New-York tribune., 1873-05-14
HOW A NEw-YoRK BOULEVARD IS opENEI

HOW A NEW-YORK BOULEVARD IS OPENED.
CLOSE OF THE COMMISSIONERS woRK-RsrIMATED
COST OF THE COMMIssloN-LEGAL POINTS Al
ISSUE
The red tape of the Boulevard extension Is
hardly less notable than the work itself UDl the ap
pontment OF the Commission TO prepare the way Tor
tins work. the principle Of appointment had been 10
select men not in the real estate business ana ths
course was the ground that men OF that class DehR
Interested In Initiating prices In the Ioutkrts Wouu DO
likely 10 put cttons valuations on outlying lands ana
thus Introduce fraudulent element But 1t was argued
ON the other hand that real estate experts provided
they were honest. possessed vastly superior
facilities for appralsing land, thwartins sex-
orbitant claims, aud taking care OF the
minutie OF the business, over persons unacquanted
with the subject, who must hrst SET ABOUT acquiring
some knowledge OF 1t, and then apply their knowledge
with the constant danger OF being tripped up. Ihete
had been too, popularity about the appointment OF
Commissioners which was ominous. BY the law they
must be appointed by Judge or the supreme COURT
and under the Ring management Judge Albert Cardozo
was the usual man for the duty. The first important
commission appointed since the downfall OF the hhg
was that on awards and assessments on the Boulevard
extension This extension 20 begin at tho north
end OF the existing Boulevard at nehundredand-hity
nfthst. aud Eleventh-ave was to follow Ee'ehth-aVe'
TO elghthst; then curve to the
west and wind along the uneven ground. parallel in
general with the North River crossing the open one
hundred and dfy-eghth.st. and the Fort Washington
Depot road ut about the line OF Onehundredandslxty
hfth-st, that street open and finally, curvlnS
suddenly eastward, to strike the Kingsbridge road at
Inman and DyCkmansts about the point where Two
hundredand fhst would fall if the ground we're laid
out according to the old pan and within about II miles
OF Kingsbrdge. The latter point was about III miles
north OF the City Hail. and the extension was to De
about 81 miles long, owing to Its winding course Prop
erty to the OF about S9O was TO be taken the
work was so great that 1t would afford an Infinite num-
Der OF for delay, for which there we're many
opportunities
The appointment was referred TO Judge Brady, VINO
went out Of the usual and named real estate
lawyer, william c. Traphagen real estate dealer,
John McClave; and journalist. William A seayer The
appointments we're made about five months ago, ana
the Commissioners began work at once They dld the
appraising themselves thus saving the expense OF
separate appraiser and had the maps drawn the estl
mates made and the documents ready for inspection In
time TO have obi ctions presented before April 49, Eleven
objections to awards were presented, ana IA To assess
ments number which is said to be unusually small In
view OF the extent Of the work. Ten days were gwen
for the hearing OF objections Aaron II. Yanderpoe ap
peared as attorney for Lavnia s. Hawey and claimed
consequential damages because the grade of the roadway
would fall below the cellar OF house the property
and also that since old deeds TO the center OF Streets
compensation should he rende for half OF an old road
running 10 Audubon Park. Oliver w. West, attorney
for George b. Grinne produced att iavlts to the effect
that lots the vicinity OF obiectors property were
worth from 81 oOO and asked an Increased award
The Commissioners denied the validity OF the Audubon
Park road claim; and Commissioner McClave % an ex
pert showed records Of sales that lots q. b.
Griuners property worth about 70 per cent less
than the value claimed Henry Fl. Anderson appeared
for Foster and claimed consequential damages be
cause the grade Of the roadway would pass as high
NJ n ".
Messrs Devlin, Shaw, Kitchell. and Davies also ap-
peared for obecors to the correction OF
minor errors OF calculation.
The Commissioners went the ground last week,
and decided what TO recommend in the case Of the OBJ
iections but they withhold the Information till the
whole report shall be put into the hands of the Supreme
Court on May 90 The estimated expenses of the Com
mission have been filed In the Department OF Pebble
Works. and will go before the court Saturday. They
are as folows