New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-29
THE TIDEyInG or BRo4DWAY.

During the last session of the New-York
State Legislature an act passed providing for the
immediate widening OF that narrow part Of Broadway
lying between Thrtyfourh st. aud Central Park and in
few days preparations will be to carry the law
into effect with little delay possible. The act pro-
vdes that the work shall be conducted by the Commits
sioners Of Central Park who SHALL within four months
after the passage OF the act May IT, 1869 lay out that
part Of Broadway, and locate and estab-
sh the eastcry and westerly lines thereof and also
straightcn the wherever practicable" This gives
the Commissioners until tho middle OF August TO make
their surveys and map their plans but it understood
that they viii not avail Themselves Of the opportunity Tor
delay, but will proceed Their work Immediately. The
width prescribed by the Legislature FOR the portion OF
Broadway named above Is limited to $50 feet beyond tho
present wid.hthat is, part Of either line newly
located and established shall be more than 100 feet from
the line OF the street as now laid ont In addition
Broadway between 1hirtv-sccOnd and Thrtyhfth-stsr
and between F0ry-second and Fortyseyenth-sts more
than 100 feet wider than az present.
when the certificates and maps arc prepared, the cor
poration Counsel will at take steps to acquire tue
for the city, Of all property brought within the limits o
tho street by tho new survey aud for that purpose VIII
apply 10 tho Supreme Court for the appointment OF three
Commissioners Of Assessments. These Commissioners
will assess upon the Mayor and Commonalty OF the Cy
such proportion Of the expense attending the improve
they may adudge TO De the proper share Of the
city large provided such assessment shall not exceed
one third the total eXpense tho balance to be assessed
upon property holders directly interested They will
pOrS to the Supreme Court within eight months aiter
they will begin their work; and at tho eIpira-
ton OF this all the buildings the line or the
improvement will be removed. All losses and damages
are to be oqutably estimated and compared with tho
benefit ana advantages to be- derived and those property
holders who injured VIII be paid the amount OF their
loss from tho City Treasury. The Commissioners VIII as
property below Twenty-tArd-str nor east OF
Ffhave. south Of IbrtysiXthSt nor east OF Srthave
north OF Thirtysixthsti nor north Of EichysNthst;
nor west OF SiXthave. souh OF Threthst; nor west OF
Sventhave., south Of Thirtyfthst, nor west OF LCbh
ave. south Of F0rty-hlst; nor west OF Nlnth-aNe,
south Of FfyHfh-st; west Of Eleventhaye, north
OF Fiftyffthst IL is expressly provided in the ac tnat
alteration whatever shall be made In the eaStefY me
of SNthaYe IL will be that the limits liked IOr inc
territory 10 be assessed are more contracted tl"u
proposed, and only onc-thrd OF the total
expense, at most, will from the pockets
OF those not directly interested In the Improvement TINS
Is gratifying to the Taxpayers at large but does not
trct quite pleasantly Some very valuable houses ana
lots line both sides Of Broadway between Ihryouth
and Ffty-nintnsts, and the owners thereon having
already estimated them TO be worth much more than the
differences OF opinion may be expected to arise before
when the important question OF values comes up
Then will be difficult 20 prove 20 him whose estimated
benefit has been found To over balance MS estimated loss
that lac has derived tangible benefit at all from inc
Improvement. Again, the jewellers on tlfthaVe above
Thirtysixthst, and those SiIthaye. below thirty
sxthst. viii DO apt 20 cry ont against being ODhGcd
TO pay for an advantage which directly Dement'S
How much this gigantic work Will cost 1t is Impossible 10
estimate with even approximation To correctness
Millions OF property must be destroyed, ana millions OF
money must be paid 10 citizens who suffer damage 1hen
is the estimated money value OF the Improvement
TO be made, between which aud tho damage balance
must struck Hundreds OF wOrkmCn Will be engaged
months In the tedious Work, ana unt iey
complete it, and bills all made ont and settled, II
thing Ike respectable guess at the cost OF widening
Broadway.