New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-08

soon take title to a tract about one and
one-h half miles long donated by MISS
Emily o. Butler for parkway purposes
The property Is known as the FOX
meadow estate tract, and extends along
the Harlem Valley from scarsdale to
Hartsdale, between White Plains ROAD
and the right OF way Of the Harlem divi-
sion of the New York Central.
This Is one of the most valuable dona-
lions of land for the proposed parkway
reservation. A conservative estimate OF
the market worth of this gift Is $1,000.
The property given by Miss Butler.
said Jay Downer, engineer or the ooaro
to a Tribune" reporter yesterday, is
one of the finest hemlock groves In the
suburban district Of the metropolis.
THE commission has decided to place
"a soon as possible that beautiful WOOD
land in the care of expert foresters, tree
tr,mmers and cutters. Those men VIII
also 20 over the other parts OF the park
way and put all trees in order.
"At or near all the stations there Is
ample space, to be used for this great
parkway, which will be set aside as puo-
lie Fairgrounds"
about Ave years hence the parkway
vur think have reached that stage as
to arouse the admiration OF the pubic.
The commission has also received othef
land donations from public spirited own
ers of adjoining strips OF land, incluoine
the river bed itself, and other properties
which. II combined. would form a parce
~ more than four and one-half miles
long.
Options for twice as much more iano
have been obtained at less than marhe'
value.
The report OF the commission was ap-
nroyed by the Board OF Estimate dho
Advertisement some weeks ago. an" ~
Wow NJ that action the necessary moneys
70 purchase the land and take over inc
titles 10 property in the proposed paiA
wav area will be available after the ne"
year. ...,
Tb. total cost OF the land to be boush'
u,II no about 1900. Oo0 Three-fourths oil
the expense Is to be borne by inns Guy
and one-fourth by Westchester county
. Tho Bronx Parkway will comprise
s,r,n NJ land varying in width from SVo 'o
, oo0 feet. slightly more than htteeh nnheS
in length and including approximate
| ,so acres in the city and about l'"' acre
in westchester County, including the
river itself. This would be equivalent &c
n continuous strip GOO feet In width.
In 1905 the New York Geological society
nroposed legislative action for the APP
nointment OF a commission 10 acquire
lands adjoining the Bronx River. extend
ing from Bronx Park 10 the kensico
Reservation, the purpose being TO save
the river from pollution and incidentally
IN create a parkway. This bill was strong
,v urged by the society and by other
prominent interests. 1t was approved by
the city and Westchester County ana
passed as Chapter 6Ss Of the Laws OF 1906
A commission was then appointed o'
Governor Higgins. under authority OF this
act. to inquire into the ACCESSIBILITY OF pre-
serving the waters Of the Bronx River
from pollution and creating a reservation
of lands along the river The original
commissioners were Madison Grant
lanes G.. Cannon and David II. Morris
William ". Niles was appointed secre'
tary and ]. Warren Thayer engineer.
After a full investigation the commits
sion presented a unanimous report urging
the great Importance of protecting the
Bronx River from pollution. Its report
| showed the feasibility of accomplishing
this through acquiring the low and then
practically valueless river lands Tor
parkway reservation. and that this would
be the cheapest and most expedien'
means Of restoring the present polluted
river and eliminating nuisance conditions
The commissioners now are Madison
Grant. chairman; James G.. Cannon ant
William w. Niles Jay Downer Is engineer
of the board Governor Dix recently made
tour of inspection Of the land to b'
| transformed into this parkway reserva
ton, and heartily praised the commission
for the excellent service IL had rendered
| to the public The expense OF the earlie
| surveys maps. etc, amounting to man,
thousands. 1t met out OF funds it's mem
beers contributed. Mr.. Thayer. too, gave
| his services free.
The commission estimates the cost o.
acquiring the lands needed within th'
| city to be as follows:
| LANDS 10 De acquired Dy puTCHoSc' - ~.
| assessed valuation. .......... .$i3zV
Latds to be acquired under option. l70OO
| Total '$'Vs'VV'
| In arriving at the probable cost OF &C
quiring by purchase land lying within
the County of westchester, it considers
that the assessed valuation Of the Al
acres to be thus obtained. viz, N,l77WO
is much too small. and that this lane
will cost twice that amount, or s2,S54,O0O
which would be an average of more thai
IS, 300 an acre.
The options In Westminster County ag
gregate $4,000. so that the total cost o
getting the land in Westchester Count!
on this basis will be $2,7sS.000. which
added to the total cost Of the land II
New York. will give grand total o
g, 100000.
About $4,000 more will be required t
provide q suitable margin Of safety t
meet the possible cost of condemnation
II. In some cases. such expensive ant
troublesome proceedings become neces
sary for protection Of existing park feat
ures, planting and replanting Of denude,