Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections: The Real Estate Record

Real estate record and builders' guide: v. 1, no. 10: May 23, 1868

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AND BUILDERS' GUIDE ypL^E] SATURDAY, MAY 23, 18G8. ro.ao. - - '-'PtrBfiisnED'-Weekly BY ; ..-O.rW.-SWEET" 1^ 00.,/ RooM-'25'WOKLD BuiLoiNo, No.JsT'Paek'Row. ■ - - TERMS. - -,-• \. [-" : Six months, payable In advance.................; 3 00 PRICE OF ADVERTISING.- ' - 1 square, ten Hues, three months.................$10 00 1 square, single insertion.......-..............:.... 1 00 Special Notices, per line.......................... 20 Business c'lrds, per month.........'................ 2 00 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- ■jient. ^^ further hearing of the case wa« ad- "■ 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.