New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-07
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF
TOPICS OF INTEREST IN CIIICAGO'S RIVAL
ON LONG ISLAND

TOPICS OF INTEREST IN CIIICAGO'S RIVAL
ON LONG ISLAND.
A good many Brooklyn people are asking themselves
and one another why they have not within their
boundaries the best available site for the worlds
Fair which 1t is proposed to hold In 1902 as fitting
recognition OF the great IN modern history to be
celebrated in that year One OF them put the matter
in this way in conversation yesterday: IL stands 10
reason that New-York is the only proper place 10
mold such exhibition. All the talk about having IL
In Washington may be dismissed little more than
poppycock. A strenuous effort has been maoe 10
give Washington boom in connection with this affair.
but everybody who reflects upon thu subject mo-
who would visit the exhibition In that
city would not be more than 20 or
% per OF those who would have chance to see
1t in the metropolis But there is this drawback
about New York itself there site tit for the pur
pose within any reasonable distance Of the centre Oh
the city. | see Central Park mentioned, but am
that It would be very hard get consent 10 use
much of that would be necessary Beyond that
you would have to go far as Washington Heights
or portion of the annexed district. OF course.
there is plenty of vacant space up there but IL Is 100
far away. Now, Brooklyn has got just the right
place. and It is less than half hour from the CITY
Hall In New-York. / refer TO the east-sde park lands
good many people in New-York suppose, do not
know where they situated AS all Of them know,
or al ledsb OupnJ 10 KNOW, Wner6 BIOSptCb Iah ios
It is easy for them fix the location of the eastsde
lands They lie Just to tho easthat is, on the Left
hand side-of the Park ITSELF and the same range
Of high hills This land is almost the highest OF Long
Island, and more commanding site could not be
found. There Is plenty Of room there, too for the
exhibition, and have no doubt that an arrangement
could be made whereby the city of Brooklyn would
agree to purchase more Of the buildings put up
for exhibition purposes, since it these lands
Of tho fopt ott, IN
The ultimate Of the buildings would then naturally
be taken into account in the original construction of
Them
AS have said, these lands less than half an
hour distant from the City Hall in NewYork That
Is If you 60 thlther by the streetcars. And this
brings me to the question Of of travel for
exhibition goers. Two lines OF horse-cars run d.
rectly to the Park entrance and Of them extends
along the whole westerly side Of the eastside lands.
Two other lines skirt the eastern and southern
boundaries. But that is not ALL The South Brook
Ign division of the Union Elevated Railroad Company
reaches within four blocks of the Park entrance and
with such inducement before it the work of build
ing line along Flatbush-ave to the city limits
would be the work Of only few weeks, or months
at the furthest OF course the objection will
naturally be raised that Brooklyn is not New-York,
aud that the exhibition ought TO be held In New
York ITSELF IL a site has to be chosen north Of
the Harlem River. Still Brooklyn and New. York
are IN a certain very real and the same.
1 know that BroOklyntes generally always excepting
the venerable and venerated Mr.. Stranahan are not
Inclined to look favorably a consolidation Of the
two cities, because that would mean the extinction
of Brooklyn's individuality; but 1 by no means
certain that the definite prospect of securing such
an attraction Worlds Fair would not bring about
a revolution of opinion in the city and produce
desire for union the part of Brooklyn, If that
indispensable prerequisite TO securing the
exhibition However, that Is neither here there;
this is only an Individual opinion and has no real
bearing on the main question If Brooklyn furnished
the site it would not reap all the glory. The fact
Is that New-York has no site that is suitable and
access ble Brooklyn has good a site as could be
found any where. and 1t nearer to the New-H ork
City Hall than Central Park is. hope to see this
question industrlously agitated Brooklyn has what
may be termed the opportunity of It's lifetime. Why
should ii not improve itl But it is certain that
nohing be done without vigorous and determined
eGort.'
1t is generally admitted that Mayor Chaplin has
made deporabIe mess" in his attempt to obey the
law that calls on him to appoint three Park Commits
soners in place of the old Commission OF eight HOW
far he prvy to scheme TO put the ParA Depart
mont into politics Is not altogether clear, but II Is
undeniable the Mayor has hurt himself seriously
by the Juggling which he has appeared as the prn-
cDal actor. II is naIuly tOO mum W BOY '~@~S
nothing in his career as Mayor has appeared SO greatly
to his disadvantage, though the proof is constantly
accommodating that he takes orders meeky from Boss'
McIaughLn as witness the Bosss' visit to him Just
before the last meeting of the Bridge trustees "hieh
resulted in the Mayors first attendance at session OF
the trustees, although he had been member Oh the
hoard for year and half. His boosted lnde-
pendence has vanishedf indeed it ever had any real
exlstencs-and he is now ready to criDge and fawn,
orlar 10 catfs ambition.
But the people can be deceived longer and In all
nrobabity they will elect Mr.. Chaplin to stay at homo
next fall If he carries out the INTENTION aV
trbuted TO him and appoints as PARK commissioners
Democr ratio partisan acceptable to tho hlhg' IL VIII
he horeless task TO remove tho impression that the
selection of Mr.. Jackson made of set purpose III
order to turn the parks over to the spoiiSmen'
The most important incident Of the week Is I'M
doubtedly the action OF the Aldermen III AUTHORIZING
the extension of the water works, which has Deen
urqently demanded by the public for the last lour
wears Brooklyn has narrowly escaped water ldni'
moro than once and yet although the plans for Inc
enlargement which have now been adopted were
drawn during Mayor Lows term, the Common Coueh'
for reasons which the public can only surmiSe' mas
seadfastly refused until last week to grant authoris
for the awarding Of the contracts. Inc Aidoi"'o"
have al last come to their senses, and the WORK ~
he begun as soon the necessary prenhln1los oH
he arranged and the contracts given ouV ~ $3.50,
at least two years to afford the city the e'ioi
might easily have been PROVIDED Dy TINS uI' -.
,1doru,on,s action was taken on favoraole IePor'
90 Tho Committee on Water and Drainage, 10 winch
numerous communications on the subject from Mayors
and others have been referred in the course OF seVer
years but which has been as silent as the grave UP
I'm about a week ago, when the sudden decision 10
hold meeting and report in favor OF the extension was
taken. 1t would he Interesting to know wha' leu "
this unexpected change OF heart were 'noio 81.
- % which the public knows nothing, or did the
norbers Of the committee simply grow weary through
long waiting and hope deferred!
peference was recently made In this column 70 the
doeirabuity of a direct connection between broohsh
and staten Island and the suggests was maze tha'
# would be good thing Tor the 'taeh iSi@nu 10y