The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-19

Comptroller Green's Report to the Board Of
Commissioners Of rhe Central Park.
Tire interesting and important report OF
Comptroller Green to the Board Of Commits
sioners discusses the practical questions rela-
tive to- INSTRUMENTATION between the north
ern part Of the island, which is now being laid
out for future city, and that to which it is
tied by indissolublc connections, and incident
ally examines several cognate subjects. 1t
demonstrates that the lower part Of Westches-
ter county, lying adjacent to the city of New
York and separated from it only by river OF
a width easily bridged or tunneled, is SO init
niately connected with and dependent upon
this city as to render unity of plan for improve
ments on both sides of the river essential, not
only for the future convenience of the inhabit-
ants, but in order to avoid the expensive pro-
cess Of changing the plan of the coming city
after it shall be built up. Mr.. Green is un-
questionably right in contending that the lay
ing out of roads and bridges and the appor-
tioning of expenditures for great works built
in the interest Of both the county of New York
and the county Of Westchester and Of the whole
public should be taken out Of the petty squab-
bles of small jurisdictions and left to the de-
termination Of some body with comprehensive
powers capable Of dealing with these subjects,
not in the interest of New York alone or Of
Westchester alone, but in that of both and Of
the whole public convenience. In the emu
meration of such works as the water
.,rr1v tha coUcro0e he pavOafiou
OF the intcrjacent waters, the means
of crossing those waters and the land
ways that shall be laid on each side so as to
furnish the best facilities to both, nothing is
included that win not, as Mr.. Green says be
more wisely and better planned and executed
by single authority, and nothing that pro-
poses any present change in political jurisdic-
ton or thet Is calculated to disturb the func-
tons or privileges OF any existing officer or
officers.
The report of Mr.. Green shows how neces-
sary and how practicable is the Improvement
of the navigation of Harlem river and spuyten
Duyvil creek, which form the boundary line
between the two counties. They are really
but one river, or rather they are an estuary
connecting the tide waters Of the East river
and the Sound with those OF the north side OF
the city. AT small cost, in comparison with
from the North river to Long Island Sound,
through the Harlem river, with greater depth
Of water than the North river affords at some
points between this city and Albany and Of
width sufficient for all practical purposes OF
the commerce that will seek to use IL. Such
channel twill shorten the distance of travel
between the North river and the Sound and
of large portion Of the city Of Brooklyn
lying on the East river, and between the North
river and the Eastern States by more than
twenty miles around the Battery Of the tcdi-
ous, expensive and unsafe navigation OF the
crowded waters that skirt the city, and, In
connection with the Improvement proposed at
Hel Gate, win increase the facilities Of foreign
traffic by the Sound"
In order to give some idea Of the extent Of
bridge and tunnel communication that will
ultimately be required between New York and
westchester Mr.. Green refers to the ex-
| perience Of the cities Of London and Paris.
He adds that whenever the population Of New
York and Westminster shall assume the density
on the shores OF the Harlem river and OF
Spuyten Duyvil creek which that OF London
has on the Thames and Paris on the Seine the
! means of communication must be fully equal
| 10 those afforded across the Thames and the
| Seine, and II must be borne in mind that tbs