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

MAYOR GRANTS MESSAGE.
Mayor Grant starts out well. His first mes
sage will make good impression. 1t is tenn
perste in tone, moderatein length, and strictly
businesslile throughout. He wastes no words
in moral lectures. or in advice to the people OF
the United States and he shows a more be-
coming spirit than was displayed by Governor
Hill in his recent message, in which the author
seemed to feel himself called upon to regulate
the affairs of the universe. Mr.. Grant goes to
the point Everything he says concerns itself
with pressing municipal problems of urgent inn
portance, and with nothing else.
After a terse and lucid survey Of the city
finances, he refers to the need of improvements
in rapid transit, in the pavements, in the sys-
tenn of street cleaning. in dock facilities ana
classification Of commerce, and to the necessity
of new municipal building in order to pro-
vide Offices for various departments for which
the city is now paying heavy rents ON private
property. In glancing at tho Responsibilities
which the metropolis has assumed in the ac-
quirement of the enormous new parks above the
Harlem River he makes some sensible sugges-
tons, but he puts forth one plan which would
be certain to provoke violent opposition. lie
argues in favor of transferring the citys char
table institutions, and also at later date the
penal institutions. to the new Pelham Bay Park.
He would rid Blacl1welrs Island entirely OF It's
hospitals, asylums and prisons, and mako
delightful public resort and playground OF the
region now taken up by the insane. the wretch
ed and the criminal. 1t would undoubtedly
be great gain to Manhattan Island to secure
SO beautiful and convenient new park as that
which could be made out of Blackwclrs Island.
But to make use Of the picturesque stretches
Of Pelham Bay Park for prisons hospitals and
insane asylums would result in such deprecia-
ton of valuable property over wide extent OF
adjoining country that the Mayors scheme will
probably find more foes than friends.
Mr. Grant is thoroughly impressed with the
overwhelming necessity Of speedy increase in
Transportation facilities on this crowded island.
But he feels certain that this requirement must
be met rather by private capital than by public
outlay, and in this position we have no doubt
the great majority Of the taxpayers will cor
daily support him. No philosophical person
will critlcise the Mayors excellent suggestions
as to the docks and piers. He is in accord WITH
the most enlightened sentiment of our leading
citizens. What he says about the payements
will be commended on all sides. The condition
OF the streets and avenues of this great city
Is shameful beyond expression. That such
centre IF wealth, intelligence and progress as
New-York is should be cursed with such an
abominable condition of things in its thorough
fares is simply intolerable. In no city OF any
Importance in any civilized country can worse
payements be found than those at our doors.
The Mayor insists that an extensive scheme
La ptc
entered upon promptly, and in this he is GER
tainly right. He also advises an amendment
of the Consolidation Act. so that the local au-
thorities shall have the right to determine what
excavations shall be made in the public thor
oughfares, and to impose proper restrictions as
to the time and manner in which these opera
tons shall be carried on. Just at present there
is no reform more urgently demanded than
this. and the Legislature should act without
delay in granting this boon to New-York. II
is true enough, as the Mayor says, that with
proper pavements an effective system Of street
cleaning could be maintained easily. In these
days even the most important thoroughfares of
this capital abound in ruts and gullies, in
chasms and abysses, filled with refuse and filth.
destroying the comfort and menacng the health
Of every resident Of New ork.
The Mayor throws out some valuable hints
AZ to Improvement in the system Of taxation.
Concerning a new municipal building, he ia
convinced that a spacious structure for the city
Offices now housed on private property is indis-
pensable. He thinks that this structure might
be erected in the City Hall Park, although no
admits that many good citizens are opposed to
encumbering this park with any additional
buildings. 1t will be far better. then. toscon-
struct the new edilce upon some site near the
City Hall-in Centre-st.. for instance-to which
no objection can be made in any quarter. The
message takes strong ground in favor Of liberal
provision for the public schools 1t is positive
and outspoken as to the nuisance of overhead
wires. 1t may reasonably be expected that
more will be accomplished under Mayor Grant
than under his predecessor in getting the wires
underground.
Few Mayors would be able to resist the
temptation to indulge in lofty flights Of rhetoric
concerning the approaching centennial celebra-
ton in the metropolis. Mr.. Grants reference
to this subject however, is brief, quiet and in
good taste. Altogether. the merits of the mes
sage are many, and its faults are few. In d.
rectness, in simplicity, in condensation, in say
ing the right thing at the right moment. it is
almost model for documents Of this sort.
s
TO TIRE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATDRE.
Tho Renuhlcan majority in the NeW-York