New-York tribune., 1872-11-06
A SUBURBAN PROBLEM.
ANNEXATION OR CONSOLIDATION OF THE
wESTCHESTER TOWNS.

. FORMING A bEPARATE mUNlCiEALiIl'
Forty thousand people who reside in the
towns OF West Farms Morrsania Westchester and that
part OF Yonkers lying south OF that town camorng
for single and Homogeneous government The villages
which comprise these townships and the townships them
selves are thcy populated being united by continuous
rows ot dwellings aud divided only by invisible lines
drawn through the oenters OF settlemens which are
identical In The projects OF the tunnel
and suspension bridge the Harlem River affect the
interests OF property in all these towns ana
the necessity for some legislation which will unto them
under one government Is reeOguizod universally that
action will probably be taken by the Legislature to
by enactment settlements which, as the pro-
aress OF Improvement has unmst1kaby indicated
should be united without delay As the villages have
increased in size the want OF water conducted rom
some common has become apparent and that
can he obtained n one OF only ways either by an
nexation to this city Incorporation into separate
city, the authorities which shall take to pro-
vide for the wants of the community
To accomplish the desired objects two plans have been
proposed concerning the praotcaby ofwhich there Is
great diversity Of opinion The first plan is to annex
the villages this city, and regard them as upper wards
Of The metropolis; and the the other Is to Incorporate
them into separate city, like Brooklyn. Jersey City, or
Newark
The township OF Morrsania includes the villages Of
Morrisania, Mott Haven Port Morris. Wilton, North
New-York East and West Morrisania. Melrose, Wood
stock, EltOD ClaremOnt,
ers of all these places thlckly studded with houses
so that hoy have become virtually single settlement
covering large This township is governed partly
by who correspond TO the Board OF Aldermen In
this city and the form Of government partakes OF the
nature of both Village and city, The township OF West
Farms comprises the villages OF fremont, Belmont
West Farms, Central MOrrisania, Mount Hope Mount
Eden, Wnliamsbridge Fairmount and Fordham. The
settlements are laid with scarcely any reference 20
one another their surroundings The same Is true
OF that part town of Yonkers adjoining this city,
and OF those parts OF tho towns OF Eastheser and West
within the radal distance OF tho CITY Hall
KingsDrIdge.
BENEFITS OF ANNEXATION
The subject OF giving those towns uniform govern
up for discussion 1863 and was considered
by tine Legislature in 1870, when numerous schemes
for uniting the city with its neghbOring county were
agtated The project considered premature In 1863
and the Ring revelations and the consequent nterrup
ton Of all local Improvement schemes caused 1t to be
held in allegiance in 1871 but that the projects Of
rapid transit tunnels and suspension bridges have been
farly begun the question is again agitating the minds
interested persons, who affirm the necessity Of immc
diate action, The following views OF those most deeply
concerned m the matter have been obtained from prop
erty owners IN the towns mentioned.
Most those who favor annexation reside in the large
settlements such as MOrrsania and West Farms while
In the hume small villages there IL strong senti-
ment in OF having separate city government.
with this city base their views substantially the fol-
lowing grounds The tunnel which is about to be
sructed under the Harlem River at tho head OF seventh
will probably involve an expense to Westchester
County of about S5OOOO while the proposed suspension
bridge will much more, and 1t Is argued that II
the towns annexed TO the city the county would
then simply he assessed the same pro rata amount as
equally pOpuous portions II this city will be called upon
to pay. It Is also extremely doubtful whether the sup
ply OF water that be drawn through the CrotOn
Aqueduct will be more than this city with ts present
limits will ultimately require under rigid rules 10 pre-
vent waste. 1t is urged that the hight Of
much OF the land in the southern pOr-
ton Of Westchester County ia too great TO
admit deriving supplies from the Croton Aqueduet
but iudclcus arrangement Of the means an" ~~@nuos
such portions Of the surplus OF the Croon as the season
might afford would be productive OF immediate benefit
to property both sides Of the river and would rapidly
hasten its occupancy 1t Is stated that only the Bronx
and saw Mil Rivers available for the supply OF
water 20 these villages and that these resources should
be secured a early period possible aud before the
banks of these streams occupied with establishments
will pOllute the waters, aud render the streams
unfit use except at the great cost OF buying OF this
class OF occupants. ..
The question OF supplying this city with pure water
was first agtaed 1901, and various projects sui
sequenty entertained aud discussed; but 1t half
century ater-isn-when the Croton water was fually
the villages southern westchester County, which have
larger population than New-YOrk had in $780, they will
be without pure water until 1920 and urged that
work should be begun once the burden borne
by the villages sngy or collectively. the cost Of carry
ing out the project say nothing Of the difficulty Of oh
tauing tine necessary amount OF funds by the sale OF
DO nds, would overwhem the property-owners with a
load OF debt which they could recover and that
nneXation to this city, which will relieve them Of all
except their proportonate share of the burden
Is the only remedy
PROGRESS OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS.
IL stated, again, that the building OF bridges between
this city and Westchester County has always caused
vexaon and trouble disputes Invariably arising as to
the proporonate share of the expense and the city
now has In Westchester County the whole line OF the
Croon Aqueduct and large area OF land In Putnam
County FOR present aud future reservoirs It urged that
the laying OF roads and bridges and the appOr
tiOnment OF expenditures for great works built in the
interest OF both counties and Of the whole public should
be removed from the petty squabbles OF small double
usdctions and left the determination some body
with powers sufficiently comprehensive to deal with
these subjects In the interest seotion OF this
city and Weschester County alike. The necessity Of
such action recognized when the powers of the
Police and Health Board Of this city extended not
only this city and Westehester County, but over
Kings and Richmond Counties.
Under OF the Legislature eight separate and
pendent commissions now laying ont and grading
avenues and streets In the towns OF West Farms aud
Morrisiana and several OF these lines necessarily inter-
sect. while the separate town authorities stl exercise
control In grading the remaining streets without refer
70 the commissions. These works-Of physical
and material character in which both the counties have
common interest and which will be fostered by unity
OF development-are the water supply sewerage the
navigation OF interjacent waters and the means OF
crossing these waters. These measures, It Is urged
could be more wisely planned and executed by single