New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-22
PAVING NORTHERN STREETS.
PAVTNT
. PROTEST AGAINST MR.. NoRTHS PRorosAi|' r""
BOULEVARD LAFAYETTE AND KiNds-
BRIDGE ROAD.

boulevard LAFAYETTE AND N'>''
BRIDGE ROAD.
To the Editor Of The Tribune. .,
Cir. read in your journal to-day That MT .>o'."'
water Puryeyor. says he would pave 'he nou'e
ward Lafayette with Telford macadaH were !. ,o'
for the opposti IN OF certain property-owhers' MI
North knows perfectly we'll that not sihs.e o"n''
OF property on that avenue favors paving II i, ''e
wav he proposes. Without the petition OF d s'"s'e
owner or taxpayer even he secured the passage OF
an ordinance to pave. Remonstrancc was n'"uc III
writing to the Commissioner OF Public WORKS ana
n nctition was signed by all the owners and nearly
100 members of the Suburban Riding ana DrNns
club that the Boulevard be improved as country
earth road as Jerome-ave. has always been Inc
law provides that the Commissioner OF ruo"c
Works may do II In this way
The construction OF this road through Woous
stone rising from the river to height OF 60 TO go
feet angle of Is degrees nearly all us eng'h
involving hewng into solid rock from 10 to 10 feet
on one side and building retaining wall from ~
to 4s feet on the other huge. laundering mis-
take 1t destroyed n hillside which had been charm
from time immcmora covered as it was with pri-
mevai fore st for a distance of two miles. 1t was
Tammany Job for the benefit OF some hungry
Tammany contractor
Not more than 2.00O feet of the more than 10000
feet front through which this avenue has been
made can ever be occupied by dwelling places to
which access Is possible from It, Along the remain
ing east front Is perpendicular wall of solid hewn
rock from 10 to 20 feet high. and above that rises
a slopng prccipice to the height Of early 100 feet
within the distance OF 100 feet. Outside the wall
the west side precipitous slope descends to the
waters edge within n distance varying from 100 to
200 feet from the grade of the avenue. which Is 60
TO $50 feet above water level that no access to 1t
is possible from land OF either side Of the
The construction of this avenue In the way IL has
been done has accomplished the destruction and
ruin OF the land through which 1t runs. at cost OF
$50 900. A charming country road could have been
built for s2j 900. All the once noble places overlook
Ing and bordering the river had from the top OF
the crest zgzag paths under the shade Of
jestic trees to the waters edge Now 1t Is imposs-
BILE TO reach the border OF the river from any os
them.
In several conversations Mr. North has admitted
all this. Now. II he can demonstrate to the I'M
fortunate owners of land the Boulevard La
fayette or any one else how, by any improvement
such as he proposes to MAKE this property would
be greatly increased In value" he will show him
sell possessed OF vastly greater powers than he
fers from his subordinate In a late inspection of
not the worst result OF making This road with
pay the assessment for the land lie would let the
Mr.. North in this interview saws Dyckman. st
and Kngsbridge Road Will be paved with asphalt
In a conversation he has told me that the ordi
nance for Dyckman-st. has been passed wthou.
petition from any owner. The owners are mainly
people struggling for their holdings. They do not
street shall be macadamized that form OF
pavement, can be put down at one-haf the cost
OF asphalt and serve the use Of the street better
in durability and safety for heavy trucking
To asphalt Kingsbridge Road from One hundred
and nnefieth to observation-disclosures ninth St
about two miles. will cost about $4,000, subject
ing the owners OF lots to assessment OF not much
less than. $500 for every twenty-five feet front
Macadamzing can be done for not much more
than 800 per lot. Before Mr.. North procures an
ordnance to be passed 20 asphalt kingsbridge
Road. may II no, be con sidcrate In him to consult
some of the owners?
Is II too much for owners OF land in streets
where grading. paving and curbing are not urgent
to expect that some pains should be taken by
officials In charge of such work to ascertain II such
improvements wanted? Or have property
owners no rights which men in office bound 10
respect?
insolont be under Tammany rule. The iibc
ought not TO be shot I'm the same lofty way at the
people who have helped to- put \ reform admins
rntion in power. +. A. THAYER.
N.w-YOrk Feb. I. 1891