The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-30
COMPTROLLER MYERS VETO.
II DEFEATS FOR THE MOMENT A
PLiN OF THE DOCK BOARD

| Riverside Park, which Are Etthdrat WI.
The Commissioners OF the Sinking Fund
| gave public hearing yesterday In the Mayors
| office on the Dock Com mssioners' plans for
| improving the river front. The big room was
almost filed with property owners frcn up
| town. They were most OF them interes. d n
the purchase Of tho property along the river
| front from Seventy-lfth street to Tooth street.
| which Ii along the Riverside Park.
The plans OF tho observation-disclosures provide
for the building OF piers all along the limo and
| the opening OF an exterior street between tho
| park and the river The crowd was almost to
man opposed to the plan. on tho ground that
| 1t would ruin the park They wanted tho
| property purchased by the city and turned
! over to the Park Department to be used for
| Park purposes. The Dock Board was repre-
sented by Commissioner Phelan and Engineer
| Greene.
As soon as the meeting was called to order
| the Mayor said that the Park matter would be
| taken up. letter was presented from Com
| missioner j. Sergeant Cram. 1t stated that
| tho department meant only to acquire tho
property at present. and did not intend to
! build on it. Commissioner Phelan got tn o
floor and said that his department proposed to
| lay out bulkhead line that the land might
| be legally acquired. In tho beginning when
| the plan was discussed he said the same prop
erty owners who were present now to protest
had favored IT, and it wasn't his fault II they
| had changed their minds
is there any ono present who favors this
| plan 2" asked tho Mayor There was not an
| answering nod The Mayor waited a moment
and then asked: is there any one present
| who opposes IT."
There was chorus: I'VE all oppose It."
The Mayor said decidedly that he could not
To- n,I, L., Ia Snna - nh
and that he. also. was opposed to 1t and would
| vote against 1t. because the money that would
be needed to purchase the land would have to
| be raised by the sale OF bonds.
II the Board is willing" said Commissioner
| Phelan. we will not urge this proposition
| against the wishes Of the property owners,
and we will withdraw the plan"
Withdraw it." called the crowd. and the
Mayor made a formal motion that leave be
given to withdraw. The motion was adopted
unanimously. The crowd was happy. but was
not altogether satisfied. Mr.. James A. Dear
ing wanted the Commission to purchase the
property and turn 1t over to the Park Depart
ment. The MAYOR told him to submit the
proposition in writing. and it would be con-
sidered That was satisfactory. and nearly
all OF the crowd withdrew
The plan for the Improvement OF the North
River, from Charles street to West Twenty
third street, was then taken up The plan pro-
vides for the purchase Of ground amounting to
about $50 city lots and the building OF piers
750 feet long to accommodate ocean steam
ships.
COMPTROLLER Myers said it was a fine plan.
but WAS Objectionable because Of the great
cost q the y nh t9 % uaf Sl9ne
responded that the work was one OF necessity.
The Dock Bourd had boon petitioned. he said.
BY all the TRANSATLANTIC steamship c3mpaniie99
N lAff n I.ltsk
not have them to give. There we're on file now
five applications for berths at the proposed
pS %oua rom rs
| from to 10 per cent. Of what the piers would
Mayor Gilroy said that it would take eight. or
nine wears TO complete the work aud the entire
9e Hu 3 fhe oaqd rsssye
| None ofthe money would have to be raised by
| the sale Of bonds. He favored the plan. He
asked S, i there , was any citizen present who
Mr. Mostyn. who said he represented the
eater formal protest against tho proposed
improyement. orlando =. Potter. who repre-
%sS xosa Work SSs0fS re Dtsn
lumber business on the west side. He also
said that tho Improvement. instead Of costing
B Board, would cost nearer $50. 6Oo.00o He
asked that the = after be laid over 9; Waldorf
talk ed in opposition to the plan.
Engineer Greene produced maps and plans
s sa the Sr Saes
from tho present bull hesd Private parties
na q 6s w4,eG With s Q
in The oriRinal ac4uir ring OF the land from
New York city: he DECLARED was k4rwn :. for
purchasing this land now" he said. the city
will be making ,up Tor one OF the mistakes OF
The Mayor read the report Of the Dock Board
on the estimated cost OF the Lana to be ac-
rs IT'S r. y thu panrd ne sfdei
so per cent. and the cost OF some bulkhead
rights. max Ing the total cos' S'.!35.ggOo
troller said he would like to have the matter
laid over so that he might have turthor opp9r..
be further public hearing. -,
~ am ready to Ente o., On 1t now" said the
il RT Sos more Of ' ts
longer we put of action ! believethat in the
interest OF the city, 1t should be acted on at
II am not ready to vote on It now" again
said the ComptroIier
missioners said they were too. So the roll was
called. The Comptroller east tho only ,oppos-
RE yV5e the the
power in matters OF this kind; and that his
vote defeated the resolution. The Mayor said
II regard it as a public calamity that one
city officer has the power TO tetea, public
such urgent necessity as this. shall certain
~ do All that can to have that power cur
II did It vote to defeat it," said Mr.. Myers.
Il have not opposed the resolution, 1t 10 a
matter involving the i expend,,u d o. very
want more time to investigate it."
Well. you voted no. and the resolution 10
lost by your vote retoTted the Mayor.
"Then would move to reconsider the vote"
said the Comptroller.
You voted IN the negative and you have no
right to move to reconsider the matter" said |
the Mayor
The plan for the Harlem River improveme mt
was taken w. II contemplated the improve |
ment Of a mile OF the river front above l:isth
straight bulkhead there would no more than
lS0o1 feet with big basins and goo feet piers:
look cd 10 the possibilities Of the future. while |
the Board had only to deal with the probabli-
ties This plan" he said. Is purely speed
latiye." The Mayor agreed with him. Mr.. |
Phelan withdrew the plan.
The Comptroll"r reported th1t the kncker-
booker Ice Company bud no title to the water !
rights at the foot OF West Eorty-third street |
and therefore the city should not deal with |
IA