612 



NEW YORK (CITY). 



stantial sums are appropriated annually from the pub- 

 lic treasury for the cleaning of the streets, but their 

 filthy condition is the cause of universal and well- 

 founded complaint. 



For many years this city has been compelled to pay 

 an unjust proportion of the expenses of the State Gov- 

 ernment. The State Board of Assessors has fixed the 

 valuation of taxable property within this city at a 

 sum almost equal to 45 per cent, of the entire Valua- 

 tion of the State, and the city is consequently com- 

 pelled to bear 45 per cent, of the entire State taxa- 



the harbor, telegraph lines were torn down, 

 for two days an almost total suspension of 

 business occurred, and for a week from the 

 beginning of the storm its effects were still 

 felt in the stagnation of business interests. 

 Articles of food became scarce, milk was not 

 to be had in the city, and condensed milk had 

 to be used by all. The price of all provisions 

 began to rise, notably that of meat and poultry. 



WEST ELEVENTH STREET, AFTER THE BLIZZARD. 



tion. The injustice of this distribution of the burden 

 of government between this and other counties is ap- 

 parent from the mere statement of it. Not with stand- 

 ing the unjust proportion of State taxation which is 

 imposed upon us, the city has no representation in the 

 Board of State Assessors. Were such representation 

 afforded it is probable that the injustice from which 

 we now suffer would be to some extent lessened, and 

 the burden of our taxation sensibly reduced. 



Notwithstanding the general demand for the burial 

 of electric wires and for die removal of the poles which 

 disfigure our streets, the nuisance remains unabated. 

 Laws have been enacted which were intended to afford 

 the city relief from this imposition, but either on ac- 

 count of imperfections in the law or remissness of 

 the officers charged with its execution, the poles and 

 wires continue to obstruct our thoroughfares. Ali the 

 provisions of the existing law should be invoked to 

 remedy this evil ; and, if they prove inadequate, wo 

 should ask the Legislature for additional powers. 



The Blizzard. A snow-storm of great sever- 

 ity, preceded by rain, visited New York city 

 and vicinity on March 11, 12, and 13. For 

 over forty-eight hours a very heavy northwest 

 wind prevailed and caused the snow to drift 

 in all directions. Railroad communication was 

 cut off, vessels were detained from reaching 



In the suburbs, wbere many business men re- 

 side, thousands were detained either in their 

 houses or on trains of cars. On all the roads 

 the morning trains of the 12th were stopped 

 by the storm, and in some cases two nights 

 were spent by passengers on board the trains. 

 The New Jersey railroads, and those run- 

 ning from the Grand Central Depot toward 

 the north and east, suffered greatly. Where 

 the trains were delayed at stations the capacity 

 of the neighboring country was taxed to its 

 utmost to provide food for the passengers. At 

 some places long lines of cars and engines, 

 representing ten or more separate trains, were 

 snow-bound. The suspension of mail facilities 

 was absolute for over forty-eight hours. 



The immediate effect of the storm was to 

 suspend all traffic on the surface street-roads. 

 The elevated roads, it would be supposed, 

 would be free from trouble ; but. owing to the 

 position of their rails, on each side of which 

 two heavy wooden guard-rails are bolted down, 

 they experienced much difficulty. The rain 

 coated the rails with ice, snow was deposited 



