The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-28
NEW York AND BROOKLYN
Ons Way for Our Embarrassed Sister Out
Of Her Troubles
The Old Time Projsst Of Annexation Revived and an
Argument in Its Favor.
An INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH JOHN G. SCHUNAEER


earded with great favora project for union of the
two cities. Brooklyn secuted the idea and the dis
cussion stopped. Now, while the tall towers point
to the heavens and the watchmen point to approach
ing bankruptcy some OF Brooklyas citizens revive
the old idea and urge the desirability Of
union with New York. The points made
numerous the most important being the economy
that would be found in having but one
set of officials and doing away with the expensive
"boards" that now embarrass work and eat the
heart out OF the income. One OF the best informed
taxpayers OF brooklyn. who has often been honored
in Offices Of trust and responsibility by his fellow
citizens. is Mr.. John G. Schumacher. formerly Dis
trict Attorney, Corporation Counsel and member of
Congress. Mr. Schumacher has recently returned
from protracted trip on the Continent, but was
found to be well posted local affairs, and In
Spouse to question said:-"Every word Of the
HEnALD's expose was true as Gospel. read it
with great interest and agree with Mr. Kinsea that
the Brooklyn people may be thankful. indeed. if
the HERALD will take hold of our affairs and help
us out OF the quagmire.'
THE UNION OF NEW YORK AND BROOKLYN
''Have you given any thought to plan of saliva
tiony
"oh yes. and one Of the modes. so far as Brooklyn
is concerned. is annexation to New York. / have
lived in Brooklyn since carly manhood. and there
never has been time when would not have favored
o union--from Brooklyn standpoint"
.But how should it be done?"
"Why. do it without why or wherefore as they
say in Pinafore'-just folks get married for
better or worse think New York would have
the worst Of it. You Now York has great paying
property. property that could DO made to pay,
and brooklyn has comparatively no paying
property. New York is bounded by the
spuyten Duyvl creek at low water mark,
<la IT,.
to Long Island to low water on the Island and
along the North River to the Jersey shore to
the place Of beginning. and it owns all the impor-
tant water front. docks. piers and water privileges
say it owns almost all large part Of it, that
has not been sold or given away. New York should
be to-day of the very richest cities in the world
Why New York. if her great estates had been prop
erly managed, would be without taxation Of any
kind whatever. aud large surplus of rentals
amounting to millions in her treasury. By the
Cornbury and Montgomerie charters and tho Con-
nrmatory act Of 1872 New York city was made very |
rich. She owned all tho water front to low water
mark all around Manhattan Island"
care you quite certain you correct?"
..Yes-yes-yes. Certain, of course I'm certain. !
This is On old story and New York claims under her
old charters. all the property land between low
and high water mark from wallabout to Red Hook
Point in Brooklyn. too.
'.And still claims such land?"
''Yes does now and always has: but think with |
out title. although many persons have bought the
sum of money for it. Even George Wood, tho great
American lawyer. whose reputation was worldwide, |
paid the city of New York for land he owned be- |
tween low and high water mark in Brooklyn. He |
told mo he did 1t to take the cloud from the title,
not because he thought New York had any right to
it, But he could not afford to have any mist about
so important piece OF properly. and with merry
twinkle In his eye he said to You know lawyers
don't want any law suits on their own account-it
don't pay
low and high water mark on the Brooklyn slider"
"No not Brooklyn, but the owner of the upland |
contiguous does 1t has been contested once or
twice, aud the owner always won."
'If New York is so rich. why IL taxation so highY
because her great interests have been neglected
or given away. New York has been fearfully plum
dered always. Look how her great markets and
ferries have been msmanaged neglected. Besides,
Director ana counci Of New on
under the Dutch. all the waste, vacant. unpatented
tan. II such lands had been properly leased with
small rental yearly ground rent as 1t is called as the
s.sy zee the mmepse ncome ~ wnaS
the city. Captain Randall. an old captain. when
he died gave to tho Mayor cSmPtroler Recorder
for the support or DID, wornout sea captains about
thirty acres Of land between Sixth aud Twelfth
streets. in the city OF New York. Stewards store
stands some Of the ground ana the ground
rentals support the old tars in large numbers at
their Retroat staten Island"
''But has New York got much Of these vast estates
leftY
answer
York has great property yet which should return
her large income-her markets, ferries. wharves,
piers, leases Of water fronts. &C."
'.l3ut is not her large debt almos appallingg
"Her debt was increased under the Tweed rule.
believe. sl2oooooOO. Tho debt before that many
millions; but New York always pay her interest,"
while II matters go on much longer as they have
done in Brooklyn. Brooklyn do it. There are
two items in brooklyn that will swamp her unless
WHAT WILL SWAMP BnooKLYs.
''what theyr Kiln
..Unpaid taxes and assessments and her park Six
hundred thousand dollars annually Of unpaid taxes
aud assessments and :7ooo for tho park annually
..Is there not sinking fund in Brooklyn Of many
'sThats all bosh. What save at the spigot runs
out at the bung. II you save million and spend ut
tho time two millions what does your sinking
saving fund amount tor Brooklyn is bound TO be
bankrupt unless she does something stop her ex
penses and collect what is duo her."
''What would you do to accomplish such Q re-
sultr'
''seli all the east side park lands sell all lands
upon which unpaid taxes assessments to the |
owners of them. taking bonds for twenty-five years
IL necessary.
Never mind. sell them for what they are worth;
throw away the rest. You might rather throw away
part than the whole Let the lands be valued prop
crly. There no reason for being oppressivo give
all fair chance. Cypress no one Give scrip
title to with the land. at low ratio of interest,"
say Ave or four per cent"
STARTLING PROPOSITIONS.
"would you sell the Park IL necessary?'
"If necessary VIC would have to- The Park Ia really
useless now. 1t is an expensive plaything. The
drives to coney Island and Fort Hamilton have in
great measure done away with the Park. The steam
ears have made travel so cheap that the poorest of
the people all go there. and our Park is almost
less at any rate no one can say that IL is worth six
or seven hundred thousand dollars annually. II il
could be sold In plots like Englewood and other
parks in the vicinity Of New York, IL would
just as WELL Let IL all be sod under certain resric
tions of course, like Englewood. Llcwellyn Park
n. j., and then private gentlemen would have
same style among themselves and tho drives would
be the same and the public would enjoy Il just about