The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-10
PROGRESS MADE IN BROOKLYN.
President swanstrems Report 70 Mayor
Low,


President Swanstrom Of the borough Of
Brooklyn sent his report to Mayor Low
yesterday. In IL he compares the results
Of his first year of administration with those
Of the four years preceding and indicates
the superiority OF conditions now over
those that obtained at the close Of Presi-
tration. In opening his report he says
that the last municipal election divorced the
administration from politics and only this
made possible "a business administration
OF municipal Affairs
The report dwells on the price Of asphalt
paving and the new form Of contract and
specifications and says:
As a. result contracts for asphalt pave
ment. including the concrete base and the
guarantee Of maintenance for hve years
have Ssn % Ts4a ea the O.
Asphalt Trust in 1900 and 1901 for similar work
on similar terms.
The borough has laid 1904 miles of pave
ment during the year, OF which 3o0i Is
asphalt. The report adds:
The total amount Of contracts executed for
repaving from Jan. 1. lses. TO Jan: I. 1902, was
1893. slsi1: With the smaller sum. how
Tns %u &. IN the
pavement.
The borough president condemns with
out qualification all previous methods OF
paving obtaining IN Brooklyn, ~, ...,...
Commissioner Of Public Works. 2es con-
tracts !, q. involving an expenditure Of "'s'''-
The following, table shows the amount
Of Tagging and cement sidewalk con-
tracted Tor during the year:
B fa asssins tphSs'e coniisen..'.. isi g
Gonefe,e side%slks public oontract ..... 1880
Concrete sidewalks tprva.e contracp...... $4,000
ro,.,..................A..........i.o7s.. as
In 1900 a contract was made for 1000
enameled street signs, more than 200
Of which have been placed at q cost OF
SO cents each.
It was found necessary, he says. to re.
orea nize the Bureau Of Sewers, because OF
reckless extrave gance and gross neglect
As q consequence the prices OF cleaning
sewer basins, in 1901. 500 each, dropped
The cost Of contracts for new sewer
work authorised by the Board Of Estimate
for 1907 amounts to Soi70,ss The
Borough President recomme nds the con-
struction Of certain relief sewers at cost
The report discusses at length the need
for a new municipal building 1t says:
The present Municipal Building. which
adjoins the Kings County Court House, 10.
from an architectural standpoint. an eye;
therefore not hreproof. II contains records
of the most valuable character. the loss
or destruction OF which would entail very
serious co9.sau enc .s m Yaff Ansctins
President Swanstrom says the centraliza-
ton Of the school system u unsatisfactory,
and continues:
trust that the success that has attended
the Experiment. OF decentrallzinE other
branches Of the city government VIII induce
the Legislature either TO enlarge the powers
further amendments to the Charter az will
create borough centres Of school admins
trstion.
The report closes with q discussion OF
interborough transportation. II Gays:
Tho development Of Brooklyn hps been
retsrded by the lack OF proper rapid transit
fscilities. The difficulties and actual dangers
attendant upon the. journey y and rom Map
haitian have forced THOUSANDS 81 lamhies 20
make thslr bone, ,,t II tes W SSstahSsn es's
Jersey and along the shores Of TIE Hudson;
The counties OF kinRs, Quesns and Riohmond
have suffered In VARYING deGrss{ from their
practical isolation, brooklyn has Grown.
Connected with Manhattan by an sdeduate
system OF bridges and tunnels u VII De; "
the course Of few yesr. the chier res,ddf nnht
E Rs.t Sf Gssa ,aaS New years.
space In a city's history. the population q
this borough will have overtaken ana passed
that Of Manhattan