The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-15

The Opening and Extension OF the BoWoxys
The Committee Streets consisting of Aldermen
Blunt Drake and Brown, met yesterday in the chamber
Of the Board Of Aldermen to hear the parties interested
in the contemplated opening and extending of the
Bowery.
Alderman DRAKE presided, and said that the committee
would hear the FIRST instance the parties in favor of
the repeal of the ordinance.
Mr. GARREr III. SrRYKER, Jr, then addressed the
mittee He said that the rule established by this commit
tee in all other is the usual one founded in equity
and Justice which rule is suggested by the question:
Are majority of the of the land on the line OF the
proposed in favor of the proposed improve
men. or notY If they are II should be adopted il not 1t
should be dismissed from further consideration Inc
question to be nsdered is: What is this new propo-
son or proposed improvements IL is to widen the BOW
cry 100 feet through TO Franklin square The consder
tons in favor are-Erst, that unless something Is uone
TO relieve and resuscitate Pearl street, 1t will become
valueess; second. that great and main eommani-
cation is absolutely necessary for business men ana the
convenience Of citizens generally thirdly, that
private interests should always yield to puohc
good The to the first OF these propositions Is
that the statement is untrue There are no stores unoc
cupied in Pearl street The people did not leave Pear
street because there business there but because
there not sufficient accommodations for them
There stores to hire Property in Pearl street
has not deprccatcd II is worth as much now as IL ever
was ntrnscaly, although at one time it may have had
speculative and inflated value II Is said that this is
great city improvement. Well then let the city pay for
It. 1t is right that individual property should be APP
propriated for public use without Just compensation.
They talk about public improvement, but it is only
other name for public plumber If this city i'm
proyement let the public pay for it.
Mr.. SKIDkogE in opposition to the extension, said that
the had passed the last Common Coun
ell was only Why should be ieconsdered
The proposition was to extend the Bowery TO trankn
square and widen Pearl street hundred feet If
this project OF widening Pearl street in order to
fine the busness there such result could not be at
tanned. The business places of New York couli not be
contained within small compass 1t has been said
that this scheme for relieving Broadway while il
well known that millions OF dollars had been spent
with such object without relieving broadway one
Wheel The result of this will only tend to material
depreciation in the value OF property from Pearl
street up to Chatham square. People have nos
got tired Of this practice of opening streets
There never system of piracy equal to it, For tho
extent and it believed to be done simply for persona
profit and gain Last large number Of streets Were
opened. Now, 1t is the duty OF the Common Council tt
put stop to the practice and to prevent the opening
the streets at least until the abuses which they
tailed corrected. In the widening of Whitehall
street, some time ago, from Bowling Green to state
street. the Commissioners charged for two hundred and
sixteen days each and two hundred and eleven days fol
clerk hire The whole cost of officers fees for opening
1853 a. out Of which 81 3l3 81 for Corpora
they had two hundred and fifteen meetings on two hun
dred and fifteen days The law required six hours duty
every day. The fact is that this scheme for opening
streets is scheme for picking peoples pockets He (air
Skidmore) had had no opportunity of speaking before
committee of the Common Council this for three
years He trusted however, that the present Common
Council would put stop to this street opening for the
future.
Messrs. Bull, Pgot Titus Sparks and Young, gentle
men interested in the matter, made few remarks in
position to the extension of the Bowery after which the
Chairman adjourned the meeting until Tuesday next at
two O'Clock,