The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1893-09-27
IN THE METROPOLIS.
CITIZENS OF NEW YORK MAKING
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

lie spent III Identifying the Chief City
of the Continent.
Much has been said from time to time
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. "Afen do not under
stand the causes of their success said a
speaker of the board of trade recently in
commenting upon the difficulty in arous-
ing public interest herein the movement
for the improvement Of the Erie canal,
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 tho
Worlds fair for New York. Chicago
was u blaze Of enthusiasm on the sab
ject, but New York entered into the
competition in a l~istless, 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 their country
houses. The people who live in fats and
tenement houses are engaged in a strug-
gle for a bare existence, and have not the
time or disposition to give much thought
OIL care for the city. The diversity Of
races and languages represented In the
population serve only to separate the
people more and make them regard the
city with utter Indifference.
But there is reason for believing that
this state of things is gradually growing
better. There arc evidences Of increased
public spirit, Of a greater pride IN the
city and Of a larger interest In her de-
~veloplnent md 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
n wes proposed to do something that
would injure Central park there was an
exhibition Of arouseI public opinion that
prevented tho Outrages aad would have
done credit to q much smaller but more
enthusiastic city.
Rich mex 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 a great universe
ty. a magnificent cathedral has been
started. A spacious botanical garden is
to be established. A fine aquarium Is to
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 bel notable architectural
addition to tho metropolis. The present
city hall is to be given to tho trustees Of
the Tilden trust and made the home of q
g. 000, 900 library.
The art and natural history museums
are beng rapidly developed and will
soon take rank among the best in the
world. Monuments and statues are being
multiplied, and eight years after his
death the $500, 900 tomb of General Grant
Is approaching completion.
But in other and perhaps more inter-
esting ways is the revival of public spirit
In New York being manifested. Bust
ness men are showing an increased inter
est in the good government of the city
and in its improvement In little things
as well as great. Other cities might in
deed copy with advantage some of the
methods of the organizations that have
been formed here for the public veal.
The City Improvement society has
been formed and has started out to IN
vestigate the various complaints of citi-
zens and to secure, If possible, better
pavements, better street cleaning and
similar improvements In parks, bridges
and streets of the city. Lately a munic-
ipal art society has been organized by
leading artists, architects and others,
with q view Of making the city more
beautiful. They seek to improve the ar
chitecture Of the public buildings, to Be-
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 the places Of historical
interest. Others of a more philanthropy
ical nature are endeavoring to better the
lives and condition of the tenement house
population.
The women have organized a health
protective association, and are endeavor-
ing to institute reforms that shall de-
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