New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-07
PUBLIC FORKS ABOTE THE H1RLEM.
fApplausc.)

POINTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF COM
MISSIONER HEINTZ.
The first anpual report Of Louis j. lIelnz. Co'nmIs
.iOner Of street improvements under the provision,
Of Chnpter SO OF the Laws OF 1900 was recently
submitted TO Mayor Grant Mr.. Ieintz says that the
new law his operated 10 tue advantaS" Of tho twenty
flri aud Twortv fourth Wards and To The city 1t
large. During the last year he has constructed oar
FITS threconc hundrcth miles Of sewers n compared
with an average II two sixtccn.one hundrcdth miles
Il year prrviousl. During last year nearly hvc miles
Of streets were paved compared with the ten miles
Of streets paved during the seventeen year, from the
annexation Of the district up u january |, 1891,
when the department organized.
he Commissioner reports that the only real impcdi-
rent 10 the development Of the northern part Of the
city Is the decision OF New-Y ,rk into Two sections
by The Harlem River. lie recommends TINT no time
be lost In settling nPon some plnn for crossing the
waterway. Under the present conditions large popn-
laton will be diverted rom the Annexed District to
Long IsaId ana jersey City. 81 respectfully sue
gcst continues the Commissioner that the time las
come wien some pllr should be- adopted for crossing
this narrow span " water. In my Judgment. such n
plan should provide for the construction at almost
every street Of stationary bridges. oi Sufficient eic
walton admit 81 the passage only OF vessels whose
,muIc- STACKS and mistS should conform TO the
height Of the bridges. Between all sections OF the
,,ty the continuation OF public Highways should bc
established maintained. Inc cldJhHhlclt OF
permanent approach grades to conform TO thu
height OF The PROPOSED bridges before the lands
AUDITING uIOn the river Improved aud
built upon would result In the saving Of millions Of
dollars paid damages property holders. A. II
becomes my dnty 10 determine permanent grades bror
July = 1893. would suggest that the consideration OF
this subject meet with rs little delay possible
Mr.. IIcntZ dcprccacs the fact that the schemes for
crossing the East, North and Harlem rivers, and for
transit within the city limits. have not received more
attention. This Is surprising he says. wncn IL
Is remembered that the Twenty third and Twenty fourth
wards the only portion OF New-lOrk where artisans
and labOrcrs Of small means can purchase lOi to
build IA home. lie suggests that commission Of five
persons. TO consist ul two persons living below the
Harlem River resident Of the district north OF the
Harlem River The Commissioner Of Public Works OF the
City OF New York. and the Commissioner Of street I'm
provemcnts Of the Twenty third aud Twenty -foarth
wards be appointed examine plans for crossing the
Harlem River
The report closes with atstlcal summary OF Tho
work done during 1891. During The year l02 con
tracts. at total estimated cost of SloJJlI1 o.
IN Opcrton and nifty eight contracts, amounting To
500 500 81 werr completed. The appropriation, for
Icyl were S1O5 200 and the rcqusitiOns $2iS,yO o.
leaving balance Of SlG239 ~. Against th, balance
contracts have been made aud orders given 10 ,hc
amount OF SIJ o. for which acquisitions have
yet been drawn upon the Controller.