New-York tribune., 1890-03-30
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF.
STRIKING TOPICS OF THE HOUR IN THE
METROPOLIS OF LONG ISLAND.

ments in favor OF the abolition OF steam from tio
surface Of Atlancave which the slaughter Of human
lives from time to time has furnished. On Tuesday
evening woman struck by the engine OF a train
in the Twenty Ward and instantly killed. Sew
eial scores Of people have been killed and large
number injured this railroad since steam was rc'n
troduced about dozen years ago. There Is an en-
couragng prospect now, however. that the practical
removal of the surface tracks will soon be accom-
plished. The Long Island Company offers to erect
a tw0trach elevated road in this avenue from south
Ferry to point the city line condition that
IT can have the privilege Of running freight trains
on the surface betwe n midnight and a. M. ana IL
agrees TO remove the present rails and put do"h
grooved rails which will not interfere with ordinary
travel at the same time taking down the existing
fences. While it would be better 10 insist on 'hs
absolute removal of steam from the surface OF the
street, there be no convincing objection 10 the
running of freight trains at six miles an hour during
the time named. II is of great importance however,
to leave no loophoc open by which enlarged priVi
legcs be claimed in the future by the company
Mayor Chaplin is cndeavoring TO make all the poi''
cal capital he can out of the probable refusal Oh INC
Republican Legislature to give him unlimited money
to spend for public improvements IL was mu'h'Vc"
the other day that he would rejoice rather than mourn
over the defeat OF his bills. and there is evidence ~
what he said 10 the delegation OF citizens VINO a'hc
that Fftlavc be rcpaved that this Will be the case
done unless he got another million to spend Tor
pavinc and Of course. threw all the blame on the
Republicans who are loath TO ntrust the Democratic
gang Of which the Mayor is the respectable hgure'
head with the expenditure OF immense sums "ei'
knowing they will be used as far possible TO solldy
and strengthen the Democratic party IL Is very
cheap way Of getting up reputation as rcformer'
though Mayor Chaplin virtually says TO the people
aIf had several million dollars to spend could make
Drooklvn a much more desirable place OF residence
than IL is The Republican Legislature Will not give me
tho money that ask for. Therefore 1t Is the fshIe
of the Republican party that Brooklyn Is not All IL
ought 10 be- Mr.. Chaplin has poor opinion OF 'he
intelligence Of the people If he thinks they cannon
sec through this daphanous prctcncc.
The free circulating libraries arc having an ap'
precable effect upon the brooklyn Library. ms l,
evident from the annual report presented AZ inc
meeting on Thursday evening which Sho"ch t'ae
the circulation for 1850 0oOo2 against lo4'o''
for 1885 Nevertheless the expenditures of tho
library have been kept below tho receipts. SO thai
there IS balance on the right side Of S143 73 ms
has only been accomplished by rigid economy ID
book buying. which Of course ought not 70 DC '"'
rule In a great public institution Of this kind Ihern
Is soon to be a slight increase In tho Income OF inc
library however. the $1,000 bequcathed 10 u by
the late Mr.. CMtenden IS to be used IN adding an
extension 70 the portion Of the building used Tor
Office purposes and II is estimated that an annual
rental OF 81 900 will thus be secured. Perhaps the
multifarlous schemes for comforting good upon inc
community Of which the Brooklyn Institute Is the
so,l and centre nav some time public opinion
70 such an extent that an adequate endowment Tor
the Brooklyn Library will be provided and the In
etl;ution placed on the footing as the Boston
Public Library II IS humilians 70 Brooklyn-or. at
anv rate ought 70 bc-that the officers Of its library
had 30 use great not 10 spend too much Tor
books last year. while the representative OF tho
Boston Library who attended the recent Barlow
sale was authorized lay ont $4,000 for the rare
books incudcd IN that collection.
In the hearing in reference Increasing the salaries
Of certain officials al Albany Tuesday the interests
Of the city looked after by Assistant Corporation
Counsel Gilbert According - The Eagles account
he IS represented saying: We don't raise any Oh
lection to increasing salares-thst Is. II the Legs
lature docs it, That is queer sentiment for
servant Of the city 10 announce. Perhaps Mr. Gilbert
has the idea that the Legislature pays the salaries OF
Brooklyn officials in addition 10 fixing them. and who
knows but that he believes that the paid by
the legislature tooi 1t IS certain that good many
taxpayers would be glad II this we're the case The
salary-grabber- are said 70 have smiled pleasantly
upon Mr.. Gilbert when ne made the remark quoted as
well they might. The opposition TO tie increase Of
salaries In spite Of Mr. Gilbers oomplaccnce, was so
strong that there IS not much likelihood that any cf tho
schemes deplcc the city treasury viii 30 through
The Ladies Health Protective Association (why not
Woncn'srl ought 10 be certain Of warm welcome on
It's advent into the city. The association has taken
for s model in some respects at least, the similar
association in York. whose good work In tho
direction Of abatng nuishnccs and IN various ways
making life In the metropolis better worth living. Is
greatly appreciated by large number OF people. u
IS 10 be hoped that the organization VIII he en-
dowcd with energy pluck and push equal TO that Of
III. Hfvp Att has ma cd
ont for itself an interesting field Of labor, nothing
less in fact than the giving Of clean streets TO tho
city, This IS what Mr.. Lincoln might well call
ID big jobr The society will have the earnest sym
pathy Of the bulk Of the popuntion but 1t VIII require
an uncommon degree Of patience to keep It's members
from becoming dishcarcned and getting weary and
faint BIZ the way. Clean streets unknown In
brooklyn. save In small neighborhoods where
the cleaning is done by private contract. The new
contractors may be more profitable subjects Ia work
upon that most Of their predecessors II they arc
ptble 10 feminine influence perhaps the blessing
Of clean streets may at last be vouchsafcd to the
long suffering people Of Brooklyn.
There is something hard to explain In the conduct
of the syndicate which has secured control OF the
Union Ferry Company. The syndicate is In posses
sion Of 900 Of the 10000 shares Of the conpany's
stock, having bought them for 800 per shnrc. although
The market value was In the nciehhOrhood Of sl61.
In answer to request Of the Board of Directors tho
representatives. Of the syndicate have agreed t1 pay
the same price for the remaining 1900 shares, pro-
vdcd they sold by April 30. The only reason
assigned for this j. your tthc Boards desire to
tcct the minority stIckhOllcis.' IL Ii the common
belief that corporations have no souls. This syn
dcac appears To be endowed with something remote
from the ordinary principles which business Is
The Gowanus Canal Is likely t. remain a Brooklyn
" Institution " for some time 10 come In spite OF
the report Of the commission which investigated the
matter last year and recommended that the pes'l-
lcntial nuisance should be filed up. liut II the
canal cannot be got rid Of, there Is more than ono
way Of getting round 1t. one II the great sources
of complaint which the canal /, responsible for Is
the soppaec OF strcctcars by reason Of the opening
Of the bridges for the passage Of all sorts and con
dtions Of vessels. The annoyance thus produced
has brought unmcy wrinkle to the faces of many