The New York herald., 1869-05-29
TIE OPENING AND WIDENING OF STREETS.


Governor HOFFMAN has signed the bill making new
provisions for the opening, widening or extending
Of Streets avenues public places which will prove
to be Of almost inestmable value TO the city and TO
private property owners. The act alluded to is as
follows
or Streets svsnnes and public p.css in he city OF New
YORK; Passed Nay % lsss shrssai!h. Ssas present
ate and Ai.smbly. DO enact as follows.
down and sstsblished under and By
entitled %An &C. relative 70 N touching the &
oSeT purposes, passed April 3 is sa.Io.sd and d.
on the Mayor, Aldermen and ccTmonaly sum not Otto 20
sS public
and The who'll: cannot be . and Inn
on or sdyantasea by such opening Widening or sssnains
In the city Of New York. shall Be wdened or extended
due authority Of law, the Coums:oners Of Estimate and
Assessment for such improvement assess upon any
lands premises benefited thereby such part Of the
sxceedns onehaf of the value Of such lands and
SIC g. For the purpose providing for any
made on The Mayor as%en and mon Atty under
lied and directed time, stock, to be de-
sns ss sh. rate ss
TO Per ss e s
Of New YORK 70 raise by tax provided
law sufficient % to pay - s ,s Interest on :%Sn
for which said stock was issued as II shall become
SEC The Commissioner of Estimate and Assessment
in any now or hereas. for
are determine in their report patcu
conarmaton Of said report practical open
Ing Of said H @ ana sasa s so
SEQ s. This act shall take effect Immediately.
1t will be seen that when an improvement which
is necessary to the public convenience Is to be made
and the whole expense cannot be Justly imposed on
tagged" thereby, one-half Of the expense may be
imposed the city at large and the other half on
the property immediately fronting or advantaged
or Estimate and Assessment were permitted TO
assess property, In some cases, miles distant from
| proposed street improvements. and thus imposed
burdens on property owners who derived no benefit
whatever from the Improvement.
Another much needed amendment is that author,
izlng the Commissioners 10 property benefited
upon One-half OF lts market value. instead OF the
assessed value" as heretofore piece OF property,
for instance, may be assessed by the county asses
at few thousand dollars, but by the Improve
ment for which the assessment Is being made It may
much larger than that for which 1t Is assessed
by the county assessors one half OF this enhanced
valuation the assessment for the Improvement Is 70
be made.
Another amendment is that authorizing the Comp
| troler to issue stock for the purpose OF raising
| money to meet the expenses OF the improvement,
| and allowing the city time enough to profit by the
increased value OF the property before Is necessary
| to pay the debts incurred in making the Improve
| ments SO that the assessments on the city for I'M
provements will be In reality no burden on the tax
payers.
| The new law also contains q provision which VIII
prove, no doubt to be Of immense practical Denent.
1t wl be seen that by the new law the Commission.
| ers OF Estimate and Assessment are authorized 70
| fix and determine particular time for the actual
| and practical opening Of any improvement; that the
| time fixed must not exceed twelve months from
the date OF the confirmation OF the commissioners
report and that the determination OF the commis
sioners. when the report Is confirmed by the Su
preme Court shall be Hnal and conclusive" Here
! tofOre the power to de.ermine the time for thu
| actual opening Of an Improvement rested cntrel!
with the Common Council, and matters OF Improve
ment in the hands the city fathers were too ofte
| allowed to suffer annoying and useless delays.
| The new law Is IN every respect cOmmendable an
| win have tendency to forward the Improvement
| contemplated ana projected by Mayor Hail to
| prompt and profitable completion.