32 THE BOROUGH OF THE BRONX 



lay dormant in the outlying districts are mapped out into tree-lined 

 streets and avenues. Thousands of cozy and attractive little homes, 

 which rent at low figures, are now occupied by men of moderate 

 means, whose wish it is to live in a quiet, select neighborhood 

 where the children may enjoy the blessings of pure air, good schools 

 and delightful parks and playgrounds. 



The forty miles of navigable water front are filled with pleas- 

 ure and merchant craft of all tonnage — a great boon to both the 

 manufacturer and the consumer, for they can receive and ship 

 their products, either crude or manufactured, by either rail or 

 water, with diminished cost of handling, and with increased profits 

 to both. Electricity has banished smoke from the city and the 

 great towers of the central town and college hall dazzle in the 

 sunlight. There is a constant flutter in the air of the aeroplanes 

 and airships carrying passengers and mail. All about us are 

 bewildering changes. Industry and transportation have been revo- 

 lutionized ; and progress, peace and contentment reign everywhere. 



Does not this vision of future development inspire enthusiasm, 

 devotion and patriotism in the citizen of the Borough of The 

 Bronx? 



That The Bronx has grown beyond all precedent, either in 

 this State or elsewhere, during the sixteen years since its con- 

 solidation, needs no further comment. Eleven years hence, it will 

 rank with the sixteen world cities having a population of a million 

 or over. 



Up to April 19, 1912, The Bronx was the only one of the five 

 boroughs comprising the City of New York that was not a separate 

 and distinct county. On that date an act was passed in the Legis- 

 lature creating the County of Bronx, subject to a referendum to 

 the voters of the Borough. The question "Shall the territory within 

 the Borough of The Bronx be erected into the County of Bronx?" 

 was accordingly submitted to the voters at the general election in 

 November, 1912, and a majority of the votes cast were in favor of 

 the creation of the county. 



The constitutionality of the act was questioned on the grounds 

 that the Legislature had no power to submit the question to the 

 voters, since New York State being a representative democracy, 

 the people of the State act thru their representatives in the Leg- 

 islature; and secondly, that the question should have been sub- 

 mitted to the voters of the entire County of New York, instead of 



