The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-15
The Most Expensive City to
Live In.
DANGER OF CONFEDERATION
Growth OF New Worlds Most preco-
cious Municipal Child--Rcal Estate
Values Would Pay National Debt
and Run Government Eight Years.

NEW YORK, Feb. l4.-The most
precoeious municipal child the world
has ever seen--that is the title indu-
bitably conferred on Greater New
York on this her tenth birthday, since
the consolidation by which the great
er city was made a reality took place
just a decade ago in 1898. A compar-
ison Of the city then and now shows
an undreamed growth never before
approached in this or any other coun
try. Since 1893 the population has
increased 70 per cent until it now
stands at 100000 persons The
city's area has grown to S27 square
miles, the new metropolis being in
this respect twice as large as Chicago,
nearly three times the size OF Phil.
adelphia and ten times larger than
cities like Detroit and Baltimore,
But as great as il is this is the least
impressive feature OF Greater New
York's growth in the first decade OF
its existence. During the last ten
years have come practically all the
skyscrapers, great public buildings
like the new $s,oO0,000 Custom House,
and the new Astor library, the sub
ways, the tunnels and dozens OF great
hotels and theatres. Ten years ago
the assessed valuation OF taxable real
estate was $2,46o,OO00oo. Today it
has reached the total of S6,240 900, 900.
Sold at this valuation Father Kniek-
erbocker's real estate would bring
enough money to pay all the public
expenses OF the United States Gov
ernment for eight years. Or it would
pay the national debt and leave
enough over to purchase all the prop
erty in Maine, New Hampshire, Yer
mont, Massachusetts, and the District
OF Columbia. In the first decade oi
| its history Greater New YorRs
school children have increased 60 per
cent, now numbering more than two
thirds OF million and the item in the
city budget for school expenses has
increased from 100000 annually tc
/ $2l 100000. The police and fire for.
ces have increased about so per cent
and it is a significant fact that the
! Sl3,00000 which it costs the national
! government every year to run its
legislative branch would not pay for
this city's firemen and policemen
1t is interesting to note in this con
nestion that the city is no better OF
worse than it was in 1893, judged by
the number OF arrests. These fol
last year totalled l89,202, an increase
| Of 26 per cent over 1893. or exactly
the same ratio OF increase as showr
by the entire population. Ten year:
ago New York had one bridge ir
operation, valued at $2l,000,000, To
| day the value OF bridges erected since
then and in the course Of construc
ton is $S4,500,000 City improve
ments under way, planned, and con
tracted for, total about $l00,000,00t
exclusive Of the $l62,000000 to be ex
pended for the new water system
Big and large every dollars worth o
value in 1898 has grown to four dol
lars now. In all this the New YorkeI
finds much to fill him with pride
There is another side Of this amazing
growth, however, which he canno
view with complacency, and this i
the staggering increase in the ex
pense OF running the city. While th'
population has increased 70 per cen
in ten years the citys budget has in
creased 20o per cent, exceeding toda,
those OF London, Paris and Berlii
combined. As well as being the big
gest and the most precocious ant
one of the youngest cities in tht
country, Greater New York today i
also without doubt the most expen
sive to live in that the world has eve
seen.