The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-01
UPTOWN IMPROVEMENTS.
commissioner Martin on the Fort Washington
District and The New Wards.
THE FUTURE OF THE SECTION

tive TO the plans for and the present improve.
ments OF the Fort Washington district and the
Twenty-thlrd and Twenty-fourth wards. The sub
ject is therein very exhaustively discussed in all
it's various phases. In accordance with resolu-
ton OF the Board the document has been printed,
with the understanding that the Board does not,
in any way, commit itself TO the policy therein laid
down TO the conclusions at which the author
has arrived; but only with view Of submitting
the whole subject for such public consideration
and discussion as the character OF the suggestions
may naturally call forth. The localities referred
20 in the communication are under the control Of
the Department OF Parks. Efforts have been
making Tor some time for the adoption OF con
gruous plan OF Improvement, and now there is
general desire that these localities shall be pre-
pared Immediately In all respects Tor their ulti-
mate occupation. In this work, as Commissioners
Martin considers, there are three cardinal points:
First-Laying out the region with streets, ave.
nues and pubic places and treating the water
'front.' and steep decllvltes, including provision of
sewerage ana drainage.
Second-Tne acquisition OF title Tor public use to
such portions or the land as may De appropriated
for that purpose, and -,
Third--Tne actual construction WORK by which
the whole surface is TO be prepared Tor its anal
occupation.
After describing the general topography OF the
region the Commissioner says THE practical
question here is whether the region should be lalu
out now for future occupation as compact city,
such as the lower part OF Manhattan Island, or az
an open suburban villa region. The latter VIII
evidently be the result He then shows by sta
tistlcs mat II the city were 10 grow to such an
extent to I'LL up the circle OF the existing fifteen
miles radius, one half compactly and me other
half in village STYLE there would be room for
population within this circle toucnlng the
northery boundary OF this region, OF
81, 500. 600, which 1t Is absolutely GER
tain 1t will never reach. He THINKS along
the valley lines which divide the region ana
upon It's borders there viii be q compact popuia
tion. This includes about one-third OF It's whole
area, mainly on its southern and eastern sections
The elevated LANDS between these Two sections
will never come into any other occupation than
that OF villas and villages Such being the case,
the elevated sections must be laid out as tne site
for the most costly residences.
THE IMPROVEMENTS
Will be OF a more expensive character, and they
will make the land the mos. valuable. In the
natural valleys and sections OF low elevation tine
population VIII be more dense and the buildings
and improvements except those for business pur-
poses. OF less expensive Kind. Tne straight ana
parallel streets, with interspaces Tor city lota
OF the ordinary size, must be laid out
For the portions OF this section which Will be nIled
with residences streets OF ordinary width VIII
suf1ce. but parks here and there must be inserted
IN order TO give 1t an attractive character Tor suo
uroan population.
The oorders OF the Harlem River viii ultimately
become the seat OF q great local business Tor the
supplies or the population and Tor factories and
manufacturing business The facilities OF navl.
CATION ana OF railroad approach give the SHORES
O. this river natural advantages wnicn, II they
are properly improved will make IL matcnless
throughout the whole country Tor sucn purposes.
they should be treated IN such way as to admit
OF the most speedy and least expensive mo1e or
preparation for actual occupation. Dulkhead
line should be fixed which VIII leave sunicent
width OF water way, and within which the land
can be flied up without great expense or loss OF
time. Tue points OF border, approach and depar-
ture should be connected with main thorough.
iares through the region striking and leading
10 the different residences ana business sections
LINES AND MODES OF RAPID TRANSIT.
in addition to the existing railroads 10 and
through the region, must be provided Ior Oo-
vlousy the first consideration IN preparing the
region Tor future settlement springing rom the
CITY must be 10 make IL accessible from the CITY
ano traversaole through It's whole extent oy lines
OF steam transit. A suburban population wall not
sustain an elevated road built at cost w1icn tue
density OF population aud hign value OF property
In the city would JUSTIFY. Provision must tnere-
lore be made Tor q depressed or vaduct road, or
some mode OF construction practicable 10 rural
district, bY which crossings can be made at dit.
ierent level Tor ordinary travel, and such travel
protected from any inconvenience rom the pass
ing OF locomotives. The INES OF these roads must
pe run In a general northerly direction, Though
the natural valleys, with proper cross roads and
intersections, and with regard 10 present aud
future economy OF construction. This feature oil
the plan should receive the frst consideration.
THE HARLEM RIVER
must be kept open Tor navigation, and TO this end
IL must be as ree as possible from DISTINCTIONS,
and the bughead line muss be set pacK, near
practicable even though 1t be OF warning width,
aud the bridges and tunnels which are inevitaDse
Tor crossing II must be planned so as ultimately
10 leave open a free navigation me nI,row
channel ald down between tue parallel ltles
SHOWN on the maps OF TINS river Is q contradiction
OF Its certain prospects VI becoming an open
channel Of important navigation. II great ex-
pense Is 10 be incurred IN the construction oi tun-
nels TO Keep THIS navigation open IL IL needless IN
the same plan TO incur great expense IN dlInn-
isnlng the width OF ITS water way. Tie true
policy IN treating this river ls 10 aciltate us &C.
cupation; 10 ask the Unlted States governments
10 remove the ridges and distractions 70 lts chan-
mel; 10 connect the highlands by Que suspension
bridge; TO construct ngnt temporary bridges
Wherever they are needed ana ~ rely on raRidy
worked draws Tor me transit OF vessels. When
these measures ali the valley with population and
It's business and population demand II the per.
manent works can pc unaertsKen. pro N,.s ~
the land SUFFICIENT Tor tue approaches TO these
tunnels and bridges.
Within the region under review the suDject o.
sewerage ana drainage ought TO receive very
thorough OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES az least 70
provide, In the plan on watch IL Is LAID out, Tor
sucn system OF thorough drainage and seWeIags
as IL may be loreseen viii ultimately become nee.
essary. The best modern scientific metnods o.
dlsposing OF sewage should also receive careful
stual' IN tne Meaning the region Ieeus ia 4.
possible upon temporary system. IL Is OBVIOUS
mat the valleys running soutnwardly INTO tne
Harlem River cannot ultimately become llnes o.
main sewerage without great detriment 70 the
usefulness OF tnat river and the nealthiulness Of
the country. NO expensive works u drainage
should be constructed on such lines, wnen IL eau
be ioreseen now that In the end they Will have u
be abandoned.
THE COST
OF preparing rural district fer occupation as
n1lsned ely Is enormous But It's direct anu
necessary enect Is at the same time to increase
many 1oid the value VI he property ana tns
jusuhes the owner and enables MIN 10 meet tne
assessments. portion OF the expense OF lns
work VIII lai upon the city. Far beyond the
measure OF the advantage TO the property owner
will be the advantage and gain to tne city. ~
Will receive. In It's annual taxation on tnls IN
creased value, more IMAM It's total snare 81 the
expenditure, aud sucn an Income perpetually.
In every as ect II Is better Tor the property
owners and the puollc TO LOOK calmly AZ ever
one OF the necessary conditions OF the problem o.
making this region the most attrac I've, the most
valuable and the most healthy OF all the SUBURBS
OF the city; 10 look at every Item or future
expense, and 10 concur now 10 the STUDY Auu
adoption OF plan winch meets, not snltuKs rom
meeting, these necessary conditiOnsl faces, NOS
postpones, these necessary expenditures
INCREASE OF POPULATION.
IL may be assumed tnat during the next ten
years the population OF this metropolis win ln-
b numnnrA VARYING lrnm Zl.uUQ 70 llOyJ IN