The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-25

Figures given out last week by the
Census Bureau nj Washington indicate
that the government OF New York city
costs almost twice as much per capita
as does the government of either chi
cago or Philadelphia. The per capita
governmental cost In New York. accord
ing to this report, Is si6.I9, whll" 'hl-
cago spends s26.+6 per person and phil
adelphia s26.3i OF New Works great
total, sl33s per capita, or Sb?,5o3,Vo"' Is
epent In permanent public improvements
and i'm this respect this city AGAIN I'aus
the larger cities OF the country
Comptroller Prcndergast In recent
statement said that s31."2 Of each slou
of taxpayers money Is needed I" pay OH
the city debt. which includes repay
rrent of borrowed money used III per
manent improvements. and interest
These figures are cited to show IN
general way what It is costing the pres
ent generation Of taxpayers to pulld
fasO 600 900 subway system n slo"'-
OOO. 900 state barge canal, ~ Whlrh Ne"
York city pays ~ per cent, OF the cost
a s1sl 600 600 water supply system ana
the hundreds Of minor Improvements
which the city Is making all the Time
In its fGht to maintain Us supfeh'iTE
among the cities OF the Western wor'd
up in its plans for -roat public improve
nents. but is still planning for the iu-
tire. developing lines on wnlcn "o!h
will be urdcyt AIKEN ~ soon ds lh' V''H
can afford iNc necessary money. Jus
now as everybody knows, New ro!h :
treasury is rather depleted, Moneys ar
propriated for SPECIFIC improvement
have reduced the surplus 10 COM
paratiVcly low point. ana with real -
last
are not rcccdng. the prospect OF UNDER
taking new works is rather remote.
When more money is available II VIII
be used nrst for improving the maroon
facilities and then for completing " COM
prehensiVe park system, with dpproP'f
ate connecting boulevards and Pathways
Several steps In the first OF these
improvements already have been TAKEN
The city has agreed to purchase con-
siderable section of waterfront along the
South Brooklyn shore and II Is no"
seeking powers through the Legislature
to develop that section properly with
a railroad, piers, bulkhead ana ware
houses which will give to the community
municipality owned district where al
wares can be handled easily ana the'piF
with saving in costs to consumers
Tho development Of the South HrooKlTn
waterfront is only first step in the
plan of harbor development and its cost,
estimated at 100000 600, is only ffac-
ton OF what the city ultimately VIII
expend IN this work for the beneht OF
all the people.
Going hand in hand with this better
ment, and really "A part of 1t, IS the plan
AZ yet quite undeveloped, OF establish
ing In various districts convenient to
railroads and shipping facilities I'M
mense city owned and operated markets.
under the direction OF a market depart
ment. bill to enable the city to form
such a department was introduced IN
the Legislature at this session but II
has not yet been passed and 1t may not
be although 1t was backed by a com
mittee appointed by the Mayor that
looked into the distribution Of foodstuifs
and decided that n market system was
necessary in this city. Though the bin
may fail at this session. II is not UNI
likely that another Legislature Will pa -
ii and New York Will then he enabled
10 go ahead on an improvement Of wide
reaching effect
Just now attention is being given by
the committee on city plan TO features
which must be considered In connection
with the growth OF the city and expan-
sion of population The committees
report of the work done during the last
year shows that despite the low state
Z city finances and It's inability &c
proceed with imp ovements at this time
planning has gone on Just the same and
~ncn the money Is forthcoming II will
i spent wisely IN making New York
(: more attractive city, In its report
me COMMITTEES states;
AS start toward obtaining the data
essential to an estimate Of future growth
and requirements, the staff of the Com
mittee on the city Plan T. now at wort
on three general lines OF Investigation ::
IL To SHOW the movement of popu
latlon data is being compiled from IN,
State and United States censuses Thi
data is chartci so as to show the move
mont OF population IN very small areas
thus rendering il possible to make in
tensive studies as TO the effect OF specin
improvements and changes upon the dis
tribution Of population
- Data and maps are being pre
pared to show for various periods tn
closely built M sections, the devotion
naent and change of commercial, indus
TRIAL and residential, districts and IN
total land area devoted TO industri,
-