New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-05
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF.
VARIOUS ASPECTS OF LIFE ON THE LONG
ISLAND SIDE OF THE EAST RIVER.

Brooklyn is now without any Subway Commission
RS, but the circumstance does not appear to create
he slightest CONSERVATION In fact, the term of the
commissioners expired November l. but one
appeared to be Of it until their last report was
given to the public few days ago The law Of 1850
which created boards OF Subway Commissioners ioI
NcA-N York and Brooklyn, provided that they shoulu
continue until November, 1857. unless their work was
completed rlier; but the subsequent legislation on
the subject 1aS not uniform. The Ncw-> OiK pooS
vas turned into the Board of Electrical Control With
lease of lie until November, 1890 when us PoMcIs
and duties wcrc TO pass into the hands oi .I'o wy
sinking Fund Commissioners. while INC b'o'"'' -
Board continued until November l. 1907 ~ "
was 20 20 out of existence las 1t mas uoic' VIZ" ~
power Of continuance whatever. The Nlsor shown ~
no I,ri.r ro.ri in the first years Of its existence
was in marked contrast with the dclberatloh WHICH
marked the proceedings in New YORK. ana lo' ''''0
Il seemed as If the work Of btylng all oVerhcao WIZ"
was about 70 be done with ncatheSs an" ulsP'V'''
Hat when tho problem became cohphoateu ny Wv
NJ. - vrires for Illuminating purposes tho subway
commissioners di.paycd total inability TO deal
III, IL aud really made no attempt to do so. III
their final report they that Is not certain ta'
electric light wires can be successfully operated
frrruch Sulways. and cite the failure OF the eXpcr
mont IN Turin Italy. after three years service Yet
fIcv Immediately recommend tAc incandcsccn system
A. tnc best for outdoor lighting. although Mr. Edison
has shown coNclusivcly that this system can be
operated by wires underground.
The recommendation that incandescent lights be
substituted for gas street lamps, the ground that
they viii give "di9uscd Illumination free from
.lo black shadows and irritating fluctuations of the
go, lights" is one that will probably be received with
, good degree OF public favor. We no longer hear the
complaints that at time general that the
IRE lights had a binding effect which was exceedingly
d.sngreealc and We have become accustomed to them
and arc glad of the additional Elimination but who
d., not rejoice 10 believe that they do not represent
'hc ultimatum Of electrical science in this direction
Strong incardcsccnt lights would be far more agree
able and satisfactory for street lighting.
The beginning Of the year 500 some significant
changes in the city and county government. Mayor
Chqpin begins his second term with the hope that
when il expires he will BE transferred to a post OF
greater responsibility at Albany. and with the con
scioaS satisfaction that he Will hcnceiorth draw
10000 per wear from the city treasury, instead Of
$1,000 Controller Jackson's assumption of Office
will cause few if any changes in the
ONE which Mr.. Brlnkerhof has filed since
the death Of Controller Livingston The retire
lnen Of Supcrvisorat Large Quinard IS likely to prove
public loss OF some magnitude as he had proved HIM
self exceptionally efficient, and had displayed 50 much
sturdy opposition to jobs" that he could not secure
a denomination. The quiet manner in which he con
sonted to be set aside in the County Convention that
nominated Dr.. KrctZschmar his successor was cX-
planned at the time by the statement that an under
standing had tecn reached whereby Mr.. Quintard as
reward for his complaccnCy, would be made counsel
of the new Board Of Charities and Correction This
tandinC-p perhaps ii would be the truth
70 call il a barGaiu-proves to have been correct MI
QUiutard took up the study Of law while serving a
snpervisor-a Large and admitted to the bar
time AGO. Dr.. KretzschmarS fitness for the Office Of
supervisoI-at Large is no more apparent now than
when he was nominated. The most significant change
which the new year brings about Is in the Department
of Charities and Correction where George H. Murphy
and Francis Nolan take the places Of William H. Ray
and T. W. Hynes. The officials we're appointed
by the retiring Supervisor at Large and the Depart
,nent is now entirely under Democratic control Mr..
Murphy is public life and as he has been in no
rcNse politician his career in tie responsible Office
which he has assumed will be regarded with unusual
interest.
The action Of tie Union Ferry Company in laying
pans for two new ferrboas after recently adding one
fine vessel to It's fleet indicates policy very dhecn
from that which prevailed about the time Of the open
nc of the lls Bridge Then the ferry officials seemed
10 feel that the bottom had dropped out OF things and
hat dividends were events of the past But IT sooi
.ccamc apparent that there good deal Of bnNine-
left for the company most directly affected 10y the
new method Of crossing the East River. The com
pany was wise enough to adopt some new methods ln
fastening the passage Of its boats from shore TO shore
and not long ago engaged new superintendent. who
seems 10 have put new life into the enterprise. lY
This time il is probable that the effect Of the Bridge
upon the business and receipts OF the ferry is hadIS
perceptibe and the plan OF providing new boats ol
the most approved style IS certainly wise. At the
,anls time il would be well for tho company 70 give
somewhat more heed to The way in which the public
l. NOT accommodated at some Of the ferries. Com
rlats arc specially frequent In REGARD 70 the Wall
It, ferry. ono traveller Of twenty I've years cA
perence saws that he has never suffered so many de
lays and 50 much annoyance As during the last ic"
months and that IN one week the close OF the
year ibe boats al this ferry DELAYED every morn
lnc from twenty 70 forty minutes That would ap
pear 10 be a pretty cnectual way Of driving business
somewhere else.
Tho death Of Arthur ". Benson removes man OF
the kndliest nature and the most genial dlSposiuh
Though he retired from active business number OF
years ago and did not Of late spend any great par "
his time in BROOKLYN his interest In The cty with winch
he had been identified 50 long never diminished Mr..
Henson was hes, known from his connection with the
Lrooklyn Gaslght Company, and IN the company
offices in Rcmscn-st. he always accessible 70 hA
friends or 10 any who had occasion I" consult III"
I'm his treatment Of newspaper reporters he was e.
nccaIlv consideratc ] had Cofa ion to WISH MN u
noatediv dnrinc the agitation n regard 70 the consod1
ion ~ the Brooklyn gas companic5 ten or d'heh
year, AGO and always found him most aeieeaDm I"
meet whether he had any information to give OF ho'
80 matter how busy he might be- he never 'cenc"
% consider call Of such nature an Intrusion I'M
lnanty was Characteristic Of him every where anu i
ways and IN all the relations Of me-
81 was IN the Academy Of Music the other evening
said gentleman residing the Heights, "heh InN
attention was attracted 10 danger that exists hcTV
Which ought certainly 20 be guarded against without
delay. Tho gasjcts in front Of the galleries are h'
protected 10y screens globes in any way As wa
CHANGING the house saw one or two OF the pro
.rammcs Of the performance nutter from the family
circle and fall into the balcony, ii Is called III
tha Academy, the dress circle ! could not help
thinking Of the easy possibility that ono OF them might
f,l against gasligh catch fire and then drop upon
t.dr,. dross Such occurrence would be sure 10
r,cnte a temporary panic and might easily have 'er