Year: 1874

CONFERENCE BETWEEN PRoPERTY-owNERs AND THE
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC woRK5-THE TAX
PAYERS ASK THAT WORK FOR WHICH ASSESS
MENTs HAVE BEEN PAID SHALL BE FINISHED.
A committee of the property Owners OF both
sides OF the city, appointed at recent meeting called
Yesterday on Commissioner Van Mort to urge hun to
prosecute the public improvements and give employment
to tho unemployed laborers. copy OF the preamble
and resolutions which adopted at recent meet
Ing OF the properyowners were presented to the Com
missioner. These set forth that the city was now
paying for labor IS cents per hour when
the Harlem Railroad and other corporations were
not paying than one-half that amount; that q
reduction OF the price paid to the prevailing rates would
double the number OF who cOnlI be employed; that
the city should pay higher rate OF wages for tho
Same Of work than private individuals, corpora
tons contractors, and that preference should be
given to willing TO work ten hours per day. They
conclude by requesting the Commissioner to employ az
many at the reduced rates as are wilinp to
work therefor and as the appropriation would warrant
thereby prosecuting the public improvements with dis
patch and q. the time furnishing needed employ
ment to workmen.


John w. Pierson then addressed Commissioner Van
Mort setting forth that New York. far Its public
Improvement were concerned, was in an exceedingly
bad condition; much 80 that all sensible men saw
that unless something done to advance the public
improvements the city would be certain TO decline.
The necessity for relief in this particular was so appa
rent that every intelligent citizen must conceie tho
fact Reduce the OF laborers aud additional en-
ployment would be given to needy men, and extra
amount of work would be performed.


Dwight IT, Omsead said there wero only three cities
worthy OF the IN the world. These were London,
Paris. and NewYOrk. This city was destined II her
interests properly cared for by her rulers. to be
the capital OF the couu Try for very many years to come
II the imperative duty OF the City Government
to prosecute tho work on tho pnolio mprovemonts IN
such n manner that tue taxpayer could feel that he
receiving return Tor tho assessments Imposed
upon him IL right or iss Tor Inc city TO TAKE
to make such improvements Propertyo owners
paid onehaf the cost for Morningsdc PARK. aud yet
no Improvements had been made on that PARK. lie
himself had paid from 5000 to so1o for the Improve
taking the OF tho taxpayers and giving them no
return for IT, such thlng would not be tolerated In
only push on its improvements up town and give the
people rapid transit IL would be rapidly built up I
projected public improvements even il 1t we're neces.
sary 10 borrow money TO do the work.


bad condition OF things complained OF in the pay
of laborers tue public works by the hour 1t is
Tnis not right. The city should furnish them em.
poy ment in these hard times He agreed with the pre-,
ceding speaker that the city mad right whatever
take money from the Taxpayers and give them
for IT. That neither more less than OBJ
had been paid to establish Morningslde Park.
and no work had been done done on It, In the
for which had been paid six years ago. its boundaries
except for two blocks, could not be found. He crti





since the accession OF the Reform administration. 1t
had cost the city to the Reform govern
ment for two years ami II such condition Of affairs
continued two years longer the prOperty
above Fifty-ninthst would be compelled to 20 into
bankruptcy, Or call from his prison cell tho Ring thief
and invite him 10 go on with the public improvements.
He hoped however for better things under the new
regime


Commissioner Van Mort said he well knew the city had
taken the taxpayers money for improvements, and
then neglected TO prosecute the work. He had always
favored prosecuting public works II was necessary
during the Winter 10 employ less labOrers than
mer. because much OF the public work could not be
carried while there irOst In the ground. He was
favor OF going with all the imprOv to which
the city had committed itself by It's The labor
question had been to him OF anxiety. He
did not wish to be unfair to the workingmen,
but he did not think that the city should pay
81 for eight hours work when private persons and
corporations paying only 81 or u IS for hours
work. He would suggest that the Committee confer
with the Mayor ana Common Council IN regard to the
matter under consideration. He would be pleased to
receive visits from the taxpayers frequently and
thus obtain their views In reference to pubic Improve
ments, aud that these should be carried out.


Mr. Olmsted stated that tho assessment for the
MOrningsde Park and avenues confirmed u July
49, 1870 II amounted to t8199 for the city, $500
for the property OWDorS That for the Riverside Park
amounted 10 $3.50 i6l 80, and confirmed Aug 27.
lS7A That for tue upper Boulevard from Onehundred
and nfty nfthst 10 kIugsbrdge Station, amounted
t6ly y37 Tor the city aud the prop
erty yUWuers The Committee then left