The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-29
THE STATE @MANHATTAN."
GRAND SCHEME FOR A COIOS-
SAL METROPOLIS.

GRAND SCHEME FOR A COLOS.
SAL METROPOLIS.
Utilization Of New York and Surround.
Ing Cities-A New aud Powerful state
to be the Outceme-Events of the Week
NEW YORK BUREAU.
RICHMOND DAILY TIMES.
| June y. 1901
The unification Of the surrounding cities
will make New York the largest metropolis
In the world, in extent, population and
wealth. The commission appointed to en-.
duire into the expedency Of the consolida.
ton, has commenced Ifs work. The scheme
Is to make a combination of four cities OF
independent municipal governments. situa.
ted in two States and four counties. New
York will then extend north into Westchester
county, east over Kings and Queens, and
south over Staten Island. The population.
should this consolidation be effected. will be
greater than the State Of New LOrk outside
IFS limits, with that O1the States of New Jer.
sey and Pennsylvania united. Time, OF
course, will be necessary for the accom-.
| plishment OF this project. Before the next
century is in its teens, a new State known
as Manhattan may be included i'm the
| Union. There will be every requisite in the
combination-capital, population, trade, to
make such state one Of the most powerful
in the Union. Despite its two millions.
New York has very little 10 say in its own
government. 10 is the country mem.
beers who make the laws for this
municipality, and vet one ward in this city
often contains more voters than the entire
county represented by one Of the hayseeds
Local pride seems TO be at low ebb here
The consolidation may have some effect on
the faulty misgoyernment of the city. and
in that case the sooner the event occurs the
better. The citizens Of New York do not
seem TO resent such trihes as the frequent
blowing up Of manhOles, the killing Of Occa-
si0nal lineman. aud the constant tearing IN
of the pavements by the steam heat. electric
light, gas and power companies. These are
facts to be depiOred. and the Justice of COM
plants against them is acknowledged, hut
as for taking any action in the matter, why.
that is another thing.
NEW YORK's TAXES.
a distinguished novelist talking about
New York taxpayers. SAYS: There is
something" he said exceedingly divert
ing about the spectacle of New Workers
forming leagues and associations without
number for the purpose of enforcing the
very laws for which they are paying such
high prices. The taxes here are enormous.
and they are assessed for the very purpose
for which these latter day associations are
EEoFx of 10 do
signed to urge the police and other officials
to perform the duties for which they are
paid by law. They have built up an ex-
tensiye system for the purpose of keeping
the tone OF the town pure, paying the police
and the district attorneys Office literally
for enforcing the laws. and then they all
chip in to form citizens associations for
the purpose Of nagging the officials into do
ing the duties for which they are paid. Ii
is grotesque, but it seems TO be an inevita-
BILE accompaniment Of latter day political
methods"
CROKER MADE FAMOUS.
Mr. Croker has returned to find himself
famous. The sensational developments
which followed his departure made
many acquainted with his name
who do not take any interest IN
politics and who have no idea vino the
potent political factors are. IL takes some
such general newspaper comments to
arouse the Senate Investigating Committee
to fix well in the mind of the public the
names Of factional teaches Mr. Croker's
name is now enrolled on scroll of fame for
good. Even the ladies favor him with their
attention.
INCREASING USE OF OPIUM.
The recent raids on opium joints have
stimulated instead of decreasing the use Of
opium. The vice is distributed now through
scores of flats, and as soon as the keepers
Of the joints get alarmed. lest they should
be detected, they notify such of their
patrons rs they consider 10 be trusted, and
move to another Hat. These flats can be
secured, furnished, for from $50 TO $50 a
month, consequently they escape the eX-
pense Of moving. except for their trunks
and pipes; some of the pr0prietOrs are so
poor that their entire possessions can be
carried in satchel. The greed for gain
does not seem 10 be their aim, to make
enough 10 secure opium for their own con-
sumption is enough With the habit spread.
ing through the city under such conditions,
it IS difficult to detect and root it cut.
WOMEN WHO ATTEND RACES.
There are evidences that there is 10 be a
general discussion over the question Of the
social position OF the women who attend
the races around New York. Most Of them,
by the way, have no social position worth
speaking Of, and they exploit the fact with
so much enthusiasm that good many of
the more respectable patrons Of the turf,
who enjoy taking their wives and
daughters occasionally to see the
sport, have begun TO protest against
the attendance Of the undesirable section of
the feminine world. These protests. good
many OF which have appeared in the shape
Of letters TO the editors Of newspapers. have
attracted the general attention of race
goers. With these threatens to be a pretty
thorough ventilation Of the subject. Ii is
one Of those movements which will not be
opposed by any of the respectable patrons.
IT has come within the observation Of every
man who has attended the races during the
past four or five years. that the deteriOra-
ton in the moral character of the female at
tendance has been steady and pronounced.
a CURIOSITY DEVELOPED By THE CENSUS.
The census has brought out the fact that
a man can live in Il New York hotel for
ten years and never speak 10 any or enter
into any communication with anyone eX-
cept as 10 the common place affairs of eat
ing and drinking The champion hermit
lives at the Grand Central Hotel, and is
known as Bailey. That il all that is known
about him. The proprietor. Mr.. Garrison.
to the best Of his knowledge, aflirms that
Mr.. Bailey has not spoken TO IA living soul
since he first came 10 the hotel, ten years
ago. There is similar story told of her,
nit in one of the large downtown hotels,
hut he was known 10 talk on a few Occa-
siOns.
QUEER SOCIAL IDEAS.
Ii does not make any difference that the
Spanish dancer of the music hall that So
called society has taken up can neither
read nor write. She can dance in Way
that pleases those whose tendencies are SEN
sual, and everybody knows "society" cares
nothing. or very little, about ''readin' and
writin'."
No doubt next season we will have the
woman with the iron jaw. from the circus,
perfor ming in fashionable drawing-roOms
tue end-man Of the minstrel show cOnyuls-
ing the company at dinner parties; the girl
i'm shori skirts who sings coarse and vulgar