The large adverse majority in Mount Vernon caused the advocates of the Greater New York programme to omit that city from their calculations; but notwithstanding a majority of one against consolidation in Westchester Town, there was no hesitation in preparing to annex the other three localities interested. The present City of New York, with its five Boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, Richmond, Brooklyn, and Queens, came into official existence on the 1st of January, 1898. In noticing the changed conditions which were brought to pass in the former Towns of Morrisania, West Farms, and Kingsbridge after their annexation to the city in 1874, it has been observed that for many years their progress was not what had been hoped for by the more sanguine promoters of the change. This comparatively unsatisfactory state of things was felt to be largely due to neglect of their local interests by the general city authorities. It finally became the firm conviction of the public spirited citizens of the " North Side " that the special concerns of their section ought to be under the care of a separate department of the city government organized and administered with exclusive reference to North Side circumstances and needs. In 1887 a movement was begun by property-

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owners' associations in behalf of such a reform, and in 1889 a bill was submitted to the legislature which provided for the creation of tk a department of street improvements of the 23d and 21th wards of the City of New York." This measure did not pass, but the State senate appointed a committee to make an investigation and report as to the necessity of the proposed department. The reasons in favor of the plan were ascertained to be so strong that in 1890 a law was enacted creating the new department, which was to be under the direction of a commissioner elected by the people of the two wards.