This ended the struggle between the rival departments, so far as the annexation bill was concerned, and it became a law."' It provided for submitting the annexation question to the decision of the people of New York City and also of Westchester County at the next ensuing election, in November, 1873. Fortunately the momentous issue was determined by the people on its exact merits, no partisan influences being thrown against the annexation programme. The city gave 55,319 votes for annexation and S,380 against; the towns directly concerned-- Morrisania, West Farms, and Kingsbridge-- cast 4,230 affirmative and 109 negative votes, and in the remainder of Westchester County the result was 9,023 for and 2,G43 against. The formal annexation occurred on the 1st of January, 1871. The area added to the city was 12,317 acres. The population of the three annexed towns was in excess of 30,000, and the total assessed value of the property was about $23,000,000. In the words of the act, Morrisania, West Farms, and Kingsbridge were " annexed to, merged in, and made part of the City of New York, subject to the same laws, ordinances, regulations, obligations, and liabilities, and entitled to the same rights, privileges, franchises, and immunities, in every respect, and to the same extent, as if such territory had been included within said City of New York at the time of the grant and adoption of the first charter and organization thereof, and had so remained up to the passage of this act." Morrisania, West Farms, and Kingsbridge, as a portion of the metropolis, became popularly known as the " Annexed District;' a name which, though always rather distasteful to the residents, clung to the section until the adoption of the present official style of the Borough of the Bronx. The territory was organized into two city