The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-03
The Present Condition and Future
Prospects Of New York-What Pub

Tho Present Condition and Future
Prospects Of New York-What Pub
lie improvements We Need.
The letter addressed to Mayor Havemeyer
by the President of the West Side Association
sets forth facts which deserve serious con-
sideration. The census figures and the in
formation gathered since the last enumeration
show that since 1860 the ratio Of increase OF
population in this city has been steadily de-
creasing, while the ratio in all the surround
ing suburbs-in Kings county, Westchestel
county and the border counties of New Jer-
sey-has as steadily increased. At the same
time there has been great increase in the
business and wealth of the metropolis in the
last fifteen years. Private residences have
been gradually driven up town, and stores
and warehouses occupy the places where
only few years ago our wealthiest
citizens made their homes. To this is
due that drainage of population of
which we now feel the injurious effect.
If we had secured rapid transit from the
Battery to Harlem River ten or twelve years
ago the people who have been driven to the
suburbs would have remained in the city, and
the ratio of our growth would have been
greater during that time than in any former
decade As it u.s. our business men have
found it necessary to live in New Jersey,
Kings county or other suburbs which
can be reached by steam cars in
one quarter the time consumed in
horse car journey from the City Hall
to Central Park. Thus the natural
growth of the commerce of the metropolis,
instead of bene6ting the city to its full ex-
tent, has served to enrich the surrounding
counties at the expense of New York And
this evil must increase instead of diminishing,
unless we have the wisdom to remove the
causes to which it is due.
The West Side Association believe three
measures are necessary if we would retain our
position as the great metropolis of the United
States-rapid transit, the exemption Of mort
cages from taxation, and the speedy compile
ton of all our public works and improve
ments. Two of these propositions, at least.
will meet with general endorsement. steam
railroad is positively a necessity. The health
anu mOIaiS VI VIC City Us "ciA aS Jul Ausuxo
growth in population and wealth demand it.
1t is equally important that we should have
speedy resumption of those works Of public
improvement on which we have already ex-
pended large amounts of money, and which
for the last two years have been suffered TO
remain stagnant. It scarcely requires argu-
ment to prove the folly of pursuing our
present do-nothing policy, or the wisdom
of making investments which will In
very few years not only repay themselves, but
leave us with largely increased wealth and
diminished expenses. The plain array Of
f,oures set forth in Mr.. Martins letter is argu-
ment enough. It is shown that the Central
Park and other public improvements already
made have directly increased the value of prop
ertv in the wards above Forteth street to
such an extent that the amount of taxation
received on the excess of valuation between
1862 and 1873 has been sufficient to repay the /,
outlay on those improvements with interest,
while the city now possesses San additional
permanent, undiminishing source of income
of at least $4,001000 year" The Same
results would follow the building Of steam
railroad by the city and the completion
of the public improvements now UNI
finished With rapid transit, and the
splendid boulevards and avenues in the
upper part of the city in q completed condi-
ton, there would be such remunerative rise
in valuations that the amount Of taxation