New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-09
prropUS FOR THE MASSES.

4, the request ~ the Mayor, one or the SUD
committees Of the Committee OF Seventy mas
hoen revived for most bcneiccnt purpose
Nessrs Archibald. Morris and Hamilton are 10
con,inue their Investigations regarding baths ana
,.ra,orios and will cndcavor 70 improve tho
.ouIpmcnr Of the city in these much needed ac
c,.ssnr,cs AZ civilized life The overthrow OF
Tammanv last fall was a protest against corrupt
municipal administration and official extor''oh
and Matchmaking. but II was also an expression
~ a desire on the part Of the people Tor IL moro
oplichicned management Of affairs with view
10 making this town a more heaIthful' Comfort
able and beautiful place Of residence
We already see the signs OF the evolution "i
4 more perfect city. Where formerly carts
hoclcd the streets intcrfcrcd with the removal
~ dirt. gave an untidy air 10 the surroundines
and provided lurking places for the vicious ana
criminal open ways and clean pavements are 10
n. seen. which are AT once n substantial beneht
and An influential example 10 the people VINO
stand most In need Of clcany habits ana iaii
m,st readily away from them. Another boon
nr,miscd 10 the tenement jewellers is the extern
sion II the area Of nsphaltpav streets IN their
no,rhhorhoods A study OF the pavement map
~ \.wYork is n revelation OF Tammany meth
all. ono OF three reasons commonly governs the
Covering Of a street with asphalt: Favortism, the
comulction Of n route OF easy transit between
,n,nnr,,nt noints. or sanitary considerations. The
d., on,o,rs 10 hive been the prevailing motive
h.r. With the exception Of Eighth-avc. ana tho
p,,lov,rd which were allowed TO fall INTO
,r;,h,fu condition since there was no influence
;, ur,e rcnoirs. there Is no through line OF
asphalt in this city. Portions OF Madison Lex
,rr,o, and Second ayes are smooth. but all OF
them are so broken by Intervals or stone 'ha'
q comfortable ride downtown Is out OF the qu'S
ria, Through passenger traffic had little con-
sldaralon from Tammany. Something was uone
in the tbIckly populated streets on the East Nlue
bur without any intelligent system Inc peh'n'S
81 asphalt were In the main reserved LOT '''c
| Mace, where 1t WINS likely 10 do the most Soou
10 the organization or make favoritcs more COZ"
| fortoble The side streets between Madison anu
Sixth aves where wealthy and infiuentai people
| dwelt whom II was necessary to soothe INTO De-
| lief that the town was comfortable place 10 DE
| in. were generally made noseless ana neat. Ihen
mn about Mount Morris Park and In other IA
vorcl spots where Tammany leaders had 'heir
homes blotches Of asphalt were laid. when Had
nowhere and benefit nobody except those whose
| bouscs look out on them. Under the new plans
| those who really need asphalt TO make their con-
| ditIons Of life more cndurablc VIII be nrst 10
have II. Wherever possible, approach to the
| ferries and communication between different Sec
tions OF the city will be made easy. But special
attention will be given to the streets In front or
fine homes Of the poor. Crowded. confined, al
most living on the sidewalks. they suffer most
fran the noise and disease breeding Nth or I'M
even. stony pavemcnts. and only next to their
own interest In their welfare Is the interest or
/ the city at large In making their lives plcasanter
and more healthful, and In improving their moral
and physical condition. To do that Is work
OF practical philanthropy near allied to munc'
ipal craftsmanship.
! The building OF baths and lavatories Is an IN
dcrtaking Of the same order. The free baths
along the waterfront In summer are great
blessing. but we need something more They are
useful only n few months OF the year. From
fall TO spring the city Offers absolutely nothing
In the way Of baths TO the people who cannot
afford 10 pay the prices Of establishments which
make rates with the special object Of shutting out
| the great bulk Of the population Improvement
In our system Of lavat0ries In still more lmpera
tive. In this respect New-York Is much behind
other cities OF the same rank. Such structures
a exist for the convenience Of the thousands