The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-09
ROARD OF ALDERMEN.
CORPORATION COUNSEL SMITHS OPINION ON
THE HARLEM FLATs-THE POWERS OF THE


BOARD DEFINED-THE WATER SUPPLY
BEREAVEMENT OF STREETS.
regular weekly meeting of the Board OF Alder
men was held yesterday, President Lewis In tn,
chair. Nineteen members OF the Board were
present. Mayor Fulton, OF Galveston, Texas, oc
cuped seat beside MIR. Lewis.
oBsTRUcTING SIDEWALKS WITH CARTS
Alderman Morris presen ted a resolution, which
was adopted, as an Amendments TO an ordinance
passed in 1866 as to the backing OF wagons on side
walks. The present resolution provides that no
wagons Will be allowed on sidewalks except IN
cases where railroad tracks are so near the curb.
stone that IL is impossible to back up without
stopping the cars. In no ease Will wagon be
allowed 70 remain more than nve minutes.
THE REFAvRdENr OF STREETS.
Alderman Seery onered a resolution, which was
adopted, directing the Board OF Appor tion me mt,
under the law as 70 a uniform system OF pavement
in this city passed by the last Legislature, 10 APP
propriate 100000 for such work. In case this
course cannot be taken the resolution directs the
Board to apply any unex pended balances in their
hands for said purpose.
CORPORATION COUNSEL SMITH on THE HARLEM
FLATS.
The following communication was read from the
Counsel 10 the Corporations
GENrLENEN-l have received a resolution adopted by
your honorable body the I'd of July inst requesting
tain proposed ordinances for toe nhug lots
RESOLUTION 10 me refers to tour
uons tor such ordinances, covering the following
between 10th lOSh streets lands between Fourth
lands 6etwsea, fhird ana Film avenues, from
to 10th 5 S lands , rO% Third to
ut @ Are ~ Letter from the Ire;
Honor Mayor, u
immediate passage also by letter IRON the Commits
the Mayor, requesting tnat such resolutions and ordl
nances be submitted to The Common Council with re.
Honor the Mayor dated Jane 10, 1870. to the Common
recommending that prompt action be taken upon the
The resolution adopted by your honorable body re-
cites also that the Board OF Health extraordinary
nSes to enforce the ng in of the lots referred to in
these buttons and that the Commissioner OF Public
dn substance that doubt exists whether if the Com
and vSd On Re 1pery
benefited can be laid; and then requests my opinion
Board IN any Conformity with the
laws 20 St the oe be- vad and e whe6er ing
com@issioneT Of Pub &c WORKS %ouiI ID at PRESENT be
incur any expenSe whatsoever there being no appro-
The powers Of the Common Council in reference to
Srdsng the ang up OF lands e7 IN the city 81
e the S p ELS and 5 % the Ss
shall from time time necessary and proper for
city %s york; q Be
proper to Ali up or regulate These laws also provide
that the expense Of such lling and regulating BY the
also authorize the city 70 do such work at its
Under existing laws sucn expense must be met by the
issue Of asse ssme1 Mt bonds but Is made lien upon the
such lots in the same manner n which other assess
tor 9sa to- e are a9w % % The
am aware IN Iull force ana see no reason TO doubt
for tie anz Of the sanfeh aads ia question and that
valid for he expense OF such hlng eau be
would however respectfully suggest thar in order to
prOposed resoaons and ordinances the same be be
changed 50 % t. direct ana require The owner or own
vision in reference to the owners resolu
manner recitng that the city deems it necessary for
the more speedy execution Of the work to do it at IT'S
recting that the work be done by the Commissioner OF
iwoad also resPsetgy suggest that the resolution:
and dehnteness as to what amount OF filling is to be
The resolution transmitted to is herewith returned
am gentlemen yours respectfully s,p,n sx,ru
Counsel to the CORPORATION.
In accordance with this opinion the ordinances
in relation TO this subject were called up. There
are Jour OF these ordinances, all bearing upon the
different quarters In Harlem, where the nulsances
exist. One OF the ordinances reads as follows:-
Resolved That the sunkeu lands from Third avenue
to Harlem River between osh and l0sth streets, be
filled in by contract or such the Commits.
o the cy under the direction Of the Of
Public Works, and that the accompanying ordinance
therefore be adopted
REPUBLICANS DEFEAT THE ORDINANCES.
Alderman Simonson offered substitute provid-
ing that the owners should be directed to I'LL in
those lots and in cases OF failure their part to
40 tue work thea the city should direct it 10 be
perfected by contract
whatever Tor the adoption OF this substitute 10
Is only introduced for purposes OF delay. Every
The expense OF filing Ia those lots. They had
already ample reason Tor attending 10 SO vital
subject
Alderman Mccarthy followed In similar strain
OF argument against the outrage OF lnterposing
such an impeachment TO immediate action.
the question as TO adopting Alderman Simon
sons proposition was put and lost.
The ordinance was tnen placed before the Board
for It's action and defeated All the republicans
present vottd against IT, as 1olloWs;-
NAYs.-Aldermen Rowland, Morris Robinson, Simon
son. Desne, Soutnworth and Vance.
When the next ordinance on the same subject
was. called up Alderman Slmonson moved to
amend so a. to compel the W0rk TO be done by
Aldermen Purroy anc Mccarthy again entered
an energetic protest against This amendment
They stated 1t would take thirty days TO advertise
for bids to 90 the work. We were now in the
middle Of the hot season, when Immediate action
The smendmenr and ordinance were lost by the
same vote as before.
The otrer two ordinances were next brought up
AND the same tactics reS0rted to by the repuOli-
cans 10 secure their defeat, o two-Ihirds vote
being required on passage Of measures where ex-
penditure Of money Is involved.
PAYMENT OF CAR LICENSES.
Alderman Blessing offered q resolution request
ing the Mayor to direct the prosecution OF suits
against railroad companies Tor non-paynent OF
licenses. This was adopted. 1t appears that some
$780, 600 are now due the city from this source.
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO PASS THE DOG LAW.
Tue ordinance IN relation to the capturing OF
dogs during the summer months was agaia called
up for passage but failed 10 secure the requisite
NUMBER Of votes.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
ordinance No. 1873, authorizing the Commissioner
of Public Works to lay water pipes, mains and nx-
lures, In accordance with laws passed Dy the last
Legislature for extending those facilities was
called up and elected some discussion.
Alderu al Morris offered resolution requiring
that inquiries he MADE OF the Commissioner OF
Public Works rs to the probable amounts re-
ouired to perform all this work, and also his plans
IN relation thereto, particularly as to the work In
the annexed district. The gentleman stated In
connection with tnis resolution that she Commits
sioner had already some two hundred thousand
dollars for the lurtherance OF this work, and un-
der the law could procure two hundred thousand
Wa