New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06
A TALK WITH MR.. STRANAHAN
BROoKLYN's FIRST CITIZEN ON CONSOLE
DATION AND OTHER TOPICS.
THE ANNEXATION OF THE COUNTY TOWNS
TO BROOKLYN-PARK SITES SHOULD BE
CHOSEN EARLY-PROsPECTs OF
GREATER NEW YORk"-THE
TROLLEY.

CHOSEN EARLY-PROSPECTs OF
GREATER NEw-YoRK"-THE
TROLLEY
"St you down. Sit you down. These were the
hearty words with which the First Citizen Of
BROOKLYN greeted a visitor who called on Friday
afternoon to chat with him in reference to the en-
largement Of Brooklyn which has just taken place.
and other topics naturally growing out OF tha,'
For many years James S. T. Stranahan has borne
the title Of First Citizen" of the town which, II he
could have his way. would speedily become part
of Greater New-York" Only n few days ago he
celebrated his elghty-sxth birthday. which was, OF
course the occasion for numerous hearty cohgra'"-
lations. Despite his age Mr. Stranahan Is IN eX-
ceent health, his oyesight Is good and his nearing
unimpaired. He enjoys the unique honor OF having
had his statue placed in Prospect Park during MS
lifetime by a number OF admiring friends. 1t is the
work of Frederick MacMonnies. who has since be-
come widely celebrated as the author OF the great
fountain in the Court Of Honor at the WORLDS Far'
and stands close by the main entrance OF the fark'
in the making Of which Mr.. Stranahan has had so
large a share
Thus every time he drives into the Park he
has the opportunity of seeing himself somewhat
as others see him: but he does not have to go so
far TO enjoy this privilege. for in his parlor hangs
a fine portrait Of himself. from the brush OF Daniel
huntington facing n perhaps still finer one OF
Mrs. Stranahan. the work of the same artist Mr.
Stranahan's home is in Union-st., in large ana
handsome house. the grounds Of which extend 10
Clinton-st lie has lived there since 1889; when he
went there, there were only three houses to the
south between Union-st. and Gowanus Bay while
on the west there no buildings at all, ana ne
had an unobstructed view of the river and of New
York.
Mr.. Stranahan born in little town In Mhol-
son County this State. 1t is extremely interesting
to hear his account of his first visit to New-fork
City. 1t was in 1920. when he was lad or tweNe'
"New-York was then n city OF 10000 people. he
said II came with my stopfather. and we brought
a flock OF sheep 10 sell We crossed the river at
Catskil on a ferryboat which was rowed across by
a number of strong men. 1t was very prlm!tNe
affair compared with what we have nowadays. My
impression Is that at Albany at that time they had
a ferryboat propelled by horses. and think that
was the means Of crossing to Brooklyn from New
York Brooklvn was then a town OF only four or
five thousand people. As was saving. we brought
the sheep down far as Sing Sing. and there we
put them on a sloop. We had come over 20 miles
with them by that time To get from sing sing 10
Ncw-York by sloop took the greater part OF week.
The sheep were disposed Of to the butchers at the
Fly AIarket-Nhat is now called Washington Mar
ket."
1t was more than twenty years later. in lsii that
Mr. Strauahan came to Brooklyn 10 live. II was n
city Of 500 inhabitants then. and hal been moor
rorated about ten years His first home was IN
II,nry-st near pccraw-st. not a great distance
in those days. but line Of stages ran In Myrtle
ave For half a century. therefore. he has been
Identified with Brooklyn. and he has been FACTOR
OF large Importance IN rs life and growth MI
Straaahan has for number Of years been an RI
dent advocate OF the union OK Brooklyn with New
York. and he is a member Of the Consolidation
Commission Of which Andrew II. Green IS chair
man. II was thought, accordingly. that his opinions
regarding the annexation OF the county towns u
brooklyn would he matter Of general interest
When this subject mentioned however MI
Stranaaan said that be- had given little attention
to Il AID was no; prepared to say much about A.
..It Is rot a matter" be- said. IN which the con-
soi.iation.sts OF whom / am one. have taken any
special part, and am not In position TO say "hat
effect II any II VIII have the general PROV I
for charging Ncw-lOTk / see that the Governor
has slcncl the bills anuexing the four remaining
county towns TO brooklyn, although they viii not
all come in Immediately. Their union with the city
was the natural and inevitable thing Ihat Is the
way all cities grow. Look at London Tor eA"HII'
At one time 1t hal area Of only one square mile
Now II embraces. I believe. 40 square miles fhllA-
delphia has grown in ;he same way. Chicago has
expanded enormously by this means. Ncw-York
has grown somewhat also by the addition 81 the
territory north Of the Harlem. BROOKLYN too. has
had AZ least two experiences Of the same kind. in
/ the addition Of Williamsburg. about forty years
ago and in the annexation o; the town OF New-Lo'S
seven or eight years ago. II Is IN the nature OF
things that cities must expand anl take In sur
-1unllng territory ! don't suppose there has ever
been city Of importance that has not done this.
Il am tolcrahy familiar with great part OF the
territory which Brooklyn * acquiring. and know
that IT g. well adapted for residence purposes Take
all this land running down to Coney Island, for In
stance. To make IL ready FOR buildings 1t VIII not
lie necessary to cut down hills, or MI up holo"s.
or blast away rocks, rs they have 10 90 IN the
upper part Of Ncw-York. Very little grading VIII
be required in making streets. In fact. all this
country is practically ready to BE- built upon at
once, ana considerable parts Of II here ana the'e
have been laid out IN building lots.
Don't you think IL would be well 10 select AZ an
carly date certain lands 10 be reserved for public
parks" inquired the caller. we'll knowing MF 9dh-
/ ahan's interest IN park matters.
That Is certainly important matter was the
reply. and in my opinion. 1t ought to be taken
into consideration soon II Is necessary In CITY
for some citizens always to look to and provide for
/ the future II Central Park had not been acquired
many years since. i Is easy 10 see that II would De
an imposslbnty now; all the land Included In Il
would have been built upon long ago II was wise
foresight which provided such a park for Ncw-fork.
/ The same Is true less extent Of our Prospect
Park Few people in Brooklyn nowadays are aware
that when We took hold OF the park lands there were
a number OF pOndholos In which water stood WIN
out any outlet, making the region malarious. Inc
fact Is that workmen suffered a good deai from
chills and fever while the work OF CONSTRUCTION VIZ
going on and quinne was greay IN o th LAND
] III prospect
included in 1t would have been built up with houses
very slowly. ., ~,
Recently good deal has been done IN poth rev
York and Brooklyn in providing small parks In varl-
! Gus parts OF the cities This Is an excellent thiB.
| As for reserving lands for park purposes IN inc
new part OF our city there certainly would be econ,
omy In securing them while the cost Is moderate ana
the whole matter should be gone over carefully IN
the near future. ] suppose IL will be, because The
/ Importance OF doing this will be obvious TO many
people as soon 1t Is brought to their attention.
What about the general subject OF consolidation
Mr.. StranahanT' 49,, ~, -
bill providing for vote Of the people on the ques,
| ton of union with New-York has become law anu
/ under It's provisions the people will have an oppor-
tunty to exprls their opinions AT the election next
fall That vote Is not intended to be decisive; u
will merely represent expression or opinion. ana
viii serve as a guide TO the Legislature for future
! action For myself. heartily hope that the oeci-
sion OF the people will be In favor of great city
here II will not only be the greatest city in this
! country-t is already that-but | have no doubt
- In sllrnaas London In nOpnla llOn.