The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-17
seriously and patiently considered and until r.
Is seen how Il can be protected from abuse By
numerous and powerful safeguards


The Relief Of broadway
Periodically, and generally about the time
of the meeting OF the State Legislature, tho
question, SLOW 10 Broadway to be relievedw
springs into sudden prominence. Tho people
become spasmodically aware Of the moon
venience, annoyance and Injury TO com
merce occasioned by constant crowding. jost-
ling and blockade In the principal thorough
fare of the metropolis during the business
hours OF the day. Not that the citizens are mos
sensible all the year round Of tbs necessity for
more space to move about In in the lower
part Of the city, bit their minds are too much
occupied to dwell upon the evil until 1t u
forced upon their attention. This Is certain
to be done on the approach OF every legislar
tive session, when the projectors Of the rail-
road schemes commence to depiore the terri
BILE condition OF Broadway and to bring for
ward their specifics for ready relief
II is unquestionably true that neither tho
comfort OF the citizens nor the convenience Of
commerce is enhanced by combining three
fourths OF the trafH, and business OF the largest
city Of the United States to one street. We
are every day reminded Of the want Of fore
thought on the part Of our ancestors In turn
ing the island into huge bottle, with mar
row neck, which is constantly getting clogged
and choked and we never cease to regret
that they did not open four or five broad
thoroughfares through the length Of the city
while property was worth something less
than q small fortune per square foot But
the evil exists, and we have nothing
left but to seek remedy The plans for the
relief Of Broadway are numerous enough
Sometimes VIC are advised of . sort of Ara
bian Nights scheme by which one side Of thu
street is to be set back some fifteen or twenty
feet, and then again we are told that tho
real panacea is 10 be found In dose Of rail-
roads. Underground, surface, elevated, one
story and three story roads are crowded upon
us for our acceptance, each endorsed and
pressed by q crowd Of disinteres.ed patriots.
and the convenience Of their fellow citisens
The truth is, some Of these schemes are ITO
plan and the rest OF them are jobs. Thoss
who advocate similar plan for the improve
ment of New York to that adopted by Louis
Napoleon Tor the Improvement of Paris should
remember that the United States is not Euro
pean empire. An application TO Baron Hauss-
mann, Pr6fet Of the Seine, will enlighten them
AZ to the cost Of such policy.
The readiest and surest way Of relieving
Broadway is to make other avenues capable Of
drawing OF two-thirds Of the traffic from thai
thoroughfsre. To open Fifth avenue at IL
present width down to the Battery, and TO ex-
tend Seventh and Fourth avenues by widening
their continuing streets In the same mannA...,
would give US four fine thoroagbfsres the whole
length Of the city, in place Of one, and woaia
pay for the improvement In the increased
value Of the property along the routes. The
new avenues, paved with the splendid Nicolsoa
pavement, would be the great attractions Of
the city, and Fifth avenue in especial would
be the fsvorite drive Of the fashionable world
down to the Battery, where uppertendom could
enjoy the magnificent view Of the bay, instead
Of being confined to the upper portion Of the
island. Let us adopt broad, practical systsn
Of Improvement and tslisg such - this, and
We shall hear no more complaints Of the Broad
way blockade.