The New York herald., 1879-02-06
Means and Methods OF Building Up
the City.

The obvious tendency of the new rapid
transit roads, when they shall have been
extended beyond the Harlem River into the
northern part of the island, will be to
recall to New York considerable portion
of the population which has overfowed
into New Jersey and Long Island, and to
give mighty impetus to the laying out OF
streets and the construction of dwellings
in the tract which stretches toward West
chester county. Nobody can doubt the
superior desirability Of residence
in New York, in point of conven-
fence, comfort and even of expense
when the upper part of the city becomes
easily accessible. In comparison with the
nearest places on the other side of the two
reaching the principal places of resort.
An average of twenty minutes in Jersey
City or Hoboken horse car, the change from
a horse car to ferryboat, the ten or fifteen
minutes consumed in crossing the ferry,
even in summer when the river is not OBJ
structed by ice, and then the uptown
passage, take up the greater part OF an
hour in reaching either the fashionable up
town stores during the day or the
places of amusement in the evening.
In less than half the time people
living in the upper extremity OF the city
will be able to reach the same places with
out the three or four disagreeable changes
in the mode of conveyance. The light,
airy, tasteful and smoothly running cars of
the Metropolitan Elevated Railroad will
present an inviting contrast to the Jersey
horse cars, the ferry and the gauntlet of
blocked and filthy streets which passen-
gers have to run after leaving the ferry
boats at West street. The only motive
which has heretofore reconciled people to
this accumulation of annoyances is econ
omy; but there will be no economy in
crossing either river for residence
when there shall be an abundance
of cheap dwellings in the northern
part OF the city easily accessible
by the rapid transit roads. Nothing is
more certain than a prodigious growth of
the population Of the city treading close
upon the full completion of the rapid
transit roads.
The new buildings which will start up, as
if by magic. in the upper portion of the city
will comprise every variety, from the
splendid mansions and villas of great
bankers and merchants down to modest
cottages for clerks and mechanics. The
endless varieties of surface, site and pros
pect will be utilized in proportion to
- xho;,. oIx Tho I'll,
grounds which overlook the Hudson and
the Harlem will be crowned with the ex-
pensive and tasteful residences of the
wealthy, while the low-lying lands and
valleys will be filed with blocks of neat
dwellings suited to the means Of families
of the city for extension northward is un-
limited, and rapid transit will place the
inhabitants practically nearer to the Gen.
tres of business and amusement than the
most eligibly situated people in New Jersey
or Long Island.
full advantages Of the new situation there is
a great deal to be done which, uniortu-
nately, there are no symptoms that people
having stake in the city's prosperity are
inclined to do, or at least not with that
vigor Of purpose by which important re-
suits are accomplished. We will point out
some Of the things which require imme-
diate and strenuous action.
First Of all, and most important of oil, is
q thorough revision Of our tax laws. which,
of course, can be done only by the State
Legislature. We do not object to the efforts
which are making at Albany for reduction
of municipal salaries, and We hope they
will be successful. But this is really
small matter in comparison with the urgent
necessity for revising our tax laws. We
will not dwell on the unfair action Of the
Board of State Assessors by which this city
is made to bear about one-half Of the whole
burden OF State taxation. IT the city could be
saved from this injustice enough would be
saved to pay the difference between fair sal
aries and the present excessive salaries
But this is not the point which we desire to
press. What needs to be reformed is the
law relating to such taxation as falls alike
on all the property of the State. 1t is for
the interest of the city that all taxes should
fall on real estate and that personal prop
erty be exempted Our present tax laws,
instead of inviting capital to the
city, drive it away. Multitudes of
great manufacturing establishments have
been located in New jersey and Connecticut
because the tax systems Of those States are
more liberal than ours If those great estab-
lishments could be attracted to this city
the municipal treasury would be benefited
by taxes on the real estate they would
occupy, and this alone would overbalance
all the revenue we derive from the easily
evaded taxes on personal property. Our
tax laws also repel residents. Many capi-
talist who has acquired wealth in other
parts Of the country would gladly come
here to reside if he were to be taxed only for