New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-08

Of sayansss to tho Es'asp,s Gt Tonns
sai Ds under the rsdeon 0 Ss city paris
Ass ss the nSrssy :, 5
park to private purchasers, and to SO reform its
IN ps that s CT s to park sS Wholly %S
IL Ss Ssass & .s ssSsy. made to
Whatsoever may be thought of the purchase Of lands
s s e Ss T ss AJ RSSar. S
nearly three millions Of dollars In acquiring title to
% a1 sna ON IN weS Tie city may Se
pelled 10 pay taxes to adjoining Jurisdiction, while
the park M Ss So n ai * OF s % bsns
to the mass Of our citizens.
SITE FOR CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The city IS, however, sadded with the possession
OF this tract Of land and as know of no means by
which We can escape from the burden 1t may be
well to consider the proprety of utilizing it for some
other and appropriate public purpose The city
has recently purchased for the accommodation and
treatment OF the insane largo tract Of land on Long
Island. Additional Will be necessary for
the inmates Of our charitable institutions. I suggest
that the lands owned by the city at Pelham Bay might
be utilized as site for amshouscs and charity hos
ptals in place Of those maintained Blackwelfs
Island. Indeed, IL might be desirable Improvement
Il the penal institutions ultimately transferred
TO the same place. In the ampler space which would
be thus secured, q complete separation could
be maintained between the vicious members OF the
community restrained Of their liberty punishment
for offences against the law, and the helpless and
afflicted whose msfortunes require them to be main
tanned at the public expense The opportunities for
escape would DO greatly diminished. Ample room
would be afforded to provide for the increased num-
bee of persons who must be supported at the public
BiackweI's Island could be readily converted into Q
park which, at rining expense would be made easily
49, ia 90 oil ann v-hil
water front could be made avsiabis for bathing pur
poses Properly along the East River would be greatly
materially improved. 1t would convert 70 usefulness
tract q land which unde, present copaiaons must
N is Is esSSis advantages By any The cSzsd
for these new public paris q o SSDd oss be o
ssss .e q s7s %
s sa veal. must St that g. the %sSc PAID
ssea ar i for lie benefit Of posssdsy Il Is %anssiy
cost Of them. / would. therefore recommend the
enactment Of law authorizing the Issue Of bonds
nns Fund dor thus s' obvsns the necessity OF raising
annually by direct taxation the amount now REQUIRED
by law and relieving tho taxpayers OF this oneFons
An increase IN this number Of small parks in the
deneely populated districts Of the city very desirable
In acquiring the lands care should however
& obtain On q s' S
sanitary point Of View. II would encourage US 20
ossrps e fes n' ind we oo
accomplish the suppression Of many of those structures
which are breeding places Of pcstilence and menace
The The h park at Eighty a nhs and East River
Son Be a Delay bs osecuc
Of public Undertakings q this character : gesg
he o saa a q fI
The parks Of the city have been sstsblishsd for tho
that they Contain should therefore be freely acccssibs
to the citizens. Tho closing OF the Museums Of Art
csIon Of the Industrial masses from all opportunity
to Visit them be hope hsi s w b w sGe ace DC
cessiblc to the public on Sunday
THE RAPID TRANSIT PROBLEM.
Tho problem OF rapid transit, though 1t has been
extensively agitated, still remains unsovcd All are
agreed that additional Of rapid transit within
the city absolutely essential TO its proper develop
ment and to the comfort OF rs citizens but no plan
has yet been approved by the city authorities With
the experience of the past 10 guide us hope to see
this question however difficult II be, settled dur
ing the present administration. While entertain
decided views 10 the necessity OF additional means
rapid transit have been careful TO Keep my opinion
free and my judgment untrammelled as 10 the merits
of the various plans which have been suggested No
scheme OF transit would be adequate TO the public
necessity that Will not be permanent IN ITS character
durable and equal to the task OF furnish
ing frequent and rapid trains, and sufficiently com
prchcnave to meet the requirements Of our population
or yia to any 70 system rapid
ali the Information upon tho subject which can be
Mayors Office any citizen who has suggestion to onor
upon this subject and any one WHO msy be dspcsn
question be assured in advance OF patent cordial
and grateful hearing.
strucon Of rapid rsnsid road II win b necessary
to rely upon private enterprise. We might. indeed
Expense. ana when completed leased for term Of
to The highest bidder "a, upon sSn az c gno
But in view Of me limit to which the borrowing
capacity of the city Is restricted. this scheme
would Be impracticabe. Privsre capital must there
fore, furnish the means for the construction .,r Of the
fair proportion Of the benefit that will how fromii's
The necessity for an improved system Of doc1s has
been long apparent to the people Since my eles' ION
water. front on tho east and west sides OF the city,
and my examination has moved me to snrprsse msl
outstanding the dsconraging circumstances with whn
| 1t has been encountered .,...,s
cation Of shipping t. our , docks fsTySSa py Sea- s
freight vessels sail o% the piers Lines q
the neighborhood Of te freight depots impossible 10
foot passengers The psvements along the streets
fronting the river are In such wretched condluon
that travel upon them Is dangerous to vehicles Great
ruts and holes act traps for hoavy laden frucls,
and II Is no uncommon sight to see the entire rano
OF the street suspended while driver vainy urges bis
team 10 pub from break In the stretched load
which would tax the full strength of his horses 10
draw upon even pavement -.
The commercial supremacy Of our city depends
upon its natural dvantaees q seaport vessels
bearing merchandise from foreign countries 70 the
cities this continent naturally choose OUT
harbor as the point OF discharge II Is easier OF access
IS shorter It's extensive water front Is une9alled
nut II rival cities offer greater inducements to ship
ping that afford, their docks DO superior II The
rates OF wharfage 0e lower II they furnish greater
facilities for the shipment OF cargoes the natural
advantages Of th: port are TO that extent
ana the rivalry OF other cities is orrespondingy en-
cOuraged. In order to preserve the commercial
prmacy OF our city, II therefore becomes our paramount
duty so 10 improve and regulate magnificent waicr
front that our supremacy as the chief port Oh the
western Hemisphere will be forever secured
TITLE TO THE WATER FRONT.
IL IS now generally conceded that in order TO MAKO
provision for our commerce II is essential that the
city acquire title to all the waterfront Tho rights
az priv ate owners should therefore DO acquired with