The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-12
LETTERS 10 READ CAREFULLY.


The Greater New York.
To THE EDITOR OF The SuN-Sir; As n stu
dent OF American civilization feel much in
terest In the scheme for the expnnsIon anc
consolidation OF the city OF New York. TIL,
gam IN convenience, economy. and efficiency
In municipal administration will doubt not
DO very great, probably surpassing all tint
can be imagined beforehand. Much labor and
thought VIII be necessary from this time on.
ward In order to determine the main lines OF
structure and organization OF the great city
OF the iuture. Tho greater New York should
DO Ut once the best governed and the freest
city In the world The union of these now
separate Municipalities in one city will OF It.
sell be an advance in civilization and it will
| Supply conditions favorable to q higher and
sounuer development OF lite and thought
among the Inhabitants. improvement in
methods OF municipal housekeeping il not an
end In ITSELF but means for tho progressive
| civilization of the mind and character Of tho
people. The more important clements are not
| structural but dynamic. New York ought to
| DC the guide OF our country in tho continuous
| vital evolution of the government OF a free
people for the entire nation, always within the
| essential lines OF our democratic systom and
| Institutions
1t Is foolish to insist that We have no obsta-
cles or difficult duties before us. Life is al
would live 1t wisely. In our country the high
eft form o! individual lifo is public spirit or
patriotism. In democracy like ours nobody
can long have anything OF great value il ho
SOCKS or holds 1t for himself alone, We have
abundant material and opportunity for noble
living and action ip this land. but much OF 1t
is as yet Inorganic; it is raw material hone
the people OF the greater New York will pro-
!h[e lnelDselNeS to teach and eXempiiy q few
tningS which we do not generally understand
very well at present. Many OF us incline to AS
sumo sumo that as wo all have the right to vote. we
have therefore all the knowledge and Wis
uoM we need and are sure to do tho
even Americans are capable OF error, through
lack OF knowledge Of facts l can vnunt our
country with tho foremost when there is occa-
zion. put mere brag opens no road ahead. We
hayc, hitherto been free from tho troubles Of
Old World nations because. We have had so
have experience OF the conditions and plob-
lens which result from density Of population.
.derstand rs they will soon need to understand,
inc ., true use OF money, tho fun meaning Of de-
Nav York will teach us these things more and
fnf o eIea f and mpressyely, The thought
l should like to see the question Of methods
OF aGvhnce III civilization made the subject OF
made what causes III is It tortana tG acci
dent, or Is 1t brought about by intention and
the use OF means suited to that end? War
helps sometimes, OF course AS Lowell says
Civlyzation docs git forrd
Sometimes upon powder cart
But war is a costly and wasteful method and
not always effective and we must continue to |
open the way forward by the arts Of peace. |
Much OF the current talk about progress is
completed work OF a generation Of men is apt |
to pc small, but each generation should win |
from the outlying realms Of inorganic dark |
ness and disorder. | think l have observed |
runs through the life Of the best races. it Il
broader at some times than at others. but ut |
be done. At the best times also. there is always
q great deal which cannot be done. Many
! tnbihGs m may De imagined and talked about
yelorment. and cannot be brought within It.
The present state Of things indicates fairly
gree Of civilization which we have attained.
We should be able to take the next steps for
very long unless it is the vital product and ex-
preston 81 the genius and character OF our
people ne What is thus provided for can be OBJ
one thing the State COT Of New York can do now
which would be distinct advance In civiilza-
crest conditions over, the entire Adirondack
range and thus secure the CONNER
.ial perity which depends upon the Hudson
River and other great waterways Of the State.
3esides this advantage. the people would have
ma aa1it shniaripIm and region OF end
men. The timber would be, worth more than
t i nov and the crop would never come to an
ast area Of unvlolated woodland solitudes. a
efuge from tho heat and stress OF life in great
owns. The change OF scene which is essential
order, to obtain, Who're viii the people OF New
'ork city find it n few years honce2
The State ought to acquire title 10 the Adj |
rondack country of forests. lakes and
treams. 1t would be richly worth whatever
Mort aud money it may cost. But If the State
ill not do this. why should not the city Of
lew York buy tins magnificent tract and hold |
forever as n great outlying park and sylvan
laygr rl6 Tor Her people The vast p9pula;
ill need every square mile of tho States
fountain forests. Unspoilrd breathing places
the country will be Indispensable. The time
as come to take the first steps to provide
lem. few men in each age should DO able
look ahead and TO picture TO themselves the
fleet of conditions which are inevitable. / am
Dry truly yours, j. b. HARRISON.
So WILLIAM STREET New YORK.