The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-01
AHERICA'S BABYLON
To-Day Greater New York Enters
Upon It's Existence.
WONDER OF THE WORLD
a CITY FITTED FOR THE CON-
CUERoRS OF HISTORY.
Vast Problems That VIII Be Pre-
sented-Exit OF the Old Year and
Inauguration of the City-Parade
Conducted Under the Auspices OF
a Newspaper.


a Newspaper.
New York, Dec. S1-The citizens OF
New York. which tomorrow becomes
| the second city of the world, enter then
upon what is believed to be the great
est problem Of municipal government
ever presented. With the last stroke
of the clock at midnight announcing the
advent Of the new year, there VIII be
born & city such 2s the emperOrs and
great for an empire.
For six months, unless the machinery
of the new municipality gets into mo-
ton, the mayor of New York has the
power OF an autocrat He may ap-
point officials with salaries running
into the thousands with as lavish q
hand as ever emperor treated his IA
vOrites. The mayor VIII appoint every
department head in the city except the
controller. Is no is elected for four years.
lie VIII appoint ali commissioners, jus
tees OF interior criminal courts, all
the members of the school boards, with
the execution of the commissioner Of
education, the justices of special ses-
sions and the police magistrates. and IS
given the power to remove any official
in New York and appoint his success
sor.
There are five boroughs in the Great,
or New York. namely: Manhattan,
Brooklyn Bronx, Queens and Rich
mond. The municipal legislature is
COMPOSED Of the council with % mem
bers and a board of aldermen of SO
members. The president OF the coun-
ell was selected by the people. The
board of aldermen viii be chosen by
the members of that body.
Mayor Van Wyck is given power to
veto any ordinance or resolution of
either body of the municipal assembly
unless fiVe-sixths of the members of
both houses declare otherwise. Each
of the five boroughs has borough
president, but his principal duty is to
preside over the various local bodies
in his borough.
EXIT OF OLD YEAR.
The exit of the old year and the in
auguration of Greater New York was
celebrated fttingly tonight. One of the
events that marked the occasion was
a grand parade conducted under the
auspices Of the New York Journal and
Advertiser. The scene in City Hall
park previous to the arrival there of
the procession was spectacular and
brilliant AS the parade was expected
to reach the park shortly before mid
night the park was crowded as early
as o'clock, and the crowd struggled
and jostled for an hour or more when
on the arrival of Police Captain Cross,
in command of the small army of Off
GERS, the park invaders were driven to
the street line, where they were held
in check by 2 Gordon of police.
Only those entitled by passes We're
allowed within the park limits
OLD CITY HALL.
Old city hall was brilliantly illumi-
mated with strings of electnc hsnts,
beautifully colored electrical shields
and American flags, composed OF re
volving lights. On the dome of the
municipal building were placed eight
searShlights. that flashed in all direc-
lions, and cut across the lights that
biaZed their rays from the roofs of the
Dostofice and newspaper buildings.
Many of the buildings surrounding
the park were decorated with handsome
electric devices, while several bands OF
music view with the bearers of trum-
pets ard tin horns to entertain the
people.
IN front of the city hall main entrance
n platform had been erected for the
accommodation oe the judges selected
o ward the various prizes II was
q myriad Of electric lights.
MERRY MAKERS.
Notwithstanding the warning ele-
,nents ard the announcement made in 4
The early afternoon that the carnival ,
and parade would be postponed. a great !
crowd OF merry makers, naskers, /
wheelmen AID members of various So /
1icties with lumberless floats met at /
the rendezvous around Union Square, /
-eady to march through the rain and .
mud TO honor the old city and welcome .
he rev.
Promptly at 1918 o'clock the order to
1arch was given. The crowd al the
tartins point was enormous.
Following the police escort came the
MARSHAL and his aids, and they were
ng the Chicago delegation, who we're
a five open carria ges.
The German societies joined in the
recession at Fifteenth street Follow
lg them was an immense float repre-
enting the Brooklyn bridge. with ca
les OF evergI cen on which the wedding
f Father KnickeTbOcl1er and Miss
BROOKLYN was being celebrated in truly
fernlan style. amid much merrimelt.
Then float followed float in rapid sue
ession. Six divisions OF wheelmen were
= line. and in front and behind these
-eTa representatives Of the volunteers
2 all departments. all soldiers, fire.
len and others.
BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
An hour before midnight bombs
laced on the lawn gave the signal that
&C parade was approaching, and just
little later the first of the process
ion turned iato the park. a huge
alloon with trailing light was sent up.
nd il swept across the park a blaz-
lg American flag fioated down and
amained burning until the balloon
-ent out Of sight.
The drilling rain had turned TO !
now, but the great crowds remained
lTrounding the paraders, who had !
altered in the park for the chief cere- I
lony Of the night. At exactly y
clock the searchlights on the neigh {
oring buildings were turned upon the
asstan Of the city han.
As the hands pointed the exact hour
little white ball was seen to climb
le staff slowly. The mayor of San
rancisco had touched the button and
re electrical current sent the furled !
as of the city Of New York to the
AFT, where it broke out and swung to
lie breeze. Then bedlam broke loose.
Of bombs were thrown into G
le air, sending down their showers of ,