Morning journal and courier., 1888-05-31
THE CITY MATER FRONTAGE.

L. I'D. Human Thinks West River
should be Improved and Made to
New Haven What the Chicago River
is TO Chlcag0-The Chamber OF Com
merce Refers the Matter TO the Har-
Dor COmmittee-President DevvelI APP
points Committee on she Town and
City Consolidation.
The regular meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce last night was marked by the alb
senee of many of the members, but this was
because it was holiday, q. w. Crawford
Of Fair Haven was elected q member.
President Dewell announced the commit
tee to take into consideration the question of
consolidating the town and city govern
ments The committee is as follows: Frank
q. Sperry, W. s. Beeeher, John g: Gallagher,
E. L. Mix, N. Easterbrook, jr., J. M. Town
send, T. Atwater Barnes.
The following offered by e1-Mayor Lewis
was passed:
Voted, That the committee on town and city gov
eminent be requested to consider the matter Of the
erection of a monument to the early founders OF
NHI George and
port thereon to this chamber at their earliest con
venience.
L. B. Hinman said he Aight be premature
but he would bring up question which ne
whole water front Of the city is utilized and
scarcely day passes but what someone makes
application for place for yachting or other
purposes. Now there are just as good facii
ties in West river for transportation as in
either the Quinnipiac river or Mill river.
will afford New Haven an enormous
income. It will double the grand list of to-
day. The tide there is just as high as at
GAINESVILLE bridge. West river can be made
to New Haven what the Chicago river is to
Chicago. Years ago the Chicago river was
land around it could be bought in '48 for $40
q foot; now it is worth 81, 900 The same
facilities that Chicago had New Haven
has. At the Quinnipiac and Mill
rivers land is worth 500 a foot, and
the price advances till you reach the college.
when it begins to run down toward West
river. You can buy the land there now for
$3.50 an acre, but if the river is improved and
water front made it will be worth 500 a
foot in ten years. Here is a chance and the
city should avail itself of it. The land there
that is now bringing So to $40 a foot will
bring $50 to $75. I think the chamber
should take cognizanee of this chance. You
have the same amount of water in West river
as in Mill river. You have miles of good
water frontage on West river.
President Dewell said Mr.. Humans idea
was splendid one and Judge Sheldon then
offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the harbor committee be request
ed to consider and report what action if any ought
to be taken recommended by this chamber in
gard to public wharfage and the development of
water frontage in the city, particularly as apple
able to West river and Mill river.
Judge Sheldon made few remarks on the
resolution, in which he thought the city should
have public wharfage and not ask foliage
of every one who wanted to land here with
goods. He thought Mr.. Humans remarks
emiRently proper.
Ex-Mayor Lewis did not agree with Judge
Sheldon on the foliage question. He said
that there was not city in the world that
has free foliage or wharfage. The city of
New York owns about half of the water
front, but she derives an enormous income
from foliage. He said that this question
relative to West river had been argued for
twenty years and it was bound to come,
but in order to give the members time to
reflect he thought the resolution should be
tabled until the next meeting.
MIR. Hinman remarked that when he first
spoke he did not think of a resolution being
offered. He said that he did not care how
long this question had been in view, the
Chamber of Commerce has got to get into
the traces and push the thing If it doesn't
the matter will sleep on for years, and when
the people wake up it will be too late.
Judge Sheldon moved that the resolution
be passed and it was so voted.
The meeting was then adjourned.