The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-19

New York, April 1S.--(SpeciaL )--The annual crime bill in New York Is rap- idly assuming such gigantic propor- tions that it will soon be equivalent to not only the interest on the national debt. but also to a substantial annual payment on the principal.
 Last year crime and its results cost Father Knickerbocker just $35.562.- 1s3,24. This sum. could 1t be devoted to the construction of new subways, for which the city is so vainiy clam bring. would build one of these under ground lines of travel every year. clean all the streets, pay the salaries of all the city officials and leave about 4.00o,- eoe in addition for the support of hos- pitfalls.
 Tn addition to this vast sum. s42,- eo6.473 was spent in the greater city for the detection. punishment and pre- vsntion of crime.
 Crime during the past year exacted also 9424,lS0 for the maintenance of the District Attorneys ofiice and e13,- 84s,S41 for the police department. Throughout the whole country more than 100000 inmates of almhouses. asy- lunns, reformatories and similar insti- tutions cost the country more than ss2.ooe 900 annually.
 Tn New York alone the proportion of the annual budget traceable to crime amounts to $7S.ss6.i00. Through other channels the totel probably exceeds $iss,eooo0o. so that this city has the record of having the highest crime tax fin the United States.
 Throughout the country the direct cost of crime is estimated at $70e, ,000.- 0oo. but New Yorks bill is far in ex- cess of that of any other city.
 New York is now to have the most expensive farm fin the world, valued at sl,o0o,eoo an acre. since Central Park. the exclusive Fifth Avenue play ground. is to be turned partially at least, into a vegetable garden. in which potato patches will play a prom lnent part. Carrots. cabbages, corn and peas will also figure among its products for the season.
 Indeed, it seems probable that dur ing the coming summer the express sion 'how's the crop?" will be one of the most popular queries in what has hitherto been the most expensive, and exclusive park in the world. This is not to be taken to mean. however, that Father Knickerbocker has gone tAto municipal farming. since he will have no vegetables to sell this summer. The crops In Central Park which will gladden the eyes of the rural visitor. will be merely indications of the man. ner in which the city is striving to re- plenish the soil. now weakened through many years of cultivation.
 As an alternative to the expenditure of s3 1000 900 for fertilizer, the city fa- thers have decided that 1t will be cheaper and more effective to start various crops in rotation.
 Just what disposition will be made of the vegetables raised in Central Park in not known. but as the land is valued at 31000,0 900 an acre, 1t is cer. tain that whoever obtains the product will have the output of the most val uable farm in the world.
 There is now predicted the striking possibility of a horseless and hyIess New York, and the spectacle may soon be presented here of real war in which the deaths will run into unnumbered billions, for the greatest city in the country is likely to begin a system atic attack on the common house fly.
 The movement will not be under taken for the relief of persons with less than the ordinary endowment of hair. It will assume a much more se- rious aspect for the city which has long regarded the fly as an annoyance has now been brought to the realiza- ton that 1t is a menace greater than an Invading army.
 A report just made at the instance of the Merchants Association reveals the surprising fact that the house fly in New York alone exacts a deadly toll of near 1000 human lives annually. As a spreader of disease the fly is now held to be far more dangerous than the mosquito. on whom scientific warfare is already being widely waged.
 The campaign for fly exterminatiOn if one Is undertaken. will be of neces- sity on a tremendous scale. While a fly census is out of the question. 1t is estimated that the city in summer contains more than 1000, ,000, 1000, of which, during the season. each female brings forth about 100000 eggs
 Furth hermore. the fly has powerful ally in the horse, of which there are now 120.0 .000 in Greater New York, ac- cording to figures presented in the May number of Appleton's In the whole country. there are at present 3,1l0.7e9 horses and mules. and 1t Is pointed out that wherever they are found, files flourish most numerously.
 In this city alone the annual expense caused by the presence of the horse on the streets ;s more than SIS, ,oo0, 900. Based upon the now proved fact that the fly goes with the horse. the Apple ton writer believes 1t will be neces- sary to banish the quadruped before the insect can be exteminated.
 If such proves to be the case, Fa- ther Knickerboclter will find himself with very good-sized job indeed on his hands.
 Memories of the old days of New