New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-16
BEYOND THE BIG BRIDGE.
WHAT PEOPLE IN BROOKLYN ARE TALKING
AEOTrT


naturally attracted good deal Of attention. but not
moro than 1t deserves. UnQuestonably the Mayor
has chosen an excellent time for bringing tho matter
forward. What he wishes to secure is favoraoie
action by the Legislature to supplement that taken
last winter. There is time enough for the SUBJECT
no be considered IN all its phases before the meeting
Of the LEGISLATURE and the bill that will In all proba-
bfity be brought forward will DO ono OF the early
measures introduced and the consideration OF IL VIII
not he postponcd until closing hours of the session.
Then too the excitement Of the political campaign has
subsidized, and people are In MOOD 10 give a'enuoh
10 other matters In sending a special message TO
the Aldermen In regard to street paving MI Chapn
has evidently taken his cue from Mayor Hewitt whose
annual message TO the Ncw-York Aldermen this year
was made up Of three nstalncnts. BY calling at
tcnton to a single topic and concentrating interest
upon 1t much is gained whereas an exhaustive dis
cussicu Of the matter a part of regular message
would be TO some extent at least lost sight OF In the
multitude of subjects taken up.
The Mayors treatment of the question Of street
paving shows the most thorough and conscientious
study of the subject in all its aspects, accurate
knowledge of the city's needs and honest desire
10 do something that shall be OF permanent vauc
10 the city. 1t would be too much TO assume that
Nh. Chaplin does not entertain the hope that he may
rront in political way should the great undertaking
which he proposes be carried into effect But that
does not dctract from the value OF his suggestions
or diminish the necessity for the work IN coh'chpia
tion In the first place. It must De remeMocico ua'
tho last Legislature authorized the issue during 1850
OF thre per cent bonds TO the amount Of lor
i,c.l timnrovements The improvements intended
were the repairing and repaving of streets and the
construction, IL necessary, of storm sewers. IL mas
been decided devote this money mainly 10 inc max
ing Of street repairs. What Mr. Chaplin proposes Is
TO supplement this 81, 300 900 by the issue OF $2ooo
600 more provided the Legislature VIII CONSENT III
order to carry forward the work ana supply inc
city with good pavemcnts in those streets which are
most used. These streets he denominates thoroueh-
fares and the principles which he lays down as
basis for the work clearly sound il this pan
IS carried out the city will have by the beginning
~ 1909 at least seventy five miles OF streets well
o.ved with granite That this would be an IN
estimabe boon to Brooklyn there is no denying. But
Mr. Chaplin wishes also to get authority to make an
expenditure of $500 900 for paving streets OF more
private character where the property-ownerS shouia
bear q part Of the expense
A more important subject affecting the entire CITY
could not be brought forward. 1t Is SUBJECT ,ha'
deseryes TO be considered on other thah partisan
grounds But 1t is too much TO expect this lhere
was considerable hostility to last winters proposhon
and there will be more to this. The RepuDhcahs
of Brooklyn will not be TO inust TO the hahds
of a Democratic executive the expenditure of such
enormous sums of money in a year when Mayor ID
TO 10 elected. And, In TRUTH 1t does not seem that
any pressing necessity for haste in the matter exists
Chaplin admNS that tne pfOcoous VI uo Piio"",VNo
Of bonds will DO sufficient for all the work that can
reasonably be undertaken during 1889. Why, them
NOT leave for another Legislature the making of
further appro pration. By year from January the
people will have had opportunity to soc how the
work Is being done; now Mayor-at least successor
to Tho present Mayorwl have been chosen ard there
viii be plenty of time to authorize the new issro OF
bonds IN time to 60 with the work as soon as the
season of 1890 permits
speakng OF Mayor Chapn's belief that all the streets
In tho neghborhood Of the Bridge terminus ought to be
paved with granite, said IL this column on October
~ THE Mayor who initiates successful movement |
10 have the pavements of Brooklyn put in good con-
dition from Red Hook to Greenpoint and from the |
riverside TO East York, will certainly be dcserv-
ing Of a permanent testimonial In a conspicuous place.
II Mr.. Chaplin will only do little to improve their
shockngly bad coDdition he will entitled to last
Ing gratitude Mr.. Chaplin certainly seems to have
done little. If his present plans are consummated
he will have done much.
The last meetings for the year Of both the Republ
can and the Democratic General Committees have
been held and the committees for the coming year
have been made up. The Republican Committee for
1859 will contain los members than the present
body, owing the Increase in Che vote for Governor
this year that cast for Ira Davenport in 1885
There will be Alb members In all good deal Of in
is felt in the election of chairman of the
committee. Mr. Baldwin, the chairman of the
firing committee is not q candidate for reelection
II is most probable that Franklin Woodruff will be
chosen his successor. Mr.. Woodruff for Mayor
In 1870 and defeated by Mayor Howell One
Of the interesting incidents in that campaign was
the opposition to Mr.. Woodruff manifested by Mr.
Beccher and Plymouth Church. remember going TO
the Office OF Tho Christian Unon' then in Park Place
In order TO secure interview with Mr.. Beecher on
the subject He uncompromisng in his op-
position TO tie Republican candidate and very par
ticular 10 make sure that what he said should be
correctly reported. Mr. Woodruff has taken no active
part in politics since that year. There is some talk
OF setting up rival candidate for tho craftsmanship
OF the General Committee but the movement against
him Is not likely TO gather much strength
One OF tho Democratic primaries on Monday night
va. forcble reminder of od-tIme political methods in
Brooklyn. In the Nineteenth Ward there was a contest
OF purely local charsc tor between the friends of Police
Commissioner Bell on the hand and tho friends
OF CITY Works Commissioner Adams on the other. The
ballot box stolen half an hour before the time
Dor closing the primary, and actually carried TO
the house OF i;ct-AttorDey Rdgway and placed I'm
bis custody. He Vas in way the proper custod an
Of it, What he Will do in the matter is an interesting
question. That tho law has been violated is clear
II is equally clear that Dir Ridgway is bound to prose-
cute the offenders. But who expects that he will do
so' Probably the whole thing will be hushed I'D and
Dothing whatever done. Not the least curious tn ng
about IL IS that the law which the begerent Democrats
IN mo Nlncteenth ard failed to obey the whose
passage was secured by Mayor Chaplin when in the |
Assembly. failure to vindcate IL in this conspcu
instance would be sorry reflection upon the | ,
Mayor.
The Kings County Elevated Railroad Company is to
be allowed to extend its Inc through the Twenty sixth
Ward TO the city limit under the name of tho Fulton
Company. Consent to this was granted by the
Aldermen ON Monday. 1t was accompanied with like .
consent for road connecting the Eastern District with
the s0called Western District There is much |
Likelihood. though, that the latter road Will be con |
structed. The demand for IL is not intense and |