The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-03
The Scheme to Desecratc the Neighborhood
Of Fort Washington.


We published few days ago the petition
and draught of bib got up by set of specula-
tors for the purpose of procuring commission
from the Legislature to open streets and ave-
nues, lanes and alleys highways and byways
through the beautiful region of Carmansville
and Fort Washington, without the knowledge
or consent of the proprietors The bill con-
tanned the names of six commissioners, the first
of whom was John A. Dix-a most respectable
and distinguished man. We thought of course
that his name appeared therein with his apprO-
val. We never dreamed-though from the
impertinence which characterized the whole
scheme we might be justified in so doing-we
never dreamed that these SPECTATORS would
have the audacious impudence to place the
name of any gentleman at the head of the list
of commissioners in their bill without his know
ledge and consent; but what was our surprise
few days since to receive the following letter
from Mr.. Dix, stating that he knew nothing
about his name appearing in the BILL and in
fact that he never heard of the scheme at all
until he saw notice of it in the columns of the
HERALD
THE 6CHEME TO DESPERATE THE NORTH END OF
MANHATTAN ISLAND.
KDrroR or HERALD.
NEW YORK; March 80, 1858.
Under the foregoing caption find your paper OF this
morning the folo~ins paragraph -
The bill proposes the Of commissioners TO
a. 4 wig o IN who s S G The The
not qwp an should 1a % s% se %
Washington foreign missOn or az po.
s d In a % but why he should S
avenues on other peoples properly Is something which we
Ik the Of your columns to state ths. have not
put my name forward at Washington In connection with
foreign mission, that know nothng Of the scheme
been used in any bill before the Legislature for this or
any other purpose IL Ia without my knowledge
sent Respectfully, yours, JOHN A. DIX.
This is new and remarkable feature in the
history of this business, and will serve to throw
some light on the mode in which spectators get
up jobe, while quiet going people know nothing
of what is passing, by stealing mems names, just
as the footpad puts his hand into the pockets of
the passers by and steals their money. Mr.. Dix
is a gentleman Of much note and respectabilty
in New York. He was at one time Senator
| from this State; and these men steal his name
from the catalogue of distinguished gentlemen,
put it at the head of their list of commission
ers, and attempt to make him party to a job
and swindle.
We should like to know how many of the
other gentlemen's names were put on this list
in similar way. Does our respectable Sheriff,
Mr.. willet, know anything about this scheme?
Is Mr.. Terence Donnelly willing party to it,
or does he own any land in the vicinity pro-
posed to be destroyed! Does Shepherd Knapp
know anything Of it? Does f. Delafeld Smith
know anything?
This theft of the name of Mr.. Dix is Of itself
sufficient to show the Legislature the folly and
impotence of these men in asking for commits
sioners to open streets through the property Of
other people, and we hope they will be guided
by it and reject the measure as soon as it, is laid
before them.
This is the most picturesque region in the
immediate vicinity of any large city. There is
nothing in the suburbs of London, Paris, Berlin,
Vienna or any city in Europe to compare with
IL. If it is kept out of the hands of jobbers and
| speculators and allowed TO grow up, as il il
doing, under the direction, good. taste and judg-
ment of the proprietors, it will become in ten
or fifteen years one of the most beautiful fau-
bouzys of any city in the world, and infinitely
a superior location for the fine residences Of
| our merchants and others 10 Fifth avenue or
the Central Park. 1t is removed from the
smoke and noise, dust and filth of the city, and
free from the rowdies and loafers, whose pre-
scnce renders residence further down town
almost insufferable.
We designate any attempt to destroy it'
beauty for corrupt purposes as improper, mis-
chievous and impudent.