New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-01
Tile RIVERSIDE IMPROVEMENT.

nDgeneuts of this character
THE RIVERSIDE IMPROVEMENT.
MEMORIAL OF PARK COMMISSIONER MARTIN TO THE
GIsLATURE-AssERTED BENEFITS OF A COMPILE
TON OF RIVERSIDE AvENUE-ANsWER TO TIE
OBJECTIONS URGED BY THE CONTROLLER.
Park Commissioner w. r. Martin has adj
dressed communication TO the Hon. W. b. Woodin,
Chairman Of the Senate Committee on the Affairs OF CIT
es which he advocates the passage OF the bill for the
improvement Of Rvcrsideave, and asks favorable re-
port from the Committee. His principal arguments are
! as follows:
Hisnot the purpose OF this bill TO authorize the rcgu-
ating grading and paving OF this avenue, FOR that Il
done already by existing laws Under those iaws ,le
work upon this avenue could be carried on ana az w.
sessinen therefor laid upon the properly penon'rai W
the way as it would be in the ease Of any "nr
as to the validity OF this assessment without der,
mining this question: il the purpose Of tins depart
mcnt in preparing this BILL TO obviaie any sncn question:
by providing assessment OF the cost al coIuc
ing the ,S s m ' have 's ope%9 In It's
work the bill follows Section OF chapter o'', iws y,
provisions OF this sort. essential principle H. end
indeed II would bo sufficient In THIS laSnas" lhHt VIE
same way any other ayenne in the ci'y Hp ,n s
laws and thai the cost sh"ga Dc " '0
II Is proper that the work on tins avenue sHon'n po
| prosecuted now for the following reasons:
rs That this is the Last OF series " improvements
for which the city pays portion OF the cNl"hr', MVn
have been planned Tor the west side region AMI t"l IL
will al small relative cost produce results OF great per
manrnt benefit 10 the city so far the city has paid FL
sO03OG. The parks are the city own property wnoh
they spend money upon at their own hNtn,noc.
The ely S be ioSc SrS the rSr re The
latter work IL going on, and the eAmu', VIII hot oo
great When R'ycrsicaSe. IL eoh't tur" ,. cs
mcn,s will be complete The cost OF CONSTRUCTION ~ c'
mated at ~ 900 coo. All other improvements sucl as
regulating paving and sewerage VIII DO Paid ny prop
! many millions The effect Of this Riverside Improve
meni will be 10 give high character and value to the
whole region west ~ the Central Park. .
second: Tho whole series of improvements Tor tho
viii his Riverside Improvement IL OF the hna
steps, were panuc approved or carried on D! Ainlcw
north of high Bridge. the RNersidaNc IL the most
economical OF his improvements. . ,
The city In now rolpns the bepeut OF the increase o
taxation from the increased valuations put upon The
property in the upper part of the cly Which IL que Ia
great mca sure those improvements This inftihcS the
breadth aud cXpansivcness of Mr. Greens projects ana
also justihCs the general desire 10 have iho completed
above Forcth ST.. have increased from SOL o2ooGo IN
1850 S2lJ,43I 20 in 1874 and the city Il receiving
now and viii In the future receive, the benefit of TINS
increase taxation. Mr. Green has repeatedly advanced
ths tact az a result and benefit TO the city which juSti1s
the cost of these improvements. II IL equally good ms
justification for tho comparatively small sum II VIII cost
% complete them and brlg the Irope.ty INTO occupa
Third: The opposition to This is put upon tho
ground that expenses Of the city mast be reduced
character The answer 70 is that this is not The whole
truth The measure of reduction IL good ~ lar as II
goes but 1t is inadequate Tor nnan'ial romcSE, In
and il is based upon arcpetiton OF ideas that strike WIN
great force IN community where the pul nc iory Eas
! a.,
his expenses So long as people are mlsc INTO accept,
ing retreEcl,nent az complete nn;siai P4iey, SO
relief he delayed or prevented The necessity OF re-
uuncmont in every practicable form OF diminishing rX
pcscs and avoiding the occasions for ucurID( dcbt ~
obvious and indisputabc II Is the true policy ut all
times 1t Is equally 4DE"% 5 Is itt rcce
results me city deb! inc tax yauatl"n the rate OF
taxation ana the amount OF taxes imposed Tor The last
four years have been ~ follows: ,,.
Ss.5 sa Ps: i'm H as #a bonds:
Is s,, $sS l5 9sSif5 Iqss sgs
iss}3aa 80 i iiscs75s sil2s87o
From Ills il is clear:
First: That the raised in each year by taxation
Ssrond: That no shutting between n high valuation
HSh rate per cent has any effect in diminishing the
amount Of taxcs that people have To pay
the city that be made by rigid economy
Will materially diminish this annual expenditure TO be
Fourth IL retrcnchment he carried TO extreme II Is
sef destructive; people must continue TO live ana the
streets and necessary expenses Of its different de-
partment-, must be maintained 49,,
order sound condition OF prosperity there
must be- in addition 10 rercnchnent az the right season,
some affirmative measures for financial relief positive
policy Therefore. Of treating judCousy the resources of
ibe city retain it, Ddtural growth and increase ITS
has its merits notwithstanding the disan with
which it il treated This policy will produce beneficial
results, and il rests upon solid grounds;
fira Upon INC natural ItcuerdtiSe power oi a pe'
Stc1td: Upon HE general abundant crops aud natural
productions country, basis for the renewed ac-
yty IN the business Of the country the results vi which
are gathered in this city
Third The certainty Of some growth IN the wealth,
business aud population OF the city as metropolis, dur
ing the PERIOD of the next , or 10 years.
During the last 10 the natural growth or Tins
city ~ metropolis has been gathered not this island
within It, taxation hu in its suburb Long Island and
NewIer-cy, 10 their great advantage ana t- i due
directly the naadmIu trt!On OF affairs IN the city ~
providing for and attracting i1is natural growth II
! a reasonable proportion Of this natural growth
/ during the next or 10 years can be
gathered here. tho property ana population 0i
the city will ~ Increased, and il taxation VIII b" rai-cd
Oh a broader basis that is, larger amount OF prop
ery II this result De produced b. any Improvement
which requires but email relative expenditure on tbc
part Of the city, snrh expenditure viii be udc,ons
The upper portions " ts island above Fnty ninth,
have already had over 1000 expended upon tbcn
for nprOyemruts to ~ them for Occupn'iOn Com
paraf!ycly little TO ~ done, and ~ that little tho
prncipa is this RVc.IGc improvement, which - - vc
character and value and bnug setcn"nt ~ The west
side.
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF nTSlC.