New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-14
The Opening of Madison AVenue-A
Shameless Violation OF our Assessnaent
Laws

To the Editor Of The N. Y. Tribune
SIR: Prior 10 the year 1907 the several streets
81 the City Of NewYork regulated. graded. and
paved at the expense Of the city That ia by general
tax In the absence Of any settled plan for laying them
out they most commonly followed the course Of old line
sences COW paths bush roads and the Ike resulting
o matter Of course, in a confused mass Of cramped
streets crooked lanes. and narrow aeyways running
tn all possible directions, in circles and half circles
angles. and night angles and in angles with each other
without the slightest approach to order or uniformity
lust as we have found them TO great cost Of
convenience health and money, and Just as we still
End them In many parts of the lower sections Of the
eity.
! Happily for New York and sueceeding generations
per interest and welfare about these DAYS we're confined
10 the and keeping Of snch men as De Witt Clinton
Edward Livingston, Jacob Leroy, Governor Morris,
Eimeon De Witt Nicholas Fish, and other great and
good men like them who quick 10 discover the
Unfortunate Of their predecessors in the plan and
bonstrctOn Of their streets and the disastrous conse
huences 10 the health wealth and great future of the
city, II not corrected. These thoughtful farseeng
Prem comprehended 10 the full extent the great natural
edyantages-commercal and otherwise-in the make
Ind location Of Manhattan Island its capacity for the
Erection Of vast city, aud hence the pressing
pf comprehensive plan Of streets and public places
Plat should arrest and forever the further spread Of
fh ehaOs Of crooked lanes and dark alley Ways and al
khe same time lay broad and deep and unaerabe Tie
foundation Of the Empire City Of the great Western
World 10 the wisdom and labor Of these gentlemen
pre- We indebted for the present uniform system Of broad
avenues and cominodious streets
The act Of the Legislature OF the Sd April 1907 ep-
pointing Governor Morris Simeon De Witt and John
Rutherford Commissioners Of Streets and Roads In
she City Of HewYork, in compliance with which they
reported the present plan Of and streets north
Of Greenwich lane. Art and North streets very wisely
releases the city and county treasury from the cost and
Expense Of improving any Of the said streets avenues
eDd places II upon The several lots fronting the same
fnd hall the block between that and the adjoining
ptrees or avenue, by declaring In many words that
~ opening any street avenue laid ont by the Com
issone Of 1907 the assessments therefor shall not be-
xtended TO lands lying either side OF such street
eyenue beyond hall the distance % the next street
~ avenue This act was declared final; the Legisla
re alone could alter modify it, and that by express
~ TOT the purpose.
ny act OF 1916 chap 4e6 II was enacted that IN open.
any new street widening or extending old one
Aaf port q tie city laid by The CoBmissionsrs Of
too that g. south Of the line indicated above the
assessment for benefit should hot BE- confined within any
onlte mts but by express proyso T6arms the act OF
r., S applicable TO that par. Of the city laid out by
~ NV1Nlssoaers Of That date combining assessments