The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-06
TIE SEVENTH AVENUE EX TENSION.

The Now Bouievard-What 1t VIII Proba
bly, be When COlnpicteI-Progrsss OF the
Work.
Among the large number OF public Improvements
now going on III the upper part OF the city there H.
perhaps none that viii rehecs more credit upon Its
projectors and builders than the extension OF
seventh avenue from the northern terminus of the
Park at l1oth street. TO she bridge crossing the Har.
lem river near McuomO's Dam The constructions
Of this road is one OF the many improvements put
under way by the Board Of Com nj ssoners Of tho
Central Park since the act OF the Legislature grant
ing them the right OF laying Gus ana grading the
streets In certain portions OF the upper part Of Man.
haitian Island. and. taken t0gstlsr with Sixth and
Eleventh avenues and st. Mica, avenue, viii give
that section OF New YORK above Fifty-ninth street
wide and well CONSTRUCTED higaw ways Tor travel ana
tfac, an advantage which the lower portion Of the
city unfortunately does not possess.
when completed, the Seventh avenue win be one
OF the nnest II not the finest, boulevard In the
country 1t win be $50 feet In width thirty Ave fees
on each side being reserved FOR tootwaks while tue
remaining eighty feet will be appropriated to thu
carrlageway. The roadbed. If present plans are
carried out Will be constructed OF Tlrord and
McAdam. and will thus he fully equal in durability
and smootnness to the splendid drives OF the Park.
while rows OF elegant shade trees along the entire
length OF the sidewalks ana through the centre OF
the carriage way will insure sufficient shade to
afford o healthy and agreeable ride during the
important work, whlch Is. of course, under thu
Immediate SUPERVISION anu control Of the
PARK comm no "a, CERTAIN as guarantee that g
let 10y contract two years since to Messrn
James H. sullivan h CD, Vi New York.
tncr contract embracing ali ,nat part OF the avenue
between 10th AMI lttth streeSy. Lne remaining few
blocks above la7h street having previously been lea
to MIR. Thomas Urimmens, OF losKvLle. Below l25th
street the work CONSISTS PRINCIPALLY Of an Immense
ROCK I'LL, 100 fee. wac and twenty feet hign at
several points, while the average height cannot DO
less than eight or ten leet. 1le material for this
vast bank Of stone ID Brought rom the heavy rock
cuts above 13sth street by means cars drawn BY
horses aud mules over u raj road one and haH
miles IN length winch was pus down Tor this special
purpose by the CONTRACTORS, VINO have thus far
shown zeal IN the prosecution vi their work which
10 as commendable as IL Is rare. The stone MI -
already finished as far as Harlem lane, and
IRON the lane to IIOtn street so that few
months more must witness It's completion.
Above l25th street there Is oi four TO Blk ieet OF
earth excavation, considerable Of which has been
finished as far as I2sth street. Inc MATERIAL as re-
moved 10 put into cars aiid sent Gown tho track Ia
the rock NIL upon the top OF nch Is placed to the
depth OF several feet 10 anord suitable foundation
for the more durable roauDed TO be constructed
hereafter ~ lar TIC heaviest portion OF the work.
however-that requiring most time, labor and ex-
pense, and which consisted OF the removal OF ths
vast beds OF rock above l3sth street--has already
been two thirds accomplished, through the ener.
getle management Of the contractors inc whole o!
those sections OF rock wncn lay betwcen iJsth ana
the entire width OF tie avenue 10 the aVela9o
heighth vi at least tweuty-n or tnirty lee navs
entirely disappeared, ana WOrkmen are a. Tue pre-
sent time busy engaged IN blasting out ana Iiking
away the remaining section petweea l4lss aaa lain
streets, hundreds vi mcn and Teams being secSanZ
employed. This also covers Inc whois within VI .no
avenue $50 feet, ADD al some points IN tho
centre Ia no less lorty0gnt ioet hIgn, Xrnduay
sopiDg towards tho SIDES, however. IN sucii man
ner that when the avcnne ~ finally completed no
one not familiar with the present condition Of tne
nlace would Tor an Isiant that tens OF thon-
sands Of cubic yards OF Irregular ana ninty r0ch
once covered the level surlcS over which Dis car
ringo rolls 70 smoothly
AZ izyIh street Air. Thomas Crimmens' CONTRACTS
commences ana embraces so nc six or eight bockA.
Terminating at tue Harlem itver. near the present
dock OF the Spuyten Duyvl Navgauon Company.
The work consists chiefly OF rock excavation about
one.half which 10 completed. Perhaps 10000 cubic
yards sill remain 10 be taken out before the rock
grade 0f this end OF the aveuue IL finished.
A lew years al tho iarthest Will SEQ the compile
tion Of the whole OF this gigantic undertaking. and
New YORK, at least the RIDING aud driving portion Of
u, when now daiiy crowds tue narrow, dusty and
Wy-kept Eighth avenue, will then have au oppOr-
tunfJ OF displaying Its horscnaushlp upon one "
the Dandsonest and best buit roads In America.