The New York herald., 1878-01-16
NORTH SIDE ASSOCIATION.
Reports Of Committees on Rapid Transit
and Local Improvements.
THE HARLEM RIV E Il.
Lighting the Streets-Water
Supply and Sewerage.

A meeting of the North Side Association was held
yesterday afternoon at the Athcn@um on the corner
or 18TH street Washington avenue, for the pnr-
pose of hearing the reports Of the standing commit
tees and appointing committee 10 nominate oihcerS
for the ensuing year. Shortly after three r. h. the
hall proty we'll filed with leading representatives
OF tho citizens tho twenty third aud Twenty-iourth
wards President Samuel H. Flley called the mect'
ing to order. Alter nominating Mr.. Henry MOTIFS
secretary pro tenn tho reading OF the minutes oil inc
previous meeting dispensed with and inc reports
>of committees came in order.
IMPROVEMENT HARLEM RIVER.
The first that was by the Secretary was the re-
port OF the Harlem River Improvement Committee,
which gave a full account OF everything that had
been done during tho past year. 1t said that
q bill was now pending in Congress before tho
Committee on Commerce, for the Appropriation OF
100000 for the Improvement OF Harlem River and
Spuyten Duyv,l creek and that 1t was gratifying to
know that members OF several public bodies In tho
ty have signIfied their appreciation OF Its mpor-
tance and that even the merchants OF Chicago
Detroit and other Western cities had memoriaiized
their representatives support the measure. Mayor
Ely his last Message expresses the recognition by
the city authorities OF the Importance of this work,
as he says, 1.-The opening OF Harlem River TO navi-
cation is n matter which, in my judgment.
should have your earnest and prompt attention.
j feel assured that memorial to Congress
from your honorable body on the subject would be
responded favorably in the adoption oil such
meas ures OF legislation would result in the carly
opening OF this river to the Of commerce." The
report went show what safe berth for canal
boats could be afforded in Harlem River and how that
would relieve the docks in the lower portion OF the
city, and also clear the river Of tho heavy tows that
so often are way OF the shipping. Speaking IN
nd tunne els
the committee regret that the construction OF the
bridge across tho Harlem River at Madison avenue
and 13Sth street has been indefinitely suspended by
the Park Department, and ask the association
again urge upon the proper authorities the
necessity of such a work. They also recommended
the association urge the Park Department to con-
struct the suspension bridge nalf mile north OF High
Bridge, the land has already been condemned the
money paid to the land owner and an assessment
levied tho property benefited. The report concluded
with an from lecture delivered by General
John Newton, United States Army in which that dis
tinguished engineer shows tho many advantages that
are be aerlved by connecting the Harlem with tho
Hudson by means oil broad and deep cut ana con-
vertng the whole length 0i the line from The East ~
the Hudson River into navgable channel, scIf-sds-
tainlng On motion the report was adopted aud
placed on ne.
The report OF the Rapid Transit Committee was
then by the secretary 1t was quite an extensive
document and after giving u brief sketch OF the
twenty years. struggle ior rapid transit the report
we may expect to see the Gilbert road COM
pleted to Fity- aud Sixth avenue by May
J. aud some time during the year the completion of
the New York Elevated Railroad to the Grand Central
Depot, Tnrd avenue" In regard 10 the Improved
met mods OF conveyance that these roads would fur
inhabitants OF The Twenly-thlru ana
Twenty fourth wards the committee say, "In the
discussion this subject consideration OF pri-
mary importance must not DO overlooked-that tho
immedias object OF tho projection Of these roads is
source OF proht; that though unqueStionably they
Will perform act OF the highest service To New
York its czens, the latter consideration does not
OF itself furnish sufficient capital with winch TO
construct elevated railroads No one need lear but
tho elevated roads will to continued Dorth as soon
and us iast 1t Will be profitable TO do So" The
pors says The average between tne Battery and
Forty second VIII be less tnaD twenty minutes
nud that the Gilbert line will nave stauous
that part OF the road. The report then exhibited
Some figures showing the beneht oil RAPID transit as
tho population OF The annexed district In 1915 was
three one-nau times greater than tho entto pop
ulaLon OF Manhattan Island In 1850 ana also that the
valuation OF the Twenty third ana twenty yiourth wards
In 1874 $22 906 300, more than ve times greater
Than that Of entire city north OF Fourteenth street
IN 1880. The report was adopted and placed on ne
WATER SUPPLY
The Committee Local improvements speak very
encouragingy upon the progress that has Deen made
during the past year In the hitherto comparatively
neglected locality, especially In The matter Of hight,
water, werGge ana drainage AIter aiuding 10 the
failure securing special appropriation OF s3O0,000
tor the purpose oi supplying the Twenty third and
Iwenty-tourLh wards with pure and wholesome water
the report then spoke OF The ordinance IRON tho
Board of Aldermen authorizing the Department Of
PuDic Works To tap the Croton Aqueduct aud thus
afford temporary supply. Inat work has been
actively carried on and OF the aqueduct
with the water pipes running through Third avenue
from l60th street is nearly Completed. Speaking OF
the interest taken regard To tho wator supply by
the Commissioner OF the Department OF Pubic
Works the report stated tnat he was now having u
survey made Tor the purpose of ascertaning what
supply OF water may be drawn from the Bronx River,
winch more than nifty years ago was thought OF u
source OF a main supply Tor the entire city.
MORE LIGHT AND BETTER DgAIyAGE.
Tho committee report that they nave SUCCESS
1u in obtaining seventy new lamps placed on Third
nvonue Westminster avenue and l70tn street.
aud In relation drainage they report the
termination vi their Efforts In regard TO what known
the George street drainage district They nave
been 30 fortunate as 10 secure the drainage OF the
pond, for winch tho citizens OF West Morrlsana
petitioned. Earnest efforts were made seconded
by tho Board oi health but the matter got snaggcd
ihe Board of Aldermen, and the pond has again
been let ior the purpose 80 much complained Of
On subject OF drainage inc colnnit,eo
the line OF Railroad avenue, south Of
I53d street. TO the Harlem RveI as II would
facilitate the uCtOn Of lI4th 14SLh
and 140lh Streets furnish irce outlet lor the
pond and also reiievc the Mott Haven Canal o all
sewerage The attention OF The sanitary uspector oi
tnc Board OF Health has been called the horrible
condition oil Wills avenue, between 1881 and 147th
ytrectA IRON want vi sewerage. The conmlttee also
think It advisable to nave u. sewer constructed III
Uortlandt avenue, IRON l3lst street THIRD avenue
aud thcnce through l46th street TO MDroog, INTO
which temporary opening could DO made pending
she completion oil the mammoth sewer y similar
expedient should also be adopted IN l4th street. be-
tween IhIrd avenue aud Mlibrook, with the ncccs-
Bary RECEIVING basins ia WINS avenue. The
Ice complain that only S25,0O0 was appropriated Tor
the maintenance ol tho 13O miles oil travelled
roads In tho TwentytLird aud Twenty tourtn wsrds,
which miles paved and ten IN c da Izcd,
They also OBJECT 10 having portion oil that money
appied TO the sprnKl'Dg with water OF Jerome and
Central avenues, they claim IL but sgntly benefits
the residents oi tho district The report adopted
and ordered to be placed ON die.
FURThkE BUSINESS
The reports OF the lax anu Assessment and Law
committees were tnen road adopted, AMI IN no
later the members OF tho ASSOCIATION informed
that Dill had been introduced the Assembly pro
vding Tor appropriation OF Sl,5UO, 900 Tor water
supply the Inhabitants OF the upper part OF the CITY
OF New York.
A motion was thch carried authorizing the Char 10
nominate "A committee OF to select Il ticket for the
annual election January "a, ana also committee
Df three TO audit the treasurer's report
A motion was also carried authorizing the OH GERS
OF tho association TO petition the Legislature
moralizc Congress subject OF the Improvement
OF Harlem River.
Alter the secretary had read leltor from Mr J. J.