New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-04
BROOKLYN ITEMS.

BROOh1I1 ~ IL ENlO.
UNION OF BRooKLrN AND WILLIAMSBURG
WITH NEw.YoRK-The Report of the Special
Committee of the Board of Assistant Aldermen
of New-York, on Tuesday evening" adverse 10
the proposed union, created a good deal OF sur
prise, we understand, TO some other members Of
the Joint Special Committee, it having been de-
cided at the meeting of the Special Committee
week bfore last, that the question OF union, or
otherwise, should be submitted to the people OF
the respective cities, and Subcommittee was
apponted to draft resolutions TO that efe0s' anu
also a petition to the Legislature for leave to
submit the question, said Sub Committee to re-
port at the next meeting, which was to take place
oath Dec On latter evening quorum did not
appear. although two of the three members from
WILLIAMSBURG were present and it was agreed
that the Joint Committee should be notified by
the Secretary and called together again. This
was the state of the Committee when the report
was thus made.
The Committee base their decision on the re-
ports or written opinions Of Assistant Aid Boyce,
Fifth Ward. and Aid Smith, Eighth Ward, both
of the North River side. The third written opin-
ion There being three was from Assistant Aid.
Ward, Fifteenth Ward, who saw no objection to
the proposed union that while it would benefit
BROOKLYN and WILLIAMSBURG, it would not lnlure
New-York. The census, as to population OF the
city, would then show what the population really
is. the inhabitants Of Brooklyn and Williams
burgh being now, in fact, part and parcel OF
New York that the union would put an end to
all difficulty as to the water front at Brooklyn
that Brooklyn and WILLIAMSBURG will continue
TO increase in growth whether annexed or not.
In % years from now, probably, the whole oil
Manhattan Island will be covered with buildings
and thickly populated While it is difficult to
discover any injury that union would do to
New-York, it will afford very great advantages to
Brooklyn and WILLIAMSBURG. | see no objection
to submitting the question Of annexation to the
people.
Assistant Aid Boyce said, in giving his opinion,
he would be governed altogether by what he
thought the interests of the City of New.Yo rk.
After speaking of New York having great COM
mercia advantages, be says: " If Brooklyn aud
WILLIAMSBURG were admitted as a part Of the
City they would bear a proportion in the Com
mon Council as three to ten, and be surrender
of the division Of what the citizens Of New York
now nOlu IN butu OUh 81 asp ahe SohNNS ~ SNN~AA
from them, and should be guarded with the most
scrupulous jealousy" "They, as matter
of course, would be entitled to full share in our
future imD. ovements, and would expect and de-
mend the building of docks and piers on their
long line Of 'front.' which would not only draw
heavily on the common Treasury but would go to
transfer our most valuable and productive bust
ness from our own doors TO those OF our new
made friends while our front on either side OF our
City would, as matter of course, remain neglect
ed, as also further improvements in our uptown
Wards would, in a measure, cease. Capitalists
would seek investments in the south Of Brook
Ign and other unimproyed parts OF that town and
in WILLIAMSBURG, to correspond with the new
state of affairs. This would cause injury to those
who have purchased uptown property from the
Cooperation, or others, relying on steady growth
of our City in that direction. 1t would
unite municipal governments who jar in their
interests. The affairs of individuals gen.
orally are better managed than public matters,
and so are small communities than very large
ones.
"There may come time the opinion OF AS.
sstsnt Aid. B. continues, when this union
can be made on more equti Terms tuah HuN OuI
so long as New-York has the commerce in her ia
disputed possession to enrich herself and her
neighbors and has water front and unimProved
lands enough TO quadruple her commerce and
population, TO form union, under such circum.
stances, would be doing an act Of magnanimity
that is not looked for or expected in human trans
actions" For Brooklyn and VII
liamsburgh it would do much-it would elevate
the character and credit of those cities by merg
ing them In New.York it wodld increase the val
ne of their real estate by equal protection, clean
liness and heslthiness consequent on the Croton
water, and enable their property-hoders to IN
crease the means of their productiyeness. In
short, it would be the best thing that could hap
pen TO Brooklyn and WILLIAMSBURG, but it would
be at the expense Of the City Of New.Yofk to
the tune of s5l6,sO2 per year.
This is based on the idea that it would. cost
$4,000 600 to convey the Croton water across the
river. seven-eighths Of which, the opinion says
would have to be paid by New-YorEi also that
the expense Of light, watch, streets, &c in the
ratio Of to 10, and taking the valu alton andpres
ent outlay Of Brooklyn and WilIisnsbursh,Oom'