The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-05
Tho New York Of tho Future.

In his address as President Of the Com
mission to inquire into tho eIpedlency OF
consolidating the communities about the
port OF New York into ono great municipal
ity, Mr.. ANDREW H. GREEN pointed out that
together they would make up the second
city OF the world as to size. London alone
contains greater population.
These communities comprise four cities OF
independent municipal governments, and
are situated in two States and four counties.
Their combined population at present OK
ceeds 5000 900. The estimated population OF
London is about 4,275.000. and In 1885 Paris
contained less than 1850. 900. But tho growth
of the population and wealth about this port
"A 80 much more rapid, that. as Mr.. GREEN
said. when tho infant OF to-day be-
comes old enough to cast his first vote,
the Greater New York will DO the foremost
city Of the world, of all human history, In
respect OF magnitude and resources. When
the boy Is at forty years OF age he will be ono
Of a community OF 100000 people, by far
tho greatest ever before gathered together
in all time The deIsely populated area will
extend on tho north far into Westchester
county, on the east over Kings and Queens
counties, and on the west into New jersey as
far as the Oranges and beyond. 1t will con-
tain about ae many inhabitants as the whole
present population OF the State OF New York
outside Of its limits, with the population OF
New Jersey and Pennsylvania added. 1t
will be a great State OF itself, the greatest
I'm all the Union in respect OF wealth and
numbers; and its commercial and financial
power will be dominant in the world.
AT n wonder
full development, so fascinating to the i'm
agination and OF such momentous Importance
to the statesman and he sees that it Is COM
ing not by slow steps, but within the llfe-
time of thousands who read these lines. He
would therefore make haste to get ready
for tho event so near at hand. He
is not occupying himself with petty
and pessmistic criticism OF mere trl-
fling details Of municipal administra-
ton, however attractive it may be to
small minds, but with the large task OF lay
ing out a scheme Of government which will
harnonizo all parts OF this grand COM
munity, obiterate useless and conflicting
Jurisdictions and enable them together to
prepare for their common development as the
most marvellous of all aggregatlons OF
population and industry, homogeneous and
united in interest. He would dig deep the
foundations Of the municipal system and
extend them to include the whole area OF
the Greater New York Of the present day.
and the wonderful city which will be here
when the year 1850 is reached.
He therefore speaks to the conviction and
the imagination OF young men more espe-
cially What he foreseeS In his maturity will
be actually before their eyes when their
heads are gray like his. The most ire
mendous Of the problems with which this
younger generation will be forced to deal,
will concern the practical government OF a
community so vast The modern tendency
Is toward the multiplication OF urban popu-
lations in both this country and Europe, and
1t is increasing in force. the town Offering
attractions and opportunities lacking IN the
country, which becomes more and more the
mere feeder Of urban communities, supply
ing their needs in the way OF food. and
recruiting their numbers. Hence ques-
tons OF municipal administration are as
Stunning the foremost Importance. The pre-
ponderance of political power is passing to
the cities, which already contain about one
quarter Of the population OF the Union, and
are increasing much more rapidly Than the
country And it is well for the advancement
OF the race that 1t is so, for the town is the
centre of enlightenment and progress, the
citadel OF liberty.
The commission OF inquiry into the expe-
diency Of Mr.. GREENS scheme are, there
fore, engaged In labors OF the highest con-
corn. They are occupied with the most
comprehensive plan for improving the eff
cheney of our municipal Government which
has yet been presented.