The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-14

tered our It has been improved ana s-r ! =, cons,.
tion 10y planning husies add beds 0f DO, 80. WINS
MOUNT xoRRis sUARE.
Mount Morris square me great put re park OF Har.
lem and one oil The most beantlu r,hi,a Ma zoe -
the island Tor capabilities OF orna r.a,at,a Sss %
ceived large snare OF conslde SOC Tns i"rne,
be capable 0. BENG improved mat believed II e
the roads winding up 10 the eli m ia ceatre I'n,
s o""esapie asn ,,p ~ es streets aaceat ma
Is ciea! and a wax up Ae mn is layiting. M. nor
M ha,n nnsiI, c-r with the surrounding streets
that win be dic anu ~ a mo" r
y, m h s1on nc con tcd every respect, except as
s sU IL m,'t fen the neighaorhood about ms
M sc, - IN park opportunity for constructing
S' 81 0"'e' AuTa entrance at Firth avenue
r.-,,. HiSuGRipGE lARK.
hlgn' 6-ige PARK has been partly surveyed. and as
soon a the typographical survey OF u Is cohpe.eu
b 41 @''0ve~en' "' receive the '''Sn'0" tue
MoRNrNGsIpE PARE.
Morningsidc Park became part oil the city property
about the time this department oiganiAet. me ne.
cessary work to be performed a. az olner points
during the great heat OF me las, summer paeven,ea
work until The winter months, when engineers pre-
pared to lay 1t out and present map from which 10
prepare plan for Its improvement. y ~ a. - wen
known. u very difficult piece OF ground to treat for
purposes OF a garden or pubic PARK or place. being
on side mi aud composed Of a mass OF rock, with
very extensive WORK undertake, but that viii
poorly exhibit any attempted Improvement.
RECENTLY CONFERRED JURISDICTION.
The Legislature, al It's session Just closed, enacted
TWO important laws with respect TO this department.
Tue act respect TO Westminster county very largely
Increased the jurisdiction ana duties Of the board
over that county, besides imposing upon them the
care OF the bridges across the Harlem river There
is now at work upon Macomp's pam Bridge force
of engineers and workmen 10 prevent, II possible,
any IN ury happening 10 that structure. This bridge
was regarded a. dangerous, aud the tnhers had
been decaylng Tor some time. The chief civil aud
Typographical engineer OF the department. Mr.. Grant,
with force or competent assistants has tins
matter in charge ana no injury can happen pro-
yded the rules adopted for the use OF the bridge,
wiIic undel gong the necessary repairs shall be
observed. Two municipal policemen and two
parkkeepers ale Stationed there, ana instructed 70
enforce the REGULATIONS. the greatest care an i
caution shall DC exercised until the necessary sup
ports are placed under IT, The Board nope to lie
able 10 put II III connit on thai viii allow them 70
truct at This point an iron bldge and to provide
until that Drudge constructed, that the present
wooden or age may be used without dang r. AZ
as the plans can be prepared this derartme Mt
Will proceed with the CONSTRUCTION oil new bridge.
THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE
The suspension bridge authorized across the
Harlem river within hail nile above High Bridge,
Will soon be commenced. The report OF The chief
engineer attached hereto) gives All necessary par
coSpUorIxG DAILY BUSINESS.
This report would not be complete without re-
ferriug 10 the change that has been made in thc
method OF conducting the daily business OF the de-
patmen The oinces IN winch the late Commis.
the purpose. The public had not ready access to
The information which should ne within their reach
AT all times and without favor. The offices have
been removed To a convenient and accessible point,
and al the same time arranged afford the
public facility Tor Information without the
slightest difficulty; any one seeking knowledge on
any subject within the control OF the de-
partment, or information respecting ITS. en-
plOyes, Is now able TO procure II at all times.
The maps of the various coniempa ted improve
ments, and all information respecting them, can
now be had without the slightest dlaiculty. The
system or accounts has also beea changed by means
OF which every structure and every city park has
separate account OF Its expenditure, that at any
time the cost of any single Improvement can readily
be ascertained. The Board proposes TO continue
this system. and have discontinued the former plan
including &C..
count They think IT Is desirable that the public
may be able to know what any Improvement has
cost, and they are willing that the pubic should
nave all the Information on THIS subject wtnln the
control OF the Board.
the dinlcultles incident TO summer OF the greatest
heat and drought within the recollection OF the old
est inDabltant. All kinds OF work were In u great
degree suspended, and it was difficult 10 enforce
rules upon labor with a summer sun at a tempera
ture OF 40 degrees Another Difficulty had 10 be
encountered IN conforming 10 the law OF 1879, de.
claring eight hours to be days WORK, directing
that all public officials should conform thereto, and
declaring That all attempts to evade this law would
be followed by Impeachment and removal from
ONCE. The most material effect OF this law was 10
reduce the proportion oil actual results IN the work
Ing OF the department one-1fth IN amount. az by
taking two hours from The former working day Of
ten hours, lour-afths only OF the quantity OF work
IL performed for the same amount Of money. This
was equivalent to increasing the cost maintain
ing Central Park alone S6o000 per annum, while the
Appropriation for TINS purpose renamed at $500, oOo
the same amount that had been found necessary Tor
the control OF the late PARK Commissioners.
HEADS OF BUREAUS.
Reports from the various AIS Of bureaus within
he department are hereunt0 attached. They were
called upon TO state IN brief form the works that
had engaged their attention during the past year.
These will be found highly interesting, and treat
win great particularly the subjects referred TO.
The report OF the Engneer-in-Ch Chief ls especially
Interesting The diagrams attached give a proper
idea OF the improvements upon the various city
parks and avenues.
IMPROVEMENTS EXPECTED.
The Board expect before the present season
closes to complete all the city parks aud ihereai-
ter TO be enabled to devote their attention more to
the principal avenues already referred tothe Morn
tngsile ana Riverside Parks, the improvement OF
Harlem river. the construction Of bridges over it
and the Improvement OF the portion OF WestcheSter
county committed to their jurisdiction.
1ney also propose TO enter Immediately upon the
consideration OF The improvements OF the east side
OF the city authorized by the Laws OF 1871, esab-
hshlng the Eastern Boulevard. Ihey have already
prepared the necessary Typographical surveys OF the
city above ftyseventh street and east OF the Fifth
and Sixth avenues.
The subject Of grades OF all this section or the
City, the laying out OF the Eastern Boulevard, the
widening o closing OF such streets as may be con.
sdered advisable within that district Is one that
requires great deal OF consideration and Judg
mcnt Not only must the Board have the necessary
surveys prepared. but also the locality OF every
structure wltnin the district laid down upon the
mars submitted, IN order to enable them To make
the necessary improvements authorized by this law
They will consider this SUBJECT during the presen,
season. and determine In regard ~ IT, The question
OF laying out pubic squares and places upon tht
east is that deserves ana viii receive care
fu consideration.
BY order OF the Board,
PETER b. SWEENY, President.
HENRY HILTON, Treasurer.
GEORGE Al. VAN MORT CLERK.
Appendix.