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NEW YORK COUNTY.
Tl.e city is divided into 22 Wards, which are again subdivided into 149 Election Districts, and
such other civil divisions as the election of State, city and co. officers, the administration of jus¬
tice, and the regulation of municipal ordinances require.1
TSie Hoard of Supervisors in New York co. is composed of 12 persons, who are so
classified that 2 are elected or appointed annually. A ballot can have but one name; and it is
the duty of the canvassers to declare that the two persons having the highest number of votes are
elected.2 Their general powers and duties—which chiefly concern taxes and assessment—are the
same as those of Supervisors in other cos.
TEae Legislative Power of the city government is vested in the Common Council, con¬
sisting of 2 co-ordinate branches,—a board of 17 Aldermen and*, board of 24 Councilmen.1 The
former are elected by single districts for 2. years, and the latter are elected annually, 6 to each
Senatorial district.1 Ordinances must be passed by both bodies the same year, and receive the
assent of the Mayor, to become valid.
The regular sessions of the Board of Councilmen commence at 5 o’clock p.m. on the first Mon¬
day in each month, and continue on each Monday and Tuesday until the business of the month
is concluded. Each house el’ects a presiding officer, clerk, and other officers; and the journals of
each are'published.
Tlie Executive Power is vested in a Mayor,2 elected for 2 years, and in 7 Executive De¬
partments, viz., those of Police, Finance, Streets, Croton Aqueduct, Almshouse, Law, and City
Inspector,—most of which are subdivided into bureaus, each having specific duties to perform.
The Mayor is charged with the general administration of the city, nominates for the approval of
the Aldermen certain officers, and may suspend or remove officers within limits fixed by statute.
He communicates annually and from time to time to the Common Council such messages as he
deems proper.
Xlie Police Department has general charge of police regulation in New York City,
Kings, Richmond, and Westchester cos. By act of April 15, 1857, it was placed* under the
Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police District,3 of whom the Mayors of New York and
Brooklyn are ex officio members.
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tought by Van Twiller in 1637, confiscated in 1661, and granted
to Thos. Delavel. The Wards bought it in 1806; and in Dec.
1847, a part was leased by the Commissioners of Emigration
for an Emigrant Refuge and Hospital. The Commissioners
have since purchased 106 acres; and a portion of the remainder
is used as a Potter’s Field. The cost of buildings and improve¬
ments up to 1858 was $260,000. The structures jerected before
1850 were slight barracks and shanties; but those built since
are chiefly of brick. The island is supplied with Croton water;
and a ferry connects it with 106th St.
Uandallg Island* named from Jonathan Randall, who
purchased it in 1784 and resided here nearly 50 years, lie3 n.
of Wards Island, near the Westchester shore. It was formerly
known as “Little Barn” Island. It was patented under the
Dutch Government, but was confiscated in 1664 and granted to
Thos. Delavel. It was subsequently named “Belleish,” “ Talbots
Island,” and “ Montressors Island.” The city purchased it in
1835 for $50,000. It is now occupied by nursery schools and by
the establishment of the Society for the Reformation of Juve¬
nile Delinquents. A ferry connects it with 122d St.
Sunken Meadow Island lies adjacent to Randalls
Island.
1 The city was divided Dec. 8,1683, into 6 wards, known as
South, East, North, West, Dock, and Out Wards. They were
designated by numbers, and a new ward was created by act of
Feb. 23,1791, to take effect Sept. 28,1792. Those subsequently
erected have been as follows:—
8th, 1803. 16th, 1836, from 12th.
9th, 1803. . 17th, 1837, “ 11th.
10th, 1808, from 7th. 18th, 1846, “ 16th.
11th, 1825. 19th, 1850, “ 12th.
12th, 1825. 20th, 1851, « 16th.
13th, 1827, “ 10th. 21st, 1853, “ 18th.
14th, 1827, “ 6th and 8th. 22d, 1853, “ 19th.
15th, 1832, « 9th. |
6. Within Broadway, Houston, Clinton, and Grand Sts.
7. S. by 5th, within Broadway, from 4th, through 14th St. to
Hudson River.
8. S. and e. by East River; w. and N. by Clinton and Houston
Sts. to East River.
9. S. by 7th, within 6th Avenue, from 14th St., through 26th St.
to Hudson River.
10. Within Broadway and 14th St., Avenue A, and Houston St.
11. S. by 9th, within 6th Avenue, from 26th St., through 40th to
Hudson River.
12. Within Houston St., Avenue A, 14th St. and East River, 22d
Ward.
13. 22d Ward.
14. Within 14th St., from East River, 6th Avenue, 26th St. and
East River,
15. S. by 14th, within 6th Avenue, from 26th St., through 40th
St. to East River.
16.19th Ward.
17.12th Ward.
i The election of city officers takes place annually on the first
Tuesday of Dec., and that of co. officers on the day of the general
State election, which is on the Tuesday after the first Monday
of Nov. The officers of the co. are the Recorder, City Judge,
and other Judges of the co. courts, District Attorney and his
assistants, Sheriff and his Deputies, Constables, Coroners, County
Clerk, Register, Treasurer, Assessors, Tax Commissioners, Re¬
ceiver of Taxes, Commissioner of Juries, Commissioners of
Deeds, and Supervisors.
The Recorder is presiding judge of the criminal courts and a
magistrate. Several of the co. officers are ex officio charged
with duties more properly belonging to the city government;
and the line of distinction between the two sets of officers is
not well defined.
3 The Mayor was originally appointed by the Governor and
Council, and from 1777 to 1822 by the Council of Appointment.
Since 1822 the Mayor has been elected.
a This District includes New York, Kings, Richmond, and
Westchester cos. The Governor and Senate appoint 3 com¬
missioners from the city of N. Y., 1 from Kings, and 1 from
Westchester or Richmond co. The city is divided into 11 Sur¬
gical Districts, each with 1 Surgeon;. and into 25 Police Pre¬
cincts, under a General and Deputy Superintendent. According
to the Council Manual for 1858, the Humber of employees in the
police was 1,004, of whom 11 were surgeons, 7 were attached
to the office of the Commissioners, 5 were employed in the office
of the General Department, 24 in that of the Deputy Superin¬
tendent, 21 as Detectives, 79 in attendance at public offices and
courts, 26 as harbor police, and 841 on police stations. The
number is at times largely increased, and is annually becoming
permanently greater, |
1
This arrangement is made so as to place the Board of Super¬
visors above the reach of party politics.
2
1. South of Chambers, Duane, Frankfort, Pearl, and Dover Sts.
3
2. S. by 1st, within Broadway, from Chambers, through Frank¬
fort, Baxter, Bayard, Bowery, Center, and Catharine Sts. to
East River.
3. S. by 1st, within Broadway, from Chambers, through Spring
St. to Hudson River.
4. S. by 2d, within Broadway, from Franklin, through Grand
and Clinton Sts. to East River.
b S by 3d, within Broadway, from Spring, through 4th and
Christopher Sts. to Hudson River.
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