The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-04-29

The Corporation Conspiracy and the street
Opening SDoliations.
We understand that the Corporation jobbers
of the city government contemplate sweeping
schedule of immediate street opening schemes
which viii leave no room for any further work of
the kind for their successors or the Legislature
hereafter. The same reckless policy which has
just repealed every existing city ordinance in
day because the Legislature provided for their
enforcement by the police, will, it seems, be
brought to bear upon the subject Of street open
ings. An extensive batch Of these jobs will be
put through, covering enough ground to pre-
clude the consideration of any others for years
to come, the Common Council thus heading of
encroachment or usurpation of their preroga-
tives by any future Legislatures. Centre street.
Nassau street. Ann, Vesey and Fulton streets,
with several Of the avenues, are to be widened,
extended and jobbed in the manner Of the
Church street spoliation now before the Su-
preme Court.
Our course with regard to proposed public
improvements has been uniformly liberal and
decided. In regard to the upper part Of the
island, we have for years combated and de-
feated the jobbers and fools who had conspired
to destroy the future Of that beautiful region
The result, now exhibited in the parks, boule-
wards and splendid programme Of judicious
improvements, together with the vastly en-
HANGED value and utility of the property in that
part of the city. bears witness to the prac-
teal wisdom and the success OF our views.
The Corporation jobbers, driven out OF
that locality, propose to settle down
upon the irregular streets at the lower
end Of the island, and, under pretence Of re-
lieving those thoroughfares, carry out vast
schemes of personal plumber. We are deter
mined they shall not succeed, If public opinion
and thorough exposure can prevent it. The
streets down town are well enough. They are
better as they are than they can be made by
Corporation "relief" The jobbers must let
them alone let Church street alone; let
Ann street, Fulton street, Nassau street and
the rest remain as they are. We want every
inch Of space for stores and business places
in the lower part Of the city. 1t may be
possible to argue about d iiudicious plan
Of relief, but not at the hands Of
the Corporation nor at the price the
jobbers would exact for it. Relieving Broad
way is q humbug. 1t cannot be relieved
unless the tide of business is driven out of it
The streets in the immediate heart and centre
of great metropolis must be crowded, and
| those below our City Hall can no more be re.
lieved of their busy throngs by any new street
openings than the North river could be helped
by canal around Hoboken. We do not object
to the crowds at the doors of our new estab-
lishment They seem entirely appropriate and
satisfactory with all their characteristics
stages, vehicles and the constant jam.
The streets in the hearts of nearly all the
great capitals of the world are narrow and
often crooked-much more 80 than ours.
1t is question whether the compactness
Of streets in such localities does not facilitate
business and directly enhance the value Of real
estate. 1t is in just the narrowest and crooked
est spots in London that the most fabulous
prices are paid for property. The expediency
of wide streets in place of Church, Pine, Mas
sau, Ann and others at the financial and bust
ness centre of this city may VOL be doubted
When it is proposed to extend Church street al
the cost of three millions q dollars it is moi
public expediency that demands it. 1t only
means that the property taken Is worth
half the money, and the other half is assessed
to be embezzled by an ingenious system which
originated some years since in the Street De-
parlment, and by means of which 1t is sought
to enrich certain attaches of that Office leagued
with the Corporation conspiracy"
The Supreme Court must head of these
street opening spoliations.