Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-06-11
The Two Hundred and Fiftleth
Anniversary Of New York City.

Although it might have been possible
to find more sentimental event than
the incorporation of the city on winch
to base the recent 250th anniversary of
New York. such, for instance, as the
landing of the first settlers, or the pur-
chase of Manhattan Island by the Dutch
for sixty guilders, it cannot be denied
that the incorporation marks the actual
birth of the city and is the logical land
mark from which to measure its life
and progress among the great cities OF
the world. There is, of course, an un-
avoidable sameness in all such celebra-
tions, but in this particular case there
were circumstances which gave to the
celebration a special interest, and served
to draw the attention of the civilized
world. In all the worlds history there
is no parallel to the extraordinary rap
idity of the growth of New York city
in wealth, extent and population. In
1868 we find little settlement of 1,500
souls, housed in few modest homes in
clearing at the sOutherly end of forest
covered and rocky Manhattan Island.
Two hundred and fifty years later, New
Amsterdam is represented by splendid
New York, with population of close
upon four millions of souls. The forests
of Manhattan have been swept away,
the swamps filled in, the rocky hills laid
low, and the island covered from end to
end and from river to river with majes-
tic buildings devoted TO commerce and
industry with the magnificent homes
of its successful merchants and tinan-
ciers, and the lofty apartment and tene-
ment homes of its busy toilers, while Its
streets and avenues are scanned and un-
dermined with a yeritable network OF
railways for the quick transit of its in
habitants.
1t would be distinction for any city
| to have grown in two and hall CEN
turies from a mere village to be the
second greatest metropolis of the world
But New York city has been favored by
holding a commanding geographical
position which in itself has undoubted-
| ly given it prestige unique among the
cities of the world. Most fitly has it
been named the gateway of the western
hemisphere, for into its harbor and out
ward through its radiating network OF
railways, has poured and been dis
tributed that marvellous stream of cos
mopolitan humanity which has con-
| tributed so largely to our growth IN
population, and to the development OF
that national versatility to which our
commercial success is largely due. New
| York city has increased by steady in
| fux from every quarter of the compass
from the East by the immigration OF
| foreign races. a large percentage OF
which has made New York its home,
] while from the West, North, and Sonth
| it has grown by the steady inflow OF
the more energetic among its own
native population, whose ambition has
drawn them to a city that holds out
promises of wealth and fame, promises,
by the way. that it frequently redeems
with most lavish hand.
Although the municipal history OF
New York city has been extremely tur-
bulent and much of it discreditable, al
lowance must be made for the fact that
the city is so largely cosmopolitan. and
! that it has ever been the favorite hunt
ing ground of the political adventurer.
When we remember how many thous-
ands of immigrants settle each year
within its boundaries, and that these
people, many of whom cannot even
speak the language of the country. are
early invested with the privileges of the
franchise, the marvel is not that the
city should have had so much, but
rather that it should have had so little.
that is disastrous and humiliating writ
ten in its records. Moreover, there is
much promise for the future in the fact
that whenever the best elements among
the citizens of New York city have sci
themselves to reform municipal abuses
they have been easily able to obtain full
control and have proved, as at present
they are proving, that the city can con
duct its affairs righteously and justly
and in the best interests of the individ
ual citizen
1t is pardonahle at time like the
present to make forecast of the future
and it may safely be said that if the city
continues to grow at the present aston
| ishing rate, it will hold, sooner thar
many of us expect, the proud position
of being the leading metropolis of the
world, pre- eminent not merely for its
numbers, extent and wealth, but also
let us hope. for the purity of its govern
ment and the high ideals and political
! integrity of its citizens. Scientific
American