The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-11-01

grievous to be borne?
The Progress of New York.
In a late speech Abraham R. Lawrence, one
Of the candidates for the Mayoralty, speaking Of
the progress Of New York, said my own
short life have seen 1t increase from O COM
paratively small cty-so small, indeed that it
might have been called village-until it be-
came the great metropolis of our country, in
which not only you and ], but the people of
this whole United States take an interest. And
l believe, in order to carry it on in this
grander and more modern style, and promote
its prosperity, you need men at the head OF
the administration who will recognize these
facts" This is an appreciation Of the situation
in which every enlightened citizen will concur.
We owe the sudden greatness of our city to
the unceasing energy which has been the dis
tinguishing characteristic Of our community.
While the Rip Van Wrinkles of the country
were still dreaming the busy minds and bold
hearts that congregated in New York from
every land and every race, built up the great
ness, wealth and influence Of the city until
they made it the metropolis Of continent.
The history of the growth Of New York will
ono aor wood IN A-..y uaIe; out, wonderful
as its progress has been in the past, there is
before us still more brilliant future, if only
we display the same enterprising spirit which
marked the men to whose genius we owe the
prosperity we at present enjoy
It is by broad and generous measures Of
public improvement that the commercial in
terests of great city are best served; for
though private enterprise ought to be allowed
full and free scope there are certain works of
general utility which in the nature Of things
must be carried out at the public expense.
Any delay to fulfil this duty has in all cases
the effect of cramping private speculation and
crcumscribing the area of general activity.
Unfortunately the obvious truth of this prop
osition does not strike certain narrow-minded
individuals in the community, who seem CO.
pable only Of calculating the expense of an
undertaking, no matter how useful or de-
sirable it may be, without being able to recog-
nize that in q short time the investment more
than repays itself. These Rip Van Wrinkles
would be only too happy to stop the wheels
years if they could show that by SO doing they
would have million or two more greenbacks
locked up in the Treasury safes. They never
calculate the immense loss which must re-
suit from impeding or checking the pros
perity Of a great mercantile city which can
never remain stationary, but must progress
or decay. We do not believe that the citizens
will place men in power who are likely to
adopt reactionary policy, for while it is
well to reduce public expenditure when
money is being spent without any adequate
return, it is altogether another question when
an attempt is made to save some few thou
sands of dollars by abandoning works of great
public advantage. What we desire to see in
troduced into the city government is wise
supervision of the outlay, which will rather
encourage than check the expenditure of
large sums on such works as may contribute
to the beauty, the health and the prosperity of
the city. And whatever steps may be taken
in this direction will receive the unfaltering
support of the public. But we must not allow
our city to be converted into Sleepy Hollow
under the pretcnce of enforcing measures of a
wise economy.
Whatever faults our city rulers may have
committed in the past, they at least earned the
gratitude of New Workers by their broad and
liberal views on city improvements. But,
though much has been accomplished, work
not less important or necessary remains to be
done before large OUTLAWS of public money can
be stopped with advantage to the welfare of
the city. We have on many occasions called
attention to the want of rapid transit. and the
necessity for the adoption of some of the
schemes which have been from time to time
suggested has forced itself during the past week
on the notice of every inhabitant of the city.
Whether we adopt the vaduct scheme, or the
underground railway, or the elevated track,
makes no real difference, SO long as passengers
are enabled to reach any point Of the city
rapidly and conveniently. The advantages Of
having the transit system of the city under the
charge OF the authorities are so great that the