The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-26

ANOTHER jon IN STREET GRADING AND
STRxEr OrEN1Na.-That picturesque region COM
prising the northern end of Manhattan Island,
the lovelest portion of this county, extending
from Manhattanville to the Harlem river, with
which the suburbs Of NO city in the world can
compare, is growing up beautifully after the
fashion which nature designed. and promises to
become, if permitted the most delightful rural
paradise Of country homes that any great me
tropolis can boast Of But it seems that this
happy destiny is not to be fulfilled; for a set Of
spectators have already laid out their plans to
cutit up, open streets through it, and utterly
destroy its natural beauties. For this purpose
they have sent petition to the Legislature at
Albany praying for the passage of bill-a
draft of which they have also prepared--ap-
pointing six commissioners with absolute pow
er, or any three Of the six, to open such roads
avenues and public squares as they may
deem fit.
In the first place, this petition goes to the
Legislature on false pretences, for ii purports
to be the petition of residents of that locality;
whereas many of the subscribers neither reside
nor own property there Again, the whole
movement was got up in secret, without con-
sulting the majority of the people who own the
property. The bill moreover includes the names
Of six gentlemen as commissioners, most of
whom do not live in the locality, do not own an
acre OF ground there, and have no interest
whatever either in preserving its beauty
or increasing its value. Yet il is contem-
plated to invest them with absolute power over
the property Of other individuals, who know best
whether roads and avenues are required, and
who are ready to make them, and are every
day making them, at their own expense, to suit
their own wants.
It would not be whit moro imprudcnt for
the Legislature 10 appoint commissioners to
lay out some western county The monstrous
wrong Of the Metropolitan Police law il nothing
to this attempt to procure legislative inter-
ference with private property, for the sake of
enriching few spectators. II is true the bill
very sdroitly provides that the commissioners
shall receive no pay, but we all know what that
amounts 10. When their work is done they
will apply to the Corporation for remuneration,
and the assessment lists will be swelled accord
ingly. Besides all the surveyors, draughts-
men, architects and clerks must be paid by the
property owners.
But the parties who really reside in the beau.
tiful region against which this piece of bar
barism il concocted have sent an earnest re-
monstrance TO the Legislature against the pas
sage Of the bill, setting forth their objections
in terms 80 forcible and just that we hardly
think the Legislature can entertain the petition
for a moment; though there is no knowing
what an Albany Legislature may not do.
All this fair portion of the island wants is to
be LET alone-to keep the hands Of jobbers and
spectators off of it, and permit the residents
to improve the manifold charms which nature
has 70 bounteously bestowed upon it. They
know best where and when streets are wanted.
and they will make them for their own con-
yenienee, without sacrificing the natural advan.
tagcs of the locality. But if II once gets into
the clutches Of commissioners and contractors,
farewell 10 all It's beauties.