The Portland daily press., 1898-01-03

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Mayors Speech.
New York. January New Years
day and the natal day of the imperial city
of New York, the second on earth in
wealth and population, was, from a
weather point of view, all that heart
could wlsh, with cellar sky, crisp, brac-
ing air ana the earth as firm as adanant
in its wintry frosts.
The roar of 100 guns fred from Cover
nor's Island by the regular army post
stationed there under orders from Wash
ington as q salute from Unole Sam him
self to the newborn city and the new
born year, awakening ths echoes at the
dawn of day. Those who were aroused
from sleep by the roar of the guns, peep
ing out, saw brilliant sun rising out of
the Atlantic and tinting the spires and
domes of the tive boroughs that nestle
about the great harbor and are now unit
ed by the ties of CITY hood.
The New Year celebration was SO in
terwoven with the ceremonies and oele-
brations connected with the Inaugural
o@S1A ~
separable.
There were the customary services in
all the churches, to be sure, but in every
service there was a prayer for the guild
ance in wisdom of the first mayor and his
aids, or a sermon on the new condit-
ions.
There were entertainments, receptions,
the usual amount of New Year calling,
despite the annual statement that the
custom is more honored in the breach
than the observance, and there were
turkey dinners, game feasts and just
ordinary plain banquets ON the pro-
granme, but the town was most interest
ed in the Inauguration ceremonies accom-
panying the surrender OF their autonomy
by the five independent municipalities
now merged into the one respondent,
unequalled city OF New York.
These ceremonies were fixed for noon,
because the law made that hour the mo-
ment for the official birth and beginning
of the new city.
The most important of the midday
events was that at City hall, when May
ors Strong of New York and Wurster of
Brooklyn and Gleason OF Long Island
City, should wait upon Robert A. Van
Wyck and surrender to him their official
arms, and to his keeping as mayor of
New York, the municipalities over which
they had presided.
AS the hour of noon approached, John
B. Carroll made his appearance at the
City hall as the herald of The incoming
chief.
Former Mayor Strong, with his friends,
modestly retired into his private office
and only emerged when word was re-
ceiyed THAT Mayor Van Wyok was enter
ing the building.
AT ll.45 the new mayor, walking be-
side his brother, Justine Van Nyck, and
followed by a crowd of faithful Tam
manyites, entered the room. Mayors
Strong, Wursber and Gleason had ranged
themselves about the mayors desk to
greet and congratulate Tamlnany halls
representative. Mayor Van Wyck ap-
proohed former Mayor Strong with ex-
tended hands.
How are you? Glad to sec you,'' was
Mayor Strong's greeting, shaping his
palm into that of his successor. Former
layers Wurstar and Gleason next shook
hands with the new mayor, and imnae-
diately afterwards he was congratulated
by Gen. Coils, Arson G. McCook, Po-
lice Commissioner Andrews, Commits
sioner OF Parks McWilliams Police Com
missioner Moss and Supreme Court JUS
tice Smyth.
suffocation, and the eager crowd pressed
SO closely about the mayors desk that the
principal actors in tho ceremony found it
difficult to raise their elbows.
1t was then 1i.55. and ths last few
minutes that remained Of Mayor Strong
administration were passed IN small talk
between Col. Strong and the representa-
tive of Tammany.
Col. Strong pointed out the various
floral pieces, pointing particularly to a
gorgeous tiger which had been present.
ed by Charles Krombaok Of the borough
OF Brooklyn.
As the hands of the big clock on the
office wall pointed TO noon Mayor Strong
Strengthened himself up, and, looking
his successor sauarely in the eye, said:
"Mr. Van Wyok, the people OF the city
of Greater New York, which is now made
up of five great boroughs, have named
you as their choice for mayor. You are
about to descend from your position on
the bench to the mayors chair. You
are abont to rule over this magnificent
city OF 3,5o0.000 inhabitants, where you
and / have lived about the same length
of time.
''Ihis great city, with It's great num-
Der of commercial and manufacturing
enterprises, its 100000, 600 of banking
surplus and its sl1, DOC, 900 of bank de-
posits will now be committed to your
care. )"
Col. Strong paused and looked keenly
at Mayor Van Wyek. Then he continued:
II have the pleasure Of graduating
from this honorable place and of giving
over my chair to you. I welcome and
congratulate you
The mayor stepped back pace, and
hush fell over the crowd IN anticipation
of speech from his successor.
III accept this office at tae hands of the
people and to them will answer''
That was all. The crowd looked sur
prised and there was some Jaurmuring.
AS soon as the ceremony was over,
Mayor Strong and his officials took leave
of the office, and the new incumbents
took charge and settled down to business.
THE OFFICE HOLDERS.
New York, January Mayor Van