New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-18
PROPOSED BROOKLYN IMPROTEMENTS

Mayor Chapin's plans in reference 10 'he
repaving of Brooklyn streets as set forth III
his recent message to the Board of Aldermen
must commend themselves, in the abstract, to
every fair minded man who considers the best
interests of the city In large and compre-
hensive way. 1t is probable that they Will be
objected to in certain quarters on purely par
tsan grounds Ii will no doubt be said that
Mr.. Chaplin hopes to gain political advantage
by having in his control the expenditure Of
large sums Of money, and that in this way he
seeks to secure the denomination which he Is
commonly believed ardently to desire. There
may be some truth in this. Still, Mr.. Chapns
course in reference to the improvements au-
thorized to be made by the last Legislature was
a manly and straightforward one. The Legis-
ature granted authority for the expenditure OF
Sl,3OO,O00 in local Improvements; but, with
the express purpose Of removing the matter as
far as possible from the arena of political COM
pications, it was provided that none of the
money should be available until after the Presi-
Dental election. With the beginning of next
wear bonds TO the amount named are to be
issued and it has been decided to use the en-
tire proceeds in putting down good pavements
in place of bad ones.
or the dcsirability-even necessity-of this
there is no room for question. Beyond doubt
the pavementS of Brooklyn are as bad as those
of any big city in the country, and probably
they are worse. To city of BrooklynS size,
importance and possibilities their condition is
undeniably diSgraceful. Mr. Chapin'S message
shows intelligent comprehension of the press
ing necessities of the case. His idea is to put
in good condition those streets on which travel
is greatest and which connect the important
portions of the city with one another. The
81, 800, 900, however, will be only sufficient to
give the work fair start. What Mr.. Chaplin
now proposes is that the Legislature shall au-
thorize the further expenditure of 3, 600, 900
to carry on the work during 1890 and 1891.
Already some opposition is manifested to the
Mayors scheme by Republicans. who fear he
will profit too much thereby. Something of the
same spirit was shown when the matter was
before the Legislature this year, and, in fact,
the bill was carried through in spite of Repub
lican protests. 1t is greatly to be hoped that
the question as now brought forward will be
considered, both in and out of the Legislature,
on the highest grounds and without reference
to anything but the best interests of Brooklyn.
OF course there is Mayoralty election
coming off next year. Already the projected
improvements have been delayed somewhat on
account of the Presidential election. What is
the use of further delay After the next Mayor
is elected there will be another similar election
in two years, and nothing will ever be accom-
plished if postponements are perpetually made
through fear of affecting one election or an
other. The wise course for Republicans to pur-
sue, in our judgment is, not to indulge in
factious opposition to what everybody must
concede to be a thoughtfully considered plan
for the advancement of the citys interests, but
to lend their heartieSt aid to the furherance Of
scheme conceived in such broad minded
way. They will gain rather than lose by such
a course. These large sums Of money ought
not to be used for the sake Of comprising po-
litical advantage. We have no doubt that they
would be much more prudently and economical
ly expended by Republican than by Demo
cratic administration, and there is no reason
why they should not be. The Republicans of
Brooklyn have only to 60 to work in earnest
and nominate an unexceptionable candidate in
order to select Mayor Chapin's successor from
their own ranks.