The New York herald., 1875-08-23
Will Upper Manhattan Ever Get It's
Wished-For Roadway?
FIVE MILES OF SYLVAN BEAUTY.
Ten Years. Agitation Among the Politicians,
Who Want to Know '1f There's
Anything in IT,"
WILL THE ROAD BE BUILT?


in the Board OF Aldermen by Alderman Joseph strack
The resolution reads follows and the disposition
mado OF II is given below
Resolved That the Kingsbndge road from the north
ery line Of 155th the Harlem river Spuytcn
Duyvl Creek be regulated graded and curbed the
walks tagged four feet width and that the roadway
be constructed the Telford Macadam plan, accord
ing TO the specifications for such roadway as con-
structed the Boulevard and that the labor and
work required for such regulating, grading, curb
ing, tagging, and roadway be done by days work;
and that tho materials required therefor be procured by
the Commissioner of Public Works in such manner
he deem for the best interests OF the city and the
property owners-a 10 be done under tho direction OF
the Commissioner Of Public works-and that the
companying ordinance therefore be adopted.
Hc then moved 10 refer tho to tho Committee
Roads The President then put the question whether
the Board would agree with said motion which do
cidcd in the Affirmative
fact patent TO nearly all Of the citizens Of this city
that the district through which this road proposed
be improved and wdened is Of the valuable
New York island and yet during tho long interval
this resolution referred committee Of the Board
OF Aldermen not step has bcen taken remedy the
evils which the present ragged edge condition OF tho
road involvea Tho Committee on Roads which
| consists OF Aldermen Reilly, Mccarthy and Deanc
have had the resolution referred to them; and while
citizens owning property to the valuo of perhaps
900 kept waiting patiently from year year
for this much desired and long -ooked-for improve
ment, this committee pay not the slightest attention
TO tho wants Of their constituents, who forced
TO find their way, night after night, through dark
country anc, which fronts and borders upon the
magnificent suburban residences in any OF the ncshbor
hoods environng the metropolis
OLD, eroRY.
In 1S65-teu years ago-the Inhabitants OF Kings
bridge, Carmansville, Fort Washington, Inwood and
the ncghboring villages made up their minds that
they ought to have public road and they discussed
and canvassed the subject quito freely The locality of
the Kngsbrdge road Is celebrated for It's romantic and
sylvan solitude and beauty and the citizens Of this
treat, many OF whom lived in houses built by their
grandfathcrs, thought 1t only fair that
this section of the city should reap the benefits
OF any improvements that might he made These were
the early prosperous days Of tho ring rule in this city
and the opening OF road was looked upon as Col
conda of punder for all the harpcs who fed upon public
improvements The first Commissioners OF Assessment
and Award appointed Henry Parsons, William
Parsons and John T. MCGOWAN, the latter being
a young lawyer To these gentlemen succeeded
Thomas J. Crcamer and James H. Coleman, Henry Par
sons retaining his place the commission Assess
ents made not at all satisfactory to the property
holders, and the matter taken before Justice
Donohue when the Commissioners made their
report and in the case of James Lynch,
notably wealthy property holder, who appealed
from the report OF the Commissioners believing it to
be unfair Chief Justice Davis and Judge Law
renee however, denied tho motion, and the crowds OF
property holders who attended court with almost
brilliant array OF private counsel, received no
satisfaction surveyor named Edward Boyle
was appointed to take charge OF the proposed
ncw road. and money plenty in those days, how
gotten wonders expected; and yet ten long
years have elapsed since then. generation has
grown up old has passed 70 its fathers and not
a cobbc stone has boen turned in tho
bed OF the Kingsbridge road, and, possibly
that Aldermen Reilly, Mccarthy and Dcanc
have taken hold of it, may be that ten other years will
clapse before the sound OF the public pick shovel is
heard in the shadow Of the OF the old revolution
airy Kingsbrdge road Yet h is duty that these
officials to the public to report to the Board the
ordinance offered by one Of the Aldermen what
they propose TO do, and they should do il
at once AZ the inhabitants Of the district
arc waiting for them and have heard even nm echo
in eight months Surely II need not take eight months
to consider IT, such simple and easily wordcd resou-
ton as the which is printed at the head OF this
article.
GENERAL
General Ftz John Porter has repeatedly stated 10
property holders that he ready TO 60 with the
work. and begin operations soon the ordinance
passed by the Board Of Aldermen But until they have
made up their wcighy minds, It will be impossible for
the Commissioner OF Public Works to stir In the matter
There about Ave miles OF road to be cxcavated laid
out graded and sidewalks to be built and it is a big
job OF road work, and will take somo timc, even II
properly performed and economically accounted for to
tho people who are to be assessed.
IS THERE IT!
And now comes a very grave question for tho
property holders OF this section. Tho net
now before tho Board OF Aldcrmen-if II
Is ever passed-reads that the job Of
improving and laying out the road shall be done in
"days' work." It is called by tho Commissioner Of
Public Works instead OF being done in tho honest way
which is 10 have lot sections at
the lowest bids made in public Tho property owners
who arc most interested in the matter, have informed
the writer that the days work" plan promises
TO turn out . huge swindle tho tax
payers who viii have TO pay tho fiddler
no matter who does tho dancing. And therefore
Il the opinion of nearly every taxpayng citizen Of
Inwood Fort Washington and Kngsbridgc that to pre-.
vent an opcn and swinde from being pcrpe
trated upon them they organize themselves into
Taxpayers Association In order that they may be en-
abled protect their interests An example may
DC given in this wiso Of how the days work" system
will work compared with the contrac, system, which
open and above board and by which fraud be de-
tccted at oncc;--
A ptPFEREScE wrrH A VENGEANCE
II Is estimated by practical engineers that In assess
ing for this road tho of twenty hvc front
ing on tho Kingsbridgc road will have 70 pay about
5000 special tax for the improvement much
needed that " the work be douo by the plan
But II II IL done by the days work" system the
ecssmcnt will probably amount for the Same
twenty i've feet frontage TO about 81 500 or difference
of 81. 800 But fancy what tremendous amounts Of
money properties like the Seaman, Dyckman. Hays and
other valuable will yield the cormorants who
may bc appointed TO fatten on those wealthy land
holders
nuo vvcl lnovn c,Izen of Tnwood who lives on the
Ridge road suggested tho writer that u would be an
excellent plan Tor the residents OF the villages border
ing either side of the kingsbrdgc road
To- club together. assess themselves and build
a magnificent roadway that would be credit and
beauty TO the upper part OF the island and at very
moderate cost all those Interested IN the property
Furthermore the residents the Inc of the pro
posed Improvement do not by any means want road
way the Telford Macadam plan, which would break
their horses feet TO pieces the long drive that
would reach from avenue ST. Nicholas 10 Ionkcrs and
which, when completed and connected would make ono