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

written It will be remembered and admitted
nv all that years before the Ring came into
power, Andrew II. Green, in report rs Con-
troller of the Central Park, foreshadowed the
Developments which have since been made In
the parks and in the streets and avenues OF
the upper part of the city. FOreseelng the IN
eyitable annexation of Westchester, since vr-
tually accomplished, he planned also the i'm
provements of the Harlem River which are now
in progress and which in time will transform
that useless and marshy stream into busy
grand canal for the metropolis. 1t Is pity,
if not indeed shame, that these great works
which corrupt Tammany appropriated and
carried out as the only redeeming trait OF
its misrule, should languish now that they
have been placed again in the right hands,
And it is not only the incompleted ones
which suffer by the present inactivity. Worse
STILL the neglected payements rot unrepalred'
AS we have heretofore shown, there are
many miles, many thousands OF yards OF
wooden pavements which at this moment need
repairing, or rather replacing with more sub
stantial material. If the present indifference
lasts, Winter will find them rotting still, and
Spring will discover us struggling deep in mud
as far, at least, as the streets in which are laid
wooden and concrete pavements are concerned.
That we are seriously threatened with such
dsaster,-and it would be nothing less to the
metropOlis,-is patent to all who have studied
| or observed the condition of the streets where
patent plasters and wooden veneerings have
been laid.
When this state of things is brought about
people will find little difficulty in placing the
responsibility for it on those officials who for
weeks past have been idly quarreling over
mere matters of patronage and appropriations.
The Mayor and Aldermen, with stubbornness
which is the growth of years in him and born
of the greed of patronage in them, have played
at cross purposes until not only is the worst
form of judicial abuse continued, but I'M
portant business of every description is brought
to standstill When they should have sug-
gested some remedy for the improvement of
the streets, or at least urged upon the Depart
| ment of Public Works action looking to the
use of some substitute for the pavements
which experience has condemned, the Alder
men have adjourned for the Summer. Con-
| troller Green and Commissioner Van Mort,
| with the weight of the whole City Government
on their shoulders, pull like pair OF balky
horses Their immediate quarrel by CORE
spOndence about the payements seems likely
now to come to an end. At least we trust So.
| Thus far it has been useless discussion In
the public prints of what was worth only a
brief talk in council. 1t has shown, however,
that both officials appreciate the Importance
of the work, and this revelation makes more
inexcusabe the delay which their quarrel pro-
| tracts. 1t may have suggested to some, and
| if continued much longer may warrant the
| thought, that after all a too economic and
divided Reform may prove az costly and ruin
GUS as O thieving but united Ring. The men
who stood in the breach when there was dam
ger are making a great blunder and losing
character by not working as vigorously to de-
velop and repair as they did to save. 1t
is not enough to have stopped the leaks of
the treasury; it is imperative that the great
work of the city shall not altogether halt. 1t
| is due to Mr.. Green 10 say that he has made
it impossible for the old gang to continue their
depredations but unhappily he has made it
| very nearly as difficult for honest claimants
to get their dues as dishonest ones to secure
their booty. What is wanted now is that the
just debts of the city shall be paid; that mere
technicalities shall not stand in the way of
collecting fair claims, and that appropriations
shall be liberal, though not extravagant.
Commissioner Van Mort certainly has the ar
gument of facts to sustain his claim to a
larger appropriation for the pavements. Con-
troller Green, to our mind, has only the gen.
eral commentator for his course which the
most economical, not to say parsmoniOus, tax
payers will utter. He and Mr.. Van Mort
worked we'll when both were in the Park !;
and now called to larger labors, they ought
to do better service for the general good by
laboring more in harmony. Neither is win
ming reputation by the present idle quarrel