AND BUILDERS' GUIDE
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SATURDAY, MAY 23, 18G8.
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THE NEW BOULEVARD IN POTJRT.
Ak interesting case, involving the question
of the right of the Central Park Commission¬
ers under tbe Act of 1865, to open, lay out,
and regulate the streets' lying west of the
Park, between 59th and 155tb streets, has
made its appearance in the' General Term of
the Supreme Court, before Judges Barnard,
Ingraham, andSutherland.
It was introduced by A. R. Lawrence, Jr.,
Esq., in the matter of the confirmation of the
report of the Commissioners of Estimate,and
Assessment of the New Boulevard. He con-
teridedi that the.^^ct of 1865 was: in-conflict
with the first and second sections of article
ten of the Constitution,: as it vested powers-
in the Commisaiohers of the Central Park
which, .by the constitution of 1846, were
vested solelyin the authorities of the City of
New York, relating; to the exercise, of ;all
local powers; but that even if the Legislature
did have tlie power to delegate these- duties
to other officers, it must.be to such aa are
elected by the peo[!)le, oir appointed by the
local authorities; that the Commissioners of
the Central Park were not local officers, but
were created and continued in office by special
legislative enactments.
Tliis question of the constitutionality of
that Act of 1865, is a very important one, as
upon a decision by the Court favorable to
the view taken by Mr. Lawrence, the whole
topographical character of the west side of
the city may become changed. The expense
that has beeu so lavishly l-.iid out in beautify¬
ing it, and opening up magnificent avenues
conforming to the natural elevation of the
land, and thereby increasing the value of
property in that locality, will then have been
spent in vain, and the danger would be, a re¬
turn to the present abominable system of
rectangular streets and avenues, as applied to
other portions of the island.
This was the only seriously important point
"•aised in the argument, although other objec¬
ts were made to the report, on the ground
t the awards were inadequate aud in-
â– jient.
^^ further hearing of the case wa« ad-
"â– until the 31st proximo.
As the number of conveyances fall ofT in
ITew Tork and Kings County, we are en¬
abled to bring down our lists of mortgages
to a later date. "We hope soon to be up to
time.. The recorded transfers of property, of
course, are getting less and less every day, and
\^11 so continue until midsummer. It is re¬
markable, by the way, how heavy the Brook¬
lyn conveyances continue to be. Property is
still extremely active in that city; and at the
present rate of progress, it cannot be long be¬
fore Brooldyn will be the second city of the
Union in population. Nay, if we do not
have .'a steam city road, within five years
Brooklyn will exceed New Tork in popula¬
tion, as it already does in size, and we may
add—^in the weight of its taxation. •
What has become of the elevated road up
G-reenwich street and Ninth avenue ? It got
an extension of time From the legislature, but
we cannot find that anything has been done
since the adjourhmeht. The property hold¬
ers west and north of the Central Park are
deeply interested in the success of this road,
as, it is the only chance of a steam road they
are likely, to have, for. a. couple of .years. . If
practicable, it can be quickly constructed, and
once built and in running order :to the Har¬
lem, river; it will be-worth fifty million dol¬
lars to up-town property within five years.
The stream: of population Which now goes
over the river to swell the census returns: of
New Jei*sey, would be directed up the line, of
this proposed steam road, arid liouses woiild
go up as if by magic. The east side;has got
its so-called Central Tunnel road, and all that
the west side has got is this experimental ele¬
vated road, to which we wish aU manner of
success.
The Higliland Bridge, "which has had the
sanction of the Legislature and Governor of
this State, will, in its way, help to increase the
value of real estate upon this island. It is to be
placed across the river in the neighborhood of
Peekskill, and will bring trains and freight to
this city from the West, which would other¬
wise be taken to the Jersey shore. It will
thus help New York, especially the upper
end of the Island.
By the time this bridge is built we expect
that an agitation will spring up for a bridge
from Fort Lee to Washington Heights. This
will be constructed just as soon as a steam
road is built on the west side of New Tork
Island. When this is done the splendid sites
for villas on the west side of the Hudson
above Fort Lee, Avill lead to the erection of
a bridge over which steam cars will ruii-to
connect • with the Northern New Jersey
roads, as well as the new west side HudscJn
River road. Some of the most charming
residences in the world will yet be construct¬
ed on the Palisades, which will be accessable
to the business men of New Tork by means
of the steam road on the west side of the
city and the bridge oyer the Hudson at Fort
Lee.
During the past month a very valuable
privilege was granted by the city authorities
to the New Tork Mutual Gas Light Com¬
pany, incorporated in 1866.
It gave the company the right to open any
streets in New.Tork city and lay down gas
pipes.
It was pretended by the originators of
this company, that iti object was to furnish
cheaper and better gas to our citizens, now
so outrageously imposed upon by the existing
gas companies.
This was certainly a very laudable object;
and we sincerely hope that this immense
privilege'_ is not to be swallowed up by the
present gas monopolies, to the continued dis¬
advantage of the people, as has been current¬
ly reported. Wehope to hear that it will be
itn fait accompli,- and that the New Tork
Mutual Gas Company will soon be in actual
existence, furnishing and supplying;, us with,
first rate gas.
It is estimated that the value of the new
buildings to be erected in Boston the present
year, will range befcween ten millions and Mteen
millions of dollars. The Transcript says:
'' One of our widely-kno^\^l architects is mak¬
ing plans for new structures, the whole of
which will ccst about a million of dollars."
The Traveller says the West End Improvement
Company, organized with .^2,.500,000 capit.il,
desires this year to complete Boylston street to
Brookline, and run Chester Park to the mill-
dam, turning ifc after it pa.s.se.s Tremont, so as
to make it come in on the niill-d.im afc right
angles. A contracfc ^vill jirobably be made to
do the filling, and a horse railroad company and
abutters may assist in paying for ifc.
In Philadelphia, in Api'il, pennits were given
for the erection of G47 buildings, .^504 of them
dwellings, with one church, six factories and
nineteen shops. Among the factories is one for
the manufacfcuro of silk.
I>f Wa.shington county, Texas, on fche 8fch
inst., 3000 acres of l.ind were sold by the Sheriff
at prices ranging from 12^- cents up to §G 70
per acre.
Tiie Wood Coimty, (Wis.), Reporter says the
amount of lumber run over the Grand Eapids
the iiresenfc spring is 40,000,000 feet.
WlNO:xi.A., Minn., will make Ijuilding improve¬
ments this season costing §310,000. There aro
300 dwelling in process of erection.