The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15
COMPLAINTS FROM THE BRONX.
Public improvements Mt n %StandstIII Since
Consolidation Went Into Effect.

The present population Of the borough Of
the Bronx. Wards Twenty three and Tweaty-
four. Is estimated at 10000. or about one
tenth Of the population Of Manhattan Island.
which is divided into twenty-five wards. At
the time that the pre- sent New York city char
ter went into effect, Jan. /. lS!ES the wards OF
the city beyond the Harlem River line were
made into a separate borough with distinct
local officers and under conditions which. it
was said. would greatly foster the material in
terests of the annexed district and would
stimulate its de yelopmcnt.
The hrst year Of the separate eNistcDco Of
the borough Of the Bronx as an official ENTITY
has passed. but apart from a few minor im-
some OF which are not yet CONF
rletei. the assertion i, made that the peoplO
OF the Bronx have obtained none of the adj
vantages promised them and that. on the other
hand. the progress 81 he borough has been re-
tarded by reason Of the change. II Is pointed
out by some OF them. 'or Instance. that since
consolidation went into effect. not a single
street has been opeDed in the Bronx and i'm
p~royenents generally have been at a stand
still. The statement thai matters are not yeG
In working order was accepted as a possible
explanation for six, months. but y has been
residents have grown impatient. They say
great tieid:for growth. and 10 neglect it n such
a manner Is something not to he tolerated.
Another ground Of Ccieyance is the facr that
although o%f!cjal.y under the same ]poJitigal
Bronx prior tC Ian. !. 1888. had n seTargte adj
miuistratiOn Of is local affairs BY means OF tho
department Of Street improvements created
in 1890. For The EXPENSES Of this DEPARTMENT.
S15O.OuO from tho rroreedS o! taxation vas
allotted for the mainteuance OF streets and
roads, for the building aud repalring Of sewers
and drains, for sUrNrylLE.and street. numuer-
ing. for rock soundings, bridges and uther
items Of expense. including the salaries Of tho
officials and engineers Of the der artmen'.
Bronx, though osten-iulY separate from his
rest uf the city. is 20 in name only. The D.-
partment Of Highways has one bureau devoted
tOthe Bronx H. charge OF a deputy who 4, amen
able Ia the head Of the ieuartment. Nike ar:
rnngement exists M 20 the Department %
Water supply. in the work Of which the resi-
dents OF the Bronx are very much Interested,
u Is So 10 the Department uf sewers ana u
Health, NJ IN the affairs OF the street lear
ing Department. lire DEPARTMENT AMI he
dls-oluhly linked with those ~ Manhattan.
All lmportanr public improvements N tie
Bronx region have been either deferred Or
abandoned during the uasi Sear on the ground
that there was no money aLn4aule i"r thrm
and The method heretofore followed Ia tdNitn-
tage In the Bronx ~ a--"S-iE- he cost on th9
property improved has Uoen Hl~rcgarted.
ucudtGg appropriations rs the civ At large
II Is a fact not generally known. though no
official figures show II verE .e1r'y, mat no
is Included in the TWeuty-thlrd aud TWENTY
fourth wards. By til" Board ~ Health hgures
New York area IN acre. on Jan. J, ISfl, was
10000. and VI this %i.9tu WIS IN the borough
Of the Bronx aud .l3,pOD only. or about ono
half as much in the borough NJ Nauhdtian.
Obviously the territory north OF the Harlem
River line is well suited for material lkevelot-
ment. Many OF H. residents saw that IT, nat
ural advantages In this regard are Offset By
the Official supinensss OF which they eonplAta.