The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-14

pressing TO consummaton for few years past % de-
prve the people OF their rights V - ngn-
or undertaken by any European despoI
Mkt after the aboli,ion OF The foreign government
which has been established over US BY the Legislature
provement OF The city. Material improvements are ike
foreign wars IN one respect, at least They ailsy local
aspertes and partisan animosities Their successful
advocates and promoters, like victorious generals,
receive, a. they deserve 10 receive the universal
and enduring applause and gratitude OF the community
To ascertain what material improvements are
wanted is necessarily the first step To look
At the city as Il IS next 10 reflect upon what Il IS
likely 10 be In the immediate future-a grand plan
and purpose must precede and control details; and the
first inquiry is. What is ought be the great pan
shall be the metropolis Of the country anu in reaching
this, II must become the commanding commercial and
financial centre OF tho civilized world All great nations
have through history had one. and but one. national
capital, exerng its power and influence over all other
localities Such capital Is necessary feature in the
material fabric OF nation. This Is In England
and In France the only Two homog aud well knit
natiJnalities or Europe. II we are TO have great
and united country, the Union must BIO cementsd and
regulated from one great centre national heart How
much grander then than Rome the days OF its spen.
dor than Paris London II these precedents to
% repeated here must become the metropolis OF THIS
developing aspiration Of the citzcns, aad my dream
by day and by night. The perception OF the future
may now be confined TO q few but should be elected
TO the chief magistracy OF the city 1t shall be my aim
10 lift tho curtain, and hold up TO the gaze Of all men
ing events . sno mus; presenting ma
10 produce them. Now, what the material agencies
to bring about this magnificent result and what must be
II condition OF the city when II occupies this proud
position? First, we must have perec appliances for
receiving and distributing foreign commerce This is
essential and Indispensable AZ early as 1857 In mos.
sage 70 he Common Council, urged the erection OF
stone piers and wharves, and an improved system OF
harbor Improvement Although ten years have passed
since then. this accommodation of mine, Mayor at
that time, has been carried out This city Is
utterly destitute OF decent accommodation for It's i'm
menso foreign commerce The Atlantic docks OF BROOKLYN
nj V0U i'm mi
New Jersey, accessories TO the power and wealth
Of the city These docks have sprung from the absence
OF facilities for loading and dchargng ships In the city
The state and municipal authorities have divided the
power and responsibility over the piers and wharves,
and instead o. bong improved they are IN worse con-
ton. do not know Of single permanent dock or pier
Improvement in the corporate limits and the construc
ton OF permanent piers aud wharves Is q necessity.
An American who has seen the harbor improvements
OF Liverpool, London, indeed Of any considerable
Eng'ish port must look at ours with Illumination Ma
ture Eas done everything for our harborman nothing
Docks piers and wharves havo been In process OF con-
structon IN Liverpool for hy-ve years, and great as
has been the expenditure IN the past and indefinite 10
extent as these docks appear there was expended over
two and half millions of dollars $2 575 425) for new
nents ut LIVERPOOL well in London, have cost
fifty millions OF dollars In each city They have not added
penny to the taxes of these cities On the contrary,
they are In London taxable property. So it should be
here Commerce readily pays for the facilities which
such improvement affords 10 it. II 10 not the charges
on vessel entering port that resrans trade 80 much as
and unloading cagoes Delay costs than reasonable
charges for the facilities for doing the business or
nisIos. ne port Charges a Liverpool are, believe
and yet s cheaper port for ships to enter than tnis
Bat the question readily presents itself, whether the
It Is certain thai the Legislature d The State has here.
tofore assumed and exercised supreme power
them Now. without admitting this right on the part
OF the Legislature, IN my judgment II would not be
wro1s ASK tie State 70 construct these great pro-
posed improvements. and 10 give their use 70 tho COM
on Let s have Ssed ana thus
invite and attract the commerce Of the world to
harbor, BY removing every impeachment and anording
the most improved facilities for the transaction OF an
unrestricted and untrsmmcled trade. But The delays
attending tho present wrechod condition OF our wnarvcs
g. q u. spirit e Of the sss Which regards economy
time Of greater value and TO be estimated higher than
tue nero economy OF money. Second. The nsxt 70
Quiroment Is . perfect means Of communication with
liverpool London or Paris there are great works 70
Dsoon Of the ' CITY With Il. county Here
IL Is true is the open highway of the Hudson
lack o' Bat raro.ds arc more and more controlling
tho internal commercs Of all countries. and this city
wofuly denc ent IN railroad facilities Conveyance by
10 a necessary means to reach the country, aud
for the country the CITY, and Is also Of great
importance 70 the city In its internal economy II pract-
port Of The opsr.ons OF ,hs railroads Tor Tie year sud-
ing September 1885, just published, shows that thero
million. -
gers This gives daily average for each day Of tho
year OF two hundred add fory-four thousand per-
sons carried. lf all the railroads combined had
reported these figures would have been consdera
bly, Increased Tho annual increase VI travel very
and bs e sSs last oer
per annum 10 the increase. There now not less
than three hundred thousand passengers conveyed per
day and the whole distance travelled would be six hun
dred thousand mics per day. The passenger business
the city roads, Of about hundred miles In length,
Is moro than twice that Of the Harlem River Rail.
mad and Il mas m
OF the New York Central Railroad in iu I'VE
hundred and nfty miles operated by steam.
Tine difference In Ihe time now occupied by people in
going and returning daily TO business " more RAPID
transit facilities were furnished would afford ten hours
das Of productive labor 70 ton thousand persons for
every working day lost by The present slow pas
senger conveyance OF tho horse The grand period
Of the city's advancement IN wealth and population
must commence with the introduction Of moro rapid
system OF conveyance. The whole island will them
speedily be populated A the Central Park 70 now In ts
cnysas state the single obsc Of pride and interest to
all the citizens shall tnis metropolis then become
object OF national prde just ~ Paris Is the pride
of all France and just as Rome vas the glory
~ adorn natioua capltalS the inquiry or
Romans before awarding hon ~ TO her Industrious citi
The Emperor OF France Is raising enduring and
splendid monuments Of his rcign in the impro
OF Paris London Is being transformed oy
structlons, aud bore is work, to raiso tho
structure OF q nations metropolis. IL is also
necessary 70 change our system OF street i'm
provoment We now opcn, regulate aud grade
streets and avenues without any reference whatve
lay down Q pavement before the gas mains
are laid, and In a short whs these pavements are
torn up for the purpose OF doing this work. aud tho
pavement rs af,crward relaid 10 more hurried and
q less perfect manner. All OF tness improvements
paid for by tax levied the surrounding properly
and the system thus gong on affects very materially
The value OF real estate thus unduy bur-
dened. and retards TO great extent the pro-
gress and improvement OF tho CITY, The present system
Of street improvement, Is wrctchedy managed Every
thing Is Bcgcc,ed while heavy assessments and
taxes constantly levied, making things lar
than they Indeed, the whole government OF the
city could not be reckessy or sxrassgantiy and
incflcentiy carried Everything appcrtainng TO IL
IN most miserably managed. n merchant or any
business should adopt similar method ~ conduct
ing his private anairs, he would soon become bank
rupt, however wealthy he might be, or however large
his capital The system adopted 70 obtain place and %
hold political power seems 70 be the only thing thai n
throashly organized. Tho only requisite qualinca-
lion demanded OF Official looking for ilaco
10 how no can contribute toward tho mainte-
nance and continuance OF the party; how adroit
he may be 10 manipulating nominating conven-
tious how many votes ne can control, and whether
he true 70 the party organization. How they dis
posed qualified 70 serve the citizens and how they
will discharge their duties pubic servants never
M thsfn the tavs dnvs tnn