New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-26
FIGHT BROOKLYN WON
,r o. A GREATER NEW-YoHh
scurNE'' SIXTY YEARS AGO.


~ FAVOR OF ANSExArIoN-AN INTER
EsTING CONTEST.
sssge NJ the bill for the annexation
.nrooxIvn to New-York suggests the'reine"i-
" =. that this is no new scneme. IL is' III i".''
". ,non the incorporated city o. BROOKLYN IL
o' ouch annexation or consoidation was pr
~' and actually attempted while BROOKLYN
.o. q. village or perhaps town But II WAS
s'' ,,ore strenuously and more enecuve'y re-
'n." nv the people of Brooklyn than TINS last
has been. They preferred tha' brooh-
en- ..or,d remain a village rather than IL shou'u
"" tie ancient name for the younger one VI
r' WI and merge its identity into that oi '"e
M" -,,o city. When at last Brooklyn became
'''e enough for incorporation as Guy anu
A'e .,a LEGISLATURE to grant II char'er' the
sSN .,...,o, was vigorously resisted pE new
spp The latter city renewed its eHor"' iof
io'h ,,,on Failing that it strove to prevent
cci' from, obtaining charter. Evidently II
bio'.' ..,frs,on and rivalry from the growth or
fese .or+ community Brooklyn. however,
the listen to any proposals for CONSOLE
Weu'' rho committee which represented that
dau0" oorterence with a similar committee
Ct" work refused TO report back to BROOK
i'O"' consolidation proposals made by New
Hh - tho ground that they would merely
io'h' 0.,,.,,on and resentment and be regarded
'. u,,,e better than an insult.
FIGHT IN THE LEGISLATURE.
~ January II. 1884. that bill for
ting a city charter TO Brooklyn was INTRO
srah," e. the House Of Assembly at Albany.
du'e0 .srrs was the outcome of long and ear
Ina' n,,ot,on in Brooklyn chiefly led by the
@'' ,a..r, snrague. and Of n great mass-meet-
,ns q, citizens. presided over by 'ohh "reeh-
'"e 4, once II was referred to the appro-
.,,a,c committee which favoraoiy reported IL
go asys later and passed 1t through It's nrst
.na second readings. Then New-York innuence
20, n be felt. and the measure was hung
80" Oar some time On February IL the Assem-
N ~. raos,vei formal memorial from the Mayor.
,,asrmen and Commonalty OF the city OF New
york demonstrating In the strongest terms
o,o,nst the application OF the people OF Brooklyn
,or = municipal charter. The ground taken
nv the memorialists was this: That 1t is I'M
nolitic as well in respect TO the interests and
welfare of the applicants themselves as. OF the
Inhabitants Of the city Of New-York. that Brook
,yn should be incorporated as city, except in
connection with the city Of New-York. upon just
and equal principles" They believed that the
Incorporation Of Brooklyn as a separate city
would materially infringe upon the vested rights
and necessary immunites OF the city OF New
York They believed and urgedthat the proposed
measure contemplated serious Entertainments
and inyasons upon the territory Of the city OF
New-York They looked with dread upon the
irrespective founding ard growth of a rival COM
mercial community. which would probably inter-
fere with and embarrass the business pursuits
Of New-York and the regulations. Of the latter
city in respect to the navigation Of the sur
rounding waters. They Urged that the two COM
nlnities were parties whose contiguity and
peculiar local situations indicate that they should
be united as one body to participate and enjoy
with mutual security and benefit the advantages
with which nature has surrounded them.
Accompanying this memorial were other docu-
mtnts. all to the same effect. These included
message from the Mayor Of New-York in
the fell Of 1882 and the reports Of a commit
fee Of conference appointed by the authorities
Of NtwYork to meet a similar committee from
the village Of Brooklyn and to discuss the gen.
eral question Of consolidation. The New-York
committee proposed. as a solution Of the prob
lem. to take into consideration the proprety
"
nth an eye to the future growth Of the latter.
he whole Of Kings County into one city. The
lembers Of the Brooklyn committee made
rompt, unanimous and most emphatic reply to
his invitation. They declared that they had no
uthority to consider or even to listen TO such a
roposition They declared that the mere an
Of II to their constituents in Brook
yn would provoke great irritation and deep
nd lasting dsquietude." And. finally, they
positively refused to submit any such propo-
ition to the people Of Brooklyn and Kings
,ounty.
HARD WORK FOR ANNEXATION
No ardent consolidationists in these later
'ears have ever been more eloquent and enthu-
iastic in urging their pet scheme than were the
MEMBERS Of the Greater NewYCrk Committee Of
1884,. They aimed not merely at the annexa-
ion Of Brooklyn. but OF all Kings County, and Of
III Staten Island as well. Such action would,
hey declared. be Of Inestimable value to every
itizen Of the united communities. III this
MEASURE should be adopted. II Heaven breathes
10 blessings on the procedure" they fervently
declared. you will in the opinion of the COM
nittee, lay the foundation OF the most magnif-
ent city in the universe in trade, wealth and
thermal resources
gideon Lee was at that time the Mayor Of
Sew-York. and he an enthusiastic consoli-
lationist. He heartily approved the sentiments
u the New-York committee. and to further the
Enterprise entered into correspondence with the
Mayors OF other large cities throughout the
Chiteo states. asking them their opinions as to
the oesrabiity OF consolidation. He received
from them much encouragement for his belief :
."a. the interests Of both communities would
oe pest secured under one government. He de-
o'aieo 'nat ne considered the whole subject "of
more dangerous Importance to the future pros
perity OF the commerce. the health and the
peace OF this city, and to all other settlements
" owns which may be formed upon or con- !
1.''eu win this port and harbor than can now
e readily perceived or clearly known"
ANS matter of jurisdiction over the waters of
aorK Harbor was the point on which the
-sonoa'ionists at that time dwelt most ear
Ihey held that New-York City had a
,ors pue TO all Of Brooklyn's water front and