The New York herald., 1876-10-22
Improving New York.

covered most of our losses; that habits OF
economy, patient industry and careful trad
ing have once more very generally taken the
place of the wild and speculative habits bred
of the war and the paper money era, and that
we may hope from the next Congress such
favorable legislation as the country needs to
set it going again.
But nothing is more certain than that
general revival of industry and commerce
will pour into New York largely increased
volume of trade; ships will crowd our port
as never before; the grain. provisions and
other products of the West; the cotton,
rice and other products of the South;
the manufactures of the East and Middle
States and the swelling imports from abroad
will meet here in greater quantities than
ever before. Is it not the part of prudence
to prepare in time to accommodate this vast
commerce, to welcome it, smooth its way, to
make the business of exchange cheap. safe
and convenient? Some of our citizens think
not. Some days ago we printed communi-
cation from Mr.. Martin, President of the
Department of Public Parks, who though
he thinks the city is too poor to venture on
some Improvements which he believes to be
necessary, shows that the Park Commission
has not neglected preparations for them and
that it is ready to do its share and the citys
share toward the completion of one of the
most needed Of our public works, the Har-
lem River Improvement We are glad to
know this, and we urge upon the attention
of the merchants Of New York the necessity
of getting the federal government to do
its share at once. That improvement is
needed, not for the use of the population
and business now there, but for the use
and convenience Of an immense and con-
stantly growing traffic which for lack of this
improvement is now crowded into the lower
part Of our water front and put to needless
loss, expense and risk. 1t is the commerce
of New York which needs the completion of
the Harlem Canal, and it needs it so much
that every weeks delay is dangerous to us
and iniicts and threatens irreparable losses.
In his address last week Comptroller
Green agreed entirely with the HERALD in
this matter. Since he spoke Mr. Smith
Ely has been nominated for Mayor, and he,
too, has q thorough and intelligent
comprehension of the wants of the city
in which he has been a prominent and sue
cessful business man for many years. Mr..
Ely as Mayor will possess both the knowl-
edge and the influence over the merchants
to stir up our whole community to interest
in these public works, on the completion Of
which the future prosperity of our city SO
greatly depends. The HERALD has frequently
urged that we ought not to be expected to
defray the entire cost Of such works as the
Harlem Canal Indeed, very few believe
that we ought. The federal government
claims rights Of its own on that water way,
and if the New York delegation in the House
will this winter do their duty to the city,
and if the Chamber Of Commerce. the mer-
chants, the Mayor and the other city digni-
taries will hold them to their duty, Con-
gress, made aware of the necessity of the
work, and of the very moderate amount
needed to complete it, will make the neces-
sary grant. A little over two and
half Millions according to the
careful estimates of General Newton,
will complete the canal, and he has the sur
canal will be to change the face Of New York.
1t will be to invite hither all the commerce
which naturally flows to our port, but much
Of which is now repelled.
Nsc take the liberty Of calling the atten-
tion of that comfortable and dignifed body,
the Chamber of Commerce, to this and other
questions which, as they bear SO vitality upon
the future of the city as q metropolis of COM
merce, should interest the body of mer-
chants more than any one else. If the
Chamber of Commerce would depute some
capable persons to make for it a study of the
present condition of the city, regarded SIM
ply as great commercial centre, and of its
requirements, to make the deposit
and exchange Of products safe, cheap
and convenient, we believe most of the
members would be surprised not to say
startled at the result They would at any
rate be able to make recommendations to
unite their efforts toward we'll planned
system of Improvements to show up abuses
and the evil results of neglect and unsyste-
matte or misapplied labor. The HERALD has
for years persistently urged this great ques-
ton upon the attention Of the merchants
and other citizens; delays now begin to be
dangerous. We are at present in depressed
state of business; everybody complains Of
hard times and the dulness of trade; yet the
business streets even now are inconveniently
crowded, and the great body of our commerce
is conducted under circumstances of delay,
cost, risk and loss which would be unbearable
had not everybody become accustomed to
them. What, then, will be our situa-
ton when trade really revives and when
the commerce of New York is doubled?
If we do not act quickly and decsively the
merchants Of New York may as well write