New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-09
MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION.

RESTRICTIONS IN HANDLING GOODS LIGfITENED-
POWER OF THE BOARD TO ORDER THE HARLEM
FLATS FILIEp-RFPUBLICAN ALDERMEN PREVENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE WATER SUPPLY
DEFERRED-woRK ABOUT MORNINGsIDE PARK.
At the meeting of the Board of Aldermen
yesterday Alderman Morris offered resolution amend
ing an ordinance passed in 1885, and giving carmen inc
privilege OF loading unloading on sidewalks OF streets
through which railways laid. Alderman shandiey
said the railway companies have mOnopOzed the streets
He wanted the matter investigated. and would there-
fore that 1t be referred to committee. Alderman
Morris said that the ordinance Of 1866 provided that
carts should not stand the sidewalk while Deihg
loaded unloaded The police had discovered TINS ordi
nance and were enforcing it, This seriously anected
merchants doing business In somo OF the mario" do"h
town streets through which streetraways rum Indeed,
II continued to be strictly enforced would have
give up their stores. The proposed amendment was
passed.
Gen. Mansfield Lowell, formerly Deputy Street Commits
soner of this city, and later General in the Confed
crate service appointed a City Surveyor
FILLING THE HARLEM FLATS.
A communication was received from the Corporation
Counsel In response request from the Board that he
should give his opinion TO the power OF the Board 10
pass certain proposed ordinances FOR the fng OF the
Harlem Flats The resolutions comprised Tour orui-
nanccs covering the following tracts Lands from Third
ave. to the Harlem River between One-hundred-and-
sixth and Northumberland ighth-sts; lands between
Fourth and Fifth-aves from Nnetysixth 10 One-hnn-
dred-and-hfthst lands between Third and FlfthaNes'
from Onehundred-and-fnh to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ST. and lands from Third to Fourthave, between one
hundredand-third and One hundred and fourtists'
These resolutions accompanied by letter from the
President OF the Health Department to the Mayor,
urging importance of their immediate passage and
another from the Commissioners Of Public Works, request
ing early action be taken The Corporation Couhse
cites the provisions Of the law under which the Com
mon Council is authorized to act In matters
OF this kind. He is Of the opinion that the
Common Council is authorized 10 pass the
proposed ordinances and that they authorized to
order the filing regulating and grading OF grounds
within the City Of NewYork that may be sunkcn, damp,
or unwholcsome, o which the Common Council may
deem proper NIL up regulate, and that the expense
Of such filling and regulating shall be borne by the own
ers Of the lots filed regulated; the city Is also
authorized odo the work at its expense in the first in
stance Under existing laws such expense must be met
by the issue Of assessment bonds 1t is however, lien
On the lots benefited and be collected from the Own-
crs of such in the in which other assess
ments for local improvements are collected lne CoI-
poraon Counsel says that lie has no reason odouD that
the Common Council has power TO pass ordinances pro
yidng the filling of the sunken lands mentioned ana
that valid assessment for the expense OF such filling can
he laid upon the lots benefited. lie would, however,
suggest that in order avoid objections which might
possiby made 10 the proposed resolutions ana or-
nances they be changed as to require the o"is
of said lots fiji in the After such provision III
reference the owners, each resolution or ordinance
should be drawn in the usual manner, recitng that the
city deems necessary for the more speedy execution OF
the work to do it at expense and the Common
Council see it, directing that the work he done by the
Commissioner of Public Works in such manner as he
deems most for the interests Of the city.
The general orders providing for the filing in OF these
lots were then called up. Alderman simonson moved
the work be done by contract instead OF days WORK
This was lost all the Republicans voting in the airma-
tive and the Democrats in the negative vote was then
had on the original resolutions and they were lost Tor
want of the necessary twot,rds vote all the HepuDh-
cans voting in the negative Later the rules were changed
10 allow vote on these general ORDERS and they were lost
by the same vote.
TIE WATER SUPPLY.
There was received from the Board Of Underwriters
communication asking the Board to take such action as
would increase the water supply of the city, and thus
lessen the danger Of fire. The substance of this com
municatiOn has been given IN TIE TRIBUNE. "enerai
Order No. 1873 called up II provides tina, ne Com,
missioner of Public Works be authorized and directed
Ia Law such water pipes Mains and fixtures have been
ordered or may ordered by the Common Council 10 he
deem necessary TO extend and cnargethe distribution OF
Croton water through the City OF New-l0rk lncdlIg
the two new Wards, and to furnish sufficient supply
thereof 20 the institutions in charge OF the Depart ncn Of
Public Charities and Correction; located ON biackWtlPs
Island Wards Island, AMI liandals Island ana III Jay
ing necessary to deliver SAID water al hgher levels
and III greater quantities"
Alderman Morris wished to know how much this work
would cost The Commissioner of Pubc Works now has
at his disposal nearly s2OO,OO0 and this could be IN
creased by the issue OF bonds T2uoooo more IL vas pro
posed that he be given authority to spend 100000 more
The speaker wished the details of the PROPOSED txense
Until q recent break occurred making necessary me
shutting of Of the water from the broadway NAM tue
Department of Public Works was unaware OF the eXls
tcnce another 36inch main laid two years ago and
which used about "a hours after te water dd Deen
cut OIL There Ias s sDpy S' Of Oh cro" any S
rate he would not vote for an expenditure
be cypcnded He referred TO the recent communities
tcn Of Gen. Porter i'll which the subject was treated at
considerable length Alderman Morris SAID this did not
meet the question. The matter was discussed at conld
cradle 9Th and when vote war taken the resolution
was defeated all the Democrats voting Tor u ana all tie
Republicans against it. II thus lacked the requisite
threfourhs vote The vote was reconsidered and the
matter laid over for one week.
An effort made to revive the dog ordinance OF last
year, but il was lost by vote OF to ..
IMPROVEMENT OF STREETS
Alderman Secry offered preamble and resolution set
ting forth bad condition Of the pavement in many Of
the streets, especially those where wooden pavement
was laid and providing that the Board OF Apporonment
be requested appropriate 100000 for the purpose OF
repairing the streets. commune alton was received
from the Mayor, inclosne from the Commissioner Of
Public Works relative to the grading etc. Of the streets
and avenues bounding the MOnngside Park Controller
Green had declared that the Commissioner Of Public
Works, contrary to the advice Of the legal adj
wiser of the city, had engaged IN this work.
without the authority Of law. Commissioner Porter
sss a t on A men, If uS wnEs a aG ras
ity by the ordinance of the Common Council and being
earnestly solicited by pIOpcIty-hodcrs Interested, he
directed work TO be begun on the avenue bordering
Monnsside Park OH the west. On April ~ letter was
received the Controller expressing grave doubts
whether the Finance Department would be authorized To
raise money 10 pay for eXpendtins on the proposed
work proceeded with under the authority OF the Com
mon Council On April 26 the commissioner submitted
to the Corporation Counsel the question Involved Mr.
Smith holds that under the laws the department Of
Public Works at the time Of the passage of the Charter Of
1873 vested with the exclusive power OF regulating
grading and otherwise improving the streets inmedl
atcy adlaco 10 MOI ningsde Park The Charter of 1873
authorized the Common Council 10 provide fol and
late streets pavcments &C. and 10 regulate grade, flag
curb gutter and light streets, roads places and avenues
and authorize COnInssiU OF Public works 10 do