Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-04-13
Total square miles.

IF consolidation is effected, as it seems
almost certain to be, New York will rank
second among the cities of the world in
the matter Of population, London being
first with a population Of s, 1858, 900. Leav-
ing out London and New York, the cities
having a population Of over o million, ac-
cording to the latest figures o%btainable,
are: Paris, 2,447, 957; Canton (estimated),
1000, 900; Berlin, 1, $40, 244; Toxic, ], $780,
PA; Vienna, 1865, 54s;. Philadelphia,
1,142, 653; Chicago, 1,400, 900; St. Peters
burg, 1,003, 80. The figures for Chicago
are estimated from a school census taken
in 1892.
The benefits expected from consolida-
ton are many and various, and some of
them are sufficiently obvious to need no
mention. The economical advantage of
substituting II governing body for the
10 or more that are now required to carry
on the political administration of the va
rlous cities, counties, towns and villages
involved ought to be self evident. But it
is by no means certain that this advantage
will be secured in full measure. Politi-
clans out Of jobs are fruitful of expedients,
and those displaced in the sacred name of
economy may be trusted to lose as little by
the change as possible.
1t is quite probable, however, that the
political rings that now reign supreme in
the different municipalities will find their
power broken, and though new ones will in
all likelihood be formed to loot the richer
treasury and dictate the destinies of the
consolidated millions an interregnum, be
1T ever so short, is something for which
the people will easily learn to be devoutly
thankful. It is not the least among the
hopeful signs of the new order of things
that the various bosses and their bench
men are among it's bitterest opponents.
Another good sign is that the members
of the consolidation commission mention
ed above are not persons of grace with the
ringsters, though all of them are well
known, reputable and representative citi-
zens. The president of the commission is
Andrew H. Green of New York, the reform
comptroller who took charge of the city
treasury after the downfall of the Tweed
ring. Mr.. Green has been preaching con
solidation since 1868, and the greater New
York will owe him a large debt of honor
in the good time coming.
James S. 7. Stranahan, whom Brook
Ign proudly halls as her first citizen and to
whom she has erected a statue in her beau
tiful Prospect park, Of which he is the vir-
6udl 1Ounuer is vice president or the COM
mission. MI. Stranahan also has been an
advocate of consolidation for many years,
having seen it's advantages foreshadowed
80 years ago, when he was a member Of
the old metropolitan police board, whose
jurisdiction included New York and
Brooklyn. He is now SO years of age, but
hale and vigorous and confident Of living
to see consolidation an accomplished fact.
In the hands Of men like these the i'm
portant preliminaries of consolidation will
be carefully looked after, and it may be
that their influence will not cease when the
preliminary stages have been passed. If
the vote Of the people shall declare in IA
vor Of consolidation, Mr.. Green has a char
ter ready for introduction in the legisla-
ture which provides for the government Of
the new municipality on lines different
from those which have hitherto prevailed
In American cities, and if the politicians
are not too strong for him and his associ-
ates we may see the happy experiment.
tried Of governing aegreat city according
to the theories Of a man whose special
study it has been to safeguard the point
most liable to attack-the treasury.