Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-07-27
THE GREAT METROPOLIS
An Epitoms Of the Resources and Char4o'
teristios Of the Great City.

The recent message Of the Mayor of New
York city presents q most succinct aud
interesting epitome Of the condition, re-
sources and general characteristics Of that
metropolis. The apparent total debt of
the city and county Is placed in rOrnd
numbers at $l27, 900, ,0O0, and the total
value of the public real estate ut S2l3, ,9Sj,-
4g9. The water question, the need of an
increased police force, the vital Importance
of lending every assistance To the health
department, and almost every topic which
concerns the citizens, are fully and ably
discussed. In showing the actual demands
of the city the Mayor says;
The statement of current city and county
expenses sounds large, but we mu.t always
recall In this connection the statistics
which belong 30 the necessary mainte-
nance and development of the metropolis
Our resident population Is about million.
New York city comprises twenty two
square miles. II has twenty-nine miles of
water frontage, three hundred miles of
paved aud one hundred and sixty miles Of
nnpaved streets. Twenty thousand gas
lights nightly burn in the streets and
| public places at Il public expense of fi3
per year for each lamp Three hundred
and fifty miles of Croton water pipes and
two hundred and seventy y-seven miles el
sewers need constant watching and lc-
pairs. Demands for new mains and
, sewers increase with the population and
/ buildings. One hundred and seventy five
miles Of sewers are yet to be made. There
are over two thousand men In the police
force, and six hundred tremen, whose
salaries together amount TO the round sum
OF three millions. We employ an average
number of three thousand workmen each
day Of the year upon public works. New
York IS not only an emporium of wealth
hut an asylum for poverty and crime. The
city contributed TO the support during the
past year of fifty one thousand four hun.
dred and sixty-six criminals. 1t allcyiated
dnring the same time, by outdoor and
institutional charity, the sutlerings oi
one hundred and ninety-tive thousand
three hundred and thirty-four Of the pool
and sick. New York Is not only the city
of charities, hut il surpusses all cities o
the world in educational advantages. Il
maintains brigade of teachers and az
army of scholars In public schools. i
contributes to the support under private
auspices of fifty thousand children in thl
private schools Of various denominations
New York city disburees largely also II
the endeavor to force Ignorance and gre'
to respect the laws of health. 1t eYpend
a quarter eI ulllllOn lot hhlhIlth ol JuuBt
and court attaches. This sum sound
largely, vet il must be remembered u q
substantially New York courts are the
tribunals where moves immense litigatioi
from foreign countries and from ever
State in the Union. The city authoriti e
must necessarily take the initiative an'
lead in all public improvements and ad
vance the first cost of them until
can be 10 great extent collected bacl
from property owners; and the
are generally glad to be adyantaged with
out paying for the benefit ut all, or If pay
ing, to proong the day of payment a.
long as possible. This assessment ad
vance averages several millions per yea
and must always be borrowed and the in
, terest lost. Promises that the city an
county expenses will diminish and not II
crease must necessarily prove delusiy'
The city expands and In every year de
nands new obligations for expendituI
and shows fresh fiscal necessities. TaN
alton rates must increase yearly. The II
former is not yet horn who eau hereaitt
/, even keep themAunder three per cent |
five years hence Taxpayers Will look bac
I and comparatively wonder ut the presen
Observation-Disclosures TO capital as tn
city has been In the past, the docks, parl
well cleaned and perfectly paved stree
Of its future must prove more magnet
/, to wealth.