New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-01

Total. ~
This vast sum expended on uptown Improvement
represents the cost OF only part OF them IL does not
include expense of the improvement Of the Eighth
ave. or the land for the park at High Bridge. the
ordinary street improvements such as sewerng regu
lating, and paving, which will amount TO many other
Millions Probably not onequarter OF this sum has been
expended on city works below Twenty thrdst. In ~
years.
Tue Controller then explains his opposition to uptown
improvements and claims that while he had much to do
with the formation OF many of the plans his course has
not been inconsistent An extract will show the nature
Of his argument:
More than I6 years ago work begun Central
Park and at This time there are not Sd houses 6ut on
ihe seven miles of avenues aud streets that bound
II. There more than eleven miles OF avenues and
bouleyards other than those surrounding the ParK,
completed for travel, with surface OF 100000
square feet every foot of which must be Kept IN repair
at a great annual expense whether Travelled or not.
Tne old Park Commissioners would, in prosecuting
works. studouly have regarded the rapdity with
and the ability of the local treasury TO sustain the
drafts upon it for these works. Not only have these
apded by those Who desire 10 conceal their ignorance.
Incompetence. and extravaganza behind the supposed
policy OF the Old Park Board but an entirely different
Set OF methods been allowed to creep nto the con-
duet works since they passed the control
upon which uptown improvements were originally
planned has very largely exceeded, partly because
the business Of supervision and Inspection mas been al
TO fall iuto corrupt incompetent hands, partly,
as IL stated resolution OF committee OF property
because the tax and assessment payers do not receive
an average of four hours OF honest labor for tho honest
full days they paw, partly because the contract
system la, been gradually replaced by method or
dong work which. by treating honest mechanics and
abOrers as vassals aud dependents offers greater
facilities for direct exercise OF political Influence
and partly because during the reign OF the theysh
and their friends were allowed to make fortunes out OF
the purchase OF land which was afterward overvaiued
acquisition Tor puDlc use ny couieuci"Vc' a"o op
poinIees OF the same set.
The Controller passes from an analysis OF the past and
present management of uptown public works TO con-
sideration of the policy of the city in the future He
says, among other things;
The Incorporation OF the lower part OF Weschester
Comfy which formed essential part Of their plans,
is au accomplished fact and now 1900 acres OF hc ely
lie below the Harlem RIVER and 1900 above IT, put tns
co,uccton was intended to exist otherwise tnan on
paper While eight broad avenues nave been WORKED 10
the Harlem River the means OF crossing v .o rncevn
much public attention. Thousands OF people pass ana
daily the wards the norm OF inc river 70
those on the south but the fol this niseraoy
Inadequate. distance OF one mile and hai as Tar Us
from the Battery ter to bT1ss 30 a. at aoem6
fro,n this to the next, the Farmers Bridge.
Is distance OF Tss % seare OF ans between
tnese distances there no provision psdns
for carriage crossing Inc raady ,,i,nS ont Of
repair, the draw is even now worked with grea,
diiculty The bridge at McComb's Dam Is now required
~ carry an enormous travel and traffic. 1t becoming
avery day more unsafe, and will not last Tor sale raVei
tn another structure can De PROVIDED 70 tase IT,
-.
and ncommode travel aud business 10 an extent tnat
would become intoerabe. The eleya;ed ground be-
tween the highseryice water tower anu FORT re-
mains as Inaccessible from WescDester County as II was
when Dewitt and his colleagues though tue planting OF
human habit ations on these rugged slopes dream
which Il would take centuries to realize 10 remedy
these deficiencies ia the communicasions Ietween Que
nart of the city and another 1t Is absolutely necessary
that the tunnel the Harlem River at the end OF
Seventl-aye, contemplated In tho original plan.
should be constructed at once, and that suspension
the high ground on both SIDES OF
the river north Of High Bridge Tue LEGISLATION that
looks to the accompaniment ot tneso ehus 10 o
nroper system Of dock improvements Is required to
back again the oc an steamers when nave el.
date provision ought 10 DC maze 70 iuinlsn propoa
piers and appurtenan facilities for the accommodation
~ sailing vessels the East River and OF the vast
traffic BIZ the canalbOats which are now so incOnye-
niently huddled together at various points such I'M
nrovemepts are source OF Immediate revenue 10 the
tayaton Improved appliances for handling the grain
cargoes brought by rail and canal ought 10 nave pascal
long from the region OF discussion into that
fo-ts 70 call public attention to the necessity for this
las OF aces and a. the merchants OF the city are
henng to these natter u may DO that we sua DO
fortunate enough to Mud some agency 10 carry Lhem
into practice without t0bDery and corruption
Ali the liues OF uptown Improvement Indicated IN the
amended plan OF the city WIN doao'ess uma,ey 10
OF b0ulevards aud parallel avenues should DO modified
and made TO cOnerm to public requirements. The eK
peuditurcs already made In those works realty
been out OF all proportion the other needs OF the city
Can afford " lavish more millions uptown ana cou-
tnue to neglect heways OF traffic aud travel down tow
commerce that susaius tho city chiefly conducted
The connections OF tho old with the new parts OF the
CITY, across Harlem River, should DO Immediately sup.
forward with due regard to the modern commercial
necessities for cheapening trsnsshipmeut
The sgssssted some years R since OF sS
annvtan DuyvL Craek and Harlan hV0x. vhl0k vul