The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-11
HAMPSTEAD PLAINS.

Tncm-fetu0&
Town People ON the subject.
The pretty little town or Hampstead which Ia
pleasantly situated on Long Island, about twenty
two miles rom this city, Is Just now in wonderful
state OF excitement IL Is very old town s Hemp
stead, and many people who live IN the big city and
never give thought to anything outside Of its vaat
limits, In all probability never heard OF the place
fore Monday, last when no less person than Mr. A.
T. Stewart made 1t the conserved OF all Observers
by his letter concerning the purchase OF certain
OF the unoccnpied lands which the town calls
its own. Il Will oe remembered that Mr.. Stew
art, in his letter fto the town commissioners
for the sale OF the lands mentions the fact that his
attention had been directed to notice calling
public meeting of the electors OF the town to rarfy
and approve sale Of the lands for forytwo dollars
per acre. and that he was willing to Duy all the lands
that proposed TO be sold at the price OF fifty
five dollars per acre, and upon the conveyance
OF the property to him he would pay the price in
cash. The offer OF forty-tw0 dollars per acre TO
which he referred it appears, was made several
weeks ago by Mr.. Harvey, OF TarrytOwn, N. Y,
but, in order that the whole subject OF the sale OF
the lands by the town may be properly understood,
It may be as well to mention certain interesting
facts connected with the history and condition OF
the property Itself.
THE LANDS
over 1000 acres. The soil Is of the very richest
material being for the depth Of six feet below the
surface OF that peculiar black kind which prevails
to such an extent on Long Island. There are
hills that would have to be leveed In order to facil
tate building great hollOws that would require
filing up meet the necessities OF public thorough
fares. although In few places there are slight
''sinkings' with sandy bottoms. The southern eX-
tremlty OF the lands Is about a mile from the town
proper, and the lands extend TO the distance O
ten miles towards this city, and their average
width IL two miles and a-half. The plains,
as the property is called, originally comprised
1900 acres, which were given TO the town by
Queen Anne for pasture lands; but, by a peculiar
mode of fence advancing, known only TO the adjoin-
ing landholders, the Ia 900 acres in the course OF
time became beautifully less aud small ny degrees,
until 1000 acres had been snugy fenced in pri-
vate property by the chnrch-golng farmers who had
the bad luck TO have their property too close to the
public domain Up to the present time the extern
sive portion of the plains which escaped the clutches
Of the pioneers OF the town has always been used
a common pasture land, and, strange as It may
seem, capitalists have been slow to estimate It's real
value fOrgetui OF the fact that II lay but score OF
miles from the metropolis however rom nme 10
made by certain OF the townspeopie in authority
the land sold for the benefit of the town. but
at every election the anti-sellers out ahead.
1t finally discovered that the strongest OppOsI-
ton to the sale Of the property came from certain
men who live near the swamp lands adjoining the
town, and who fearful. If the plains were sold
that the swamp lands, from which they annually
ganr very sn a az n a would aSs
robbed Of an easy way OF making their living. The
eool-headed folks OF. the place, on this discovery
several years showed decrease in strength
election occurred and the question of the sale
of the lands again came up to be voted upon. II
OF the saeno doubt piotng By the lessons evsn
them by the New York "ring" on such matters and
on such days=tqrned out ~ full strength and got
the day by the startling majority OF twenty-five
votes.
Of the property 70 MI Harvey Of Tarrytown for forty
two dollars acre were astOne Of the consequences
of THIS vote, entered into soon afterwards, ana on
that gentleman and the commissioners appointed bv
the town for the sale Of the lands was drawn up and
agreement was that $25 900 OF the price should be
deposited by the purchaser with the United states
town ana Mr.. Harvey himself. to be applied TO the
purchase money of the property IN case the electors
Of the town should accept the oner: , In fact the
chase money should be paid In cash and the balance
secured by bond and mortgage. The agreement
tOwnpeOple but they were left entirely in the dark
as to the purposes or objects to which the land was
Il s ns q he as wss
ton OF the purchaser to make cemetery OF the
plains, and feeling OF dlstrust among the people
true the rum0r may have had no foundation
whatever; but had It's effect for all that, and every
which Is to take place on the nth inst, and on
which occasion Mr. Harvey's offer is to be accepted
the town commissioners like bombshell. What
Mr.. sTEwARrs INTENTIONS
could be in desiring to purchase the lands the good
rumors Of acres Of tenement houses and 'public
charities OF like character'-to use Mr.. Stewards
own woris-were rife about the town. In order,
therefore, to assure them as to what his Intentions
really were he wrote supplementary letter. under
these lands was to devote them to the
usual for wHn Gh lands s 80
ing extensive public roads; laying out the lands In
parcels for sale actual settlers, and erecting
SO that a barren waste may speedily be covered BY q
population desirable in every respect as neighb0rs.
In fact should he obtain the property, Mr.. Stewart
intends lay out somewhat alter the fashion OF
EngIewood. with broad avenues and Streets and
villas which the richest Will not despise, and
which are to be sold at nominal prices
The plains, as he says in his letter, he does not
intendto convert INTO anything like settlement for
the poorer classes; but the contrary for persons
OF means who are DESTROYS OF becoming actual set
way Of railroad all facilities he intends to have pro-
vlded, without regard to cost and, besides having
double track direct TO this city, he VIII see to IT, IA
far HIM lies, that trains are run as rapidly and
often between the city and the new place as may be
deemed necessary. Of course 1t is not known In
what way these railroad facilities will be obtained,
whether Dy the construction OF new railroad the
perfection OF the one already In operation. IL Is,
however. perfectly well understood that there will
be good railroad connections between thus city and
the settlement
In the opinion OF the town folks the great
merit OF Mr.. Stewards offer is that he IL ready
to pay the whole amount in cash, and
the TACT that he has expressed his willingness
to expend several million dollars In improving the
property, has certainly very great attraction In the
eyes OF all the taxpayers, and the charitable portion
OF the community In particular as two-thirds OF the
purchase money Is TO be converted into government
and other bonds for the benefit OF the town, and the
other third for the benefit Of the schools It Is. how
ever, not yet decided as to whether Mr. stewards
oner will be accepted or not, although there Is but
little doubt but that majority vote will be thrown
Ia favor Of MS proposal There are those who con-
tend That according to the written agreement be-
tween the commissioners for the sale OF the land,
and Mr.. Harvey Mr.. Stewards bid cannot be con-
sdered at the special election Of the 18th inst, but
the following extract from the law In relation
to the sale OF lands by the town wonld
to Indicate quite 0therwlse:-"1he electors
are hereby authorized at said town meeting that OF