltbness from isolation and obscu.
Ity To suppose TO the contrary would be slaader
on the citizens Of New-Yo.k No, Sir; these efforts
have often been made. Good citizens, looking be-
,ond the bounds OF narrow self,hness, have Gu
deavored time after time, TO open broad conmerciL
psthways for commences and Common Councils have
as often pet sed appropriate ordinances and Yet have
as oite u been defeated Aud yet az AN fourth de.
f. is nearly contaminated and Will be unless this
body staI ds firm
Do Won ask why these efforts to benefit that part of
,ifa frua
ia that rises up superior TO the laws and ordinances
of this CITY that comes before at this time,
and demsnds of us that shall join the cosirds of
the other Board crushing this fourth attempt to un-
shackle the commercial interests OF that region
Sir Trinity Corporation is the only power III this
Ciy capable Of so much resistance! No other power
could have coutt Dded 80 long against measure 50
wise and useful, public but unused srsveyad of which
Of The City om all Improvement, aid they before
and ~what do they ash That the o'c.Ade shall con
What Arguments DO they to justify their opposition
to this wise msesure :
Broadss would reader the extension of Albany st utterly
useless the judgment Of six hundred carmen hs been
Wen Mr. President w not stop to inquire ia Mat wan
the sisns,u,s Of these carmen we're oeaaed pe,sms
the thing in keeping with other movements oi Trim
~ Sop imssne that 1t was the sp,ntaneou. son Of these
asseyed carmen; though not AZ l surprised at the
complaints OF ueh sleys Reeorst and Thsmesst bu
siye N, m broad well gsded such Albany wiz
pe arc -uel as LbeIt, il, and win be ready
10 Join for the u an the Same Fix hundaed
But II the figures deut show thai sffer all, this
meter O steepnsss IL unfounded in truth
the of Ii twin smith City Surveyor of
RAJ sti,tis as folosG
Liberty st from Broadway Grsenwicbst distance 6iS
feet with q grace OF feet inches . the 100 feet
csdar 6ls feet with grade OF Sieeis inches to the lco
feet.
Yt,mes 5sa feet with grade of feet II inches TO the
Absrysl as prpo.td 557. feet with sade CT fsst2
inches 70 the 10 feet
keeorst e5 feet with srsde Of feet 3 inches to the
100 feet ,
So, ou see s that, with all this uP''ar about ',.pa'
Aby e. will BE- only inches sleeper 20 the TO- tee
,ha, I,bstty. -. df-r, nee will
horse 10 fall with full losd Pedesrsn to '', Ms
halspce while the other hAnc will Dc inches less In
the 80 eet Rector st. thEsusa whsh moss OF lid uaye
is row forced. . c.. =. -
1le.eond objection Preseuied by fnniy NoPoiston ne
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