New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-29
4 MUNICIPAL TRdNSFORMA7ION.

a II NHlIf m hN'i 'hAhi iD'''
1t used to be said by strangers that New
York was an uninteresting city. except to its
inhabitants, and even local pride was not al
ways equal to the expression of unqualified adj
miration and contcntmcnt. Visitors from all
parts of the country and, in comparatively
small numbers, from other lands were drawn
here by the curiosity which metropolis and
financial capital inspires. but they were often
willing 10 confess that they did not know what
to do with themselves. Residents of course
had the advantage of domestic felicity, and Of
acquaintance and occupation, but this was not
seldom confessed to be insufficient. Not every
body has social talents and incnations, and
the means of diversion were scanty and in
fcror The city had in Central Park the
promise of noble and lovely possession, which
has since been realized in Broadway com
mercal thoroughfarc which has never quito
deserved its reputation, and in Fifth-aye. the
mere suggestion of palatial possibilities and
these, with Trinity Church and the Astor Ii
brary, were about all the sights there were
for guides and guidc-books to point out. The
ocean approach was beautiful. perhaps even
more beautiful than it is to-day but com
paratively few Newly Workers were aware Of the
fact. even after Washington Irving had point
cd it out. The architecture of the city was
stereotyped and tame, and if lis general aspect
was not dreary it was because pure air and
brilliant sunshine arc tonic and clarifying
During the last twenty years n remarkable
transformation has been wrought, and the i'm
pulse which produced it is still multiplying OBJ
jects and institutions of beauty and interest
with undiminShed vigor. The charm and tho
utility of Central Park have been enhanced by
its own development and by the expansion Of
the city. until now il occupies the first rank
among the intermural cases Of the world.
Around and beyond il wealth and knowledge
have co-operatod 10 express and foster new
and worthy taste in domestic architecture.
which is also rcmodclling the older parts Of the
city with surprising rapidity. In the business
quarters, and especially near the financial
centre, the town is scarcely recognizable by
those whose acquaintance with it ended onl,
a fcw years ago.
The exterior Of the city has been bcauiiicd
and cnnoblcd as greatly as it has been altered
OF that there can be no doubt whatever. and
that alone has added vastly to its interest as
place Of residence or of occasional resort
But this is only one element in the transforma-
ton. Allied Ia il in character is the material
development Of the suburbs. Not long ago
Long Branch was almost the only resource and
refuge of those who demanded rest ard recrea-
ton with an admiXturc. Of fashionable gaycty
near home Tho occupation of Coney Island
for similar purposes was as significant a. it
sudden. Ii supplied Il want which had been
felt but scarcely recognized, and which has
since then been the prolific cause Of manifold
developments along the seaShorc and among
the hills and lakes and pines Of the cnyrOns
il is because Of these diversified attractions nj
its doors that thousands of persons living at
a distance regard NcwYork as the most salts
factory summer resort in the country. and they
are acquisitions which have not lost their novel
~ and charm for our own people.
But the external development Of the city.
extraordinary aS il must appear 10 all obsciy-
ers. is not more extensive and interesting than
what may be called its institutional growth
An immense investment has been made for
the benefit of the community. and largely with
ont expectation Of personal rewards. in Great
ing means of instruction and entertainment.
The new Madison square Garden was not
conceived and constructed altogether without
regard TO pccunary possibilities. but ncvcrthc-
less II is essentially great public bcncfaction
And from the point Of view which we are now
taking its chief significance lies in the fact
that il fairly expresses the spirit and tendency
Of the time. 1t fuhls a generally crcditablc
desire. and accomplishes IA laudablc purpose in
highly honorable manner. II might have
been equally spacious and adaptable without
being stately and beautiful ard spiritually
elcvating. and il probably would have been
thus deficient had il been projected at an
earlier period Many other illustrations of our
theme are in existence or immediate prospect.
The expansion and enrichment of museums
and libraries the far-sccing provisions for
suburban parks, the new facilities for the ex-
preston and qualification Of cultivated
musical taste, the assurance that superb edu-
cational, ecclesiastical and memorial structures
will soon occupy the heights Of Bloomingclalc
and Riverside, the projects for a botanical cs-
tabishmcnt on tho Bronx River and an a0uari
um at Castle Gardcn-all these and many more
achievements and designs cxcmplfy the new
ideals and ambitions which arc transforming
a great city.