The New York herald., 1871-01-14
VESrCHESTER ANNEXATION.
Meeting Of FreehOlders Of West
Farms.
Popular Sympathy Leaning Towards New York
Speeches in Favor Of the Project by Viii
Liam B. Ogden and Others A
Harmonious AssemblaGe.

In pursuance OF call 70 that effect considerable
number OF freehoiders living In the town Of West
Farms, Westchester county, and favorable to tho
project OF annexation to New York. met at Itner's
Hall Trement, last evening for the purpose OF dis
cusstng such measures as might best tend to pro-
mote the contamination OF the scheme In
dicated. Among those present were Lewis @.
Norris William B. Ogden Charles w. Bathgate,
Frederick Grotc Morris wilkins, James Lees, Ford
ham Morris, J. " Traphagen William Herring,
Philip Duffy and many others whose interests are
more or less prominently identified with the past
progress ana future prosperity OF the township.
The meeting was called TO order by Supervisor
Frederick Grote, who stated that they had assem-
bled In order TO DISCUSS the question whether an
nexatlon to New York would benefit them or other.
wlse According 70 the recent treatment Of the
lower towns at the hands Of the Committee on
Equalfxataon OF Assessments In the Board Of super
vis0rs, he, for one, wss heartily
IN FAVOR OF BEING ANNEXED,
and as member OF the Board. he had officially an
nounced that desire. He concluded by nominating
william B. Ogden for chairman or the meeting,
which nomination met with unanimous approval on
the part Of those present On motion, number OF
vice presidents were chosen together with Fordham
Morris and John Kirby, secretaries
Mr.. OdDBN, on taking the chair. after acknow-
meeting at some length on the question at issue.
which he said seriously involved the permanent In
terests OF the property owners In that town.
Having recapitulated the several measures
which have been recently proposed. including the
scheme for incorporating the three lower towns into
OF the town remaining In Its present condition.; he
would rather make respectable blunder OCCASION
ally than not TO
Az Tar as the proposed new city was concerned,
he was decidedly opposed to the project. as 1t would
get the taxpayers into an expensive and serious
muddle. In regard TO annexation, there are many
who think that their taxes would be largely In.
creased thereby. and he was disposed to think that
the rate OF taxation would be to some extent aug.
mented; but, Notwithstanding he was In favor OF
annexation to New YORK. The people OF this section
are IN
for want OF proper railroad facilities Their most
from New York. The speaker here went into a de-
tailed account or the efforts heretofore made to con-
cg Hs Has ad pointed on
some Of the most serious objections St. to
that pretty picture Of the arcade i frizzle; 9;
.rapia transit" problem, which had become an In
some men, he said, complained about the corrup::
Skinned sna ssds ss Of tins locality arc TO %
SKINNED By AN ARTIST
than undergo the same operation at the hands OF
benefits accrnIng from annexation would greatly
exceed any disadvantages IL might bring.
WILLIAM HERRING having been called on, ad-
dressed the meeting. and said that owing to lack
OF proper facilities whereby they could abrdge time
In reaching the centre Of the CITY they had be-
come sort OF collective Sleepy Hollow, and, if for
no other reason than the attainment Of this import
ant object, he was In favor Of annexation. He cited
the difference between New York city bonds which
were selling at par and the present deprecated con-
diton OF their town bonds, the value Of which was
CONSTANTLY TENDING DowNwARDS
In order TO be on q level, financially, with New
York. they must be annexed, and then that financial
level would be ct once apparent He explained the
present unjust and inconsistent rates or taxa
tton In the town OF West Farms and en-
deavored to show that the taxes there were pro-
portionately greater than they were In the
city, where property owners had the benefit
OF Crot0n water, police, fire department and
all the other advantages which enhance the value Of
property. Their remedy lay In annexation The
speaker moved that committee be appointed to
draft address setting ferth the reasons why the
people Of West Farms should Immediately apply for
annexation to New York. and that the same should be
printed and circulated among the mass Of the tax
payers. He urged that public meetings be called,
mighty
EXPRESSION OF THE PEOPLE
would be heard and felt In the legislative halls Of
the State.
Lewis @. Morris and J0hn Savage also addressed
the assemblage in q similar strain, both taking
decided stand IN favor Of annexation. The meeting
was characterized BY the most unexcepuonable
order and has~aony throughout the entire proceed
inQ5.