The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-05
immediate steps by proper Legislation as viii
compel all Of the national banks to place them
selves on more substantial basis.


IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CTY-IScREAsE OF PUB-
Lie REvENuE.-There ia a vast amount Of prop
erty on this island which, under judicious man
agement, might be made to return large
revenues to the treasury and thus relieve the
enormous burden of individual taxation now
raised for the expenses Of the city and county
government. Let us look, for instance, at the
large water line on the frontage Of the North
and East rivers and the Harlem river, which,
under the present system of piers and wharves,
is most unprolifc source of public revenue
compared to what it might be and ought to be.
II, instead Of the rickety, dangerous and filthy
wharves now in existence, which, instead of
being means Of large profit, require cOnsid-
cradle outlay annually to keep them in repair,
the city government would only construct long
docks Of granite or iron, which might easily be
extended to assume the dimensions Of streets
or boulevards, with commodious stores IT each
side, something on the plan Of the Atlantic
docks in Brooklyn, for example, the rents de-
rived from them would bring millions into the
treasury, and this plan would give us, besides,
metropolis could be conducted decently, safely
and efficiently. At present there is not one
tenth Of the accommodation on our piers that
we require, and as the business Of the city is
increasing every year, in short time it will be
necessary to build more piers and wharves, or
commerce will be wholly INSTRUCTED.
We suggest then, that succession q solid
granite or iron piers of the dimensions and
character before referred to shall be con-
structed along the entire water front of both
rivers from Harlem and Manhattanvile to the
Battery. The cost will be amply repaid by the
IT. in addition, the next Legislature would ap-
point respectable commission to open con-
nection from the Harlem river to Tubby
Hook, uniting the North and East rivers
at the upper end Of the island, it would
afford immense facilities for the transit
State, and give clear water route round the
city. This could be very easily done, and at
very little expense. A trench twenty feet
deep, and sufficiently wide for good sized
steamers, sloops, schooners and canal boats,
would be sufficient. The required cutting
would not be quite mile in length from Kings
bridge through Spuyten Duyvil creek to the
Hudson river, which would require, perhaps,
a little dredging to improve its availability
for navigation. The flow Of the tidal waters
would keep the canal clear enough at very
little cost.
There is another method whereby the public
revenue could be enhanced, and that is by the
reclamation Of the waste marshes and meadows
which line the water side all round the city.
These lands are perhaps the richest for farming
purposes in the vicinity. They cover over
million Of acres, and yet they are at present en-
tirely worthless, and do not pay cent Of taxes
to the Treasury If they could be reclaimed
their value might be estimated at a thousand
dollars an acre, bearing proportionable taxa
zion. The Legislature of New Jersey, we per-
ceTve, has passed a bill for the drainage Of
marshes on that side Of Sxixag- and ;xs-da.
not see why New York should not reap equal
benefit by increasing the property of the city
in the same way. In England large tracts
have been reclaimed and rendered valuable.
II would only require well constructed, i'm
pervious wall to shut out the tidal flow until
the surface dried by evaporation, and the land
would become almost Immediately available
probably in one yeor--for arabic purposes,
and il would return very handsome income
to the city. With our proverbial ingenuity
some plan certainly can be devised to accom-
plish this. II is unnecessary to add that the
success of such measure in connection with
the improvements we have proposed in uniting
the two rivers at the head of the island, and the
construction of permanent wharves all round
the city would be great public benefit, and
would add many millions to the value of the
property Of the city.