New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-17
MR.. STRANAHANS SCHEME.
WHY NETWORK AND BROOKLYN SHOULD
UNITE
HIS SPEECH AT THE DINNER GIVEN IN HIS
HONOR BY THE HAMILTON CLUB-RE-
AFFIRMING THE VIEWS EX.
PRESSED THEN.

PRESSED THEN.
The proposition put forth by J. S. T. strahanahan,
OK president of the Bridge Trustees at the dinner
given in his honor on Thursday night in Brooklyn,
relative the consolidation Of NewYork and Brook-
Ign into one great municipality, has aroused con
siderable comment and discussion on the one hanh IL
Is urged that the two cities are only seemingly DIVIDED
b. the East River which Is spanncd by one brdge
and will doubtless have other roadways over u IN
the near future. with possibly tunnels beneath us
bed. BY natural affinity. It is maintained, the TWO
cities should be and under government Other
large cities like London and Paris solve The proDiein
Of municipal government as well smaller citcs
when the character OF their population is considered
With the growth Of the shipping and manufacturing
interests OF Brooklyn II is becoming more and more
u business city Ike NcwYork and less mere city OF
homes and churches 1t once was.
on the other hand, those who objections TO the
scheme Of a united metropolis on Manhattan aun
Long Islands say that the interests Of the TWO cos
are so diverse that consolidation would be imprac-
tlcable. They say that government would be more
difficult and expensive that great confusion would
arise from calling Brooklyn New Tx, and point 10
the fact that after more than thirty years since inc
consolidation OF Brooklyn and Williamsburg the name
Of the latter IS still retained and IS used by large
number Of people
A Tribune reporter called on Mr. Stranahan al MS
home No go UnioD-st. yesterday, and asked nun 10
explau his views In regard the consolidation Of the
cities.
al must decline to say anything more about the
matter" said the First Citizen OF Brooklyn" u
Will leave IT for younger to take up. DO not
wish 10 be drawn any controversy on the SUBJECT
or say anything that viii put work on my shoulders
bur ! am firmly convinced that the union OF the TWO
cities in one great metropolis is the best thing that
could be done should be happy to give my views
10 The Tritune If I desired 10 say anything more
The following Is the full text OF Mr.. stranahan'S
remarks relative TO consolidation at the Hamilton Club
dinner:
Their is other subject upon which, before closing
these remarks. I think it proper 10 say word Brook
lvn and Kew-YO are distinct municipalities sepa-
rated from each other by the River. Is this an
advantage to eltherl ] think not Would the consoA-
dalton Of thess two cities into municipal CORPORA
ton Involve any harm 20 eItheri think not Inc
people in both essentially the same sort Of people,
living under the General Government and the same
State Government. They have the manners and
customs and Industrial, commercial ana
social interests and municipal government for local
purposes would them quite a. well a. two ana
at far less cost know why this municipal
distnctness should contnued other than the fact
that f. now exists and l confess that l can see
no good reason why It should exist at all l
may mistaken, but l think that the people Of both
should seek consolidation OF both under the tue
Of NewYork- London Is London Oh both sides Of the
Thames, Paris is Paris both sides OF the Seine
Bridges make the connection between the sides in the
and neither would gain anything by division
municipalities.
Here however, have city Of New-York on one
side OF the East River and city Of Brooklyn on the
other side So It has been in the past and hope,
1t will not always be in the future. The East River
Bridge added the frry system, ard probably to
be succeeded by similar structureA WILL trust,
80 affiliate the Two cities sympathy ana
facilitate their mutual intercourse, that both without
any special courtship the part Of either viii alike ask
the Leeisla,ue Of the STATE the ceremony Of
municipal marriage. As l cannot doubt such
marriage would be indlssoubo union be-
tween the two Fac. would be well pleased
with the and proud Of the other hat neither
would ever seek divorce The marriage would be Tor
life and that life would last long as the world lasts
Nes.Yofk and Brooklyn thus united and forming the
great city this Western Continent would az take
rank with largest cities known TO mankind. The
spectacle be splendid in the records Of city
m Every year would add it, greatness and grandeur
Tho consolidated city Itself would be empire Of
Industry wealth and intelligence and cmnontlT De
the great metropolitan Of country stretching from
The Atlantic to the Pacific and from Canada the Guf Of
Mexico.