Year: 1873

SPEECHES OF VIM. r. MARTIN, WIN. A. DARLING,
SIMEON z. CHURCH, AND OTHERS, BEFORE
THE WEST SIDE ASSOCIATION.


A meeting of the West Side Association was
held evening Lyric Hail. in sixtbave TO discuss
the question of Rapid Transit in particular. and the
Park improvements. and other projects in general VIM
r. Martin presided, and in calling the meeting to order
said, among many other things:


SPEECH OF WIN. r. MARTIN.


Al the plans far authorized by the Legislature have
failed TO give rapid transit. This is mainly due
to the successful opposition OF local property own
Broadway has been one great field OF this fight
Now, in order to get rapid transit, we must insist


First: The best route for the people without regard
10 the local interests set Of railroad by
steam on the line OF great thOr0ughfare would
increase and not depreciae the value Of property
that thoroughfare. The opposition does not rest
grounds that show that property would be injured in
value but the blind prejudices and hdebound self
ishness OF such property-owners who oppose every
thing from the lack of capacity to understand IT, pre-
csely az that class Of did oppose in their day. the
Hudson River Railroad the Croton Aqueduct, and the
Central Park There is nothing TO dc with these men
but 10 ride over them In the City OF New-fork TINS
best route means Broadway as the central route the
Fourth Thirdaves route on the east side, and
the Eighth Ninth-aves. up town. on the west side
whichever the men who are going to put their money in


Second: When the route is determined plan adapted
10 be chosen On Broadway an underground
woud he the best plan 1t would less interference
with existing travel and occupation and would pay,
il is the route which would furnish the passenger
travel. Mr.. Beach's hundred yards OF travel under
de6es criticism or refutation. On a sde ave.
nue., such as the Third or the Eighth-ave, an
of that kind would 1t would cost less.
A route through the existing streets ought TO
be taken for road should be compelled to TO the
expense Of buying right Of way and we have streets
enough. Besides, any secondary street will be bene
fted by having line OF rapid transit elevated over IL
and its capacity accommodate travel increased II is
sis enormous traye! which gives value TO thorough
for travel is TO give u chance to become the main
thoroughfare.


IT, If il could make circuit from the Harlem River To
the Battery, line the east side and the other on


With he second story Of all the erryhouses and steam
boat landings down town. and on the Harlem River with
the new Northern and Boston Road and all the roads
that leave the city norhwardly 1t would give great facil
titles travel and connect all routes OF Iave with the
residence and business portion o1 tDe cy so az 10 save
surface travel almost entirely.


Typographical surveys have been made OF the Morning
The treatment Of these Parks has been for some months
under the consideration OF MI Omsted, whose ability Is
everywhere displayed the surface of the Central
Park SO that the best devised for the ornamentaton of
grounds may be decided on and earned out in the


The boulevard which stretches from the gate Of the
PafR AZ Fifty and passes northWardy Is tne
grand avenue Of the West Side, and 1t viii become IN
fIme with the parks either side of 1t, the seat
OF the highest value land can attain ON this island
all know now land mas risen In value ON tne
in some ten, fold. Nobody doubts that such
Sace for IT. 1t % is on the West Side, from Fifty
njntli-st. to Fort Washington. There will the high
values OF this decade be exceeded much as present
values exceed those we accustomed before
war When will the time come IL will come as soon
as we have rapid transit nne er ~ @
the parks the grading and sewerng OF streets
We nave done a great deal of work on these subjects
before now, we have still great deal to do, and ell
eOurageInent TO 90 H.


Al the conclusion Of Mr. Martins speech, VIM. A. Oar
hing said, in part. as follows:


SPEECH OF WIN. A. DARLING.


II is perhaps well known TO many Of US that the
growth Of this CITY has been wonderful and marvellous
When we look back for years when the
fines Of the city proper in the neghborhood OF
Canast we cannot but be astonshed at the progress
displayed We can very readily the mistakes
that our City Fathers made great many years ago in
their legislation for the future growth and appearance
OF our city We can how streets should have been
laid out and widened; how, instead OF opening
the gates and permitting our people willingly
TO ind residences in Brooklyn and Jersey City, means
for the comfort and rapid transit OF its population
should have been carried out at an early stage OF the
citys growth We have the means here OF making our
city what destined TO be- one OF the most attractive
residences for opulent people In the world especially on
the security OF e the protection OF the property
OF the citizen. We want two thngs-rapid transit and
moment that taxation Is removed that moment you az
TO the city the capital not only OF the whole coun
try but Of the world.


We have entered upon q period of reform-not mig
gardy cutchng at the public purse, but economical
practical improvements which beautify our city and
really enrich its inhabitants II had the construction
OF road would build viaduct road, which would not
interfere with the travel Of the horsecars This could
be built In onethrd OF the time, and with Onehalf the
expense OF underground road The only way to fnd
out the best plan however is 10 hold meetings
doing tonight, and TO discuss the probabilities


OTHER SPEECHES.


Wheeler II. Peckham next spoke Of the injustice Of
the taxation upon bonds and mortgages Of real estate
mortgage q instrument Of exchange between
men. The property in which the equivalent Of the
mortgage invested had to pay tax upon the value
increased by that money that value doubly,
and therefore unustly taxed. He also spoke Of the
injurious effect Of this legislation, which sending all
the capital belonging in the city TO other portions Of the
country. where 10 could be used TO better advantage
and urged proper action to devise just system Of
taxation.


r. Jenney spoke Of the great injustice done 10 the
citizens of the State Ivy the taxation and the
enactment OF laws which Disseminated against the
property holders


SPEECH OF SIMEON r. CHURCH.


Simeon E. Church In the course Of quite a long
speech said that he had only TO Offer ana that
vas rapid transit which involved tho question Of the
wealth of our city. For twenty years there had not
been session of the Legislature In which from 70
tvsnts1eys plans q rseta HsRsat hsA EsS bseS pre