The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-09
RACE OF The WORLD CITIES.
WIEN WILL NEW YORK SURPAss
LONDON IN STEP
G.uesses OF StatisticIans at the Growth OF
New Works. Population -Eanect Of the
Rapid Transit Problem Berlin Entered
ia the Race by q German Prophet.

Nv ia WV $50
surpass London?
It is merely n question Of time, Stats
ticians here agree. Almost any incident
having "A bearing on this important topic
is sure to stir up fresh discussion as 10 the
relative growth in population Of the two
leading municipalities of the world.
just now some Of the figure sharps are
getting ready 70 form a new system Of per-
centares on which 90 base their estimates
Of the future growth Of the population of
the city within its actual geographical
lines. The problem as it relates to what
the New York Telephone Company desig-
mates as the metropolitan district does not
bother them in the slightest degree, for the
statistics Of the past furnish ar almost
invaluable guide.
The centre of this district is the City Hall,
and il has a radius Of eighteen miles. In
the studies which the telephone company
Is making for the extension and enlarge
ment Of its plant the company must con-
slider this area as a whole and usually speaks
of IL as the Metropolitan District.
Besides the five horoughs, this Metro
politan District includes Newark, Jersey
City and many other cities and towns on
the west shore Of the Hudson River. These
towns are devendent largely for their exist
ence upon New York because a vast num-
Der of their inhabitants earn their daily
bread here, and therefore not only tele-
phonically but in many other ways these
towns are so closely associated with New
York that they must he taken account OF
in studying the New York problem.
But the thing that is worrying the stats
ticians who figure on the prospective pop
ulation Of the city itself is the size OF the
exodus from Manhattan that is likely to be
recorded when the new traffic facilities be-
tween New York and the New Jersey
shore are put into operation.
Some experts are of the opinion that the
movement will be the largest Of it's kind in
the history OF the city, and. of course, all
who now live in Manhattan and take up
their home in Jersey when the facilities for
travel back and forth arc made easy will
he lost forever for census purposes in this
city. although continuing TO get their living
here in New York.
Population in congested centres such as
this" said a Health Department expert,
NATURALLY follows the line ofleast resistance,
al least the intelligent portion Of il does.
As the lines of traffic grow more and more
crowded men and women, too. figure how
they can get to business and back home
during the rush hours in the easiest and
most comfortable manner
The wonderful progress that has been
made in the building of the huge twin tun
nels of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany and the tubes of the McAdoo COM
pany from Jersey City has led many people
who would like to move TO Brooklyn but
- 49,. L-o.. A. hr;I1o ,r,,ah 10 naaf
hopeful eyes on New Jersey. So rigor-
ously has the work been prosecuted that
already the companies controlling the
enterprises are in a position 20 set an early
and definite date for the opening Of the
tunnels under the North River.
"On the other hand the people see little
hope for relief to the east The Brooklyn
Bridge is now taxed TO its full capacity,
and it is as good as ones life 10 mix with
and ride in the jam.
Whatever terminal facilities are added
will do little to relieve the conditions in
rush hours, as the bridge itself cannot
begin TO accommodate the crowds. II
there were three times as many trains and
trolley cars as there are % in service on
It the crush would be practically as bad
as ever, although the rush hours would
naturally be shortened.
The Williamsburg Bridge in its present
condition, while not entirely useless. is
not beginning 10 do the work for which
il was designed, and the outlook is that
il will be years before il is properly con-
nected with the traffic centres of the city.
The building of the Manhattan Bridge,
which was designed to relieve the Brooklyn
Bridge, has also dragged along, and no
one expects that il will be opened for traffic
in this decade.
-The BlackwelI's Island Bridge is also
far from completion and little help can be
expected from it for years to come. Work
on the subway tubes to Brooklyn and the
Pennsylvania tunnels to Long Island has
been retarded in one way OF the other,
and the only really hopeful sign in that
direction, which should be the natural
outlet for the Overlooking population Of
Manhattan, is the tunnel that the Belmont
company il building to connect it's trolley
system in Queens with the Grand Central
Station. The enterprise has been pushed
with phenomenal speed, and it ought to be
an object lesson for those who are crying
for municipal construction as well as opera
ton of all transit subways.
We'll, then, what is the situation in re-
gard TO the prospective movement OF popu-
lation in the metropolitan district l be-
lieve that under the circumstances a large
number OF the present residents OF Man
haitian will move 10 New Jersey, and that
many more who are tired Of the strife OF
the bridge crush and who sec no signs of
relief for Brooklyn will follow them.
AT a recent meeting Of the Rapid Transit
Commission, when some Of the lie fading citi-
5ens Of Brooklyn we're begging the beard
TO give them the quickest and most feasible
forms of relief in the shape OF elevated
loops to connect the bridges, the e DR..
Hills said he spoke for a large number Of
young men who had moved from Man
haitian to Brooklyn in order that they might
have real homes. The period OF their
journeying back and forth, he said, grew
longer and longer as the congestion in
creased until now it has become a question
with them a. to whether they could con-
tinuo TO live in the borough any longer.
These people and many others, 1 fancy.
will seize the opportunity for rapid transit
TO New Jersey, thus reducing to ONE extent
the population of New York. What effect
tha axractad rush will haya ,pon he 1royvtb