The sun., 1890-01-05
Tho Growth Of This Town.

During the last ten years the population
OF New York, according TO the estimates Of
the Health Department, has increased by
about one-third, or something like 100000.
That is, the gain In the number Of the inhab-
itants since 1880 has been nearly equal to the
whole population Of the town forty or forty
Eve years ago. The proportionate increase
In Brooklyn is estimated to have been even
greater. or hard on one-half In the ten years,
and the population OF the two towns is now
probably between 100000 and 100000.
The increase in the communities Joined by
the Brooklyn bridge and substantially one
IN character and interests, has, therefore,
been toward the three-quarters Of q million
In b single decade. It has been 30 great and
has como 30 rapidly that the authorities
have been taxed to provide the public i'm
provements necessary for its accommoda-
tion, and In some respects, accordingly, the
town, grown to the proportions Of o first
,olaes capital, is inferior In Its municipal ar
Eangements to such communities OF Europe.
As streets are not 30 well paved and not 80
well swept as those Of London and Paris.
But it must be remembered that London
and Paris were already civilized capitals
when Manhattan Island was q wilderness.
inhabited only by savages, and that New
York within the memory OF all those who
have passed middle life was provincial
community, with no forecast Of its extraor-
dipary development during the last twenty
ave years. Until very recently the NUM-
cipal machinery was crude and village
like. The architecture Of the town, with
very few exceptions, was poor and
mean. There was comparatively little
wealth, and the habits and customs OF the
people were simple and frugal. 1t is only
since the war that the place has begun to
take on the character Of a great capital, and
the time has been too short for putting 1t on
o level with old communities like London
and Paris In respect Of its municipal pro-
visions. Its main necessity has been to lay
out new streets for the increasing population.
But now we shall see progress in every
direction. The growth Of the town has edu-
Gated public officers as to the municipal re-
Quirements Of such community, and the
people themselves have become more exact
Ing in their demands and moro critical in
their tastes. Modern invention, too Is oil
the time multiplying the means for increas-
ing the health and comfort Of our urban
population. The development Of the capabil-
tiles Of electricity for Illuminating the streets
Is in its infancy. The opening Of the new
aqueduct will give us an abundant supply Of
water, so that fountains may be again
started to enhance the beauty Of the town.
The new parks will be pleasure grounds for
the people unequalled in extent and in va
Tiety Of natural scenery. The advance In
architecture has been great during the last
ten years, but at present it is more marked
than at any time before. The pavements,
now so unsatisfactory, will be replaced by
new, and the needed additional facilities for
rapid transit will be provided.
1t ID not rash to predict that oil these i'm
provements will be enjoyed by the people OF
New York and Brooklyn before the year
1900. when together they will number some
thing like 9,5OO.OOO. and perhaps will be un-
der a common and consequently more
effective municipal government. Such defl-
ciencies as exist are inevitable but they
cannot remain much longer under our
present development