The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-06
Mayor Gilroy's Programme.

Mayor GILRoY in his first message speaks
with the sureness OF a man who has studied
his topics with timo and Judgment. He
touches every question with nm impartiality
that will commend his remarks to general
and serious consideration. From among
his many comments upon the condition
and needs OF the city we will select these
az introducing new matters OF the first
Importance:
E. The city now ovp. no lands In the Croton water.
shed except snch as are included IN tho limits OF the
reservoirs aud Of the approaches TO them. The sur
,ov,d ins country "a occupied by a population growing
every day more NUN erou,. Every habita;,on is free
10 establish its own system OF drainage without
any regulation by Law. Indeed It Ia DOUBT
fol II any rule could he prescribed when
would divert the drainage Ut the surrounding
country from the Croton basin. The sole remedy lies
In the acquisition by the city OF snn,eient. lands adJoin'
ting the Cro'on watershed to secure tile water supply
from all danger Of infection from this source. Tile
cost of sarh acquisition. compared with the enormous
advantages whiru would row from II. would he com
ra-ariNely triiIing. Ieyisls'iom Tor THIS purpose Is
necessary and s,uaki 10 mad - soon as practicable
.ror many Years the public authorities have com.
pa neil OF the VASE ~ time and money arisn x from
the lack OF acconimoiatkhh for the municipal "fice'.
The various de part of government. ne now dis
per .ed among different Dhtliihe' situated III various
parts Of tho city. Proyhi"n has been male by The
Legislature Tor the r6fior OF = bulIdinR Isrxe
enough to ~cconmod I all the inunrirai departments.
1t Ia jmpo..ib,, to obtain d, the iirighborhonI OF tho
city Halt any piece OF land FOR this purpose unless Mt
ali expense greater than this administration would bs
willing to impose on the taSphvrrs. IL IL. therefore.
auggested that 1t be erected ia tie city Hall PARK. where
Its rroportions will not he iwarrel by inadequate snr.
r%o,ndines, n,ni where its architectural beauty viii no
an enduring monument nr the greatness which the
city has achie vel and all indication OF tho greatness
which lies be.Or, It"
NO question involves the material interests OF =
greater number ot people than that of tue trairo over
the Harlem River. This Is now enormous and ies.
tined to he vastly greater by the rapid expsn.
ZION Of populAtion In tho upper portion OF the
city and by its farther extension to tho north.
N.,ls recognizing ne Nslue nr the Harlem River
- q means OF internal communication. It would 10
wise. in my judgment. 20 facilitate the passage across
Il to the fu,. extent tina. is consistent with It's use
As a waterway. The vida preai satisfaction which |
have reason to believe is t'lt by the people since tina
Park Board closed the Madk on Avenue Bridge and tho
third Avenue Bridge during certain hours %tes,!aes to
the value OF uninterrupted communication between
tho north and south sections or the city. To that end
It is desirable. wherever tho approaches are OF suai.
cient elevation. to construct bridges SO high that they
can be kept permanently closed without obsiruc'ins
navigaton.'
The right to regulate properly the Gro
ton watershed Is a necessity that followed
the a%queduct. In order that the blessings
Of that splendid work nay not DO turned
into o curse. the city OF New York must be
able to preserve from contamination the
waters now collected from a greatly ex-
tended territory. Mayor GILRoY speaks of
the advantages of such powers as enormous.
They arc imperative.
A new municipal building Is q require
ment that will not bulge an inch before tile
concentrated pressure OF every possible
argument in opposition. 1t is time that the
city's many officers should be housed COM
pactly and conveniently in the city's own
buildings, instead Of being scattered about
in hired rooms; and the place for the new
building. after all other locations have been
studied and compared. will be found in the
City Hall Park. right where the City Hall OF
to-day now stands. only covering broader
ground.
The passage across the Harlem River Is
hardly second In Importance even to the
Croton aqueduct. The traffic.
which carries with 1t the development OF
our northern territory. is checked and both
cred by drawbridges for absolutely no pur-
pose that cannot be properly served when
the draws shall be replaced by permanent
spans In accordance with Mayor GILRoY's
wise suggestion. The i~nadequacy Of our
rapid transit Is but little more troublesome
and injurious than the daily interruption Of
passengers across the Harlem by the ex-
tstence Of drawbridges.
When one has read Mayor GILRoY's mes
sage. he will probably find hat he knows a
good deal more about the city than he
knew before. 1t Is to be hoped that before
many years we all shall see New York as
the new Mayor now pictures it.