New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-10
NEW-YORK,S NORTHERN SUBURBS.

The happy defeat, or at least postponement to
another year. of the Ubiquitous scheme for the
spoiiation of the Albany Post Road is some
thing in which this city as well as the villages
Of Dobbs Ferry and Irvington may properly
rejoice Indeed, as we have hitherto pointed
out the State and the nation may we'll De
grateful for the preservation of that historic
and uniquely beautiful road from irreparabie
destruction. But this city is especially inter-
ested in the matter, partly through the prox1m-
itv Of the road and the use made of it by resi-
dents of New-York; partly through the roads
being historically and geographically con-
tinuation of one of the chief thoroughfareS OF
this city, and partly because the road and the
villages through which it extends form so i'm
portant part Of the suburbs Of New-Iork.
That latter phrase has, we know, at times pro-
voked a smile. The suburbs of New York have
additionally been Iikened unto the snakes of
Iceland noteworthy only for their non-exist-
ence But such derision has never been wholly
merited and the near future should most con-
sricuouslv give it the lie. The reasons why
New-York did not long ago develop such sub
urbs as those Of Boston and Philadelphia are
quite obvious and by no means discredtable
Rut the time has come for development not
like but at least comparable with that of those
and other cities, and therein NestcheSter
County must necessarily play a leading part
1t is quite safe to say that no other large city
has a suburban region at its doors superior or
even equal in natural beauty to that which
lies inst north Of New-York. It is not easy to
find anywhere q tract of country so filed with
varied charm and so well fitted to be the home
of large population are Westchester and
Putnam counties. We have there lakes, rivers
and the shore uf a vast arm Of the sea; broad
plains and rugged mountains, open meadows
and primevaI forests. And these varied feat
ures are commingled together in the most pict-
uresoue profusion. 1t will not be necessary TO
create artificial adornments for the region
Nature has done all that be asked for
Neither will it be necessary to level hills and
fill I'D lakes and otherwise destroy natural at
fractions in order to make room for towns and
villages There is already ample room, amid
the Ioveliest surroundings, for a population of
MANY millions within an hours ride of the
heart of Manhattan All that is needed is TO
plan and to build proper roads. and thus make
the country accessible-a crying need, for, with
q few honorable exceptions, the facilities for
travel there have been inadequate as the
country is beautiful.
Now-this is the point of the whole matter
such development of such region should not
be done by chance. nor pecemeal. We are
suffering enough in this city now from short
sighted unintelligent and misdirected planning
We ought to learn a lesson from present expe
rience and as Jacques Cartier said, respect
the future" in the development Of the northern
suburbs of this capital. In pursuance of such
a policy the old Post Road should be scrupu-
lousy preserved in its present parkwaylke
estate as virtual continuation of Riverside
Drive LAFAYETTE Boulevard and Riverdale-ave.
Rut Of course, another street should be opened
DaraIel with 1t and near as may be practi
Ga BILE ON which a car line may be built. So still
other highways should be opened and improved
all through that region, some for pleasure drives
and quiet residence places, and some for bust
ness purposes There should be preserved a
sufficient number of large private estates and
public parks to keep secure the rural beauty
which is now. SO charming, and there should
also be created great settlements of clustering
cottages and villas TO be the homes of myrads
of our overcrowded and still rapidly increasing
city population. In those six hundred square
miles of country there is ample room for all
these things II is area nearly twice
great as that of tie whole enlarged city of New
York The one great need of it Is intelligent
and tasteful development upon the lines of
general and comprehensive plan. When that
is effected New-Yo will have at the north sub