New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-05
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.

In message sent to the Board Of Aldermen
yesterday Mayor Low discusses various munich
pal matters OF particular Importance with
characteristic facility and clearness OF state
ment. It should be borne in mind. however, by
those who read the document that 1t was the
Mayors purpose to direct official and general
attention TO problems demanding solution rather
than to attempt their solution himself so near
the beginning of his administration.
A former Controller Of New-York was credited
with saying that he knew that he did not under
stand the nature and operation Of the Sinking
Fund and he believed that nobody else did
Mr.. Low makes no pretence Of calculating that
mystery, but he is convinced that the taxpayers
Of this generation are bearing an unjustly heavy
proportion of the cost of the citys growth, and
that careful thought should be given to the
feasibility of a fair adjustment between the
present and the future. Taking up the question
of water supply the Mayor expresses his IN
willingness to pronounce an opinion Just yet
either for against the proposed change OF
plan in respect 10 the Croton Dam, by which It
would be constructed wholly of stone at an
added cost of 100000 and a sacrifice of two
years time He speaks with emphasis Of the
necessity for stopping waste from the service
pipes. but perhaps does not put high enough
estimate on the immense 'oss from that source.
this loss could be prevented to a reasonable ex-
tent the supply which will he available when
present operations have been completed would
meet all the requirements of Manhattan and
The Bronx for many years to come. Doubtless
conditions in Brooklyn different. In that
borough there is pressing need OF immediate
action, and the repeal bill which would permit
the water now going TO waste in Suffolk County
TO he utilized ought TO he passed without delay.
Whether or not the Mayor is right in thinking
that on both sides of the East River new sup
plies not yet in sight will become indispensable
in the comparatively future, the subject is
undoubtedly one which should be constantly
under consideration by the public authorities.
Local borough improvements, small parks, the
docks and ferries, the projected East River tun-
mel, and the new bridges already provided for
and the scandalous conditions prevailing at the
Manhattan terminal of the old bridge among
the chief topics of the message which points
out the embarTassments arising from the city's
near approach to the debt limit. That is the
one fact which can never be lost sight of in at
tempts to diminish the discomforts of metropou-
tan existence and meet the requirements of the
future, but the Mayors treatment Of these ques-
tons is suggestive throughout though frankly
tentative. Concerning the schools as we are
glad to observe, he unhesitatingy takes the
ground that they have the very first claim
upon the resources of the city" He we'll says:
It IS idle to improve the material conditions of
the city If it is to be done at the expense of leav
ing many thousands OF its children in ignorance
during the best years OF their school life It
makes comparatively little difference to the city,
as to most public improvements whether they
are secured q year two earlier or a year or
two later; but two three years taken out of
the school life Of child affect his well
being and his value as a citizen as long as he
lives
The demand which the schools make is a
heavy one, and especially heavy now because Of
past neglect The Mayor is inclined to think
that the estimate of 100000 as the sum re-
quired to make good present deficiencies in the
school establishment might be reduced by a
couple of millions, but inasmuch as about
100000 should be raised every year for the
purchase of new sites and the erection Of new
school buildings not far from S100OOOO0 IS the
amount needed to meet the educational
obligations Of the city. Heretofore money for
the schools has been IN some instances unwisely
withheld, and in others unwisely expended on
buildings i'll cOntrived or i'll placed As n
means of avoiding the latter error hereafter the
Mayor recommends an annual census Of chill
dren Of school age, which the police could readily
take at small cost The Tribune has repeatedly
said that such an enumeration not merely show
ing the total number of children to be provided
for and their distribution, but indicating the
movement Of population toward and away from
this and that locality is absolutely essential TO
an intelligent administration Of the department
It is surprising and discreditable that the bust
ness Of public education has been managed so
long without that adequate knowledge OF con-
ditions, actual and prospective, which only
census kept up to date can supply