The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-19
UNINPR0VED UPTOWN.
Indignant Citizens who Have Paid For
What They Have Not Received.
THE WEST SIDE PARKS.
Meeting at Harvard Hall 10 Discuss the Fail
ure to Construct MOrningside and Riv.
erside Parks and Avenues.


was held last night In Howard Hall, at the corner
Of Sixth avenue and Forty.second street. The
purpose OF the meeting was to evoke the sense of
owners OF property on the upper west side OF the
city as to the delay which Is persisted in by some
OF the city authorities IN reference to the con.
struction OF city improvements which have
been projected TOT long time. The
hall was crowded with Interested per-
sons, and the speeches OF the several
orators were listened to attentvely, their best
points receiving loud applause. MIR. william T.
Blodgetr presided, and the speakers were Messrs.
Dwight H. Olmstead. Fernando Wood, Wheeler H.
Peckham. John W. Prison and Simeon L. Church.
In calling the meeting to order Mr. Bodgett
aid-Tne objects OF this meeting suppose are
well understood by those present, as they were
alluded to In the invitations TO the meeting which
were sent to the owners OF property north Of
Fifty street and west of Central Park. They
are, briefly, TO present the views OF sproperty
holders IN regard to the completion OF certain i'm.
provements for which assessments have been
levied and paid, ana in regard to the laws now
before the Legislature for providing the means
Of securing rapid transit, &c. The West Side
Association has lately been reorganized. its
object being TO protect and advance the interests
Of property owners in this city, and particularly
the interests Of those owning property in what is
commonly known as the west side, being that por-
ton north OF Fify-ninth street and west OF the
Eighth avenue. At q recent meeting OF the Ex-
ecutive Committee subcommittee was ap-
pointed to drait resolutions, TO be presented to
this meeting, upon the subjects before referred
to: Mr. Oimstead. the chairman OF mat com
The present is an exceedingly important time
for the property owners, in which they should not
fail to act.
Mr.. Blodgett, In closing his remarks, introduced
MI. Olmstead to the assemblage. The latter gen.
tleman upon rising, read the following preamble
and series OF rcsOlutons:-
the of the
pointed committee TO express IN tho form OF resolu-
Executive Committee relative to uptown Improvements,
sns MaT S Beg esns to- Gb IL
the T following report" ,,.. .
nitia ied the authorities Of this
the benefit supposed to be- derived from such IMPROVE
ment when assessments have been paid or are now
whereas the improvements Tor which such assessments
stopped under the specous but unsound plea
e S IS pf cr The Sssi
am whereas the local assessors have year by year
has ssn the "sa%pS that the
ments aud it, thus greatly enhanced therefore
Resolved, That this association demands, as matter
mems for which assessments have already been i'm
a s hat Sh F AND
Sy @ S
and 'n eVe of ali the tine pea ue @
proyements 50 wisely planned The compleon Of which
properly, and thus reduce the tax rate in the entire
Resolved, That in view OF the present low price of la
ae the e e o s a an e ny s
city ut 20 commence and finish the public works
That this absolute
gerdnr It % essena to the cSnnUed prospcritv and
sroWth Of this city and respcctuy urges the city au
believing that the people will hold them strictly
Resolved ' That while TN, association regrets the
OF ats y nj, wm MSr
the Board commissioners Of the Department Public
d al OF 4s s best
! 5 R$!SgE ! Fls So STEAD COMMITTEE
DWIGHT L.. oLMsrEAD.
| Mr. Olmstead then spoke for some time, sub.
ASSOCIATION, Mr.. Martin in his report to the
Department OF Public Parks, has shown cOnclu-
sne 10 e Do % az e
ments particularly referred to in the resolutions
Just presented. The TWO most Important projected
Improvements not yet finished, Tor which assess.
the Morningsde and riverside parks. the
re rmed july @ is and that for was opening
the second was confirmed August 2 1872.
avenue amounted to 81, 100 1872 40. OF which sum
$685. 400 40 was assessed upon city large and
assessment for opening Riverside Park and ave.
| nue. amounted 10 $6,173960 so. OF which sum
tas aen 9e Sy % ae
! Thus the whole amount to be paid by the city was
,s 20 ana Sy .se p, pFo1er or Owners
| work has been done up to THIS time on either of
these parks or avenues, except TO survey them,
Side avenue build a sewer in Morningside Park
and grade 70 some extent the avenues bordering
OF this latter PARK, known as Mornlngside ave-
| nue. drive is, however, so Tar COM
finish 1T, aud IS so situated that the delay Of
| another season in Its construction will be likely
TO render useless the labor already bestowed upon
reason the Mayor In his message recommended its
immediate complexion or course It's rebuilding.
! in that case, would be wholly AT the expense Of
the city. The larger proportion OF them have
| been also long since paid.
The following are approximate estimates re.
| Gently furnished to me by the Department oil Puo-
| lie works ami the Department OF Public Parks:-
To finish Morningsde Park and avenues, not TO-
To finish Riverside Park and avenue 8oo5cIo
The account against the property owners is as
| fOllows:-
Interest from July % 1870 to March l. 1875 at ara
Riv pGs den Park assessment si7s
Interest August 2 1872 to Marcn lS75.. s5a6so
! Total "a 297s
Thts last amount, SAID Mr.. Omstead. may be
taken the representative OF the loss OF as sessed
property owners. Since Morningsde Park and
avenue We're taken by the city nearly five years
have elapsed. Three years have almost elapsed
since Riverside Park and avenue were taken, and
still there are some few prominent city officials
Jew, am happy to say who, with ali these facts
before them, throw the weight OF their influence
against the completion OF the Improvements.
do not propose to argue this subject as ques-
ton OF law, out II any one IS curious IN such mat
tiers, let him consult the case OF Stuvvesant VS..
The Mayor &C OF New YORK, reported IN 18th
Pages, reports All, which was an action brought
to compel the city 10 improve Stuyvesant square,
1t having coded to the city on condition that
IL should be thus improved Hon. Hamilton Fish,
VINO argued the case before the Chancellor, for the