New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-31
IMPROVING THE HARLEM.
ppocREss AND IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK

-, ~, r,,r c,Ty AND THE COUNTRY-TALKs |
WITH GENERAL ". f. SMITH, MAfoh ""A~A
AND B. A. WILLIS.
Tho Commission appointed by the Legislature 10
.nnraise dauages to land along the route OF Tue
,ronos.d Harlem River channel is making progress
in its work by slow degrees 1t is expected tha' 'e
work will be completed in time for the Worlds
r,;r N which. il is stated it would be valuable
adjunct in the transportation OF goods 1t 10 CLAIMED
t,ot =, the ciy would issue bonds for the awards Ior
damages to property 1t would probably save year
time in finishing the work. TRBCNE reporter n"S
converted with several gentlemen WHO nav 'ocn
identified with the project, on the commercia o.uo"
tbet woud accrue to the city from the Harlem kVet
improye,nent and as to the obstacles in the way 'i
completing the work.
Ex.Conyressuau BENJAMIN A. Willis, who was in
struIrental in procuring the appropII''' "
100000 and 800. 600 in 1877 and 1919 iesp':
t;vs,v said "Tne project an enterprise that Is
r.otlv uaeded in the interest of the commerce VI
the whole country. The advantages growing out
of il would benefit equally tue producing COM
,nunitcs of the West and the manufacturing inter
ests of the East 1t would relieve the crowded con-
dtion of the East River and of the Bay arounc tEe
Battery and would distance of ten OF twelve
miles for all vessels in the lumber trade plying
through the Hudson River and the Sound, whereby
The newfoundland markets are supplied. 1t would
result in tlirnuuon of freight charges not only on
commodities in the domestic trade, but also Oh
such commodities as are exported and imported
Our agricultural and manufacturing products would
be enabled to compete successfully with the
markets If tue world, with those OF Great britain
end other countries, it being well known tAat
supremacy in that respect is often controlled by the
difference in the cost of production and transpcrta-
ton of from lie to per cent OF course, the aqpro-
prations have been predicated on the Importance
NxA:o rfafrnri ht
from that the local advantages will he very great,
rendering accessible the banks either side of the
Harlem River resulting in the establishment OF
steamboat lines to answer the needs of large ana
growing population that neishborhood, enhanc-
ing heathiulness by supplying thorough system
OF drainage, and consequently resulting IN a growth
of population and advance of real estate values
In view of the undOubted success OF the WORRIES
Fair to be held Cd the banks of the Harlem River
the work becomes additionally Important. and
doubtless under the impetus Of that movement
enough money can be obtained from Congress TO
secure its completion by 1858. This would tend to
render the grounds far more accessible than they
would be otherwise"
"WLat sum Of money, in your judgment, Will the
project reQureV
"In the estimation of the best engineers the total
cost will approximate 60, 100000. The width or
the channel is TO he 400 feet and the mean depth at
low water twenty feet. By virtue OF egisia'lod
already had tho bridges across and the tunnels
underneath the Harlem River are to be arranged IN
such q way as not to interrupt navigation The
S4OO.OCO already appropriated awaits expenditure
because in the Legislature measures have been
badly designed to meet the eXigency, and needcss
delays growing OFT of legal proceedings winch are
in progress AMI are still p,n2ns haze been inter-
posed, it being necessary for TIE United States 20
acquire title to all the land before any expense can
he incurred. The Coiimissinn. of which General
W F. Smith. Mayor Grace and James ID. Fish are
members, Is now engaged IN apprasine the damage
TO owners Of land If this Commission and those
CHARGED with the legal proceedings comprehenIcd
the injury growing out of tar.iness on their part
they would doubtless be persuaded to conclude their
Iabors and the press can do nothing mere service
able to the community than to Impress upon Them
the Importance of quickly completing their work.
There is some legislation pending at Albany Ill
reference to the requirement Of the utle but with
or without it the work he PROCEEDED WITH
"Will Won describe the course OF the proposed
channel II
The channel follows the harlem River from the
no,nt where il connects with the East River west
erly and northwesteIlyHo Kingstridgc, at point
where bridge is thrOwn across the rveT. Here IL
leaves the channel led of the Harlem River, and
short cut is made neck of land Tor distance
of abont goo feet, maxinga saving probably OF haIi
mile wher il strikes the bed OF the S?uyteh DCy
vii Creek which it follows, with slight exception
Were it soakes a cut through neck OF meadow
land uttmg out from the south bank OF the Spuytcn
Duyvil Creek This dvergcnceis made for the puT-
pose of avoiding the valuable iron works of John
900 & Co. Oh the nortl. bank Of The stream, There
IL a difference in tho height of tides between the
Snnvten Duyvii Creek and the Harlem RIVER OF
something like eight inches. The point where the
tides meet. one flowing in frora the Hudson River
and the other from the East River is about guar
yer of mile north Of tte point where the cAanhei
leaves the Harlem Rive, creating Hconr' which
will serve TO prevent Accommodations III the ped Oh
the cut"
Msycr Grace said the: lbs Cuties so exacting
that he desired TO be relieved Of the Office # Com
missioner He would have been ont of 00.ce before.
hut he did aOt possess ths power of appointing
another Commissioner in lis place. and he would
have to await some action by the Legislature III
the matter TIE Mayor thought that the work
might De finished by 1888 il 10 legal difficulties
prevented TIE present difficulty was that the
Gppraisement of property to be taken hac not Deeh
finished and so,ue persons apparently would not
favor the et.rorise by aiding the work of the Com
missouers The claims for the valuation OF
property. he SAIL We're exceedingly large III some
Cares Mayor Grace considered tile work OF great
iDpr.apoe 20 the city. 1t would be exceedingly
beneficial TO New York in considerably shortening
communication between the North and the Last
River for canal boat and barge traffic. giving ad-
dtional waterfront facilities and .dvantages Tor
handling certain classes Of merchandise on the
wafer front.
General W. +. Smith seen next by the re-
porter, aad was asked what progress Idd peeh
made by the Commissioners -,
ain the awards for damages" he replied we
have finished all but two Of the 0rl9hai cases
O. brought before us, aid they will be nnlshed
think, In few days They are Identical VIII WIN