New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-18
REFUTING ISLANDERS.
MAYOR HEWITT ANSWERS SOME CRITICS
THE BOARD or STREET OPENINGS CONSIDERS IAS
orrArIoN OF WIDENING ELM-sT.

THE BOARD or STREET OPENINGS CoNsIpEhS 'AA
QUESTION OF WIDENING xLN-sT.
The Board of Street Opening end Improve
nent had just begun its session yesterday wnen
Mayor Hewitt said he desired 70 call 'ne ""c"
ton OF the Board 10 something lie fead u"
article in yesterdays "New-fork l1mes' se'"hs
forth that an almost unanimous desire exists on
the part OF the public for the opening extension
and widening of Elm-st and that the only oppo-
.,t;,n IN the scheme comes from Mayor Hewitt.
Ne also referred 10 a circular from II. c. Stetson,
recount 10 the various steps that have been
taken in the proposed opening aud adding that
the committee in charge OF the matter-Genefai
Newton and Presidents Beekman and Borden-had
declared in favor OF the proposed widening, but
that Mayor Hewitt was still unable TO accept
Their conclusions. Since the meeting of the
Board o. street Openings in December last, he
had endeavortd TO obtain from the Mayor his
reasons for opposing the opening. bat Lad not
sucoCe .ed ana VAS OF the opIn on that they
could Only bc cOn.ectured. The editorial comment
CT The lines" was to the effect that the
Mayors OF position was very mysterious. cOnsId-
er.ng that The I'M rovement is desired and prayed
for by owning. in the aggregate, hundreds
OF millions of city property
The Mayor said that he had no idea who III. T.
StetsCn lie asked the other members OF the
hoard and none could inform him. The Mayor
said that lie had no recollection OF Mr.. Stctson
having cal cd on him, although he might nave
done So The entire statement in "The Times
ard much Of Mr.Stetsons circular were announced
in fact and in truth lie had no hostility to the
EIm-st. widening. but he wished TO get at some
facts before deciding on the matter: lie had no
interests 10 serve except those of the city Ever
since he had entered upon his present office
he had erdeavorcd to protect the city's interests
and should continue to do so. He had heard
that there was party" who wanted TO grab
EIm-sf. soon as il was widened for
railroad and this party" might he behind Stet-
son He was not satisfied that the widening Of
Em-st. would give relief 10 Broadway.
General Newton said he not satisfied that
the Fin st widening would relieve Broad way
He thought that the extension Of West Broad way
some street west Of Broadway would accomplish
more in this direction.
The Mavor read the editorial in "The Times"
srd then sid that all such charges were mean
and desnica bile.
Corrorot'on Counsel Beekman wrote that the
area % Tire proposcd new down town rark must
be fixed before the tile could he acquired
The Mayor said that Mr. Roekman drew the
resolution and il there was anything wrong it was
because he did not inform tho Bo'rd IN time
resolution passed reconsidering tho question
OF area end ratio o. conversation and the matter
referred 10 the Controller and Mcssrs. Borden
and ReelSman
The of land 70 he taken for the nrorosed
new pNr''. 10 no bonded Ky Pavter. Mnih"rrv.
Park @rd pavard stS is within fraction o. three
acres or little moe than fortv-Seven city lots
The assessed valuation is S309.260.