The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-07
Great Projects for City Expenditure.

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Great Projects for City Expenditure.
The finances OF New York city are so
complicated, and their management so
hedged about by legal restrictions, that
they are q complete mystery to the
average citizen. Municipal enterprises
Of great magnitude are suggested pro-
jected, accomplished, and their financing
arouses only languid public interest,
outside Of very narrow circle. The debt
limit is a thing known to most voters
only as the faithful servitor of economical
Comptrollers. The general public be-
lieves that what the city wants to do it
can find the money for, and is happy.
Never has there been time in the his
tory of the city when its executive officers
had so many great plans involving the
expenditure Of the Taxpayers money
on foot as they have now. The Man
hattan-BronX rapid transit subway was
regarded by most New Workers as the
greatest enterprise Of its kind that the
community had ever entered upon. AS
a matter OF fact the comprehe nsive
scheme for the improvement OF the water
front of Manhattan borough by the build
ing of modern wharves is greater munic-
ipal enterprise than the subway. 1t has
been prosecuted under half dozen adj
ministrations, and its completion is not
yet in sight.
The municipal water supply system
is another project in which vast sums
Of money have been spent. Its extension
will require further expenditures on a
large scale within few years. In fact,
the matter is engaging the attention Of
the Water Departments engineers now.
and an effort is making for the appoint
ment of a special commission to study
the matter in it's broadcast bearings.
Thus the city is committed to the ex-
penditure OF vast sums Of money for
many years to come, in these depart
ments alone. We must have improve
ment and extension of the water system
or municipal growth will be cramped,
hindered and stopped. Without dock
and wharf improvements, the deep sea
and coastwise commerce essential to the
city's prosperity and growth will seek
other ports. 1t may fairly be said that
all other municipal enterprises must wait
on these.
IL must also be borne in mind that the
approaches to the new East River bridges
which are now building will be costly.
The amount it is not possible for even
the most experienced and expert real es-
tate operators to determine. 1t is plain,
therefore, that the expenses Of opening
new streets, widening existing streets.
and arranging for the changed condi-
tons which will result from these ave-
nues of travel over the Fast River are
practically a prior lien on the city's
debt-incurring capacity, which must
be considered before any new ways OF
spending money are sought by the ad-
ministration.
Since Mayor Low came into Office
he has, either In person or through his
associates, startled the residents Of the
city with several spectacular public
projects. He favors q West street via
duct built by the city for the use
Of the railroads and steamship lines.
He wants to have the city 60 into the
electric light business. just as former
city officeholder wanted to have it 60
into the ice trade. He is anxious to have
it build a great railway terminal and
Office building for $4,000, 900 or there
abouts. He favors extensions OF the
still uncompleted rapid transit subway
which would cost more than the original
tunnel. These are only a few Of the
projects to which he has lent his ap-
proval. He has also committed himself
to the increase OF payments to contrac-
tors, to cover the cost of the mystical
eight-hour day. 80 that the law of the
labor union and not Of supply and de-
mand shall hereafter determine the hours
and wages Of city contract employees.
Mayor Low has tried to overcome the
natural obstacles to his schemes by an
unparalleled increase in the real-estate
valuations. He il understood to favor
the pernicious legislation designed to
omit from the computation Of the debt
limit bonds issued for the purposes Of
revenue producing departments. So far
his policy has succeeded only in lowering
the price Of the city's bonds.