New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-16
WANT ROADWAY IHPROTED.
ST. NICHoLAs-AyE. IMPROVEMENT Asso-
CATION TO HAVE BILL PRESENTED
TO LEGISLATURE FOR
THAT PURPOSE.
THAT PURPOSE.

The property owners OF upper St. Nicholas-ave.
again aroused in an endeavor TO preserve and
improve that thoroughfare. Many Of them united
year ago TO oppose the building OF street rail-
way that avenue. An application for a fran
chise for street railway on 81. Nicholas-ave.
above Northumberland twenty hfth-st was then
before the Board Of Aldermen and an association
OF property owners formed TO defeat the
measure. Petitions signed by owners of property
valued at $1,000 O00 by hundreds OF residents of
that section and by road drivers from all over the
city. were prepared and arguments were made
before the joint committees of the Municipal AS
sembly by ex-Judge James P. Davenport. the
sci for the owners. and by others The opposi-
tion strong that the surface railway scheme
was defeated.
The present movement is not only designed TO
preserve the avenue from entertainments in the
future. but 10 have the roadway put in better
condition, and made in effect part of the park
system Of the city The st. Nicholas Avenue I'm
provement Association has taken active lead in
securing the adoption of the plan. The associa-
tons officers E. c. Brown. president; George
C Bodine. secretary; c. A Coutant treasurer;
Executive Committee. the officers. Willard Brown.
George S. Hickok. Peter Alexander. Jacob P Batter
and +. ]. Van der Beck. jr. Ex-Judge James P.
Davenport and ex-senator Charles I. Guy
counsel for the association. The plan proposed
Is secure legislation by which ST. Ncholas-ave..
between One-hundred-a and -twenty-th and
One-hundred-and-ffty-ff shall be placed I'M
der the care and control of the Park Department.
A part of West OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ST. is now, under act OF the Legislature passed
in 1897, under the control Of the Park Department.
That street may be extended so as TO form a con-
nection with Riverside Drive. Grants tomb.
A plan for the further extension of the driveway
along Morningside-ave. TO connect with the Cen
trail Park drives at Observation-Disclosures. and
Eighth-ave., is under consideration by the Park
Department. and the ST. Nicholas-ave improve
ment will be in accord with that plan.
The Road Drivers Association OF which DR..
H Il. Kane is president has. through its officers.
taken an active interest in the proposal for the
extension OF the jurisdiction OF the Park Depart
snent over St Nicholas-ave. st. Nicholas-ave- and
St Nicholas Place lead directly 10 the entrance
to the Speedway. There. is no means of access TO
that pleasure ground. which is as free from diff
hcultes as ST. Nicholss-ave. seventh-ave,, while
in itself beautiful driveway connects WIN the
Speedway only over the e eoscionabe IrS
and rough pavement in the short stTetch between
the end Of seventh;aye and the entaHnce 70 ane
one-hundred- snd-f orty-hfth and I5undred-anG-
hfty-hfth SITS ane ~ onebundred
and-forty- ninth-st., and extends 10 the entrance
TO the 81 fsem Sets a6 wei trees boT
der the avenue and place. and the drive Is one OF
parks, The roadway is supposed 10 be Of gravel
but IL has been so poorly InalhIalhso Iluer tte
Department OF Highways ,h ins i so SSstv Nan
road drivers are greatly dssatlshed with the con-
TRev hope as dc those living in the avenue
that, II placed under the Park Department, II VIII
become practically park drive so a@T a. ilI mans th
tenance in good condition Is coiSe,Ieo nus a.
kept up il viii be more popular than ever ana II
hotb as a driveway for fast horses and as pleas
ure ground Of the thousands or persons VINO VISIT
Ethogit engaging n sn 1se pTesehted to the Le
lature carry out the wishes OF the 81; Nlcholss
g. a. has been promised by representatives at
Albany OF the upper part OF the city