New-York tribune., 1896-01-08
UIYOR ITTRSTERS FIRST MESSAGE.

The first message Of Mayor Wurster. sent to
the brooklyn Common Council on Monday. is Il
commercially brief and b'isincss-lkc document.
| The new Mayor has evidently taken good heed
Of the provcrb which teaches that it Is not he
who is just putting on his armor vino is en-
titled TO indulge in bOasting. He does not think
that because he has been Mayor Of Brooklyn for
four or five days he is better informed than any
one else regarding its condition and needs and
i'm n position to elaborate in full detail com
plicated policy ON the contrary, he prefers TO
take things rs he finds them, and he has not
hammered himself at the outset with recon-
mcndatious and advice that more thorough study
and naturcr Judgment might show to be i'll
advised. His message deals with the present
condition of the city in its various departments,
mainly as indicated by the reports Of the several
commissioners. and to the admirable summaries
Of these reports a number of suggestions are
added which will meet with the approval of the
great majority of his fe.iow-ciiizcns.
The enlargement If the city by the annexation
Of the last remaining county town. 50 that
brooklyn and Kings County are now coter-
mlnouS naturally calls for special mention in
the message but is dealt with briefly The city
thu, gains eleven square miles; lis entire area
now covers nearly SiNty->N square miles. ana
Is more Than twice rs great rs II was be-
fore the four newest wards were taken into
it. The change made imposes new duties on the
Common Council. since The county institution of
n Board Of Super, isors has pas rd out of exist
cncc The financial and general condition If The
city IS found 10 be- good. There has been 4
srafify'ng incrca,, made in the >choo. accom-
moIations during tie last year. more thln l5nD
additional sltlipgS having been provided. ana
several new sch9ohOu.cs and additions 10 cN
i,'lmg ones arc now under way. An excellent
record has been made 10y the Department IL city
Work, iu iucrr.,in. ihc water supply. coz
structlug sewers. and ,~pe tally in The laying
Il new pIycmcnt~ The mileage Of asphalt
pavemenis in the city In, been increased more
than - per cent In the year just ended. and
BROOKLYN Ina, rcapcd the benefit OF the lowest
prices for This species of pavement ever made
In any cliv At Tho sam" timc the reduction in
the cost of asphalt has CAUSED a decline in the
price Of granite blocks for paving. The admin
lstrliipn II thr parks receives. - if deserves.
special communication. aul particular mention
+, made ~ the establishment of new parks by
tie. Issue of about Sl.OOO.rO Of county bonds
That Mayor Wurstcr realizes the importance
Der II bcycc.ridcr~ in Brooklyn is shown 10y IN"
emphasis which H. aY> Oh the "impcrdtiN"
demand for good roads, which, he says. re
"uuirrs attention 20 the provision of connect
"cd routes covering al parts Of the city ana
leading 10 the suburbs" Ills statement that
"ln improved pavement in Il thorOushtarc lead
ing from the Eastern Parkway to the east
ward limits Of the city is IN immediate need
indicates that he will cooperate in securing the
pas$age 10y the Legislature of such measure
as is necessary 10 accomplish this most desirable
end ON The subject of the speed Of trollcy-carS
Mr. WurS'cr uses plain language, and he declares
that the companies mus be compelled to equip
their vehicles with "thc best life saving device
I'm the way of Tenders While he dcprccatrS dan
crrous rates Of speed he firmly insists that
the interests of the travelling public should he
considered and the cars should MOI be- undtIly
'dclaycd" II" also bclicycs that the city should
receive adequate compen Saton for its grants To
street railroad companies, and that The com
pancS should be- compelled to keep in repair
the streets which they occupy. leaving the city
free 10 spend its money on other thorouShfhr''.
The message IL a whole viii commend Itself
for its modcsly and good sense Mayor Wnr>tcr
has made Il good beginning