Democratic messenger., 1893-10-28
IN TIE METROPOLIS.
CITIZENS or NEW YORK MAKING
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

Of the absence "f public spirit. If local
pride and If ncighhorhood feeling in
New York. Even the men who have
made great fortunes here do not seem Ia
havc any regard for the city that has
given them their opportunities for
achieving wealth. Men do not under
stand the causes of their success" said
speaker Of the board If trade recently in
commenting upon the difficulty in aroris-
ing public interest here in the movement
for the improvement of the Ere canal.
oil which 40 much Of the prosperity IL
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 blaze of enthusiasm on the sub
ject, Int New York entered into the
competition in listlcss. don't care sort
of way. which naturally resulted in Chi
cago carrying off the prize.
The fact Is that New York is city.tf
markets. of ships. of shops. of hotels sand
Of tenement houses. hut not of homes.
The rich men may have mansions here,
but their homes are in their country
houses. The people who live in flats and
tenement houses are engaged in strug
glc for bare existence, and have not the
time or 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
city with utter indifference.
But there il reason for believing that
this state of things is gradually growing
better. There are evidences of increased
public spirit, of greater pride in the
city and of larger interest in her de-
velopment and improvement. Great
schemcs of public improvement have
been projected or begun. Millions have
recently been expended in the acquisi-
tion of new parks, and twice lately when
il was proposed To- do something that
would injure Central park there was IN
exhibition of aroused public opinion that
prevented the outrages and wonld have
done credit to u much smaller but more
enthusiastic city.
Rich men ara now contributing lib
eral portion Of their wealth 10 enter
pri;cs that will increase the glory uf the
metropolis. Columbia college j., being
rapidly developed into great universe
ty A magnificent cathedral has been
started. 4 spacious botanical garden is
to I've established. \ fine aquarium is to
take the place of Castle Garden on the
Battery. 4 Asplcndi'l speedway for horses
is Ia be built. The city is to erect an
immense municipal builiing. which it is
proposed shall bca notable architectural
addition Ia the metropolis. The present
city hall IL to bc given Ia the trustees of
the Tilden trust and made the home of n
$a.O0O.0OO library
The art AMI natural history inuscums
are bcing rapidly Developed and will
soon take rank among the l~,st in the
world. Monuments and statue, are being
multiplied. and eight years after his
death the sea. 600 tomb "f Ci.;icral Grant
il approaching completion.
But in other aud perhaps more inter
esting ways is the revival "f public spirit
in New York bcing manifested Husi-
ness men are showingan incr'ls" inter
est in the good government of the city
and in its improvement III littl,. things
as well as great. Other ,.iii.s might in
deed copy with advantage some of the
methods of the organizations that have
been formed here for The puhlic veal
The City Improvement society has
been formed and has started ont Ia in
v.siigatc the yari"us complaints of citi-
gems AMI to secure. il possible. better
pavcinents, better street cleaning and
similar improvements in parks. bridges
and streets of the city. Lately mimic
ipal art society has hrn organized by
leading artists. architects and others.
with "A view of making thu city more
BEAUTIFUL. They seek Ia imprnv,. the ar
chiircturc of the public buildings. io Sc
cure artistic decoration within them AMI
to prevent the erection of inferior stat
ucs and other inartisiic structures. An
other society Is engaged in marking with
bronze tablets the places of historical
interest. Others of Il more philanthropy
ical nature are cndcavoring 10 better the
lives and condition of the tenement house
population.
The women have organized !; health
protective association. AMI are cnd.nvur-
ing Ia institute reforms that shall lie
crease the death rate and make New
York better city To- livc'in. The latest
reform which they have taken up is that
of securing "a health regulation requiring
the removal Of the refuse cf the ~. .OOO
horses In the city Of New York. The
physicians comprising ia" Academy of
Medicine have lately bcrn acting with
vignr and courage Ia :sr'Ur.. improved
quarantine protection an,l a purified wa
ter supply. The chamber .: commerce
and the board uf trade III" mou,hpicc,s
of the merchants aud bankers liav" late
" exhibited increased activity and rXcr
cis,'l "A wider influence. .ill these things
certainly indicat" that Erw Workers are
beginning I" wake up AMI to show II
livelier interest in the w..lfar' IF tiir city
Perhaps the fact that other cities are
getting closer to her in the competition
for business has SOMETHING io ,lu with
this. II is beginning io dawn ulon her
citizens that unless sh" can unite with
Brooklyn. bridge and timnrl tlir North
river. throw more brides over Ia" East
river. get rapid transit from city hall 4"
W'-stch-stcr county nnl institute other
measures Of public improve incmt. she is
liable Ia lose her commercial supremacy
New York Cor I;aliinur.. sun
Many of III" South sari islanders h,-
li"vr that parable t.ln ir i;.h,riicl only
hy persons rf I~rr' ph, teal f"Ini,
Whrr" this h'.li"f ~ .'i~ y inau will die