New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-12
PLANNING A GREAT CITY.
WORK OF THE MUNICIPAL CONSOLIDATION
COMMISSION.
ONE oBsrRUcrIoxsr INSTRUMENTATION II.
GREENS REASONS FOR ANNEX ALTON.

The Municipal Consolidation Inquiry Colhhl.>sV"
met yesterday at the Office of the president. No. ga
Broadway. Present Andrew IL. Green presi'e"t'
J. s. T. Strtudlan, vice president John Eosart SU'o
Engineer and surveyor; John VI. Ernckcrhph' queens
County Frederic W. Dcvoe New York; John L. hahii
ton New York; Edward i. Linton. brooklyn ''''.
Vaux. New-YOrk. and William ID. Needer hhNS ''"'V'
The abs,ntees were George ri Cdthcart ana "co'Eo '"
Greenfield The session developed but one obStrnc-
ZIONIST, Nr. Veedcr, who sits in the commission Nv
virtue of his appointment a. the epreoen''> VI "1
Kings County Board Of supervisors lie ~" no No'i
in anything relating to annexation or '"'S'iu"uo"'
charactcrzng the whole plan a. an "VVehP' u ''No'"
or swallow up Brooklyn.
Mr. Green to paeily FIN. explained that IL was the
purpose the movement to annex YORK 10 hrooA-
lyn. not Brooklyn to Ncw-fort' but MI Necoer had
his head set and refused 10 understand the situation.
50 Wien Mr.. StIanahan offered q resolution mat MI
Green draft bill setting forth the plan Of cousoda
ton which bill should be considered by the Commits
sion at It's next meeting. he was supported by every
gentleman present with the exception Of Mr.. Needer
who feared that by voting for such resolution he
would commit himself 10 The absorption scheme
II was understood by all that Mr. shanahans motive
WIS 70 bring the hitherto purely informal discussion
Of the Board TO focus 10 embody the suggestions
previously made in bill that would give the CommlS
sion something tangible 10 work bill that com
mitted no but that could be discussed dSsectod
and rearranged 70 suit the views OF all concerned
The Legislature VIII be the battle-ground. said
Mr. stranahan. We are SIRE to meet with oppoS
ton As il has been III the history Of the past the
larger party viii be in favor OF annexation ana the
smaller party will be doubtful Of lis advantages
believe however thai the Legislature has long had IN
view complete annexation as far a. siShhed DS H's
commission"
Mr. Green expected 10 present statistical eAhinn
of the general financial condition of the various
Jurisdictions which it proposed 10 consolidate IN one
municipality failed TO get the reports OF the local
assessors and officers in time He did present
oral vie
municipal government in its relation TO the people ana
their business, and in the course Of long address SAID
OF all the large CITIES in the world. New York Is
most isolated from rural association. our naiTo"
island bounded each side by the rivers winch seNc
our commercial business well, Is hemmed IN 10y
natural more effective than any which military
not suffice 70 mark separation, we emphasize teh
arhcal BY statute decarS then 10 o i% a Seu the
river or tanned under H. but We caunot bridge o. t
ion RE reSnlt is that tie commercial metropolis
is Ike garrisoned town, shut O4t by Ito Gerhccs nom
which rs citizens only nave access visnnc stranger
IN which they can dFoi only ny sPtclGS 9i eH
fud In the metropolis SO strong, however, IS TIE
passion OF our New York population 70 own a home
that many unable TO acquire here purchase io, IN
suburban towns others, for pagYoScs Oh eoGlo>, In
trSnsS t on, homes CI H'r pc 0hr. do the s for
he reason that a dOmicle in Brooklyn o. Long Island
In the metropolis than such residence within the
metropolitan boundaries as their means can AFFORD
would be- uo,,.,o., ,.o,,.
1t is an unwrittcn presumption Of our political c3de
that citizen Is voter N me HegIGor I Of his
home II Is this presumed Arrangement which u sup
posed inspire the voter with discretion IN eNer'I,
thousands of persons earning a livelihood hefe VINO
Vote elsewhere. and very many who vote here VINO
hoVe The Tie Of merely transient domcile and whose
prospective homes are situate In oneI !n'1 t 1.a,
Of theoretical useGstGyn and an s RTg s Of %orE and
dummy in his sphere 4 citizen ship MnS'ev III n''
Chief there ab.enteesm i Is 70 he foqnd n e fl
The simple remedy for II al! !; g. IcTa'in
iyes Of art CaI Jurisdiction 70 enlarge me a.ttt o.
municipality 50 iha . nDng' by al 70 make
the CITY where many thousand POP reS-aetI mo rd
~ mod ~ he change ali government impend nR l
The massing Of maiortes in derscN popnd'dTi
oH, Seenng the dweer in cities in political tnoh
Will The &C.. so mite anu number Of persons both sides
NJ 1nr East River who regard il A. n.tlpal M I,
Of iursdteS i;cs sT '[ otcratd yet in Commercial
social and Industrial view II Is atrct.N pi ororinc
eaced Were there no s se s6anS and ScYork Ray
the people would have G@.inc,rn an o. nIrnt side,
nn,6 cDneid-r tie Improvement u their me ~ '
ton rather ust ,rl channel and the artificial one I'M
Sgtred j, that ~" first j. Elpic Oair M ch,.f
moI0as, ,mH' 0r'a 40 A. rule, geographic illy o.,
vi1cd int nlurtc! pay and colniher'IaaN mn, r.,euj
rVets - I',,,d .. alroaGy felt the torch OF H4
enterprise. II vii Ic4.me U ~ srcb A degree 70
veop some Speoldi crssfI. auxiliary the GROWING
bpslncss of tile port. The ONLY pI'TE. ,nr win an
tory s'ta Id doner,inr her with the main ,hoo' ~
ample bfIngg 49, TO perfect communicating wv
tunnel prQ;eG'c. Goclnc facltle. for sea uaA.r1
~ All the port the futuro OF staten I@'''' -
beygnd a. 1roo9iyn situated at the water'ont %
III srna occupied by large ana rtG", P,e,t.
lauon caPaI ennt c6ansrcal business sufficient . ~
maintain city Of her magn n =. I've superior to
some pi,,iy. Which nave created Ne" IN ~
Island Is about nlrey miles lo5i G az me onv terri
in width al Tributary Bookyn and ne'HG
in extent or in soil Ros'e e;y vii s continue to
w. ne sarnc Influences by which New OH ilp 1
pered and with their groW 1 pop9ison IL bushes
ana In general chsrac tertstcs Ipog +b %,c Id "ot
S s 70 70 Se mutually dsaetrous TIE present
fenn which permits the po7s.I1nHH a.rty Of ,aclf
icies, is in Itself menace 70 "''
The criticism has been made F g t area 81 tno
" iiur.dictlyn comments itself 20 ~ I ~,
minds and hattcrs oily an if o,,r t,T Our con-
enEi, mo- ,h~ ouy ore IN history which ma error
T. 30 The pc-ut OF dwa'hnS oar re- a cipaiitic,
1ne siis ia notins di,cIedabe in masniuGe o. io .d
ision H,si"rs ctcs there here centred Pluia
- A., amount q wealth 'nd r-a'Ie' ,iI +e,r,
tttdWt a. r. forbid our claiming that rank mere "
=, r,thing 10 impcl rs 10 assume IT, - ,,,, no
1hco g name for newly consolidated area. n'
rs TO be frivolous esy Tier 1 C ONE Tbc hai
S.. - T. i.cd 10 denOminatc AL lhl' recon. ~
49, If ourIrlns districts are - OBSCURE ti I
HlI. igc.nce ana location can only DE- "N'-i'V w.
sit,r.e,a9 tbcr relation to The great m'ropDi 80
h clo.nly eli, across the river Who's grow ''t p
uh| mai. ilr-riDus nor name" owes 10, lni''
PrIIF mcGf.,tinn with that OF wla' may ie can Il j.
eIasr .isig NaInes caun"t BE- ho,ain III - 1.ry'
on, ~ from me circumstance ih9t ihty arc oo,1
tit ~ bieturv and bear the ro}i -lduP VI
III th1 ".i' iirn .h.v are marked 20 commemorate
That Of Ne~ York both al hm ana an ".%.a res
N hiEn a.. hr, rrnuhaicaH cpitonlzcs much 81 uo
l,,rc Of American prosrc's In cy rGn, 9o 10 e
NHalItl :, ,r,ud ne d. icult 10 find an lndn'cnei
Which Wond tempt The .aSaa9 d['ti me 70 cn, Cy
w iNIt b~y measure their importance ana m"'T'a
i,,i.