Harlem River Ship Canal Letter From Simon Stevens to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund of the City of New York. December 25, 1891. + Map of the Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek from Ward's Island to the Hudson River: showing project for a covered water-way 60 feet wide, to be built on the westerly line of the Harlem River from the easterly side of Third Avenue to 165th Street, New York City and filling in between the points named so that the avenues and streets of Harlem may be extended into Morrisania ... as recommended by the New York Harbor Line Board and approved by the Secretary of War, October 18th, 1890 from plans suggested by Simon Stevens and G. Thaddeus Stevens

New York: COLTON, G. W. and COLTON, C. B., 1892. unbound. very good(+). Large folding map mounted on linen 29 1/2 x 37 1/2 inches in very good condition bound with 28 pp of text + 10 blank pages. Manuscript notes in pencil. 8vo, 3/4 polished calf. New York: G.W. Colton & C.B. Colton, 1892. Scarce. Very good (+). "Real estate speculators, shippers, and business interests could not agree on the best way to utilize the Harlem, (river) debating whether public works should facilitate traffic across the river or shipping along the river. Coastal trade interests advocated for a Harlem River Canal, but their opponents argued that transportation across the river was more important. This map of the river between the Hudson River (top) and the East River (bottom) accompanied an unsuccessful proposal to have the state legislature turn the Harlem into a subterranean river and connect Manhattan with the mainland between Third and Eighth Avenues (section shaded red)." (Gotham Center for New York history). Small abrasions along folds. Includes notes for the proposed site for Columbia University. (Inventory #: 296808)