New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-28
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF
LATE WINTER TOPICS ON THE LONG ISLAND
SIDE OF THE EAST RIVER.


free public libraory. The subject has been under
consideration for some time, and 1t will be recalled
that Mayor Body referred to II In MS message In
January "The times seems Opportune.' lie said.
"for providing worthy adjunct to the Brooklyn
Institute In the way of free library NO argument
Is needed to show the value OF such step. hVest-
guion will show that Brooklyn has not kept pace
with her sister cities in matters Of this kind. .
portion of the East side lands seems natural and
valuable reservation for purposes OF thls kind" IN
pursuance Of the plan thus suggested IL may De sara
that the Mayor has consulted number OF prominent
and influential citizens the subject; and 1t may
also be said with truth that the bill which was made
pubc Oh Wednesday evening does not meet the de
sires and hopes OF those best rtted to pass luds
,nent unon n proiect OF such importance One Of
these goes so far as to that he doubts whether the
measure as published had the approval OF the Mayor
himself Certainly the better sentiment OF the city
will not sanction lis passage unless radical amend
ments are made
Under tho provisions of The till il stands, the
nronosed library would have ptca character that
could hardly fail to prove disastrous sooner or later.
The need Of great public library for the city is ad
uittcd by all intelligent citizens They are equally
agreed in believing that it would be dangerous to put II
IN the control Of the politicians. This Till not only
provides for the appointment Of library directors by
the Mayor, three each yearon the plan which
members of the Board Of Education now named
upon the action of the Board Of Aldermen This IS
simply sTotesque as is also the provision that the
president of the Board OF Aldermen shall be an ex-
ocio member of the Board OF Directors of the library.
Think OF " the Hon. Michael J. COdey serving as q
library direcorl There can be little doubt that Cor
poraon Counsel jerks exceeded his authority in in
Producing such measure. and his plea that place
for IL the calendar l. thereby secured while the
bill will be subject TO amendment hereafter, can
no mai mn, q ril1 liz
is 20 Brooklyn, such bill this is dangerous in the
extreme 1t would have been fur wiser to postpone its
Introduction. and to bring il first before the public and
the Legislature in q shape satisfactory 20 those most
vitality interested In the project Mayor Body will
disappoint reasonable expectation If he does not take
immediate steps 10 let it be known that the measure
does not meet his views. AMI HAT he will never CON
sent to its passage until amendments of a compre
henSive character have been made, entirely new
bill substituted for this one
The Eastern District or Broadway bridge is assured.
The opposition to its passage in both branches Of the
Legislature Insignificant In numbers. though the
small minorities earnest in fighting the measure
The majortles by which it passed IN both As
sembly and Senate were uncomm My large spond
ing in way with the universal demand among the
people of Brooklyn for additional bridge connection
with NewYork. But in applying the general principle.
details 10 have been lost sight Of II is piac-
troublesome in the future and the part OF wisdom
would doubtless have been to correct or eliminate them
before final action taken. IL may be supposed
that there politics in measure of this kind;
nevertheless, there something in the nature OF
bargain and sale between the New-York and Brooklyn
members regarding the Bridge Bill. 1t was: "You
toto for my bill, and III vote for yours" The one
satisfactory thing is that the only company which has
given the public assurance of its ability and
settled purpose build bridge has last secured
It's charter and is ready TO begin It's work II is con
fdently believed that The public expectation in this
matter will not be disappointed or course. there
numerous pcllmnaries TO be arranged before the actual
work Of construction be begun. But Tire passag
Of this bill undoubtedly means another bridge within
q reasonable ume-fOur years is the time named-ani
transformation of travel between Brooklyn and New
York by the running Of elevated trains across the river
with change of cars at either shore.
The all-night trains on the Union Elevated road
have been pronounced success, but they will speedily
lose their popularity If there are many failures 10
connect with the Bridge trains from Ncwlork such
as took place at least twice during the last week
Of course the bulk Of the uavel The late trains Is
made up OF people coming from NewYork, ana the
simplest prudence would dictate close connection, with
the Bridge. 1t is the easiest matter In the world 70
arrange. The Bridge trains leave New-fork On the
hour and hslfhour-fOr the present purpose the other
trains here may be QsTtSdl1cn-diu inc tlcFdiru
start at six minutes after the hour and the half hour
Allowance should certainly be mace FOR delay OF u
minute In the arrival Of the Bridge traps In
J~ooklyn, and Iulc this is done IL ought TO be
done every time. II is exaspcIdune in The extreme
for q traveller who is accustomed 10 lake certain
tain TO reach Brooklyn just in time ID see it pulling
away from the platform; and for the average man
there is no consolation in the fact That dozen or Two
ether persons have had the same experience. word
u the company shOuG be Sufficient TO prevent Tpcu
ton VI the bIunders which reference has been made
1t was a splendid audience which gathered in As
ISOLATION Hall on Monday evening to hear Mr.. Cnrtis's
culogy on Lowell whose bust together with That OF
Washington stood cOnspcuousiy on the platform. Mr..
Curtiss voice was not its best; but there IS no
doubt that he wa. In the opinion Of many good
Judges his Lowell Grafton deserves place I'm the fore
most RANK Of his many public addresses. Mr. Curtis
had been suffering from cold which was perteptlDIe
in slight hushincss in his voice In the carly part
OF the evening. But this soon passed away, and his
musical voice has rarely been used with greater power
and effectiveness. special mention deserves 10 be
made OF The orators reading Of the pOetcal extracts
used TO embelsh and illustrate his address. Two or
three misQuOtati ons-that is, words wrongly used
surprised hearers: they appear in the printed
report and may possibly be due to different readings
in the early editions. The Use Of the pron0in his
for hers in Emerson's line, and Morning opcs with
haste her lids was ineXpncable. Dr. Backuss voice
rang ont like a trumpet when he rose 10 propose a
vote of thanks to the orator, and Dr. liars DUN
manner of seconding the motion put the audience IN
GOOD humor as they separated. DR.. Hall, by the way,
WAS responsible for another misQuOtaion since be III
ieced Zekle's name into the title Of what Lowell
called simply "The COur'in'.7
The condition OF the streets Of Brooklyn Is most
shocking Mayor Body frankly admits the fact In
deed. he could not blink il II be goes about Town
with his eyes open. But he holds out no hope OF any
immediate improvement. There is some hope III uie
fact that the Legislature has passed an act nearly
doubling the number Of miles Of streets that may lie
swept in year. 1t seems far cry from Inc oUCu'o
q, home rIle That the city officials are compelled 20