The New York herald., 1869-05-23
Brooklyn and Progress


II is pretty evident that New Ysk is gradu-
any moving toward its suburban territories In
Brooklyn, Staten Island and NeVJersey. The
flow Of population is tending sry rapidly in
those directions; but Brookln appears to at
tract the largest portion Of or people, who
either cannot be accommodated here, or who
are anxious to be relievel from the pressure
of bricks and mortar, snd want the free air
which floats into BrooIyn from the broad At
lantic. Anyhow, it is dear that the spectators
in real estate on Maraattan Island have lately
been somewhat ew,arrassed in their calcula-
tions as to the vane of property by the move
ment in the DIRECTION of Brooklyn. Property
there ia cheapf than in New York, and IL is
rapidly gainig equal advantages by the I'm
proyementsIn the streets, the Prospect Park,
the slsacn ponds in winter, the fine drives and
boulcvaps which invite fast people and slow
people IN summer-the fast ones who love to
try tlp mettle Of their teams on good roads,
and ne slow ones who like to enjoy the splen-
did landscapes which surround them every
viere. These are some, but not on, of the
charms of Brooklyn.
New York and Brooklyn are destined to be-
come twin cities. The East river bridge will
Of course be the connecting link joining these
Slamese twins, but it may require an act of
tho Legislature to make them one in cofpo-
rate form-to place them both under one
practically elevate Brooklyn to the enviable
position of part of the great metropolis.
London, although divided by the Thames, is
all London still. Southwark and Sydenham
and the other portions of the city on the
other side Of the river are as much
part of The English capital as the vicin-
ity Of Temple Bar and Trafalgar square,
1t will come to pass in our day, In like man
ner, that Brooklyn and Jersey City and Staten
Island will be united to New York by bridges,
and then VIC may have but one municipal gov
ernment, and one political ''ring" instead of
many, to look after-a blessing most devoutly
to be wished for. Our two rivers will then be,
like the canals of Venice, mere water passage
ways from one part of the city to another.
After all, what more are they now7 The
representatives Of the labor, the industry and
q good deal of the wealth of this city have
their homes either in Brooklyn or Jersey City
And they are there by necessity, because they
cannot find homes in New York as cheap and
as convenient. The man who lives within his
moderate means cannot afford to pay the rents
demanded in New York for residence ade-
quate to the comforts Of home, and hence 1t
is that people prefer to have house of their
own in Brooklyn rather than occupy rooms in
. domicile which, however elegant it may
appear, il little better than tenement house.
Brooklyn, in point of population, is the
fourth city in the Union. Her progress for
the past ten years has been, perhaps, one Of
the most remarkable examples of the rapidity
with which our large cities increase in popu-
lstion, In area and in civilization. She has
new all the benefits Of this metropolis at her
command. Our theatres, our concert halls,
our art galleries, our Park, our Broadway
stores and Broadway promenades are at her
door. Our progress, in short, belongs to her,
and she cannot fail to avail herself Of it.
When the bridge is completed we shall be one
city In reality, as we are already in every
thing but In name.