The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-06

mate Its expense. The authority Of the State was
invoked In order TO establish general system Of
appointed by the Legislature were entrusted with
tne duty OF laying them out and providing for their
construction. AL tnis was not done without oppo-
eiuon, but time overcame IT, and now part Of the
contemplated improvement is completed. largo
portion under work and In course OF construction
and the remainder laid out, surveyed, the cost est
mated and partly contracted tor.
The width OF ell these avenues, which VIII pres
emily pc mentioned in detail is 100 feet, giving twen
y-nve ieet on each side for pedestrians, with car
Tiageway OF fifty feet. The surface Of the ground
through which they have been projected Is such
level grade Is secured the rise being nowhere over
six leet In 100. The cost OF building them including
damages assessed for land taken varies from $1,000
the several towns through which the avenues pass
respectively 1t Is raised by the issue Of town bonds
running from ten TO fifteen years. and 1t Is argued,
not without reason. that by adopting this plan the
towns In reality build these roads free Of cost as the
taxable value OF property IN the towns is increased
taxes pay all the expense, and the inhabitants have
Tree roads for all time and in proof OF this assertion
completed real estate has risen In value from flfty
TO seventy-nve per cent.
DESCRIPTION OF THESE NEW AVENUES.
The beginning OF this system Of improvements
was made as early as 1855. On the 18th OF April
Of that year the Legislature passed an act au-
Park avenue.n This avenue is already comneted
1t begins on the Harlem river opposite Central
bridge, or McCombs dam, runs through West Farms,
MOITsana ana part OF the town OF YOnkerS and ends
az Woodlawn, and constitutes practically an extern
sion OF Eighth avenue.
iature authorized the continuation OF this avenue
from Woodlawn TO White Plains, passing through
the towns OF Yonkers and Greenburg, and crossing
the Bronx river at White Plains. TINS avenue, to be
known as Central avenue which virtually connects
the Eighth avenue OF our city with the county seat
of Westchester, is now being built and will soon be
completed when 1t is to be still further continued
from White Plains in northerly direction to Mount
kisco, running through the very centre aud heart
Of the county.
The "SOuthern Boulevardn was authorized by an
act OF the Legislature dated April o. 1857. It begins
avenue on the Westminster shore passes throurh
Morrisania and West Farms, crosses the Harlem and
Albany railroad over high bridge and joins the
Central Park avenue at Jerome Park.
BY another act OF the Legislature passed April O.
1868. the repair pnd improvement Of the old Boston
road from Third avenue to Portchester was author
OF avenues as planned.
me Southern highway" under an act Of the
where 149th street crosses Third avenue, and runs
thence in northeastery direction till it connects
with the old Boston post road mentioned above.
along the whole western length of the county, will
be completely repaired aud regarded, SO to make
1t one oil the finest roads in the State.
Westchester avenue, new one proposed. will be
another continuation of Central avenue commenc-
ing at White Plains and running northwesterly to-
wards Tarrytown near which place 1t will intersect
the Albany post road.
Still another avenue from White Plains is to con-
lage OF Portchester, running through the towns OF
Harrison and Rye. This road was authorized BY
the Legislature on June s, 1888: -,
connect White Plains with tide water In the viii
lage Of Namaroneck, running through the town Of
Harrison and crossing the Boston road.
The track Of the horse railroad north Of Harlem
bridge is to be extended from Fordham to Williams
bridge and Mount Vernon. In fact, it Is expected
that before many years pass away many l. not all,
the avenues named, and others hereafter to be
structed, will be travelled by regularly
creased inducements for business and esidences by
Offering increased facilities OF easy and RAPID
portation.
From the enumeration OF these new and splendid
avenues 1t will be seen thai by the continuation
and extension OF the avenues below the Harlem
White Pains. This village seems destined to be
sort Of distributing central point from which the
rolling surge OF population win radiate in oil
CLOSING OF HARLEM RIVER AND spUyrEN DUYvIL.
In the minds OF the projectors OF these vast and
to be done In order to realize from them Tor
both this city and Westchester all the benefits ex-
pected to result from them The completion OF these
avenues will and must, they say eventually lead to
the opening Of Others, until every In the city
has its continuation in westchcster county.
iem 1 river and spuyten Duyvii creek At i na.
merous points. II the river be retained
as road for commerce the bridges must all be pro-
vided with draws which, being opened for the pas
sage Of every coal barge or lumber scow, would
impede traveito such extent render the whole
nugatory. But trade has changed and Is continually
changing Its channel from the old track to new Ones
Heretofore Harlem river was believed to be neceS-
sary relieve the North river ana give outlet
the grain boats coming down the Hudson. The
grain trade is changing to the railroads from the
nections and improvements In railways to the West
and the Pacific the crops OF all the Western States
will either cross the Hudson ct Peekskl or at Al
bany and be landed either direct ut New York or at
Port Morris for shipment to Europe. When this
point is reached the Harlem river, 1t is claimed, win
Why then keep 1t open? II Is therefore advocated
to close ft from the Hudson to Wards Island. thus
doing away with the necessity OF costly bridges and
giving the city 0fNew York unbroken, uninterrupted
scope for expansion as Its growth may demand 1t,
facilitating rapid and continuous intercourse by
steam Of the most southern with the extreme north
portions OF the metropolis, BY filing up the bed
OF the river the fats and marshy bottoms along part
OF It's shores could be made available and the cost
OF the work would almost be trebly reganed by the
In view, 1t Is intended to make an application TO
Congress, not for any appropriation or subsidy, but
simply for pernssory statute that the river being
under the constitution national highway naviga
Bile water, may be closed.
This Is certainly grand proposition. At first
closer investigation, obstacles and objections may
not arise against It. 80 much so as to destroy its pre-
sent appearance OF feasibility cannot now be fore
told The plan, at any rate, Is one fully entitled to
careful consideration. in view or the rapid rise Of
the metropolis as the probable centre OF the COM
the OF It's usefulness should be welcome and II
by closing up the Harlem river and making West
chester county part by connection OF sol at least
OF New York this desde-atum can be accomplished,
then let 1t be done.