Year: 1870




In going over the different parts OF Man
haitian Island, the present limits Of New York
city proper, any one must be struck with tho
number of great improvements going on and
the rapid progress made In them. We mean
particularly public improvements, though the
hundreds of beautiful residences as well as hne
churches and extensive buildings for different
institutions under process Of construction
show, in = not less remarkable manner, how
rapidly New York Is becoming one Of the most
beautiful cities in the world. Whichever way
we turn, east or west, up or down town, We
see hundreds OF workmen employed, and hear
the sound Of the stonecutter's hammer every
where. Solid blocks Of superb houses spring
up as by magic in places where but few
months before we saw unsightly rocks or clue
ters Of wretched shanties. In every direction
are such evidences OF the vast and increasing
wealth Of the metropolis and its future great
ness. Here the wealth Of continent and
mighty nation Is concentrated Here the vast
network of nfty or sixty thousand miles of
railroads converges and radiates 70 connect
with the commerce TO and from all parts Of the
globe. Yet this Is only the begianing-onl
the dawn of the near future when Now York
will be the first city Of the world, as II is now
OF the American Continent


The commencement Of all the great public
improvements was our beautiful Central Park.
1t is, too, the nucleus Of nearly all On this
account, therefore, it was wise 70 place the
control Of the improvements ut the upper end
of the island under the Central Park Commis-
sioners. The work nov being prosecuted
vigorously on the Grand Boulevard, 81.
avenues and streets, as well as that on the
Central Boulevard, starting from One Hun
dred and Tenth street aud running In
straight line for twenty miles or SO into West
chester county, shows the determination OF
the men in power to use all their means to
improve the city. Thousands Of work,ne, arc
employed and at every turn we see hive Of
industry. The city authorities are performing
the promise they made. A few opposing party
politicians and narrow minded men may carp
at the expenditure and may talk Of The riches
which some of the men in power may make,
but they lose sight Of the advantage OF these
works to the city and OF The increase Of value
to property.


The city authorities are following the ex-
ample of Baron Haussnann in Paris in the
great works they have undertaken and are
carrying on so vigorously. But it is not fair
TO accuse them with pocketing the public
money, as he is reported to have done. In
fact, they could not do that. They are the SER
| wants of the people and not Of an imperial
despot They are accountable to the public
| and hold their Offices for short term only by
public favor. With us, too, everything is ex-
posed through the vigilance of the press and
people They may make money by speculate
| ing in real estate through the advantage they
possess Of knowing when and where improve
ments will be carried out or completed, but
that is different thing from deirauding the city
treasury. There are few men of any party
that would not do the same. Nor would we
make point of this if they fulfil their duty
faithfully in carrying on improvements aud in
the use of the public money. The taxes that may
be imposed for the payment of these works
will be bagatele compared to the benefit to
the city, to the increased value of real estate,
and to the wealth that will be poured into
New York as the consequence. Who COM
plains of the cost of the Central Park? This
large territory in the centre Of the island was
wilderness few years ago, and the property
all round it of comparatively little value.
Now see what has been done in raising the
value Of property, as well as in improving the
health, pleasures and taste of the people.


Go on, we say, then to the city authorities,
with the projected improvements and still
greater ones Make New York the admiration
of the world for that will bring trade, COM
merce, population, wealth, health and refne-
ment. The increased taxes will be insignf-
cant in comparison with the gains. There
remains much to be done. Our piers, wharves
and markets are in wretched condition and
are disgrace to this great commercial metro
polls. We want new and substantial system
of piers, wharves docks and bulkheads, like
that which General Viele submitted in the
columns Of the HERALD short time since, or
something similar. They should be extended
round the island as far as the requirements Of
the shipping 60, with provisions for railroads
in connection with them. Then we greatly
need substantial elevated railroads for loco :
motives from the lower to the upper end Of
the city, by which people could go to and from
their business in short time. The horse cars
are far too slow they are as much behind the
times and the necessities of the people as the
old omnibuses. And what is to hinder these
necessary and additional improvements? The
city can raise all the money it needs. A hun.
dred millions of dollars, or twice that sum
can be readily obtained in Europe. Such .
loan for New York at six per cent would bt