New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-30
THE GREATER NE|V-YORh.
ADVANTAGES OF CONSOLIDATING THE
METROPOLIS AND ITS NEIGHBORS.

Sir: Mr.. James c. Carter. the president OF the
CITY Club. in recent speech on the subject OF
Greater New-York." said that the Greater New
York appealed to the Imagination for It's support"
The Greater New-York does appeal. indeed. to the
Imagination. and. from an array Of facts this
faculty Of The human mind deiuces effects OF SUI
prcme Importance 20 the 100000 Of peope who live
along the waters Of the noble harbor
Ncw-York began a log fort at the southern end
Of Manhattan Island More than 80 years
afterward our land had become the prosperous
United States. The Erie Canal was built. and then
New-York began the growth that has made her the
metropolis Of the country. I, was the Erie Canals
meeting with the decI-waer and with the capacious
harbor. II was the canalboats exchange OF cargoes
with the sailing ship. that first brought people in
numbers TO trade and live in New-York. and pre-
pared the way for me city's future greatness Near
~ a century more passed away. the railroads were
added to the Erie Canal There ar" $4,000 OF peo-
PIE In the United States. The West and South re-
ceive the sreatcr part Of their immigration AMI
foreign imports. and ship most OF their surplus of
products and manufactures through New York We
have 100000 people brought here by this trade.
What are our facilities for keeping New-York the
centre OF commerce In the United States? Let 1t b.
remembered that deep and capacous harbor de-
void OF varied communication with inland centres
will neither create nor maintain a modern com
mercal city. The largest cities of the world are
inland cities e. z. London and Paris 1t Is trade
between great centres At home and abroad. by
railroad and by water. that has lined our deep water
front with ships and steamers from all the world
We still have the Erie Canal. that may b. said -
terminate at the battery. and We have the New
York Central Railroad. that makes rs way -
Manhattan Island 10y land. There arr also the
various lines Of colswisc vessels that carry South
ern and Western freight to AMI from N"w-York by
way OF ports the Atlantic Coast These are the
only southern and Western termlni that We have
on Manhattan unless We include the Delaware and
Raritan Canal. a shallow waterway - the south.
This waterway. to the shame OF New-Jersey. has
never been improved Brooklyn has no through
railroad terminus and never can have til
Greater New-York gives her either another bridge
or tunnel
But on the Jersey shore opposite N"w-York nre
no Jess than or seven great railroad lines With
ierm!nl from which AMI 70 which the great bulk
~ Nca Works. freight has 20 De- carried ~ OK
penslve and tedious processes AnI these limos az
terminate ~ points me shore which opP'sii"
TO the lower .ui - Manhattan. many miles distant
from IT, centre 81 commerce They terminal" there.
their tracks nearly al punched confus~i'y together.
- necessity Tor north q Jersey CITY ranges ~ hills
run for mile. along the Iiud~,n's bank II g. TN
poss bic 10 reach the deep water except by tunnel
Ing
Many cities have lost commercial supremacy IN
the past What j. tho danger - New York The
danger IL that New York may lose her commercial
supremacy hy her neglect 20 give m" great lines
81 transportation easy access - ~" deep water
within her own b,ricrs Already there 8 ON"
bridge across the Hudson AZ Poughke"ps". opening
Eastern ports TO shipments that pass our doors
Chicago. Manhattan's lusiy young rival as a mo
troioi% n pushing her routes along the 81 Law
renee All Of the seaboarl cities neck and neck
IN the race for commerce. Trade follows the quick
and leas, expensive routes. Our facilities FOR
transpo rta'on 10 and from The SEA are threatened
in their supremacy
Give Sew York the municipal force and power
that will from ruling all The terri'or, that
naturally belongs TO her make fun citizens - IN"
3c1ca Of people who now are not all fun CIT
liens but who nevertheless gain their support ar !
wealth within New-York Use The strength that
will come from this consolidation ~ interests 20
build the bridges AMI the tunnels necessary % give
Tho great lines 81 transportation termini within
New York. and the beginning Of these great changes
will make ~ a Greater New-York greater IN enter
prise greater In commerce.
The oil definition Of the State society of
men united - procure their mutual advantage by
means Of union applies AZ wei, = any arg" com
muniy The 3.rn0DD Of people who live c,ose- gath
cred round the hnrbor 81 NewYork have not de-
veloped the natural resources OF the locality in
which they live. because they have not united 10
procure the advantages Of government by means 81
union As a matter Of fact all citizens OF brooklyn
and of Richmond County depend on New York
Their employment. In trades business and pro-
fessions cones directly Indirectly from Man
They vote and pay taxes their little locality while
their thoughts and aims in He In the metropolis
OF which they are part without being a part OF
the body polite
What would be the Dimensions Of "Grcater New
York" as proposed by the act recently passed 70
submit the question to the people The answer Is
27 squire miles Works. present Is 80
square miles Chicago has $50 square miles. and
Philadelphia 1870 square miles. In both OF these
cities complaint has been heard against the
welding together Of their territory In one homo
geneous government. Consolidation has worked ad-
mlrably In both cases and IA, brought better gov
eminent and increased prosperity
one glance at the map OF the ncighborhool OF
New York and brooklyn shows the disadvantage
rom poical and commercla pointe OF view Man
haitian Island. with It, southern end At the Battery.
navles OF The world Is covered by the present city
for twenty miles In length long strip Of land
narrow island, across the deep estuary OF the sea
called the East River; to sleep at night: There are
Brooklyn at night who live nearer the commercial
centre Of New than ihe TrslGents Of New,
Brookyn's hybrid citizens but receives In return
no feaiy from them. They trade in New-Y9rk'
they add millions and millions 10 her yearly gains.
bu, they feel that they are not Sew Workers.
rs IL eS'n men nor efbrd Of whom ' rpS nnd po9T
feel interest in her welfare? Wise politics under
interest Of Tho many that the whole population
should share. each man according 10 his position in
4 great port FOR the receipt and shipment Of prod
and goods by land and water. New York should
have all the termin OF lines from The Interior with
in her mitG and close 20 the waterfront The map
shows that most Of these lines terminate In Jersey
| CITY not I'm Ncw-YOrk. The want Of this command
OF termini within her limits IL to-day New York <
fatal defect compared with Chicago II IL true
thai we cannot obtain Jersey city. but We can
| have a bridge over the North River connecting us
with New-Jersey for railroads to cross. which
would give them their termini on Manhattan Isl
and and also can have a second bridge. crossed
by railroads. over The East RIVER to Brooklyn.
Richmond County. with rs capaci9us harbor. where
Incoming ships first anchor. should belong 10 us.
/ boil. IN fIl H..
outport Of New York. but also because across II At
the NarrOws Hes the only route for the railroads
from the West and South. railroads which must
some day Brooklyn's immense waterfront. and
perhaps find entrance TO Manhattan Island across
| the East River.
The question OF taxation az between New-York
and Troohlyn is follows: