AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 619 



March 25, 1857. 



Present — Messrs. Haskell, Tillman, Godwin, Chambers, 

 Leonard, Haswell, Butler, and others, thirty in all. 



Alderman Haswell in the chair. Mr. Haskell was appointed 

 Secretary, pro fem, 



Mr. Redding exhibited and explained Wolcott's scale, patented 

 April 15, 1856. The improvement and novelty of this scale, 

 consists in the graduation of the poize by means of a screw. It 

 was examined by members, who were pleased with it. 



Mr. Godwin offered the following resolution, viz : 



" Resolved, That a standing committee of three members of the 

 American Institute be appointed by the chairman of the Mechanics' 

 Club of the American Institute, to whom all papers read before 

 the said Club, and all minutes of the meetings shall be referred 

 to them to select such matter to be sent to the committee of arts 

 and sciences, as may be deemed by them worthy to be sent to 

 Albany, to be printed in the Annual Report of the Transactions 

 ©f the American Institute." 



On motion, the resolution was laid on the table until the next 

 meeting of the Club. 



The regular subject being now in order. Mr. Tillman offered 

 a paper thereon, which was read by Mr. Haskell, viz: 



Mr. Tillman thought the best method of relieving Broadway 

 would be to increase the facilities for passage not through it, but 

 through streets parallel to it, by using pavement superior to that 

 in Broadway, and extending at least two of these streets so as to 

 connect with Union Square and the Battery. By extending West 

 Broadway, southward, via College Place, until it intersects Green- 

 wich-street, and northward by widening Laurens-street and 

 connecting it with University Place, a magnificent avenue would' 

 be opened from Union Square to the Battery, for the accom- 

 modation of the w^estern side of the city. It would be superior 

 in grade and pavement to Broadway, and be fairly entitled to 

 the name of Wideway. The eastern portion of the city 

 would be benefited by continuing the Bowery extension until it 

 meets Water street, south of Fulton street. This would form a 

 grand " east avenue," connecting the South ferry with Union 

 Square. Another minor improvement would be to extend Elm 

 street to Chamber street, by cutting through a single block. All 

 these improvements can now be made for a cost far less than at 

 any future time. 



Wm. B. Leonard submitted the following paper, viz : 



'* Among the many schemes for the relief of Broadway, none 



