New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-28
uUyTCTp1L ABSORPTION.


The tendency of every great metropolis like
New York is to absorb everything around 1t.
With the rapacity of a miser it accumulates
wealth from the varied industries of the sub
urbs. chiefly to expend it, with all the LAVISH
of the spendthrift in identifying itself. new
York in its rapid growth has already ABSORBED
and obiterated seventeen towns on this lsiahu
alone. and beautiied what few decades ago was
largely q waste of rock and sand. Pracncaily
dwarfed in its development and cOnhned 10
restricted limits by surrounding waters, 1t mas
still affected the growth of two States anu
influenced the destiny of a hundred surround
ing cities. Now with a grasping ambition IL
stretches out its wide avenues to take III
tbrtv-odd villages of Westchester County and
absorb in it's municipal organization ana rule
two other adjacent counties of the same state
Whether this shall be done or not is mumcl-
nal problem worthy early and serious STUDY OF
our legislators. Whatever OF information on
the subject we have been able to collect Is
giyen elsewhere; what Of opinion we nave 10
express is brief enough.
There was never a time when the welfare
of the metropolis more imperatively demanded
that its growth and extension should be well
and wisely guided. Its destiny is already
assured. Happily what it was to be was sus-
pected before New-York had reached IN us
porthward progress az high as FOurteenth-st.;
and the streets and avenues above that point
are laid ont with some regard to future devel-
opment. Every consideration which then
prompted the careful planning OF Its THOR
oughfares and parks applies with redoubled
force now that the advancing city contem-
plates tho passage of the Harlem and the
contIIre and annexation of the Westchester
towns II ia not needful to dwell In detail,
more especially since that is done IN
fine article referred to, on the advantages
10 be derived from uniform grades, ample
and strong bridges, broad and straight ave-
nues, forming direct communication with the
city, and continuous street railways, not 10
mention the possibilities in the way OF ele-
waited and underground railways, which we
are at last beginning to contemplate WITH
hope and enthusiasm. These are necessities
which must come sooner or later the point
is. shall we advance toward Westminster, with
wise foresight as to its future physical rela-
tions TO the metropolis, or permit IT, under
various local influences and score or two OF
different corporation governments, to build at
random now only to be torn down or altered
in the future to suit the convenience and con-
form to the broader plan of the metropolis.
II is not too soon to consider the subject.
Many of the views we present were really
suggested five or SIX years ago by the
Controller of the Park, Andrew H. Green
but have, during the chaotic interiegnum of
the Ring, been partly forgotten. Now they
come up again with additional force, gained
by delay and made more pressing by late de-
velopments, and the next Legislature ought
not to disregard them. From three different
sources the various questions in several aspects
will be presented to the Legislature, and we
trust some action, preliminary or thorough,
will be had looking to the harmOnlzinS OF the
various schemes but ignoring all which do
not contemplate the early annexation of the
Westchester towns. At the rate at which we
advance, all these towns must become metro
politan wards in forty or fifty years. Now,
we are accustomed in this age, when men
live for the Day and there is no time but the
Present, to laugh with hasty indifference
at the claims Of the next generation; but to
enforce upon the minds of the present popu-
lation that to fix the destiny OF these future
wards now is TO give them at once much OF
the money value they will possess fifty years
hence, will compel consideration. 1t has al
ways seemed to us that the future develop
ment of the city should not be longer left to
chance and no time to secure action appears
moro favorable than when a new Reform Ad-
ministration assumes direction of the metropo-
lis, and its suburbs in Westminster suffer the
affection Of miniature Rings like that which
we have escaped.