New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-11
A PLEA FOR THE EXTENSION.
THE PLAN TO LENGTHEN oNE-HUNpRED-AND-
THIRTY FIFTH-sT APPROVED BY THE
NORTH MANHATTAN TAXPAYERS
ASSOCIATION


To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In a recent issue of The Tribune there were
some comments quite unfavorabls TO the Assembly
h,u now nendlng in the Senate Committee on cities
10 extend e-hundred and thirty 'hfth-st 10 con-
vent-ave Similar criticisms have appeared In
other newspapers and all seem based on mis-
apprehension Of the merits of-the bill. / would ask
Won TO publish the following statement:
The bill In question was suggested and prepared
nv the North Manhattan Taxpayers Association,
which is composed of large number OF property
owners and taxpayers of the city of New-fork. ana
Of which association have the honor TO be presi-
dent The suggestion that the bill Is IN the inter-
est Of any trolley or other railway company Is
absolutely unfounded. The bill was introduced in
the Assembly by Mr.. Gilleland. Of the XXllld As
sembly District OF New-York City, at the request
of myself and the association. 1t is earnestly
supported by such well-known and esteemed citi-
zens as John Sloane, Goelet Brothers, Eduardo
Cato, Bernhemer Schmd. Louis X. and Louis
Ungrch, Burridge Brothers. Robert l.. Hoguet and
Charles II. Southland. These names would seem TO
be reasonable guarantee Of the good faith of the
bill TO relieve the situation of any doubt. the bill
in express terms prohibits any trolley. cable
streetcar of any kind from going through the pro-
One hundred and hrty- ffth-st the widest cross
street in this city. ends at It's western ter.
that point by rocky bluff ninety feet high which
extends from One-hundred- and forty hrst-st. to
One-hundred- These two streets.
nearly mile apart, are the only means of com
municatiOn between that portion OF the city lying
east Of the bluff and containing about three hundred
thousand population and Washington Heights; This
fact has tended largely to depreciate the value Of
property In the vicinity Of One hundred and thirty
fth-st. and that portion Of the heights lying d.
rectly west OF IT. One-hundred and-thirty fifth
st. is laid from Ans rdam-aV eastery to
the edge of the buff referred to.
To connect these two portions OF the street Is
the purpose OF the bill liz question. II seeks do
go by extending the street In northwesterly di-
rection about three hundred and fifty feet dag
onally across the undeveloped rocky strip which
is to form ST. Nicholas Park. and thence by a
southery curve TO connect with One-hundred md
thirty-ffth-st.. where ii crosses Convent-ave at
the same grade as the avenue. The grade of tho
extension will be six and one-hdlf feet to the hun
dred by far the easiest grade of any street or
avenue by which WashIn yton Heights Is reached
The course Of the proposed extension and the
manner of its construction are left to the deter
mination of the Park Board and the Commits
the Park Board has stated that the extension will
prove an ornament TO the proposed St Nicholas
Park rather than an injury. As the park is about
tweniv-four hundred feet long and bout two
hundred and fifty feet wide, II IS not clear how
1t will be destroyed. as has been stated by
driveway sixty feet wide passing across IL. with
no cutting as tho natural rise of the ground gives
the requisite grade.
Ex-Mayor Giroy. Chairman Of the Committee
Public improvements of the Harlem Board OF Com
MERGE approves the proposed extension
necessary, and has pointed out with great force its
utility the citizens of the upper portion OF the
city. No unprejudiccd mind familiar with the pres
emf and immediate future needs of that great Sec
thirty-hfth-st. can for a moment question the de-
STABILITY of this public improvement
WILLIAM WHITEHEAD.
President North Manhattan Taxpayers Associa-
thirty 6fth~st.
New-York April TO- 1897.