New-York tribune., 1899-07-23
THE MOTT HAVEN CANAL.
EFFORTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO
HAVE IT CLOSED UP.

OF the city OF NeW-York NAV be seen what the
residents Of that neighborhood call the greatest
nuisance in the cty-the Mott Haven Canal.
For years the citizens have held meetings at
frequent intervals. have petitioned legislative
bodies, and have done all that possible to
do in order to have the canal closed up. on
many occasions favorable action has been
taken. but in every instance injunction has
cut short the work Of Improvement and the
canal is still in existence Its caved in banks.
the piles of rubbish with which it is Uttered,
the canal boats which tied UP there, and the
general air Of neglect. which becomes more no
ticeable the surrounding property is i'm
proved, makes one doubt that il is within the
municipality of the metropolis The canal is
situated between Rider and Park aves. and ex
tends from the Harlem River. opposite one
hundred and thirty -first-st, about three thou
sand feet to e-hundred-and-forty-f -fourth-st-
Albert Z. Davis, who has been one Of the ac-
tive workers against the canal says:
1T is neither d natural a public water
way. II is d ditch which the town Of Norris
ania in lS6S allowed two individuals, William
T. Rider and F H. Conkling to build through
their property, the express condition that
they keep it dredged and bulkheaded and the
bridges over in repair; and if they failed to do
this they were 70 be compelled TO fill it in at
-'~'N+-N-
cessors have complied with this agreement,
hence the canal has no legal right Of existence
and for that reason We have urged that it be
closed and the space made into a street"
on the canal banks are several business and
manufacturing institutions TO which il has been
OF value because they used it a a highway for
Transporting coal and heavy merchandise. But
even the business men have been won over by
the residents Of that part OF the city. and. ac
cording 10 a statement made by one Of the
fighters In the cause OF the Improvement: Near
Is al Of the property owners including even
Wners Of property on the canal are now In
favor Of closing the ditch. Among those who
are on record as desiring it closed are August
Belmont owner Of 30 lots. the New-York Cen
tral Railroad owning property from One-hun-
dred-and- thirty -fifth-st. TO One-hundred-and
forty -fourth-st. just west Of the canal; Benja-
min Marks who owns large frontage N the
canal al one hundred and thirty -eighth-st; W
y Robertson, Alonzo Carr and other large
owners"
One large concern. the North River Elec-
tric Light and Power Company. of which the
son Of Edward A Maher. the son-in-law Of ex-
Mayor Gilroy is manager seems 70 have had
the power 10 keep the canal open. and there are
many people in that district who believe that a
political pull has been more powerful IN the
matter than the arguments Of property owners
and the certificates Of physicians who designated
TIE ditch as a nuisance years ago.
Relief seems 10 be in sight once more and
members Of the Mott Haven Improvement AS
socation think that the time is not far distant
Vhen at least part Of the canal Will be filled
IN and changed into a street which Will be
known as Canal Place.
In response 10 the petition OF the association, |
Mayor Van Wyck referred the matter 10 the
Corporation Counsel. and that official made ap-
pNcaton for the appointment Of commission
o. take steps in the matter. The commission
was appointed by Judge Francis NJ. Scott
and consists Of William 7. Carroll. John A
H-nneberry and James A. Dunn, who Will
act as d commission Of estimate, assess |
uent and award on that part Of the canal
which extends from One-hundred -and-thirty- |
e.ghth-st 70 One-hundred- -forty-fourth-s st.
The part Of the canal which Will be left open is
tn least bad because 1t has docks and bulk
heads. While the condem led part has little in
that line.
At One-hundred- and d-thirty-eighth-st there is J
an old tumbledown bridge over the canal and
from there one has a good view UP and down
the dirty waterway, but to gain fair idea Of
its diIapidated condition one must go nearer and
se-e the canal al close range from the shore.
Cayed IN banks. piles Of debris. old boats and
Junk Of all kinds may be seen along the waters
edge and nowhere an approach 10 order or
cleanliness At the upper end there is large
weed grown lot. and on the other side OF the
water is the plant OF the light and power com
panv which the people believe will again come
forward with the dreaded injunction when the
time for wiping out the canal arrives.
To show that the canal is menace 10 the