The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-24
IN THE METROPOLIS.
CITIZENS OF NEW YORK MAKING
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

Much mas Deen ealu lIOlu tiiue W tinie
of the absence Of public spirit, of local
pride and Of neighborhood feeling in
New York. Even the men who have
made great fortunes here do not seem TO
have any regard for the city that has
given them their opportunities for
achieving wealth. "Men do not under
stand tho cxpses Of their success" said
speaker of the board Of trade recently In
commenting upon the difficulty in afous-
ing public interest hero in the movement
for tho Improvement Of the Erie canal,
ON which 80 much Of the prosperity Of
the city depends. The lack Of public
spirit VIVA Mgnally illustrated in the half
hearted way 10 which the business men
entered into the movement 10 secure the
Worlds fair for New York. Chicago
was a blaze of enthusiasm on the sub
jcct, bat New York entered into the
competition In hstleH, don't care sort
Of way, which naturally resulted in Chi
cage carrying OF tho prize.
The fact Is that New York Is 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 arc IN their country
houses. Tho people who live in fats and
tenement houses arc engaged in a strug
gle for bare existence, and have not tho
time or dispcstion 10 give much thought
or care for the city. The diversity Of
races and languages represented IN the
population servcs only 10 separate the
people moro and mako them regard tho
City WITH utter Indifference.
But thcre Is reason for believing that
this state OF things Is gradually growing
better. There nrc evidences of increased
public spirit, Of a greater pride In the
city and OF larger interest In her de-
wlopment 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 injure Central park there was an
exhibition OF aroused public opinion that
prevented tho outrages and would have
done credit to much smaller but moro
enthusiastic city.
Rich men are now contributing lib
eral portion of their wealth TO enter
prises that will increase the glory of the
metropolis. Columbia college is being
rapidly developed into great universe
ty. a magnificent cathedral has been
started. a spacious botanical garden is
to be established. A fine aquarium is to
take tho 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
the Tilden trust and made the home Of
1900, 900 library.
The art and natural history museums
are being rapidly developed and will
soon take rank among the best in the
world. Monuments and statues are being
multiplied, and eight years after Lis
death the $500 900 tomb of General Grant
is approaching completion.
But in other and perhaps more inter-
esting waysis the revival of public spirit
in New York being manifested. BuS-
ness men are showing an increased inter
est in the good government of the city
and in Its improvement in little things
as well az great. Other cities might in
deed copy with advantage Some Of the
methods Of tho organizations that have
been formed here for the public veal.
The City improvement society has
been formed and has started cut TO in
vestigate the various complaints of citi-
zens and to SECURE, If possible, better
payements, better street cleaning and
similar improvements In parks, bridges
and streets Of tho city. Lately munic-
ipal art society has been organized by
leading artists, architects and others,
with a Wow Of making the city more
beautiful. They seek to improve the ar
chitecture Of tho public buildings, to Sc
cure artistic decoration within them and
to prevent the erection Of inferior stat
ues and other inartistic structures. An
other society is engaged In marking with
bronze tablets tho places of historical
interest. Others Of a more philanthrop- |
ical nature are endeavoring to better the |
lives and condition of the tenement house
population.
The women have organized health
protective association, and are endeavor-
ing to institute reforms that shall de-
crease the death rate and make New
York better city to live in. The latest
reform which they have taken up Ia that
Of securing health regulation requiring
the removal OF the refuse Of the 10000 |
horses In the city Of New York. The
physicians comprising the Academy Of
Medicine have lately been acting with
Vigor and courage to secure improved
quarantine protection and purified wa
ter supply. The chamber Of commerce
and tho board of trade-the mouthpieces
of the merchants and banlers-have late
ly exhibited increased activity and exer-
cised wider influence. All these things
certainly indicate that New Workers. are
beginning to Tnke up and to show q
fyelier interest in the welfare of the city.
Perhaps the fact that other cities are
getting closer to her in the competition
for business has something to do with
This It ia hsfrip,,,r no. IN dawn, ,,r<>xx ho- |