New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-02
THE NEH CITY.

The annexation of the lower Westchester
| towns opens to our municipal authorities a
magnificent opportunity for distinction. Rarely
has it been within the power of a great city
to [map out its future boundaries. direct the
growth of its various features, and guide the
development of its beauty as well as its bust
ness. as it seems to be within our power now.
Cities have usually been built up without fore
thought, extending on this side or on that to
meet the wants of trade and manufactures, in
obedience to the impulses of tempo
rary convenience. Where Government has
adorned them, it has done so by
the destruction of unsightly buildings,
and the alteration of plans that experience
has proved defective. But here we have
city growing rapidly. growing fast, and grow
ing in one invariable direction. The older
parts are thoroughly occupied. The newer
have certain marked natural features which
VIII enable u.s. with very little trouble, to de-
vote them to certain leading purposes. We
can safely say Of this avenue that in about
so many years it will be occupied by ware
houses; of that that in the course of half a
generation it will be the home of our richest
families. Here we can moor our ships; there
we shall build our railway shops; on yonder
ridge will stand our villa residences. And
nearly half of the new metropolis
is so far unoccupied that almost
any change can be made in the map of Its
streets without the demolition Of many valu-
able improvements. Moreover the Northern
part of New York has advantages of natural
scenery and situation which very few great
cities can equal 1t is washed by three beau
tiful rivers 1t is dotted with majestic trees.
1t abounds with alterations of hill and vale,
giving way to nearly uniform depression of
the surface along the line Of communication
naturally chosen for the chief routes to the
North and East. Out of such region 1t
would be easy to construct the most beautiful
city in the world.
The duty of framing plans for this new
metropolis has been imposed upon the Com
missioners of Parks. The designation is a
good one, for it is evident that a large por-
ton of the Northern part Of the city will par
| take of the character Of an urban pleasure
ground, and it is of course essential that all
the plans for different portions should CORE
| sp0nd. both with each other and with the ex-
tensions of bOulevards and avenues on Man
haitian Island. Two years ago cOmprehen-
| sive scheme for laying out the lower part Of
Westchester was formally adopted; but the
| Commissioners have power to modify this at
pleasure. They should undertake their I'M
portant task with due deliberation, and re-
member that they are not laying out villages,
nor merely laying out parks, but building
the metropolis Of the future, where
wealth and industry, commerce and plea
sure must both find their home. The
| time is not far distant when the Harlem River
will be crossed at one end by a score Of high
| level bridges, and under-run at the other by
numerous tunnels. Its waters will be vexed by
constant traffic, and its shores on both sides will
be lined with wharves and embankments. The
clearing of He'll Gate will shift the location
of q great deal Of our foreign and coastwise
commerce; and Harlem, which is now so re-
mote from all the wholesale warehouses, viii
become a great center of business activity.
All this must be taken into consideration, as
well as the various problems of rapid transit
and railway accommodation, and the wants Of
well-to-do citizens, who will find along the
biQb grounds and IN the neighborbood of the
parks and boulevards superb sites for private