The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
RoADMAKING ~ ORR NEW FORK.
Methods of the Old Dutch Burghcrs In Maxi
Ing Public Improvrments.

The historian winthrop. an authority on old
New York a. /, existed under Dutch burg her rule
before II passed under English domino ZION and
before the tide of foreign immigration set in thus
summarL cd the view Of many INTEL gent defenders
of the Dutch government Of New Amsterdam.
Il cannot claim for the Dutch that they were a
fast moving people, they considered long over all
their projects of improvements: many pipes were
smoked in silence before the decision CANT. II re-
grrts followed. they sprung from what had been
omitted and not from what had he, n done"
one Of the most conspicuous Of the omissions
Of the early Dutch rulers Of New York was the
failure 10 make any adequate provisions for road
ways on Manhattan Island the local DUTCH plan
apparently being To retain the whole population
in the southcrnmost part OF the town and t. erect
u substantial! stockade for the purpose ul prevent
ing the Inhabitants from proceeding further north
II was by reasons Of this deficiency that there
much complaint and some ui those roads establish.
Ell were on lines which would I've likely to- get very
iiiue approval from SURVEYORS ~ present l he
Blonmingdalc road. for instance, WIS thus OH
clally described beginning from the house at the
end OF New iork lane, turning To- the lett hend
nurlhcry and so ON by Great Kills and through
,runis Eds and Capt De Nag - IRON SAD Ed.s's
land IL the water" As fusthcf drvrlupci on more
definite lines. tho Bl ,omiugialr road bcramr
broadway north Of Fifty ninth street Another
Of thr roadways designed by Ouch residents was
10 what was called the town Of Sapocauican.
attcrward known az Greenwich Village ms
in NcS iorS lane, there is ~ be n road. tn. said
road RUNNING To the left ward Of the house. late
oi Capt DOuwe. deceased" The NeS York lane
referred to is the present Iowrry. and IL appear,
To- haze been a starting point iof most New Work
roads ESPECIALLY for what was known as the - ston
post rad, which ran through what came To- be
known afeTward as the Harlem Flats KS early
as 1890 by formed dcCa ration ~ the Dutch author.
tiles this resolution was adopted:
The road between this city ami the village of
New Harlem bling impassablc AMI !, being ncccS
sary road siDul he maintained. many com
" nj l
ing to raycI over that road on horseback have
, been in danger of losing their IiNCS 10y lis bad
condition II is ordered that III" oy"rsccrs q IIar
by III" inhabitants Of Harlem. in conjunction
with thos" living on the other side 81 Fresh alcr"
The progress Of the work being slow there
were appointed later, though not under nI'ch
author les. Comm issionrrs 81 Highways To plan
u road L. Harlem beginning wha was known
as the Spring Garden Gate, III" intrrSc, lion 4
Broadway and Fulton street. thence Ia the Ftrsh
Water Pond on Canal St'rct and thence by n
small turning 10 the tree on the highway 81 ihr
hill, - ,nr.I g." sui qurnt sItc"f h.,t Bow ~
now the Thalia Theatre, and thence along the
lane uhc present Bowcry) so tho furh"rnuNt
house in the same and thence 10 kips Kun" a
stream euptylng into Elps ibhT. near Forty
tou tn street and from that 10 the Turtle Bay
Farm and ~ on over creeks and brooks. along
the lower lin" Of hills To the south boundary II
tn Harlem River al Third avenue the hrs, bridge
over the Harlem at this point not benE built until
many years later during the Revolutionary War