New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-07
BROOKLYN's GROWTH.

PHASES OF THE ANNEXATION PROBLEM
ORIGIN OF THE MovEMENr-PRofoskD BfiN"iNo
OF ALL KINGS COUNTY UNDER THE bRoohLiN
CHARTER = VIEWS OF PROMINENT CITIZENS
ppop,pry srRoSG OPPOSITION OF THE TOWNS.
A coae narallel to that of the annexation OF
nortons OF Westchester County TO TINS city is inc quo
tion OF the consolidation OF the whole OF Kings oV
into one city, which was brought up ior action uuiiS
the session of the last legislature That body went 80
far as TO authorize the appointment OF aconhpiss ~
inon,r,ng into the matter and for devislng plan ny
which II could be accom- pshed The IDEA OF eonSonua
ton was not very novel for u had long peeh ie'
by many OF the residents and properly o"hcis VI
Brooklyn that tho city line was an arbitrary ra'cr
than real limit of the city's population. The contrac
ton OF the city within its boundaries was also cosu
cred as OF more than doubtful utility and as having
tendency 70 check growth and development Moreover
the value OF property the outside OF the
line as compared with the greatly Increased ana con-
stantly increasing values within that boundary To-
gether with the local eaousies arising from this ana
other causes have produced feeling OF irritation wmch
1t was important assuage Besides, the extension to
the country towns Of Kings County OF the advantages
possessed by CITY, such the introduction and disri-
button OF gas water, and sewerage welgraded and
regulated Streets thorough public school system &C.
would go far toward turning thher large portion OF
the stream OF population from New York to the suburbs
which drawn to the various towns OF NewJersey
and into Westchester County. The matter had been
agitated for tho past seven or eight years, but
no real, definite action had been taken until
during the last session OF the State Legislature,
when special act was passed providing for the settle
the question by appeal to the people at the
next general election. The act requires tho appoint
ment by the Mayor OF six Commissioners for Brooklyn
and the appointment by the Board of Supervisors of five
for the country towns one for each town. The first
meeting OF the Commissioners is to be held in the Cham
Of the Board Of Supervisors Of the City OF Brooklyn
Aug H. The Commissioners are invested with power
TO send persons and papers and their duty will be to
devise an equitable plan OF consolidating the towns OF
EewLots Fatbush New-Utrecht, Flatlands aud Graves
end with the City OF Brooklyn the whole to be under
the latter title AS plan shall have been agreed
upon by twOthirds vote the Commissioners are to have
it submitted to the people at the next general election
In the county which they to provide separate
ballots and balOtboxes for the purposes OF the vote
After the election the Commissioners to meet and
count the ballots and II it shall be found that majority
OF town and OF Brooklyn votes favor annexation, then
the Commissioners are to prepare law in conformity
with the plan approved by people, and to submit the
same to the Legislature which shall finally decide
the question.
The great object OF the movement Is to simplify the
government OF tho county, which has an area OF 81
square miles and contains, according to the census Of
1870 population of 41992l. Its proportonate growth
has been more marvellous than that Of New-York
especially within the past 40 or so years Previous to
that period its growth was not marked The follow
ing table shows the increase Of population in Kings and
New.York Counties respectively, since 1890