The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-15
Laying Out OF the Region OF Washington
Heights.

Heights.
We see by the records of the Legislature It
Albany, that a few days ago petition, accomp-
MED by bill, was presented to the Senae,
signed by certain persons at Washington Heights
and in the Twelfth ward of the city, asking br
the appointment of body of Commissioners,
without naming them, to lay out the region If
Washington Heights, Manhattanville, and tint
vicinity, a new plan, founded a conngurs-
ton of the ground, and avoiding by all mean,
the rectangular system adopted in the lower
part of the city. Among the names signed to
the petition we find that of :" James Gordon Ben
Dett-forty acres of land" We understand since
that name was affixed Mr.. Bennett signed another
petition of a very different character, and with
drew his name from the first in consequence of
discovering that that project has been princi-
pally gotten up by the same set of men who origi-
mated q similar one in the previous session, for
the purpose of creating expensive commissions
and never ending jobs in connection with the
harpies and contractors of the Corporation. By
the provisions of this bill-whch the reader will
find in another column-the Board of Supervisors
would have the power of taxing the property
holders to any amount they please, and continuing
the job for an unlimited series of years, for the
special benefit of their political favorites, and
the work might never be finished but left in that
disgraceful state in which the Battery park is
lett by the Corporation and the sharks which
attend its movements. The blank left for the
names, too, would be filled up with commits
sioners who would play into the hands of the
contractors by whose brides and corrupting in
fluence they would be appointed.
The new petition and bill are entirely diff
ferent The names of the commissioners are in
serted-men we'll known in the neighborhood of
Washington Heights, and in whom the proprie.
tors of land there have full confidence. IT.
therefore, any change is made by the Legisla.
ture, we trust that this is the petition which will
be adopted, and not the first one which is likely
to throw fat job-ruinous to the property
holders-into the hands of the greedy harpies
which hover about the Corporation.
The region around Washington Heights is
the most healthy and picturesque in the county
of New York or in the neighborhood of this me-
tropolis. BY former enactments the lower part
of the city has been laid out as far as Trinity
Church Cemetery, near Manhattanville. But
the ground north of the cemetery. to Spuyten
Duyvil creek, has the good fortune never to have
had any legislation, either municipal or State,
inflicted on it. Two or three winding avenues
parallel with the line of the river, and number
of winding cross streets, following the natural
sinuOsities of the ground are all the LAYING out
required for that region. A committee appoint
ed by the landholders of the place. from among
their own number, would be much better Judges
of what is required than any commissioners ap-
pointed at Albany or elsewhere Such a COM
mittee could lay out the ground in half an hour
and without the humbug and endless expense
which would attend job superintendent by COM
missioners, who would be the creatures of the
lobby.
In few years the vast and rapidly progress.
ing improvements of the city will reach that
neighborhood, and make it one OF the most de-
lghtful faubourgs of this metropolis or of any
other in the world. Immense speculation
is going on in the vicinity of the lower end
of the Central Park, but for many years
to come that locality must prove unhealthy.
But the region of Washington Heights, for pure,
bracing air, for splendid views and for general
healthiness, eclpses all other suburbs on this
continent or in Europe, while its easincss of
access places it within an hours reach of the bu-
sness part Of the city.
We hope, therefore, that if anything be done