The New York herald., 1870-06-03
RELIEF FOR BROADWAY.
A Systematic Plan Of Street Open.
ings for the Purpose.
What Some Members Of the New Regime sug-
gest-Exteasion OF Avenues and Streets
Increased Facilities fer Travel from
Shore to Shore-Detaiis Of the Plan.

Taere 1e no city IN the world 80 peculiarly siua'eu
In point OF as topography as New York. Its advan-
tsges for fnteroceanc trade are owing to this very
peculiari, unsurpassed and not even equalled any
where. But on the other hand this again has It's
serious drawbacks. The insular formation, some
what In the shape Of stretched stocking, sur
rounded on all sides by water limits the growth and
expansion OF the city to but one direction, and u
compels the immense commerce OF the people to
move within narrow bounds. All this has for many
years been 30 evident that It Ia but an OFT told tale to
repeat it. Nevertheless, II being true and lying at
the root Of all schemes for introducing rapid means
OF conveyance nom one END OF the island to the
other, 1t IL not amlss to keep the fact con.
stantly before the public. Moreover, this
very typographical popularity OF the 'island
OF the Manhattoes"-as the revered Diedrich
Knickerbocker called It's the principal cause
OF the constant overcrowding OF Broadway south OF
Fourteenth street. Not that Broadway Is the princi
pal business street Of the city: for there many
other streets which, compared with any part Of
Broadway OF equal extent, foot up millions OF
dollars more Of actual business done hpt this Broad
way OF ours Is undenlaby the greatest thoroughare
Of New York and without rival IN the world. It's
comparatively central location from the Battery TO
Union square contributes largely TO this. Communi-
cation between the eastern and western portions Of
the city and the exchange Of merchandise passes
u IL.
Carts, trucks omnibuses. coaches and passenger We
hicles OF almost every kind take this street from
north and south, causing jam almost at every
corner, resulting In great injury to horses and
wagons and much annoyance to pedestrians. Ex.
perienced New Workers know 1t TO have been not so
very much OF an eXaggeration when that genuine
New York "bhoy,n Nike Walsh, once exclaimed on
the floor OF the House OF Representatives at Wash
lng,an, that 1t took more brains to cross Broad.
way unhurt at certain points and during
certain hours, than it did to he elected Congress-
man from some OF the rural districts. The pardon
able pride Nike took in the grandeur OF his native
city, led him to use little swagger but he did not
go too far from the plain truth. Hence regard to
city inprovements-tne great question with all
sensible people, and with those also who had the
authoritative "sayn In the matter-has for many
years been
HOW TO RELIEVE BROADWAY?
Yes, how TO do 1t without injuring Broadway
ITSELF and without Irritating too much the sensbil
ties OF such of The owners Of contiguous property az
are IN the habit OF holding their purse strings tighter
than Is compatible with the advancement Of the
public veal. Your narrow minded money bag,
whose own personal interests shut from his view
all other considerations is usually the most
resIstive obstacle with which great improve
ments have to contend. Gradually, however,
much has been zone, III spite Of such short
sighted opposition, though taking it altogether,
this .muchn has not yei reached even the beginning
OF what is required. The cutting through OF Canal
street. OF the New Bowery from Chatham square To
Pearl the widening OF Duane street and OF that
part OF Chambers street lying east OF Chatham
were al at the time they were projected much
needed Improvements ana gave promise OF relieving
the lower part OF Broadway at least south OF Canal
street. to considerable extent. But the work on
OF the big plum OF official jobbery concealed IN il,
partly by reason OF unforeseen obstacles thrown In its
way by property owners too close sted by half while
on the other hand the commercial prosperity OF the
city grew so rapdiy-that by the time these new or
widened streets We're thrown opelN to public use
MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS,
all intended to 'relleve Broadway" have been pro-
jected, and some OF them commenced and In part
completed. Among these is the extension Of Church
much needed improvement, yet it viii not be
denied that as aiording ''reIief to Broadway, 1t
will not verify the predictions made OF 1t. church
street, north OF Nesey IS not only TOO narrow, but
also taken up by the tracks of railway, and WILL
for these reasons never be sought by conyeyances
Church street. south OF yesey can therefore be Of no
service in ''relievi1g" Broadway north Of the
HERALD Building.
The extension Of Worth street. from Baxter 10
Chatham square, also but partially finished will
crease the facilities OF communication between the
East and North river Shores and WILL TO that extent
and no more, take from Broadway, and only In the
immediate neighDorho0d of where Worth street
crosses IT, slight amount Of The daily trafic, which
will be quickly supplanted by the increase OF business
consequent upon the increase Of commercial houses
in that street.
OF Canal street are expected and Justly, too, from
the widening Of Lanrens street, In continuation Of
Fifth avenue, from Washington square to Canal
street. But this very work. 80 much needed and
which will undoubtedly bring about beneficial re-
suits illustrates better than anything else the repre-
by The local authorities. II Is now more than TWO
years that. s.~-s "a
THE WIDENING OF LAURENs STREET
Ufn mr. TOD AuDf nnf nAtll hudt On
nor brick removed, ana 1t has the appearance that
Tor as many more years the street VIII retain Its
in session, remOnstrances have been heard, the
Counsel TO the Corporation has moved the matter IN
the Supreme Court, commissioners OF estimates
and assessments have been appointed, surveyors
were set TO work, and plans and specifications accu.
rately and elaborately mapped. but as for practical
several tens OF thousands OF dollars might Just as
well have been saved, Tor not spadefui Of earth
was dug nor lrowel Of mortar removed, BY the
time tie city ocials, II no change be made In the
manner OF dong business, shall have begun and
finished this Improvement, 1t is very probable that
will have rendered the influence of this opening,
from which so much Is hoped, greatly less effective
and consequently less beneficial. However,
THE NEW REGIME
promises earnestly 10 do BETTER TO be less exacting
less ravenous in the matter OF private gains from
public necessities, and to nave a more earnest and
disinteresed care for the citys prosperity. Hther
to, paraphrasing old motto, the citys difficulty
was the politicians opportunity Now 1t IL alleged
official honesty Is 10 be the rule and prearranged
extravaganza ana Intentional delay for the sake OF
accidental rich pickings TO he tabooed merely
tolerated occasional exceptions Under this "new
dealt the people are tOld 20 hope for number OF i'm.
provements In respect TO facilities for travel and
particularly intended for the speedy reef Of Broad
way. Some Of these projects have already been
canvassed among those who, after the lst
OF June next Will have the power, under the
new charter and Its subsequent amendments,
to carry out whatever they may deem for
the best advantage TO The public. The mere men,
tion OF few Of these plans, and of The benefits ex
pected IRON their realization will for tie present be
sufficient. one or Tie brst things 10 be done Is the
grading and paving Of
MADISON AVENUE
In complete order, nom Forty y-second street to Eig
! ty-sixth street. thai the Harlem Railroad Company
| may be enabled 10 keep Its promise OF laying the
| track and running liz horse ears from Fourth ave.
nue. to lorkvlle, and have no further excuse for de
laying It. The Nineteenth ward Citizens AssOcia
ton and the East Side Improvement Association have
so long and peIssteRtly urged this measure tha