The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-17
IN THE METROPOLIS.
CITIZENS OF NEW YORK MAKING
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

he Spent In Beautifying the Chief City
of the Continent.
Much has been said from time to time
# 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 tho city that has
given them their opportunities for
achieving wealth. "Men do not under
stand the causes Of their success" said q
speaker of the board of trade recently in
upon the difficulty in arous-
ing public interest here in the movement
for the improvement of the Eric canal,
on which 30 much of the prosperity of
the city depends. The lack of public
spirit was signaily 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
iect, but Now York entered into the
in q listless, don't care sort
Of way, which naturally resulted in Chi
cago carrying of the prize.
The fact is that New York is q city of
markets, of ships, Of shops, Of hotels and
IF 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 flats and
tenement houses are engaged in o strug-
gle for bare existence, and have not the
lime 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 inter indifference.
But there is 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 o 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 thar
would injure Central park there was an
exhibition Of aroused public opinion that
prevented the outrages and would have
done credit to a much smaller but more
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 tc
take the place Of Castle Garden on the
Battery. A splendid speedway for horses
is to be built. The city is to erect m
immense municipal building, which it Is
proposed shall be notable architecture,
addition to the metropolis. The present
city hall is to be given to the trustees Of
the Tilden trust and made the home of {
g., 600, 600 library.
The art and natural history museum.
are being rapidly developed and will
soon take rank among the best in tn,
world. Monuments and statues are beinl
multiplied, and eight years after hi.
death the $500, 900 tomb of General Gram
is approaching completion.
But in other and perhaps more inter
esting ways Is the revival Of public spirit
in New York being manifested. Busi
ness men are showing an increased inter,
est in the good government of the city
and in its improvement in little thing
as we'll as great. Other cities might in
deed copy with advantage some of tn,
methods Of the organizations that hav,
been formed here for the public veal.
The City Improvement society ha
been formed and has started out to in
yestigate the various complaints of citi
Gens and to secure, if possible, bette
pavements, better street cleaning ant
similar improvements in parks, bridge
and streets of the city. Lately munic
ipal art society has been organized b,
leading artists, architects and others
with view Of making the city NOR,
beautiful. They seek to improve the ar
chitecture Of the public buildings, to SO
cure artistic decoration within them ant
to prevent the erection of inferior stat
ues and other inartistic structures. An
other society is engaged in marking will
bronze tablets the places of historical
interest. Others of more philanthrop
ical nature are endeavoring to better tn,
1 lives and condition of the tenement hous,
population.
The women have organized a healtl
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 lates
reform which they have taken up is tina
of securing health regulation requiring
the removal Of the refuse of the 90, 00t
horses in the city of New York. TIL,
physicians comprising the Academy o
Medicine have lately been acting will
Ivigor and courage to secure improved
quarantine protection and purified wa
ter supply. The chamber of commerce
land the board of trade-the mouthpiece
Iof the merchants and bankers-have late
lily exhibited increased activity and exer
Icised wider influence. All these thing
certainly indicate that New Workers. ar
beginning to wake up and to show ;
llivelier interest in the welfare Of the city
Perhaps the fact that other cities ar,
getting closer to her in the competition
for business has something to do will
this. 1t is beginning to dawn upon he
lIcitizens that unless she can unite Will
Brooklyn, bridge and tunnel the Nortl
river, throw more bridges over the Eas
river, get rapid transit from city hall t.
Westminster county and institute othe
measures of public improvement, she il
liable to lose her commercial supremacy
New York Cor. Baltimore Sun.
/
I Cementing the Russian Empire.
The car of Russia shows undoubtet
sagacity in adopting the best physica
lmeans to hold together his vast eInnire