New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-08
RR00KLYN AFFAIR&


no nronerly described as an educational cam
paicn in Brooklyn affairs. In his annual mes
SAGE he enlarges upon various subjects ten
tatiyely discussed by him month ago, ana ap-
peals strongly to the enlightened sei1-in'erest
of the people of his town for favorable con-
sideration Of various projects essentiai 70 tneir
present and future welfare For long perod
taxpayers have been meeting the financial OBJ
legations incurred mainly by the last genera
ton. and have been neglecting their streets
and sewers and making only scant provision
for tbe necessities and comfort of the incoming
generatioe Mayor Chaplin evidently believes
that the time has como for renewal OF the
progressive policy advocated twenty-five or
thirty Yeas ago by public-spirted men like
Mr.. Stranahan. He begins ulodestly with pro-
posals for bonding the city to the extent OF
So. coo. 900 to provide for pavements, sewers,
scbool-houses and increased accommodations
for firemen and police; but he opens per-
spective of larger and more ambitious public
works commensurate with the future OF one
of the greatest cities of the world, such rs
Brooklyn is destined to be with respect to pop
ulaton.
While in accord with the general propositions
discussed with lucidity and practical sagaciy
in this message, we dissent strongly from
Mayor Chapin's assumption that a second
bridge across tho East River must be located
as low down TIE river as Grand-st. and Broad
way. Another bridge will be imperatively
needed before May years, although intelligent
management of the present bridge can and
ought to do much to defer that contingency
by increasing the transit facilities and multiply
ing trains run at high speed. But even with
the most progressive and enlightened ideas OF
conducting the old bridge and anticipating the
requirements of both cities. new bridge will
be absolutely necessary in the near future. The
best site for that bridge we have always con-
tended. Is BlackwelI's Island. With the river
bridged in that quarter, and with connecting
rapid transit roads convergng toward its en-
trance. not only the outer wards Of Brooklyn,
but the entire western section Of Long Island
would be opened for the relief Of the congested
wards Of New York. That is project in which
both cities would be vitality interested. and for
which New York might be expected TO bear a
portion of the financial burdens. A bridge
lower down would BIO essentially Brooklyn
enterprise, narrow in its scope. restricted in
it's utility, and OF slight advantage 10 the great
err centre of population.
With this exception we find little, IL any
thing TO criticise in Mayor Chapin's sug-
gestions. The streets should be repaved and
severed on large scale, and with the city's
credit as good as it is, there is no valid reason
for delaying public works which are most
urgently needed The present generation Of
taxpayers has borne the burden Of an earlier
one that planned the parks and the bridge;
and it can properly ask that the town should
be bonded. within reasonable limits, for the
expense Of improvements which. as the Mayor
forcibly remarks, are in reality profitable,
remunerative, Imperative investments" We
trust that legislation in that direction will not
BIO blocked by partisan considerations. Mayor
Chaplin is a Democrat, but he has recommended
q liberal policy which Brooklyn Republicans
cannot afford TO antagonize. Let them do what
they can-and the outlook is most encouraging
to elect Republican Mayor in his place this
fall but meanwhile let them recognize the
merits Of his projects, and not retard their con-
summation by raising the partisan plea that
Republican Legislators cannot be expected to
increase Democratic Mayors patronage.