New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-06

| the condition Of cities in other countries, ana
has been for many years engaged in such Ia
bors here that he has excellent opportunity for
| knowing the condition of this city. As pastor
If an influential church, and the founder and
for twelve wears the president Of the Society
! for the Prevention of Vice, Dr. Crosby has seen
much Of the dark side Of New Y ork, and 10
cannot be supposed that his testimony is col
ored by any political liking for the party which
has mainly controlled the government OF New
| ork nor can the city government claim credit
for much of the improvement effected because
nolice. fire and other departments Of public
service have been mainly under non-partisan
contio. Without partisan purpose or applica-
tion the testimony is of value as justifying
more hopeful view than many are apt to take
Of the progress of the city toward better things.
DR. Crosby first recalls the fact, known to
all who were familiar with elections fifty or
even thirty years ago, that there was more
crime, more rioting and fraud, than ever occur
in these days. lie says
Nsryous people and those anxious TO avoid riots
never thought of going near the polls.
Bribery In elections far more general than now.
and no concealment OF 1t was attempted. 10 could
not be stopped or lessoned by any laws in force The
ward politicians when was boy would conduct
party of forty fifty bribed voters to the polls and
unbushingy stand by until they had cast their ballots
as they had been paid to do.
1t was even later not thirty years ago, when
two candidates for Governor in Rhode Island
openly spent many thousand dollars each in an
election, in which voters received their ten
dollar and twenty dollar bills in the open
street New-YoIk is disgustingly dirty now,
but DIR. Crosby says:
People in those days threw dirt and garbage from
their houses into the middle Of the streets, and pigs
roamed everywhere. It was seriously regarded BY
the public for a long time impossible TO keep the
sufne off the streets The water supply
was very small then, too, which contributed largely
to the lack Of cleanliness in the CITY, The nuoduc-
ton Of Croton water In 1912 was very great measure
OF reform.
Undoub teddy the street cleaning OF to-day
is a disgrace and the people spend many mill
ions which politicians refuse to use in street
cleaning and employ for partisan ends but no
man who remembers the NewYork of old
times will deny that there has nevertheless
been great improvement.
Concerning crime and vice the testimony of
DR.. Crosby is especially important He says
In very few parts Of the city was 1t safe for one TO
walk about after nlghtall Crime OF every KIND
abounded and very much of it went unpublished
/ have walked Though every part OF the CITY "ltnh
late years and should not fear now to walk through
any street at any of the night New-York Is the
safest city In the world in this regard. me
extent of gambling and other vices was greater then
than now, compared with the population. Gambling
houses and brothels used to abound everywhere Ihey
were on every street, aud boldly advertised their
character Nor was there any effort to close theHl'
. Formerly there absolutely no bride upon
the places where liquor sold and they were even
more than to-day tho headquarters Of crime. why.
even of late years there has been great Improvement
In 1877 there were nearly 1000 liquor saloons III
this CITY, while on January 1, 1882 there were only
es11 Meanwhile the population Of New-fork mas
increased 100000
1t is not to be inferred that the people OF
this city can afford to sit down in peace and
conclude that there has been progress enough
Rather let the evidence Of actual and great
progress in the past encourage dlsheartened
souls to have faith that earnest effort Will yet
overcome evils which now seem insuperabIe.
The city is not what it ought to be- in cleanll-
ness. purity or freedom from crime. But 1t
has at least made progress enough to prove that
greater progress is possible.