Year: 1875

The Improvement or Che highways leading from the
Third avenue and Sixth avenue bridges and klngsordge
viii DO carried out and the present system OF roads
disturbed little possible The Intervening spaces
IN the low lands or hrst division, viii be laid out 70
suit and devoted TO business purposes as these lands
border the river Fronts On the level and slightly roll
ing lands, such MOrrisanla West Farms and ord
ham, straight and parallel streets viii be constructed
Of level grades, and the blocks divided the ordinary
city lot rs by 100 feet II ia believed that IN this
particular portion Of the district the population viii be
dense and the Will be chiefly occupied by
dwellings Of moderate cost and stores for light
purposes. The plan Of improvement for tho remain
ing portion OF the district which is mainly composed
Of hy country steep declivties and uneven surface,
win be the construction Of roads and drives following
the natural surface Of the land.


The hsides along the Hudson and Harlem rivers.
are places very steep which Is also the in
the northen portion OF the district impossible to
improve many OF these portions Of the region Tho
sides Of these emnences are SO steep that the cost Of
grading and the carrying out Of the "terrace's
system would involve an outlay far greater than tho
prospective value OF the land and i proposed ny the
Park officials in view of this fact 10 reserve these
rocky heights for pleasure grounds and with very little
expense it is expected that those otherwise useless
spots occupation Is concerned, VIII add much
TO the and attractive appearance OF tho surround
ing land Good roads, on the park" pan are 70 20
constructed In this region wherever necessary, ana
the land divided into small plots, from one-guarter
this section Of the annexed district
has great natural advantages OF scenery elevation &c,
II will be naturally occupied by an expensive class OF
residences each having attached small section OF
land. Broad are 10 be constructed wherever
necessary conforming to the natural contour tho
ground, preserving continuous line Of building sites
on either side. The present splendid foliage viii DO
preserved as far as possible, and al Intersections Of
roads miniature pleasure grounds will be formed points
marked natural beauty being selected for this pur
pose and if possible the construction OF combined
carriage way bride path and promenade Of mile in.
extent at some important point in the district is con-
tempated.


Vt is claimed by the supporters Of this general system
Improvement that II much less expensive than tho
plan lately rejected by the Board and that II better do
voops the district for occupation, providing for
the future population grade and class Of improve
ments to every variety OF taste and means


The last and, perhaps most Important subject in re-
laton TO the future Of this district is


THE QUESTION RAPID TRANSIT,


the future of this entire region and the ability or
the property owners TO meet large assessments de-
pends upon the solution Of this question. Al present.
this district is accessible only by the Hudson River ana
Harlem railroads. and as these roads depend almost en-
tirely through travel they cannot supply local rapid
transit On this point there seems to be some chance
of Improvement, tho officials of the Greenwich street
railroad company propose 70 cross the Harlem River
and construct dvergng lines throughout the district
This plan will but little, the roadbed be laid
the ground. Arrangements are at present being
made and plans drawn by which concert OF action be-
tween the Department OF Parks and railroad officials
be established and uniform plan Of railroad com
muncation adopted that will not interfere WIN tho
system of Improvement


In reviewing the past action OF the Department OF
Parks the improvement OF TINS region "
must confessed that great expectations can be
INDUCED in the speedy accomplishment OF the
work IL is by means certain that the system In
which the new plans are founded will be adopted by
the Board The commission at present. STANDS in tho
same position that IL did one year agotwo favor OF
the adoption of the rectangular or city plan as pro-
posed by General Greene, the late Engineer OF the de-
partment the other Commissioners being IN avor or
the pan above described


review Of the entire question clearly shows tho
necessity of adopting, to certain extent, both sys-
tens for the district In the low lands and level re-
gions where the OF construction OF streets and
with level grades s not excessive the rectangu-


plan may well be carried out this district will be
chiefly occupied by people with moderate means, who
are at present forced live in parts of houses and the
class in the lower portions OF tho
city. Land along the river fronts should be laid out
and business and manufacturing purposes,
as this regior being all low and swampy land, II VIII
never be entirely exempt from more or less malaria
poison and consequently be unfit for dwellings


The hly regions may be developed by the construc-
ton of good roads and drives and proper system or
drainage The improvement should be gradual and
carried proportion TO the demand for property.
In this way a thorough Improvement OF the entiro
district will be brought about the property owners en-
abled pay the large assessments necessary Tor tho
proper laying the land and the transition OF this


large from farm land TO city properly can be
accomplished a comparatively short space OF time


The duty of the Commissioners In this matter Is
plain. II no is competent in the department to
district they should appoint commission of engineers
and sanitarans fully investigate the question ana
prepare q proper system Of sewerage, drainage and
construction that should be adopted by the de-
partment and vigorously carried out the people arc
sick of this long delay and constant waste of money in
teaching lessons in experimental engineering.