New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-27
oUR NORTHERN SUBURBS.

A current item of news puts into strong re-
lief the value and Importance of the SUBURBS
which have been developed at the nortn OF thlS
city and suggests strongly the desraonlty OF
iudiciuus conduct In the further development
and MANAGEMENT of them. We are told that the
assessment roll Of Westchester County for pur-
poses of taxation, amounts to about S2OoOoooOo
or $25 100000 more than that OF the entire State
OF Nevada 1t is added that only one important
property owner in the county complains of be-
ing, as he thinks, overassessed, and the natural
assumption is that. despite some inevitable In
equities, the assessment roll is, on the whole,
fair one, and does not exagRerate the real prop
erty value OF that favored region.
Now, that great wealth is varied in character.
Some of Il consists OF a multitude OF small hold
Ings Much OF II also consists Of large estates,
established and occupied by men OF large means.
The growing and commendable taste for sub
urban and rural homes is more and more lead
ing the rich men of NewYork to purchase places
in the neighboring country, and, for obvious
reasons preferably In Westchester County, the
most accessible and most attractive Of all tho
suburbs OF New-York. The same taste is Also
it Is gratifying to observe. leading many fam
lies OF moderate and even Of very small means
to seek homes in the same direction. This
movement has greatly increased In the last
score OF years. and VIII doubtless continue to
increase, at an even greater ratio with the I'M
provement II transit facilities which Ia assured
for the near future.
In order, however, that It may thus Increase
and that Westchester County may be developed
into the fullesG possible beauty and usefulness
the work of exploitation needs TO be conducted
judiciously, with regard to the needs and tastes
and, we may say, the rights OF the various ele.
ments Of the suburban population. The massed
centres OF population, such as Mount Vernon.
YonkeFs, New Rochelle and White Plains need
greatly improved connections with one another
and with this city, so that transit may be both
quiekened and cheapened. and even the smaller
villages and rural regions need further trans
pertation facilities. At the same time the great
rural roads and driveways which form so strIk-
Ing feature OF the county and which have
proved SO potent an attraction to many of its
residents need protection from spoliation
There are many people who have gone to West.
chester County to live, and have invested large
sums of money there, because-among other
things-of their enjoyment Of such superb park
ways as the Albany and Boston post roads II
would be an injustice to them, and It woul1 he
purblind and foolish policy, to despoil those
roadB and destroy their charm at the demand
OF corporate greed. and thus to alenate the In
terest OF the very men who have done SO much
for the development and enrichment oP that
region.
1t would be good thing II our northern
suburbs could be put under some such system
OF control as that which has worked and is
working so admirably in the suburbs of Boston
There general metropolitan commission has
charge of the laying out Of roads, the planning
Of towns, the extension Of transportation lines
and all similar works, ami conducts them ali
on general plan, with due regard for all in
terests involved The result Is a harmonior,
Improvement of the whole region, instead Of tha
haphazard patchwork which is to be seen In
less well regulated communities. We have in
westminster County natural advantages sur
passed by those of no other suburban rao,on =,
this country They should be conserved and
improved with wisdom and an effectiveness
surpassed by none.