The New York herald., 1863-11-14

more and more interesting until the election OF
Central Railroad directors on the 9Th Of next
month.
The Suburbs Of Large Cities.
The most attractive features Of European
cities are unquestionsbly their surroundings.
Rich % they are in palaces, monuments and
galleries, they do not possess for the American
visitor half the charms which their suburbs
offer to him. The habits OF people are not to
be judged Of by metropolitan evidences. The
characteristics Of large cities are nearly every
where tho same. 1t Is only by quitting the
crowded streets and wandering through the
semirural habitations which crop out from
every European capital that the stranger can
obtain glimpse Of the inner life of the people
And, Independent Of this consideration, how
attractive in themselves are these suburban
districts. Fringed with glorious old trees, the
growth OF centuries their avenues In general
follow the natural condguration of the SOIL
On each side are to be seen mansions, villas
and humble cottages, surrounded by beautiful
gardens, which have probably remained for
generations in the Same family. Here no
levellins policy running in advance Of tho ne
cessities Of population ventures to invade the
rights Of property or the suggestions Of good
taste. There is not hill, or even an eminence,
in which the whole neighborhood does not feel
an interest amounting almost to . sense Of
ownership. and the authorities dare not meddle
with 1t until it ID clearly demonstrated by the
voice Of the community that the public conve-
nience demands its removal.
It is the respect thus engendered for local
attachments which has preserved to the Euro
pean cities their most envisble features. What
would smoke-begrimed London be without the
natural beauties and facilities for healthful en-
| joyment by which IL is surrounded Take from
Surrey Hills, and IL would be one of the least
| enjoyable spots in the world. Paris, which
contains within Its walls more social and intel
lectual resources than any other European me-
tropolis, would lose large portion OF its
attractions were It cut OF from Belleville,
Meudon, Sevres. st. German, St. Cloud and
| Versailles. The same may be said OF the
suburbs Of Florence, Naples, Vienna, and most
other European cities. The municipalities Of
all those places. alive TO the fact that II Is only
| by preserving intact the natural beauties Of
their environs they can render their cities rer-
manently attractive, resolutely set their faces
| against al schemes that may in any way de-
tract from them. There is not new highway
proposed that savors Of a job which ID not OBJ
stinstely resisted, and evca when necessity re-
commeuds It it elicits multitude Of regrets
at the removal Of old landmarks.
The same feeling once existed In our
own community; but. with the thirst
for speculation and spirit of jobbing which
have infected all classes, 1t has rapidly
disappeared Not only have we learned
to disregard the principles which should guide
us in laying out our streets and thoroughfares,
but even the rights Of property ITSELF Under
the pretenco OF providing for the wants Of .
rapidly growing population, we are running
ahead of it's necessities at least half century.
It will take fully that time TO populate the new
| ly graded streets and avenues for which the
community are so heavily taxed. And all this
s done at the expense Of good taste and in de-.
hance of the rights Of those whose property ID
cut up and sacrificed to suit the views Of greedy
SPECTATORS.
more shameless instance Of this disregard
Of the PUBLIC interest and feeling is not to be
found than in what Is projected TO be done
with the beautiful region lying between the
Kingsbridge road and the Hudson river Here
Il is proposed to lay out four great avenues
making altogether six roads, including the rail.
read, within that comparatively confined space
The effect Of this viii be to destroy all the natu.
raj beauties Of . suburb which is ct once one Of
the attractions and necessities Of New York
And what for' Merely to enrich few specu-
lators. BY enabling them 10 cut up their proper
ties into village lots. If there were any quss-
ton Of public convenience involved In this
project IL would be abundantly provided for
BY constructing . single additional avenue
parallel with the railroad and running round
BY Spuytsn Duyvil to Harlem. This, and
the widening Of the Kingbridgs road
to one hundred feet, and planting Il with trees,
would amply meet Ill The necessities Of our city
population for another half century, without
sncroaching upon II present sources Of
enjoyment. when the Park was being
] planned great importance was attached 10 ths
preservation Of the natural conngurstion OF iss
.surfsce. On what ground can Il be urged that
the principle then conteDded for should be wan
tonly violated in the case Of the Washington
Heightsi There is not In the world more
beautiful rcgion, and to level II and parcel Il
out to building spectators would be TO destroy
ali Its natural advantages, without securing any
compensating benefit to the city
TuE DISTURBANCES IN THE PRICE OF LABOR
AND THEM CAusx.-Last night there was large
| meeting in this city OF the machinists---a very
considerable, intelligent, and just now a par