New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-20
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
THE ARCH QUESTION AGAIN.
A SUGGESTION THAT THE CITY RAISE FUND
BY TAXATION.

BY TAAAIlON'
TO ne LdEtor o(The Tribune
Sir: The subject Of that Arch is making the
flesh OF citizens crawl a little That will be use
h II only something creditable TO us results there
from. Can IT be possible that the gentlemen on the
committee entertain for moment the Washington
Square siteI During the next fifty, years more and
greater changes OF surroundings will take place there
than In the Five Points. Tho suitable place is the
circle at the junction Of the Boulevard FlfynInthst
and Eghthave, at Central Park The junction OF Fifty
ninth.st. and Fiithave. Is also good site. The
arch should be of magnitude that surroundings
not dwarf.
Now, as to the cost-sloo, 900 will not pay for
tho statue Of Washington and the brUnEe embellish-
ments necessary for arch that &c, 100000 people
could be proud Of. A million dollars morp should
be RAISED II nOeSled Why should subject our
selves 90 being laughed al within ten years for our
niggardliness and lack Of appreciation Of the great
opportunities before us We able and II Is our
duty as live Americans to have something decent
In arch 10 represent this State and city at The
close Of this century. number Of other cities are
waiting 10 see how . great spectacle we arc going
30 make Of ourselves In this matter on tho plan at
present pursued. Then they will do something bet.
ter and we win hear their sneers and have the op-
probium OF the Grant Monument affair over again
l. for one % record as protesting against
such pusIllRnlmity.
Who shall pay for ths arch1 An important ques
ton but not difficult As this arch viii IN it's very
nature DO AZ Improvement OF the most permanent and
valuable character 20 the city and credit to the
State, fail to why any other
than the city should pay the BILL The city
VIII receive back all It pays out and more
by tho Increased valuation Of property which all I'm
prOyemcntS create taxes increased. Consequently
the rcntpsycr and tho consumer have to pay for II
any way. The city IL not going to reduce the tax be-
cause an improvement is paid for by private citizens
Why then pay twicci large proportion Of the peo-
pie called upon to subscribe for the plan proposed can
probably their money more properly In their tam
hos
Now for equitable manner Of paying for It. Lot
the city aside portion Of any money not otherwise
needed for immediate use to be known tho fund for
this particular purpose Oy whatever subse-
qucntly chosen, be drawn upon I'LL the arch Is CON-
petcd and accepted By the committee aud the city.
II there is ~ money which can DO used without In
erfcIng with cty's necessities let the city create
fund, paying the invest rae Of Interest ooainable,
10 10 known and used for tho same purpose Auer
computed and divided into twenty equal payments, TO
be made 10 periods Of time OF i've successive years
each BY tax collections for that purpose being applied
" the reduction Of that principal and interest BY
this sysum the payment for tue arch being stretched
over a long period OF limo, the cost Will practically
10 mperccptbIe 20 our citizens and IN those periods
VI time hundreds Of thousands Of citizens yet 10 be
born feel the prdr of having PAID their portion OF
rs cost and q not enIOyns Il on the bounty OF Others
There Ii another plan, perhaps moro econUnfal aud
patriotic Let the city issue certificates, with the arch
elegantly engraved thereon, OF the denominations OF
81 and 81 bearing no Interest,", payable on demand
after i've years. Let the payment for the arch be
made by tho proceeds OF the Esle OF those cerc ates,
any deficiency by the tax colec tons, as before
provided The probable result Of this plan Will be
that largo fund viii soon be raised, and eventually
all tho cost by these great many OF these
certificates Will never ~ presented against the city
They will become heiriOOms, kept ~ families, and
within twenty years only TO DO Obtained By paying pr
NUNS In orior that they may DO well scattered
among tho people It would DO desirable that only one
be allowed TO person, thus preventing IS far a. pos
sibs any number sccumulatiug In tho hands Of por'
sons for speculative purpose
Now for the larger army who may feel disposed to
contribute = mite occasionally. There could DO de-
posltOry slot in the arch, where pennies and other
sums could DO put. Hhen cleaning and repairs Wcro
necessary. When the fund was not needed tho slot
could DO closed. Il seems harily necessary 10 say
that the undertaking should DC eRirly non partisan
Sew.York, May Is, lss0. JAMES l. TURNER.