The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-17


City ImpEoveyzents-The Way % Reduce "a
Rentals and TAxaxion OF New York.
We published some statistics the other day |
to show the unparalleled rapidity with which
the population Of New York and it. vicinage
increases, but we left untouched, FIR the sub
ject Of another article, the consideration of the
causes why in the case Of the latter the ratio Of
increase should be SO much larger than in that
of the city proper 1t is evident, from the facts
which we then presented 10 the attention OF
our readers, that the tendency manifested by
our city population to abandon the natural
channels into which, in the usual order Of things,
it should flow, and to take others which are
foreiga both to its convenience and local in
terests, must be owing either to sanitary CON-
sidesations or to causes Of temporary nature,
and, therefore, capable of removal Now, no
one will contend for moment that the site
upon which New York is built is less healthy
or agreeable in its aspect th,.n that Of Brook
| lyn, Williamsburg, or New Jersey. 1t must,
therefore, be the pressure of some other equally
| powerful motive which drives our citizens to fix
| their residences in localities iHconveniently
bitudtcu dS ItSdIUS pluCcS w uubluCbS, du0
in winter attended with 80 many annoyances.
| What then, is this necessity which overpowers
all considerations Of comfort, amusement and
agreeable society-for all these are, in
| greater or less degree, sacrificed to it. 1t is
the necessity of escaping from the monstrous
and continually increasing exactions Of rapa-
cious property holders, whose monopoly is up
held and encouraged by corrupt and profit
gate system of city government, which is con-
tinually reversing the principle Of its iRstitu-
ton, by sacrificing the interests Of the celnmu-
| nifty to those Of individuals.
Had the functonaries to whom in cruelirony
| we are accustomed to give paternal appella-
ton, but discharged with ordinary foresight
and diligence the duties which their offices i'm
pose upon them, the evils to which we allude
would not have attained their present magni-
tude. Engrossed by political intrigues, and
eagerly watching the spoils which their parti-
sanship and personal turpitude throw in their
way, they never bestowed any more than pass
ing and but too frequently an Indifferent at
tention on the growing wants of the population
entrusted to their care. They took no pride in
identifying, omamenting and extending the
boundaries of their jurisdiction, and in bequeath-
ing to posterity memorials of their civic patriot
ism and industry. They looked on compla-
Gently at the gradual progress of the congestion
| Of population which has been taking place with
in small circle of the extensive locality under
their control, and they made no exertion to re-
lieve it by any Of the ordinary remedies en-
ployed in such cases. Vast as is the unpopu-
lated space into which they might have divert
ed the stream of lfe they left it sterile and un-
profitable by neglecting the inducements to
building afforded by the construction ofnew
and avenues, and the keeping in decent repair
the old ones. They were the last to open their
eyes to the advantages Of city railroads, in
bringing the upper part of the island into easy
communication with the lower, and had it de-
pended upon their solicitude for the interest of
their constituents, Blocker street would still
have remained the ultima thule Of Upper Ten
dom. 1t will take many years before the evils
that have accrued from their gross negligence
and indifference to their duties can be repaired
They have allowed the population which, under
q different regime, would have diffused itself
over the whole breadth and length of Manhat-
W HiAu OutiCbS lOI AbS III auJOlu-
ing Cities and to swell the 49, ,1 iAnpo.-
= i.tler at their own expense. With
this Impeachment of the life blood of their own
community continually progressing under their
eyes, they even now make no efforts to remove
the causes 10 which this drain is to be attributed
They are surely not incurable as long as the
sea does not invade and swallow up the unpopu-
lated area of Manhattan.
To abate the monster evil of high rents, it is
clear that the only effectual palliative that can
be adopted is to relieve the overcharged traffic
Of Broadway, by opening wide parallel streets
on both sides of it, and compelling the city rail-
roads to run the entire length Of the island ct
frequent and regular intervals. The effect of
these measures would be to diffuse over the gener
al surface Of the city the business which main
tains the extravagant rental of particular
quarters, and to still further reduce the latter
by increasing the inducements to remove
business itself higher up town. AS soon as
the railroads begin to run the entire length of
the island, we will find the stream of popula-
ton which is now diverted to Brooklyn and
other places, set in rapidly in the former direc-
ton, and thus rents, like every thing else, will
soon find their proper level.
But until the pressure from without is ap-
piled to the somnolent functionaries who are
supposed to represent the collective wisdom of
the city, we fear that little or no progress will
be made towards these desirable objects. In
stead Of endeavoring to multiply the facilities
of communication between one part of the |
leland and another, they are positive clog |
upon the energy and enterprise of our citizens. !
We need only cite one fact to show how much |
behind they arc in all the requirements of their |
duties. The Hudson River Railroad retained a |
privilege Of making a third track, running |