The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-23
THE NEEDS OF THE FUTURE.
Prospective March Of Population and
Business Nothward.
Bridges and Tunnels That Are
Prophesied.
A GREAT WATERWAY PROJECTED.

Brlgader General A. A. HUMPHREYS Chief of Engineers,
United States Army. Washington, CT
GENERAL-I have respectfully 70 transmit results OF
surveys and my report the improve nent OF the
Harlem River from Randaps Island, by way o: spuyten
Buyvl creek, Hudson River. New York, provided
for by the ofJune % s7 for examinatons surveys
and contingencies rivers and harbors The Harlem
River and spuyten Duyvh Greek form continuous
waterway, about eight miles long between the East
and Hudson rivers and Manhattan Island rom
the mainland. The tide GIBBS and flows through the
strait both from the Hudson and East rivers and Is
essentially Of The
HARLEx.
Before the Revolutions subsequent thereto up to
the year lSlL this channel used and navigaed by
the people living on lis banks as means OF communca
ton with city OF New YORK and a thoroug are
which lumber produce and other material
transported by soops schooners and similar vessels
During the Revolution both the British and Continental
armies used its waters for the transportation of
plies building materials, &C. In ISIS the history of the
artificial distractions to the navigation OF this strait
commences. A grant obtained from the Legis-
la;ure Of New York by Robert Macomb permitting
him To build dam across the river at the
place marked Central Bridge or Macomb's Dam"
This was bad enough in itself, but in violation his
Macomo in l5t erected the structure withou
leaving pasageway tor vessels In 1855 the Commi=-
sioners appointed to supply New York witr water de-
termned to the river about mile above the dam,
by a what similar to il
port their pipes 1t only by determined OPP
position public spirited citizens that the Commission
ers were compel by an act the Leg
the Harlem River by an aaueluct with arches OF at
least 30 space and not less than lou feet from the
usual high water mark OF the river to the
undersde of the arches at the crown" The High
Bridge, Notwithstanding the enforced Improvement OF
its plan is owing the limited of its arches ard
other features still in the way OF feasible and important
improvements OF the navigation.
In 1889 Mr.. Lewis G. Norris one Of and on the part
OF committee of citizens proceeded 10 Macombs Dam
with party OF men and pulled down and removed
1h. has-f haan
placed by a bridge which, however is obstruction
the how OF water and IN the way OF feasible and inpor-
EFFORTS IMPROVEMENT.
l31 an &c, to neoFpore the IN, arem Rlver canal
thori@ed to construct canal from spuyien Duyvil
Of the Harlem River So alord easy navgatoh
e IL a the ANAL two seL l s s 3r
tended In 1885 tne above act revised
date renewal Nohing done under these charters
mon coaacn Of the city of New York Mr.. George &.
sented renort upon provement It's navigation
pci sn the northern END Of Sew Yofk Islani. -.
,d 5 for % aaTe 1e y eT e
leave The question OF the improvement of The river to
In is57 Concurrent resolution of the LEGISLATURE Of
the STATE passed requesting the Senators aud Rep
BY CONGRESS Tor tie relnovS Of o0stracons to the
navigation Harlem River and appropriating the nee
In 1850 he Legislature directed the Supervisors of
New YORK county a survey to be made the
Harlem diver with a view ascertaInna VINE ther the
fe sSai Of e apervsas Mr. j. Mcleod Murpsy Owl
a4 nn ne eePf ye upon tn The are
E e M MuE G@ wa qes. e @ popds 1
about ae er s P32be s beu OF
Lree&-
In 1868 the Hudson and Harlem River Canal Com.
PAW was ed BY ne new ore legislature Inc
ieet deep Inns project also contemplated cutting
ng e ns OF me Brd g' Kills so "a 10 open passage
IN this way the Dangers .detour through Hell Gate
In o66 the charter o. TINS company was extended TOR
grtnef another attemps a. extension having faiied'
Tie ioregoing s.a~,nenta snow thls originally the
waters Of ne Harlem saver were mayigaDie IN rough
tier M m ~ 20 ae % o.
used Tor Of vessels between the rivers
Aew York to have been indifferent the necessity
allowed ,he erection 81 dams and other cbstracons
tnat enecluaiy prevented navgauon; and has been
ia ana BY the erection Of aqueduct one time
lbs surveys and examinations hitherto made and the
1as h Ip S mem NO ' @ 20 nave M
Harlem ana Spuyten Duyvil sufficiently upon
them project Of improvement; and the recoris 90
widths o. the harlem ana spuyten Duyyi render per-
e. ,e 1 b Nth Rcr and ros,er 1 art o. b a
o oo s By Mr. LEWIS M PTen
................. $4,000
Blue s5lUo
ro,at a. s-s 40
iRis stated not to include ali the coal ISmosr IS
not included nor eas bound to the East
Harlem llyer snG spuyten DuSvil occupy nearly the
N S a1a a9d me mn be- me deppt M 81 a s OF
nms,er stone br,cAsi cement aLn iine ana o'ner
proyement Of the rivers UPON an ade-
nee bes%een toe SoR and Eiern ports as
well relieve The harbor Of hew forK Of ire nconyen-
fences now endured " the passage q vessels 90 bound
Is urged tnai t.e,e rveri VIII anera me mo-,
canal boats which are compelled 70 axe refuge ~ The
ing Tie advantages commerce and navigation whicn
pyerh being IN the future II is SIMPLY n 10
forc-ec be effects save IN very general way; but Il
a. 100 much inportance TO SUB Get
uoei Green Of ne PARK Commits sion made IN IsGs:-
these two are really but one river or, rather they
River aud ne sound with the north side Of the
mcrce his c nary has Inc advantage of the ina mes m
the lar less ncOnvenlpnce arising the all
o. The tues, IN tle Thames sometimes equd 10 twenty
Of sore houses ana in handing goods 10 be oaded and
lnS ,la les on the Harlem rise about SIX eet
deboaenmeni INTO both rivers the fall q rain nat
DecnyeHiecc ave no mportant Effect on the ase
Ala small cost IN comparison with The ascruns
Lona Stand sound through the Harlem Ryer, with
some points city and ALBANY and OF width
suncent Tor an the practical purposes Of the commerce
Sihe importance Of measures for The Improvement Of
general COMMUNICATION to the Board in the year l.e5
Ii has brought 70 more general NOTICE. ana Is
beginning TO commant the attention Of Landowners in
York and IN Wesichesier county, Il should and
sooner later VIII that OF the hubble authorizes OF OOth
ana OF The stle, as IL cOncerns deeply large
portion Of the commerce OF the Interior.
without detailing the rc~u u 10 DC anticipated
from -ucn 10 Is sufficient 10 repeat that
it will shorten the the travel between the
North Elser the Inc sound and Of large
the OF BROOKLYN y the bAst hiNer
between toe North aver ana the astern states ny
than twenty miles around the hattery, OF INC ted
Gus expensive and unsafe navigation Of the cr0Wled
* the city. and M connection WIN the
Improvement proposed al Hell Gate viii Increase the
facilities OF foreign tratnc by The oini.
= Us 100 these waers OF the Harlem
and Spuvlcn luYvl were respected as nayiglDle
stream W on record tAat the urst br1ge across ht M
vas drawuridgc, at or near the site o. TIE present
king-bridge erected BY Frederick Phl ipsc prior to
thnt Recent surveys, under the direction
OF he "reminiscences The Central fark est biished
the i~ot that PRIOR IN arncia distractions III the river