The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-06

invoked In order TO establish . general system Of
avenues throughout the country and commissioner
appointed by the Legislature were entrusted Win
the duty OF laying them out and providing for their
construction All tis was not done without oppo-
ss 4 S campeed ar ra
portion under work and in course OF construction
and the remainder laid out, surveyed the cost est
mated and partly contracted tor.
The width Of all these avenues which VIII pres
emily be mentioned In detail. Is 100 feet, giving TWEEN
y-nve feet on each side for pedestrians with car
through which they have been projected Is such
that, with moderate nlling and cutting an almost
six feet in Ioo The cost Of building them, including
damages assessed for land taken, varies from $4,000
to $4,000 per mile, and this money Is furnished by
the several towns through which the avenues pass
respectively IL Is raised by the issue OF town bonds
running from ten TO fifteen years. and 1t Is argued,
not without reason. that by adopting this plan the
towns In reality build these roads free OF COST the
taxable value OF property IN the towns is increased
80 largely by these Improvements that the additional
r sd pss m 's ana ~ nrne e ~ sns
1t IL mentioned that along OF the avenues already
completed real estate has risen In value from 1fty
TO seventy live per cent.
DESCRIPTION or THESE NEW AvESUEs
The beginning Of this system OF improvements
was made as early rs lso5. On the 18th OF April
th0rizng the opening aud construction OF "Centrai
Park avenue" This avenue Is already completed
II begins ON the Harlem river, opposite Central
bridge, or kcComb's DAM runs through West Farms,
Monsanla and part OF the town OF Yonkers and ends
at Woodiawn, and constitutes practically an extel-
ON the 10th OF April, 1907 another act OF the Lecl-s
atufe authorized the continuation OF this avenue
from Wcodiawn 10 White Plains, passing through
the towns OF lonkers aud Greenbufg, and crossing
the Bronx river ut White Plains. TINS avenue 10 10
known as Central avenue, which virtually connects
the Eighth avenue Of our city with the county seat
of Westchester ID now being butt aud VIII soon be
completed, when 10 Is TO be stil further continued
from White Plains in northerly direction TO Mount
kisco, running through the very centre and heart
The Southern Boulevard was authorized by an
act OF the Legislature dated April o. 1867. II begins
at the connecting point OF Harlem bridge and Third
avenue on the Westchester shore, passes through
Morrsana and West Farms crosses the Harlem ana
Albany railroad over high bridge and joins the
Central Park avenue at Jerome Park.
By another act or the Legislature. passed April Q,
1885. the repair pnd Improvement OF the old Boston
road from Third avenue TO Portchester was author
ized to make 1t conform 70 the general system
OF avenues as planned.
Tne "Southern Highway" under an act OF the
where I40th street crosses Third avenue, aud runs
thence IN northeastery direction till 1t connects
with the old Boston post road mentioned above.
The old Albany post road from Klngsbridge
along the whole western length OF the county. will
be completely repaired aud regarded, SO to make
1t one oil the finest roads in the State.
Westchester avenue, a new one proposed will be
another continuation of Central avenue commence
ing at White Plains and running northwesterly to-
wards Tarrytown, near which place 1t will intefsect
the Albany post road.
still another avenue from White Plains Is TO con-
meet Central avenue with the Boston road ut tile vii
lage OF Portchester, running through the towns OF
Harrison and Rye. This road was authorized by
the Legislature on June S, 1853. rsie
Mamaroneck avenue, authorized May 2, 1868, will
connect White Plains with tide water In the vii
lage OF Namaroneck, running through the town OF
Harrison and crossing the Boston road.
The track OF the horse railroad north OF Harlem
bridge is to be extended from Fordham 10 Williams
bridge and Mount Vernon. In fact, 1t IS expected
that before many years pass away many !: not all,
structed, Will be travelled by as regularly
any OF the city avenues at present furnishing in
creased inducements for business and residences BY
Offering increased facilities OF easy and RAPID
portation
From the enumeration OF these new and splendid
avenues II will be seen that by the continuation
and extension or the avenues below the Harlem
river oil, or nearly oil, are corherging towards
white Pains THIS village seems destined to be
rolling surge OF population VIII radiate in oil
directions.
CLOSING OF HARLEM RIVER AND spUYrgN pUyyrr
systematic improvements there is one thing more
TO be done In order TO realize from them Tor
both this city and Westminster al the benefits ex-
pected 10 result from tnem The completion Of these
avenues will and must they say, eventually lead to
the opening OF others until every avenue In the city
THIS VIII necessitate the bridging OF Har-
lem river and Spuyten Duyvil creek at nu-
pns ,n the river BE- r 60
vided with draws. which, being opened for the pas
sage Of every coal barge or lumber scow, would
1mptue cXtcut bs tD Ecuuer WnOle
extension OF the avenues into the county partially
nugatory. But trade mas changed and Is continually
changing its channel from the old track to new ones
Heretofore Harlem river was believed to be neceS-
sary 10 relieve the North river ana give an outlet to
the grain boats coming down the Hudson. The
grain trade Is changing to the railroads from the
canals, and with the completion Of proposed con-
nections and improvements In railways TO the West
and the Pacific the crops Of all the Western States
bany and be landed either direct at New York or at
PORT Morris for shipment to Europe When this
point Ia reached the Harlem river, II Is claimed will
rather be o hindrance TO commerce than benefit
Why then keep 1t openf 1t IL therefore advocated
70 close IL from the Hudson to Wards Island. thus
doing away It'll the necessity OF costly bridges and
giving the city OF New York unbroken, uninterrupted
facilitating rapid and continuous intercourse BY
steam OF the most southern with the extreme north
ern portions Of the metropolis, BY filing up the bed
OF the river the ats and marshy bottoms along part
of It's shores could be made available and the cost
or the work would almost be treby regained by the
land won from bank 10 bank. With this proposition
In view, 1t Is Intended 70 make an application to
Congress, not for any appropriation subsidy but
simply for permissory statute that the river being
bic water, may be closed.
This IA certainly grand proposition. At first
sight II looks plausible and Inviting Whether after
q closer investigation, obstacles and objections may
not arise against It, so much to destroy its pre-
sent appearance OF feasibility, cannot now be fore
told The plan at any rate Is one fully entitled to
careful consideration in view OF the rapid rise OF
MERGE OF the world everything calculated to Increase
the area OF It's usefulness should be welcome and II
by closing up the Harlem river and making West
chester county part, by connection or soh at least