The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-10-12
IN Fl METROPOLIS.
CITIZENS OF NEW YORK MAKING
PLANS FOR TIE FUTURE.

Ak VA Il " 1CtI
~ed-Hundreds of Millions OF Dollars t,
BE Spent In identifying the Chief Cit,
of the Continent.
Much has been said from time to time
of the absence of public spirit, of loca,
pride and Of neighborhood feeling il
New York. Even the men who have
made great fortunes here do not seem tc
have any regard for the city that has
given them their opportunities fo1
achieving wealth. Men do not under
stand the cause Of their success" said q
speaker of the board of trade recently in
commenting upon the difficulty in arous-
ing public interest here in the movement
for the improvement of the Erie canpl,
on which SO much of the prosperity Of
the city depends. The lack of public
spirit was signally illustrated in the half
hearted way in which the business men
entered into the movement to secure the
Worlds fair for New York. Chicago
was a blaze Of enthusiasm on the SUB
ject, but New York entered into the
competition in a l~ist1ess, don't care sort
Of way, which naturally resulted in Chi
cagO carrying Off the prize.
The fact is that New York is a CITY Of
markets. Of ships. of shops, Of hotels and
of tenement houses, but not Of homes.
The rich men may have mansions here,
but their homes are in THEN country
houses. The people who live in flats and
tenement no Uses are engaged in a strug-
gle fer a bare existence, and have not the
time OF disposition to give much thought
or care for the city. The diversity Of
races and languages represented in the
population serves only to separate the
people more and make them regard the
Cit with utter Indifference.
But there is reason for believing that
this state Of things is gradually growing
better. There are evidences of increased
public spirit, of a greater pride in the
city and of a larger interest in her de-
velopment and Improvement. Great
schemes Of public Improvement have
been projected or begun. Millions have
recently been expended in the acquisi-
ton of new parks, and twice lately when
it was proposed to do something that
would injTl1 Central park there was an
exhibition o. aroused public opinion that
prevented tic outrages and would have
done credit to q much smaller but more
enthusiastic city.
Rich men are now contributing a lib
eral portion of their wealth to enter
prises that will increase the glory Of the
metropolis. Columbia college is being
rapidly developed into a great UNIVERSE
ty. A magnificent cathedral has been
started. 4 spacious botanical garden is
to be established. A fine aquarium ist0
take the place Of Castle Garden on the
Battery. A splendid speedway for horses
is to be built. The city.is to erect an
immense municipal building, which it is
proposed shall be- notable architectural
addition to the metropolis. The present
city hall Is to be given to the trustees Of
Illden trust and made the home Of q
81 1000, 900 library.
The art and natural history museums
are being rapidly developed and will
take rank among the best in the
world. Monuments and statues are being
multiplied, and eight years after his
leath the $500, O0Ot> b Of General Grant
8 approaching completion.
But in other and perhaps more inter-
sst1ng Waysi5 the revival Of public spirit
n New YORK being manifested. Bust
men are shoWi1ga an increased inter
EST IN the good government of the CITY
nd in its Improvement il. little things
IS we'll as great. Other cities might in
iced copy with advantage some of the
Methods or the organizations that have
'een formed here for the public veal.
The City Improvement society has
'een formed and has started out to in
'est1gate the various complaints of citi-
ems and to secure, if possible, better
'avements, better street cleaning and
lmilar improvements in parks, bridges
nd streets Of the city. Lately a munic-
pal art society has been organized bv
oad1nS artists, architects and others.
nth a view Of making the CITY more
They seek to improve the ar
of the public buildings, to Sc
IRE artistic decoration within them and
0 prevent the erection Of inferior stat
es and other inartistic structures. An
ther society Is engaged in marking with
ronze tablets the places of historical
Others OF Il more philanthrop-
al nature are endeavoring to better the
yes and condition Of ~thetenement house
OpulatiOn.
The women have organized a health
reflective association. and are endeavor-
g 20 institute ~refDrus that shall de-
ease the cath rate and make New
oTk a better City 70 live in. The latest
form which they have taken up is that
securing a hea3,A regulation recurring
le removal Of the refuse of the so 0G0
1rses IN tie Ci;y Of New York, The
1ysicians comprising the Academy Of
have lately been acting with :
SOr and courage to secure improved J
.laranlllc protection and a purified wa
r supply. The chamber Of Commerce
Il the board Of tra1e-che m~outbnieces
the merchants and Understand late
exhibited increased activity and exer-
'ed a wider influence. All these thinos
Indicate th2t New Workers. are
ginning to wake uo and to show q n
-elleT interest n the welfare Of the CITY |,
trI fact TIT other citias oro