MESSAGE 
 
 EDWIN W. FISKE, Mayor 
 
 MOUNT VERNON, N. Y. 
 
 September 30, 1915 
 
lEx HtbrtB 
 
 SEYMOUR DURST 
 
 When you leave, please leave this hook 
 
 Because it has heen said 
 "Sver'thing comes t' him who waits 
 
 Except a loaned hook." 
 
 Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library 
 Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library 
 
KNOW 
 
 YOUR CITY 
 
 MESSAGE 
 EDWIN W. FISKE, Mayor 
 MOUNT VERNON, N. Y. 
 September 30, 1915 
 
i^--^c:^ DO YOU KNOW YOUR CITY? 
 
 DO YOU know what is being done to advance the moral, civic, 
 social, industrial, commercial and ph}'sical welfare of Mount 
 Vernon ? 
 
 Do you know what your public officials are doing to administer 
 the municipal affairs honestly, intelligently and efficiently? Do 
 you appreciate their difficulties and the many obstacles to be over- 
 come? Do you understand our present municipal needs? Are 
 your city improvements planned with any definite end in view, or 
 are they carried on in haphazard fashion? Don't you think, honest- 
 ly, away down in your heart, that you ought to have such know- 
 ledge in order to be fair in judging your public officials and the 
 progress that is being made? 
 
 Do you know what the city is doing for the protection of 
 your health and property and to increase your comfort? 
 
 Do you know what is being done to reduce the death rate 
 in Mount Vernon? What about infant mortality? Are we pre- 
 pared to fight an epidemic? Are we protected against plague? 
 
 Are there proper and sufficient public facilities for play? 
 
 How do our educational facilities compare with those of other 
 cities? 
 
 Are our housing conditions all that they should be? \\'hat 
 is being done to assure progressive improvement? 
 
 What is being done to make the city more beautiful and more 
 attractive to the home seeker? 
 
 Do you know what products are manufactured here? \Miat 
 do they represent in terms of capital, brains and labor? \Miat 
 industrial advantages have we, and how can they be increased? 
 
 What are the opportunites for the commercial expansion of 
 the city? Are the local merchants meeting the needs of the public? 
 What about transportation facilities? 
 
 How do the taxes compare with those of the other cities in 
 Westchester County on a per capita basis? \^'hat about the cost 
 of running the city government? 
 
 2 
 
Mount Vernon, N. Y., Sept. 30, 1915. 
 
 To the Honorable the Common Council, 
 City of Mount Vernon, N. Y. 
 
 Gentlemen : — 
 
 Knowing that you are all greatly interested in the growth and 
 development of our city, it gives me great pleasure to submit here- 
 with this message, which I consider contains much \'aluable in- 
 formation regarding the City of Alount Vernon. 
 
 The three cities of Alount Vernon, Yonkers and Xew Rochelle 
 form the most delightful and most accessible of all the suburbs 
 of the City of Xew York. They stand in a class by themselves, 
 and outdistance all competitors by their superior advantages. 
 
 How do these cities compare with each other? 
 
 Which one has the greatest advantages? 
 
 POPULATION AND AREA. 
 
 The City of ]\lount Vernon was created by an act of the 
 Legislature of the State of Xew York on the 22nd day of ]\Iarch, 
 1892. It is almost a square, being about two miles wide between 
 the Hutchinson River on the east, and the Bronx River on the 
 west, and about two miles long between Xew York City on the 
 south and the Village of Bronxville on the north. Its actual area 
 is 4.21 square miles. It has a population of 37,623 or 8,936 per 
 square mile. These figures compare with those of the cities of 
 Yonkers and Xew Rochelle as follows : 
 
 
 Area in 
 
 
 Population 
 
 
 Square 
 
 
 Per Square 
 
 
 Miles 
 
 Population 
 
 Mile 
 
 Alount Vernon 
 
 4.21 
 
 37,623 
 
 8,936 
 
 Yonkers 
 
 17.98 
 
 90,502 
 
 5,032 
 
 Xew Rochelle 
 
 10.57 
 
 31,754 
 
 3,004 
 
 Thus Mount Vernon has almost three times as many in- 
 habitants per square mile as Xew Rochelle, and more than one and 
 three-fourths times as many per square mile as Yonkers. 
 
 The population of ]\Iount \'ernon, 37,623 is greater than that 
 of any city in the nine states of \'ermont, Mississippi, Xevada, Xew 
 Mexico, Arizona, Xorth Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho and 
 Wyoming. 
 
 There is only one city in each of the following named eleven 
 states which has a population greater than that of Mount \^ernon, 
 to wit: Maine, Xew Hampshire, ^laryland, Louisiana, North 
 
 3 
 
Carolina, Delaware, Arkansas, Utah, Oregon, Oklahoma and 
 Montana. 
 
 There are only two cities in each of the following named six 
 states which have a population greater than that of Mount Vernon, 
 to wit : \\'est Virginia, Kentucky, Nebraska, Colorado, Florida 
 and South Carolina. 
 
 There are only three cities in each of the following named 
 five states, which have a population greater than that of Mount 
 Vernon, to wit: Minnesota, Rhode Island, Alabama, Washington 
 and Kansas. 
 
 There are only four cities in each of the following named six 
 states in which the population is greater than that of Mount 
 Vernon, to wit: Iowa, Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia 
 and Wisconsin. 
 
 Connecticut and Indiana each has only five such cities, Illinois 
 and Michigan, seven each, California and Ohio nine each, Texas 
 eight. New Jersey 12, New York 11, Pennsylvania 15 and 
 Massachusetts 17. 
 
 Forty-three of these cities have less than 50,000 inhabitants, 
 and at the rate Mount Vernon is growing, it will, in a very few 
 years, pass most of them. 
 
 Mount Vernon now ranks in population, as the one hundred 
 and seventy-fifth city in the United States. 
 
 In population per square mile, it stands the thirty-third. 
 
 The thirty-two cities which exceed Mount Vernon in popu- 
 lation per square mile are given in a table annexed hereto. 
 
 We are so apt to regard Mount Vernon simply as a suburb 
 of New York City, that we fail to realize how high it stands, in 
 comparision with the other cities of the United States, in popu- 
 lation and everything else. 
 
 HEALTH OF THE CITY. 
 
 One of the most important matters, perhaps the most im- 
 portant, in the selection of a home, is the healthfulness of the 
 locality. 
 
 In that respect the City of Mount Vernon excels every city 
 and county in the State of New York. 
 
 The population of the whole state, according to the last census 
 is 9, 773, (SI 7, and according to the records of the State Board of 
 Health, the whole number of deaths in the state, in 1914, was 
 144,427, making the death rate per 1,000 of inhabitants, 14.78. 
 
 Where Mount Vernon stands : 
 
 4 
 
DEATH RATES IN 1914. 
 
 Per 1,000 Inhabitants. 
 
 Deaths Per 
 Number of 1,000 Inhabi- 
 Popiilation Deaths tants 
 
 Mount Vernon 37,623 392 10.42 
 
 New Rochelle 31,754 362 11.40 
 
 Yonkers 90,502 1,094 12.09 
 
 Portchester 15,095 194 12.82 
 
 Ossining 12,987 187 14.42 
 
 White Plains 17,523 259 14.73 
 
 Peekskill 17,327 255 14.75 
 
 The death rates in the other cities of our state run from 11.8 
 per 1,000 in Tonawanda to 26.1, in Ogdensburg, as shown in the 
 table annexed hereto. 
 
 The death rate of the whole state is 41.8 per cent, greater than 
 it is in Mount Vernon; in New York City it is 41.6 per cent, 
 greater; in Yonkers, it is 16.6 per cent; and in New Rochelle, it 
 is 15.7 per cent. 
 
 A comparison with the boroughs of New York City is as 
 
 follows : 
 
 Deaths Per 
 
 Deaths in 1,000 of 
 
 Population 1914 Population 
 
 Manhattan 2,103,266 36,033 17.1 
 
 Brooklyn 1,803,191 25,009 13.8 
 
 Bronx 612,493 7,221 11.6 
 
 Queens 395,651 5,000 12.6 
 
 Richmond 91,943 1,540 16.7 
 
 5,006,544 74,803 14.76 
 
 Thus in the Borough of Manhattan, the Death Rate is 64 per 
 cent, greater than it is in Mount Vernon. 
 
 In the Borough of Brooklyn it is 32 per cent, greater. 
 In the Borough of Queens it is 21 per cent, greater. 
 In the Borough of Richmond it is 60 per cent, greater. 
 In the Borough of Bronx it is 11 per cent, greater. 
 This is a remarkable showing. 
 
 The most recent mortality statistics issued by the Census 
 Bureau of the United States are for the year 1913. According to 
 these statistics, there are only six cities in the United States with 
 a population of over 35,000 each, in which the death rate is less than 
 that of Mount Vernon. 
 
 These six cities are the following: 
 
 5 
 
Death Rate 
 Per 1,000 
 
 Seattle, Washington 8.37 
 
 Spokane, Washington 8.88 
 
 Flint, Michigan 9.31 
 
 Berkeley, California 9.43 
 
 Portland, Oregon 9.52 
 
 Tacoma, Washington 10.03 
 
 Mount \'ernon, Xew York 10.42 
 
 Five of these cities are on the Pacific Coast and one is in 
 Michigan. All the rest of the cities of the United States having a 
 population of more than 35,000 each have death rates greater than 
 that of ]\lount Vernon. 
 
 THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. 
 
 As President of the Board of Health, I have had abundant 
 opportunity to study plans of life and health saving, here and else- 
 where, and I believe we have today one of the best Health Depart- 
 ments of any city of the size of ]\Iount \'ernon, in this or any other 
 state. 
 
 Under the able direction of Dr. Charles Ouinn we have 
 made appreciable progress, as the following items of information 
 show : 
 
 Our death rate in 1913 was 13.4; in 1914 it was 10.42. 
 
 Our birth rate in 1913 was 24.8; in 1914 it was 25.7. 
 
 The deaths of children under one year of age in 1913 amounted 
 to 84; in 1914 to 74. 
 
 The Infant Welfare Station, in charge of Dr. \\'alter H. 
 McNeill, Jr., showed an attendance for the summer of 1915 of 112 
 babies as against a total on the roll last year of 35. The number 
 of visits, treatments and instructions given this year has been 569, 
 as against 199 last year. 
 
 Our two Sanitary Inspectors made 8,111 inspections in 1914. 
 
 Our Xurse made 1728 visits in 1914. 
 
 During the summer months an analysis of our water supply 
 is made every ten days; during the winter it is made once a month. 
 4'he milk supply is subjected to regular analyses. 
 
 The cost of the Health Department for 1914 to 1915 was 
 S12.345. For 1915 to 1916 savings have been effected by organi- 
 zation, which bring the cost down to $11,725. 
 
 CHARITY DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Our Charity Department, in 1914, issued relief orders to the 
 number of 3,374 and ordered 194 physician's prescriptions filled. 
 We sent 38 poor to the County House and 14 children to various 
 institutions. The total number of burials was 24. 
 
 6 
 
The cost of the Charit}- Department for the last fiscal year 
 amounted to $36,550.73. Of this we paid S7. 794. 71 for groceries 
 and coal supplied to the needy of ]\Iount \'ernon. W'e contributed 
 S14, 088.53 for the care of the poor at the County House. \A'e 
 gave Sl.OOO to the ]\lartha \A'ilson Home and S8,000 to the ^Mount 
 \'ernon Hospital. 
 
 The preservation of order and the enforcement of our laws and 
 ordinances is taken care of by our Police Department. The 
 administrative head is the Police Commissioner, appointed by the 
 [Mayor, who receives a salary of Sl.OOO per annum, out of which 
 he pays a secretary S500. Commissioner Connor has won for him- 
 self an enviable reputation for unquestioned fairness and square 
 dealing. 
 
 The Police Department consists of 51 men and officers, under 
 the command of Chief Foley, who has served the city with loyalty 
 and efficiency for many }"ears. AMten a patrolman is appointed, 
 after a competitive examination, he is placed on probation for three 
 months and receives S65 per month. After this probationary 
 period, his salary for the first year is $78.33 per month : for the 
 second year, $88.33 per month : for the third year. $98.33 per month ; 
 after that he is paid the maximum of $108.33. The toal salary 
 appropriation for the year amounts to $71,280. Two per cent, is 
 collected from every man's pay for the Pension Fund. 
 
 The Pension Fund amounts to about Fifty-four thousand dol- 
 lars. Three pensions, totaling $1,740, are being paid from it at 
 present. The income from Excise monies, the two per cent, collect- 
 ed from the patrolmen, gifts, etc., add to the Fund over and above 
 the three pensions paid each year, about $5,000 per annum. 
 
 In comparing the amount of police protection supplied in 
 ]vIount \'ernon, Yonkers and Xew Rochelle, it should be borne in 
 mind that the Police Departments of these three cities compare 
 favorablv with the best in the State : 
 
 Four of the policemen in [Mount \'ernon are motorcyclists and 
 five are bicyclists. The former are employed largely in regulating 
 the speed of automobiles : the latter have taken the place of the 
 mounted police and have proved less expensive and more efficient. 
 
 Our Police Department is justly proud of its new Police Head- 
 quarters. It is one of the most complete, up-to-date, beautiful 
 structures for such a purpose in the United States. 
 
 POLICE DEPARTMENT, 
 
 [Mount 
 A'ernon 
 
 Xumber per thousand of population 1.43 
 
 Xumber of policemen and other employees. 51 
 
 Xew 
 
 Rochelle Yonkers 
 
 1.16 2.24 
 
 37 205 
 
 / 
 
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 I cannot speak too highly of our Fire Department. Like our 
 Health Department and our Public Library, it excels in its useful- 
 ness everything- of its kind in the State. 
 
 The National Board of Fire Underwriters, in its official report 
 issued on I\Iay 27, \9\S, shows the fire loss per capita of population 
 for the year 1914. in every city of the State of New York having 
 more than 20,000 inhabitants. Mount Vernon heads the list as 
 having had the smallest per capita loss of any of these cities. Its 
 hre loss ])er capita of population in 1914 compares with those in 
 the other cities of the .^tate of New York as follows: 
 
 Fire Loss 
 Per Capita 
 
 1. Mount W'rnon $ .59 
 
 2. Yonkers 1.49 
 
 3. New Rochelle 1.75 
 
 4. New York 1.44 
 
 Manhattan and Bronx Borough 1.61 
 
 Brooklyn and (Jueens 1.21 
 
 5. (doversville 12.29 
 
 (). Binghamton 6.24 
 
 7. Albany 5.46 
 
 S. Cdens Falls 4.56 
 
 9. (3swego 4.31 
 
 10. Flmira 3.75 
 
 11. Troy 3.65 
 
 12. Bultalo 2.54 
 
 13. Kingston 2.50 
 
 14. Jamestown 2.49 
 
 15. Amsterdam 2.19 
 
 ](). Rome 2.16 
 
 17. Watertown 2.13 
 
 18. Auburn 2.05 
 
 19. Syracuse 1.85 
 
 20. Cohoes 1.59 
 
 21. Schenectady 1.50 
 
 22. Utica 1.47 
 
 23. Poughkeepsie 1.38 
 
 24. ]>^ochester 1.23 
 
 25. Newburgh 61 
 
 A low rate or a high rate, for a given year, may ha\e been 
 due to exceptional circumstances: but Mount \'ernon has had, 
 for man\- \ ears, \ cry nearly the lowest rate. 
 
 8 
 
This is shown by the following table: 
 
 Loss Standing in 
 Per Capita State 
 
 Ten years 1900 to 1909 inclusive 1.37 4 
 
 1910 ' 80 4 
 
 1911 83 3 
 
 1912 96 4 
 
 1913 1.29 4 
 
 1914 59 1 
 
 Thus, in fifteen years, Blount \'ernon was first in 1914. second 
 in 1908. third in 1911, fourth in 1910, 1912 and 1913. and on the 
 average, from 1900 to 1909 inclusive. 
 
 The figures for 1914 were made before the census of 1915 was 
 taken. Based on the latter, the comparison between Blount 
 \'ernon. Xew Rochelle and Yonkers is as follows: 
 
 
 Year 1914. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Loss Per 
 
 
 Population 
 
 Total Loss 
 
 
 Capita 
 
 Mount Vernon 
 
 37,623 
 
 $22,052 
 
 
 $ .58 
 
 New Rochelle 
 
 31,754 
 
 61,268 
 
 
 1.74 
 
 Yonkers 
 
 90.502 
 
 138,916 
 
 
 1.53 
 
 The \-alue of the property invoh-ed in th 
 
 e fires in ^NTount W^rnon 
 
 was $1,030,144. Hence 
 
 loss was near]}' 1 
 
 1-3 cents 
 
 out 
 
 of every 
 
 dollar. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Yonkers. 
 
 
 
 
 Loss 
 
 Loss 
 
 
 Loss 
 
 
 Per 
 
 Per 
 
 
 Per 
 
 Standing 
 
 Capita Standing 
 
 Capita St; 
 
 inding Capita 
 
 1900 to 1910 inc.. .4 
 
 $1.37 6 
 
 $1.58 
 
 
 S1.44 
 
 1911 3 
 
 .83 6 
 
 1.09 
 
 14 
 
 1.73 
 
 1912 4 
 
 .96 11 
 
 1.47 
 
 22 
 
 3.38 
 
 1913 4 
 
 1.29 24 
 
 8.69 
 
 14 
 
 2.49 
 
 1914 1 
 
 .58 6 
 
 1.74 
 
 8 
 
 1.53 
 
 During the past five years, 1910 to 1914 inclusne. the total 
 losses by fire in Blount \'ernon, Xew Rochelle and Yonkers have 
 been as follows : 
 
 1910 to 1914 Inclusive, Total Losses by Fire. 
 
 Mount W^rnon 8153,672 
 
 Xew Rochelle 447,498 
 
 Yonkers 912,955 
 
 The people should bear in mind that the cost of a city go\ ern- 
 ment should not be measured b}' the taxes only, but b}- the losses 
 
 9 
 
of property by fire and burglaries, and the losses of life by violence 
 and disease. 
 
 Our losses by fire have averaged less than $31,000 a year for 
 the past five years, while those of Xew Rochelle have averaged 
 iibout S90,000. and those of Yonkers about $182,000. 
 
 Xo other city in the State of Xew York can equal the record 
 of Mount \'ernon in this respect. Of such a magnificant showing 
 the citizens of ]\Iount \'ernon have good reasons to be very proud. 
 
 To Fire Commissioner Clarence L. Rowland and the Chief 
 Engineers and the officers and firemen under them, I extend my 
 congratulations, and express the high regard in which the Fire 
 Department of the City of ]\lount \'ernon is held by the people 
 it so faithfully serves. 
 
 To this special commendation I must add a word of appreci- 
 ation for the citizens of Blount \'ernon themselves to whom no 
 small share of credit is due, because of the intelligent manner in 
 which they care for their homes and places of business. 
 
 The Pension Fund for the paid firemen of the Mount \'ernon 
 Fire Department was started October 1, 1914, and amounts at the 
 present time to the sum of $2,046.60. Two per cent, is collected 
 from every paid man's pay for the Pension Fund. 
 
 As regards cost of maintenance, the Fire Departments of 
 Blount Vernon, X'ew Rochelle and Yonkers compare as follows : 
 
 Cost Per 
 Total Cost Capita 
 
 Mount Vernon $ 44,000 $1.17 
 
 Xew Rochelle 37,433 1.18 
 
 Yonkers 184,458 2.01 
 
 The Fire Department of Mount \'ernon is made up as follows: 
 One Chief, two Deputies and one Superintendent of the 
 
 Alarm System 4 
 
 Paid Firemen, who act as Engineers, Chaufl:eurs, Drivers, 
 Tillermen, Linemen, Chemical Attendants, Trans- 
 mitters and Inspectors for Theatres and Special Hazards. . 25 
 \'olunteer Firemen 400 
 
 429 
 
 Single Fire Houses 5 
 
 Double Fire Houses 2 
 
 Chief's Automobile 1 
 
 Engines, Trucks and Tenders (of these six are autos ) 15 
 
 Horses 1^ 
 
 10 
 
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. 
 
 1. Streets, Avenues and Roads. 
 
 This Department also makes a splendid showing. Commis- 
 sioner George J. Harlow, appointed by the flavor, is giving the 
 city honest service, and the people are getting full value for the 
 money paid out for improvements. 
 
 Blount \'ernon has 88 miles of streets, avenues and roads, 
 all but twenty miles of which are paved and kept in an excellent 
 state of repair. 
 
 Eight Thousand Dollars a year is spent for oiling our streets, 
 and constant and careful inspection is made to prevent deterior- 
 ation by prompt repair. 
 
 AMth 160 miles of cement or flag sidewalks, with almost as 
 many miles of curb and gutter, and with thousands of beautiful 
 shade trees, the highways of Mount \'ernon are among the finest 
 in the State. 
 
 How the streets of Alount \'ernon compare with those of Xew 
 Rochelle and Yonkers is shown in the following table : 
 
 
 Blount 
 
 Xew 
 
 
 
 Vernon 
 
 Rochelle 
 
 Yonkers 
 
 Total Area of Citv in Square ]\Iiles , 
 
 421 
 
 10.57 
 
 17.98 
 
 Total ]\Iiles of Roads 
 
 88.0 
 
 95.00 
 
 147.00 
 
 Miles of Roads per Square ^^lile 
 
 
 
 
 
 20.0 
 
 8.99 
 
 8.12 
 
 Miles of Sewers 
 
 71.0 
 
 60.00 
 
 58.00 
 
 Thus per square mile of area, Alount \'ernon has 2^4 times 
 as many public highways as Xew Rochelle, and 2^2 times as many 
 as Yonkers. 
 
 2. Sewerage System 
 
 In sewers also Blount \'ernon is far ahead of Xew Rochelle 
 and Yonkers both in the total number of miles and per square mile 
 of area. !Mount \'ernon has 16.1 miles of sewers, Xew Rochelle 
 6.58 miles and Yonkers 3.23 miles, per square mile of area. 
 
 Mount \'ernon has 5 miles of sewers for every one in Yonkers 
 per square mile of area, and almost 3 miles of sewers for every one 
 in Xew Rochelle. 
 
 The Sewage Disposal Plant in ]\lount \'ernon is one of the 
 very best in the country. 
 
 11 
 
3. Lighting System. 
 
 In street lii^hting, Mount Vernon, New Roehelle and Yonkers 
 compare as follows: 
 
 ^^o:lnt New 
 Vernon Roehelle ^'onkers 
 
 Gas Lights L200 1,000 3,600 
 
 Electric Lights 900 960 1,332 
 
 Total 2,100 1,960 4,932 
 
 Per Square I\Iile of Area 477 186 274 
 
 Per Mile of Road 24 20 30 
 
 Based on the number of square miles of area. Mount Vernon 
 has over 2^^ times as man}- street lights as New Roehelle and 1^ 
 times as many as Yonkers. 
 
 During the past year Mount Vernon, New Roehelle and Yon- 
 kers have established a splendid system of electric lights, known 
 as the White Ways, on some of their principal business streets 
 and avenues. The result is highly satisfactory. Of these lights 
 Mount Vernon has 708, New Roehelle 212 and Yonkers 960. 
 
 SHADE TREE COMMISSION. 
 
 The first steps toward municipal control of the shade trees of 
 Mount Vernon were taken by the Westchester Woman's Club and 
 resulted in the appointment by the ]\Iayor of a committee to in- 
 vestigate shade tree conditions in Mount Vernon and other cities 
 and suggest the line of action to be followed. After detailed 
 consideration of the matter, this committee made two recom- 
 mendations, namely, that a permanent shade tree commission be 
 established, and that a city forester be appointed. 
 
 Pursuant to these recommendations, on April 6, 1915, an 
 ordinance Vv^as passed by the Common Council, providing for the 
 appointment of a shade tree commission and for the protection and 
 control of trees and shrubs on all public highways and parks. Mr. 
 Charles W. Sinnott, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Willcox and Mr. John R. 
 Rockart were then appointed by the Mayor to serve on this Com- 
 mission. The Commission took immediate steps, in accordance 
 with the above ordinance, to hold an examination and appoint a 
 city forester, and by the middle of July of the current year the 
 city forester had been sworn in and acti\ e work was commenced. 
 
 Mount Vernon is particularly fortunate in having such a great 
 number of beautiful shade trees. With proper care, their length 
 of life will be materially increased. In order to offset the number 
 of trees vrhich die annually it will be necessary to set out several 
 hundred \ oung trees each year, and this planting, which has here- 
 tofore received but little attention, will now be done in a systematic 
 
 12 
 
manner, and only those species which are particularly well adapted 
 to our local conditions will be used, thus insuring a maximum 
 length of life at a minimum cost to the city. 
 
 The greatest need which requires attention all over the cit}^ 
 is trimming the trees for head-room, both over the sidewalk and 
 the roadways. Dead wood in the trees will be cleaned out as fast 
 as conditions permit. Next spring active work will be commenced 
 fighting the insects which, very fortunately, have been somewhat 
 held in check this season by weather conditions unfavorable to 
 their development. 
 
 The shade trees are a most valuable asset of the city and too 
 much importance cannot be laid on proper foresight in the select- 
 ing and planting of young trees as well as the care and treatment 
 of the old ones. 
 
 PARKS AND PARKWAYS. 
 
 Mount Vernon has within its borders about 60 acres in parks, 
 playgrounds and parkways, and in the immediate vicinity there 
 are over 3,000 acres of parklands. 
 
 It has 44 acres in the Bronx Valley Parkway, which extends 
 along its entire western boundary. It has 6 acres in Hartley Park, 
 and 8 acres in the High School playgrounds and athletic field. 
 
 On the west side of the Bronx River, Yonkers has 264 acres 
 of the Bronx Valley Parkway, all of which are accessible to the 
 people of Mount Vernon. 
 
 This Parkway extends for fifteen miles, two to the south to 
 Bronx Park, with its 684 acres, and twelve miles to the north to 
 Lake Kensico Park with its 4,000 acres. 
 
 In Bronx Park are the Botanical and Zoological Gardens, the 
 finest in the world. 
 
 To the southeast of Mount Vernon, and adjoining it, is Pelham 
 Bay Park, with its 1,762 acres and twelve miles of water front. 
 There is not another park in the world with such a water front, and 
 very few of a greater area. The bathing, boating and fishing- 
 facilities of this great park are open to the people of Mount Vernon. 
 The same is true of the golf links, tennis courts, baseball grounds 
 and the like of Pelham Bay Park and Van Courtlandt Park. 
 
 Not only is Mount Vernon surrounded by parks, but a large 
 part of the city is made up of residential parks. Nearly one half 
 of the area of Mount Vernon is restricted to residential purposes. 
 The result is that each of these restricted areas is a beautiful park. 
 Among these are Chester Hill, Villa Park, Primrose Park, Dar- 
 wood, Oakwood, Lincoln Manor, Chester Heights, Corcoran Manor, 
 Langdon Terrace, Oakley Manor, Vernon Heights, Chester Hill 
 
 13 
 
Park, Aubyn Manor and others. Many of the residential streets 
 in the former villages of Mount Vernon, Central Mount Vernon, 
 West Mount Vernon and East Mount Vernon are equally beautiful, 
 with fine macadamized roads, lined with thousands of splendid 
 shade trees and flanked with well-kept law^ns. 
 
 THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. 
 
 The following is a comparison of the new buildings, additions 
 and alterations made in the year 1914: 
 
 
 Mount 
 
 
 New 
 
 
 Vernon 
 
 Yonkers 
 
 Rochelle 
 
 New Buildings 
 
 156 
 
 299 
 
 151 
 
 Additions and Alterations 
 
 172 
 
 89 
 
 100 
 
 Totals 
 
 328 
 
 388 
 
 251 
 
 Value of same , 
 
 $766,472 
 
 $1,401,500 
 
 $617,673 
 
 Value per square mile 
 
 174,199 
 
 77,948 
 
 58,436 
 
 Thus the amount expended per square mile in 1914 was three 
 times as much in Mount Vernon as in New Rochelle, and 2% times 
 as much as in Yonkers. 
 
 For the past ten years (1905 to 1914 inclusive) the number of 
 new buildings erected in the City of Mount Vernon was 2,199 and 
 the number of alterations and additions w^as 1,636, making a total 
 of 3,835, the value of which was $15,250,373 an average of $1,525, 
 037.30 a year. 
 
 During the first six months of this year (1915) there has been 
 a marked increase over 1914 in the building of houses in Mount 
 \'ernon. During the past six months plans have been filed with 
 the Building Inspector for 135 new buildings and 113 alterations 
 and additions, making a total of 248 against 328 for the whole 
 of 1914. 
 
 The value of the new" buildings, alterations and additions dur- 
 ing the first six months of 1915 is $532,121 against $766,472 for 
 the whole of 1914. 
 
 It is impossible to make a comparison of the building activities 
 in Mount Vernon with those of New Rochelle and Yonkers for 
 the past ten years, as the records in the office of the Building In- 
 spector in Yonkers run back for only five years, and in New 
 Rochelle for only three, while those in Mount Vernon run back for 
 eight years. 
 
 Nevertheless the figures are interesting and instructive as far 
 as they go, and compare as follow^s : 
 
 14 
 
Mount Vernon. 
 
 Xew Buildings Cost of Cost Per 
 
 and Additions Same Square Mile 
 
 1914 328 S 766,472 S 182.059 
 
 1913 389 1.042,705 247.673 
 
 1912 384 1,661,565 394.671 
 
 1,101 S 3.470.742 S 824,404 
 
 1911 435 1.434,476 340,730 
 
 1910 447 1.710.721 406,275 
 
 1,983 S 6.843.151 $ 1.625.451 
 Yonkers. 
 
 1914 388 S 1.401.500 S 77.948 
 
 1913 659 4.262.800 236.822 
 
 1912 538 3.757.600 208,755 
 
 1911 545 2,920,600 162,255 
 
 1910 721 3,571,805 198,433 
 
 2,463 $15,914,305 $ 885,111 
 
 New Rochelle. 
 
 1914 251 S 617,673 S 58,436 
 
 1913 247 861.128 82.012 
 
 1912 250 1.197,698 114.066 
 
 748 S 2.676.499 S 253.216 
 
 Thus, in the five years last past. Mount W'rnon put up. altered 
 or added to. 1.983 buildings, at a cost of S6.843.151. 
 
 Yonkers, in the same period, put up. altered or added to. 2,463 
 buildings, at a cost of 815.914,305. 
 
 As Yonkers has 17.98 scjuare miles, and Blount \'ernon only 
 4.21 square miles, it is not just, in comparing the two cities, to take 
 the foregoing totals. On the contrary, the comparison should be 
 made per square mile. On that basis the comparison for the past 
 five years stands thus : 
 
 Per Square Mile of Area. 
 
 }^Iount \>rnon Yonkers 
 
 Xew Buildings, Additions, etc 450.7 137.0 
 
 Value of Same 81,555.262 $885,111 
 
 For the past three years Xew Rochelle compares with ]\lount 
 \'ernon per square mile as follows : 
 
 }^Iount A'ernon Xew Rochelle 
 
 Xew Buildings, Additions, etc 250.0 70.8 
 
 Value of Same $ 78S,80S $253,216 
 
 Hence, per square mile Mount \'ernon has, in the past five 
 years, spent almost twice as much on buildings as Yonkers, and 
 in the past three years, over three times as much as Xew Rochelle. 
 
 15 
 
RAILWAY FACILITIES. 
 
 The upper seetion of the Subway Extension on W hite Plains 
 Avenue is built. It runs from 241st Street to Burke Avenue in 
 Williamsbridge, about 1,000 feet south of 210th Street or Gun Hill 
 Road, which is the main avenue running east and west, in that 
 part of the Borough of the Bronx. 
 
 This section of the Subway connects at Burke Avenue, with 
 the other section which is to run to 177th Street, and there connect 
 with the Subwa}' which is now running from the Battery and Flat- 
 bush Avenue in Brooklyn to Bronx Park. Less than half a mile 
 of this extension is not yet built, but the work is progressing 
 rapidly, and the whole line will be in operation in a few months. 
 
 All the trolle}' lines in Mount Vernon will run to the 241st 
 Street terminal, so that one will be able to travel from any part 
 of our city to the Batter}^ or to Flatbush Avenue, in Brooklyn, 
 for ten cents. 
 
 There will be only one station for the express trains between 
 241st Street and the existing terminus of the Subway at 177th 
 Street. That will be at Williamsbridge. We shall make as good 
 time between Mount Vernon and 177th Street as we now^ make on 
 the New Haven Railroad, and what we shall lose in time at the 
 stops between 177th Street and 42nd Street w^ill be no greater 
 than the time we now lose in getting ofif a train, then w^alking 
 through the Grand Central Terminal and then getting on a Sub- 
 ^vay train. 
 
 WT' now have 336 trains a day between Mount W^rnon and 
 Xew York City. Of these 55 are on the Xew Haven Road, 74 on 
 the Harlem, and 207 on the W^estchester. 
 
 In the mornings from 7 to 9 o'clock the trains to Xew York 
 on the X'^ew Haven Road run at intervals from six to twenty-two 
 minutes, and on the Harlem Road, from four to twenty-four 
 minutes. 
 
 On the \\^estchester Road the trains run regularly for 18 hours 
 in the day at intervals of twenty minutes from 6 A. M. until mid- 
 night, with an all night service from midnight until 6 A. M. at 
 intervals of less than an hour. 
 
 Although the road has been in operation only three years and 
 is only twenty-two miles long, it is carrying more suburban pas- 
 sengers than either the X^ew Haven, the Harlem or the Hudson 
 River Division of the X'ew York Central. 
 
 It is suffering at present from the lack of a close connection 
 with the Subway at 180th Street. This it will have in a few months, 
 
 16 
 
as the two roads will be less than a hundred feet apart at ISOtli 
 Street, as soon as the Subway extension to 241st Street is built. 
 
 It takes only nine minutes to go by an express train from the 
 East Third Street Station to 180th Street, and it takes only 44 
 minutes to go from that point to the Battery by a Subway express. 
 
 Thus allowing five minutes for the transfer at 180th Street, 
 it will take less than an hour to go from the East Third Street 
 Station to the Battery, every twenty minutes in the day. for a 
 single fare of fifteen cents. 
 
 When the Subway Extension on A\ hite Plains Avenue will 
 be in operation — only a few months hence — it will take only 53 
 minutes to ride from 241st Street to the Battery, every ten minutes 
 in the day for a fare of five cents. 
 
 The new double-decked, four track bridge over the Harlem 
 River for the Second and Third Avenue Elevated Railroads has 
 just been completed, and the third tracking of these roads for 
 express trains is almost finished. 
 
 The Second Avenue Elevated Railroad trains now run only to 
 129th Street. They do not cross the Harlem River. \'ery soon 
 they will cross the river, and run up to 200th Street and \A'ebster 
 Avenue. The Elevated Railroad will soon be extended up \\'ebster 
 Avenue from 200th to 210th Street and thence easterly along 210th 
 Street to the Subway Extens"on on \A'hite Plains Avenue. Thence 
 the elevated railway trains will run up \Miite Plains Avenue to 
 241st Street on the structure already built. At that terminal we 
 shall, in a very few months, have the privilege of going to the 
 Battery for five cents, every five minutes in the day on the Sub- 
 way trains or the Elevated Railroad trains. The express trains 
 on the Second and Third Avenue Elevated Railroads will make as 
 good time as the Subway trains and better time than is now niade 
 by the local trains on the Harlem Railroad. 
 
 In less than eighteen months, the Lexington Avenue Subwa}' 
 will be in operation, and will connect with the \\ estchester Rail- 
 road at Hunt's Point. This will be the most direct line into and 
 through Xew York City and the running time from the East Third 
 Street Station in ]\lount W^rnon to the Battery will be less than 
 forty minutes. 
 
 The Interborough Railway Company has purchased the Cran- 
 ford Property in the northern part of the Borough of the Bronx 
 and adjoining Blount \'ernon for the storage of its cars. 
 
 Some time ago plans were prepared for a Grand Central Termi- 
 nal at 149th Street and Fourth Avenue for the Xew York Central. 
 
 It is probable that these plans will be taken up before long and 
 the station built. 
 
 17 
 
The Subway passes under the traeks of the Harlem Road at 
 140th Street and are very near the surface. 
 
 W lien this new station will have been built, a direct connec- 
 tion will be made at 149th Street so that those passengers who 
 wish to take the Subway at that point can do so. From 149th 
 Street to Mount W-rnon is about five miles and the single fare 
 would be ten cents or less. 
 
 We now^ have eight stations on the three trunk lines running 
 through our city, and we shall have another very soon at Grand 
 Street on the Harlem Road. 
 
 \\^ith all the other advantages our city possesses, its pros- 
 pects in the near future are magnificent. 
 
 44ie railroad facilities of Mount Vernon arc greater today, than 
 those of any other city in the United States having a population 
 of less than 250,000. 
 
 In addition to the three trunk lines, the two Subway Roads 
 and the tw^o Elevated Roads I have referred to, there are ten trolley 
 lines in Mount Vernon, three of which run to New York City and 
 connect with the Subway or Elevated Railroad. 
 
 One of these ten lines runs to White Plains, another to New 
 Rochclle, another to Tuckahoe, two to Pelham, and another to 
 Yonkers. 
 
 These ten lines carry millions of passengers a year and are the 
 means of enabling hundreds of thousands of people to realize what 
 a beautiful city of homes Mount Vernon is. 
 
 In a few months, the Harlem Railroad will run over its new 
 road bed in West Alount Vernon and thus tw^o dangerous grade 
 crossings wall be removed. Passengers on the Yonkers trolley 
 line will then go from the heart of Mount Vernon to the Hudson 
 River in Yonkers without a change of cars. This line is now 
 being double tracked. When that is done, the running time will 
 be shortened by several minutes. 
 
 The New York Central is about to give out a contract for 
 building a new station at West Mount Vernon which is to cost 
 $150,000, and it will soon begin the building of a new station at 
 Grand Street. 
 
 At this point a beautiful concrete bridge is to be erected im- 
 mediately over the Bronx River and the Bronx Parkway. It will 
 in the near future become one of the most important highways 
 between Mount Vernon and Yonkers. 
 
 In this connection the beautiful bridge over the Bronx River 
 at the terminus of Mount Vernon Avenue should be mentioned. 
 It is one of the ornamental structures of the City. 
 
 18 
 
EDUCATION. 
 
 Every one seeking' a home is \ ital]}' interested in the educa- 
 tional facilities which are furnished. 
 
 In this respect the City of Mount W'rnon makes a splendid 
 showing". 
 
 There are twenty-five cities in the State of New York, each 
 of which has a population of more than 20,000. Mount Vernon is 
 the twelfth on the list, with a popuhition of 37,623. 
 
 Of this population, there is an average daily attendance in 
 our public schools of 6,348 or 1,648 out of every 10,000 inhabitants. 
 
 In this regard Mount Vernon outranks every city in the State, 
 having- a population of more than 20,000. New Rochellc is a close 
 second, Yonkers is fifth and New York City is eleventh. 
 
 The following table shows the standing" of each city therein : 
 
 Average Attendance and Population in 1914 in Cities of More Than 
 
 20,000 Inhabitants. 
 
 
 
 
 Average 
 
 Ditto 1 er 
 
 
 
 
 Daily 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 
 Population 
 
 Attendance 
 
 Inhabitants 
 
 1. 
 
 Mount Vernon 
 
 37,623 
 
 6,348 
 
 1,687 
 
 2. 
 
 New Rochelle .... 
 
 31,754 
 
 5,113 
 
 1,610 
 
 3. 
 
 Watertown 
 
 26,909 
 
 4,189 
 
 1,556 
 
 4. 
 
 
 37,839 
 
 5,043 
 
 1,333 
 
 5. 
 
 Yonkers 
 
 90,502 
 
 12,021 
 
 1 ,327 
 
 6. 
 
 Newburgh 
 
 27,645 
 
 3,660 
 
 1 ,324 
 
 7. 
 
 Schenectady 
 
 80,384 
 
 10,217 
 
 1,271 
 
 8. 
 
 Gloversville 
 
 21,177 
 
 2,663 
 
 1,257 
 
 9. 
 
 Kingston 
 
 20,546 
 
 3,299 
 
 1,243 
 
 10. 
 
 New York Citv 
 
 5,0f)6,222 
 
 627,118 
 
 1,233 
 
 11. 
 
 Poughkeepsie 
 
 32,080 
 
 3,614 
 
 1,127 
 
 12. 
 
 Binghamton 
 
 55,905 
 
 6,115 
 
 1,094 
 
 13. 
 
 Syracuse 
 
 146,583 
 
 1 5,463 
 
 1,055 
 
 14. 
 
 Utica 
 
 82,434 
 
 8,827 
 
 1,071 
 
 15. 
 
 
 25,428 
 
 2,635 
 
 1,036 
 
 16. 
 
 Buftalo 
 
 454,112 
 
 46,799 
 
 1,036 
 
 17. 
 
 Elmira 
 
 39,847 
 
 4,117 
 
 1,033 
 
 18. 
 
 Niagara h'alls 
 
 42,097 
 
 4,282 
 
 1,017 
 
 19. 
 
 
 34,178 
 
 3,303 
 
 966 
 
 20. 
 
 Albany 
 
 109,279 
 
 9,904 
 
 906 
 
 21. 
 
 Amsterdam 
 
 34,317 
 
 3,001 
 
 875 
 
 22. 
 
 Rome 
 
 23,868 
 
 2,074 
 
 869 
 
 23. 
 
 Rochester 
 
 245,077 
 
 20,838 
 
 851 
 
 24. 
 
 Trov 
 
 74,009 
 
 5,262 
 
 711 
 
 25. 
 
 Cohoes 
 
 . , ,23,^08 
 
 1,525 
 
 651 
 
 19 
 
Mount Vernon has a teaching force of 237, including Principals 
 and Teachers under the direction of an able Superintendent. 
 
 It has also a thorough medical inspection department in charge 
 of four physicians and four school nurses. 
 
 It also has dental clinic in which children who would other- 
 wise be neglected, have their teeth treated free of charge. 
 
 It also has a department of physical education for both boys 
 and girls in charge of highly efficient professional directors. 
 
 They have charge not only of the physical exercises in the 
 schools and gymnasium, but also on the athletic fields and summer 
 play-grounds. 
 
 It also has school gardens carried on under the supervision of 
 a skilled director. 
 
 It also has a visiting teacher who works to bring the school 
 and the home closer together. New York City and Rochester are 
 the only other cities in the State of New York w^hich employ such 
 a teacher. 
 
 Mount Vernon also has ten Home and School Associations in 
 which the parents and teachers meet and work together for the 
 good of the school children. 
 
 In addition thereto there is a central Council of the Home and 
 School Associations, consisting of the officers of the several local 
 associations, the school principals and the superintendent of in- 
 struction, acting as a co-ordinating body to bring the schools and 
 the Home and School Associations into a working harmony. 
 
 I regard this bringing together of the parents, the superin- 
 tendents, the principals and the teachers as a very valuable part 
 of our school system. They not only become acquainted with each 
 other, but they are enabled to work together, the parents learning 
 what the teachers are striving to accomplish, and the teachers learn- 
 ing the difficulties under which the parents and children labor at 
 home. 
 
 The visiting teacher in this connection forms a very important 
 link in the chain. 
 
 The Mount Vernon Public Schools also, provide for individual 
 instruction for needy and backward pupils, and adjustment classes 
 for those who are slow in mastering some studies, while quick and 
 apt in others. 
 
 The theory on which our Public Schools are conducted is not 
 to fit the child to a hard and fast system, but to adapt the system, 
 as much as possible to the needs and development of the child. 
 
 The recent establishment of an Intermediate or Junior High 
 School for the pupils in the seventh and eighth grades, is another 
 
 20 
 
one of the distinctive and admirable features of our Public School 
 system. 
 
 In this school the work is adapted to the vocational needs of 
 the pupils. Those who have little aptitude for the bookwork of 
 the ordinary classes but evince a skill in mechanical work are en- 
 couraged to develop the latter and given instruction therein. 
 
 Mount Vernon is especially proud of its evening schools. 
 These are of three kinds, the Elementary, where those who wish to 
 learn our language and the rudiments of an education are taught; 
 the Commercial, where typewriting, stenography, commercial 
 arithmetic and other advanced studies are taught; and the Indus- 
 trial Arts School, in which mechanics and others who desire to 
 learn architectural drawing, mechanical drawing, printing, wood- 
 working and other branches of mechanical labor have an oppor- 
 tunity to do so, and thus fit themselves to be superintendents, fore- 
 men, master-mechanics and contractors. 
 
 These are only some of the distinctive features of our Public 
 School System. They are enough, however, to show why the 
 Public Schools of ]\Iount \>rnon are the first in the whole state. 
 
 Mount \'ernon has three high schools, and one intermediate 
 high school. 
 
 Yonkers has three high schools and Xew Rochelle one. 
 
 In average daily attendance in the High Schools, per 10,000 
 of population, Blount X'ernon is first in all the cities of the State 
 liaving more than 20.000 inhabitants. Oswego is second, Water- 
 town is third, Poughkeepsic is fourth, Elmira is fifth and Xew 
 Rochelle is sixth, as shown in the following table : 
 
 Comparison Per 10,000 of Inhabitants for the Year 1914-1915. 
 
 HIGH SCHOOLS. 
 
 Average 
 Daily 
 
 Attendance 
 
 Xumber of 
 Graduates 
 
 Entering 
 Colleges or 
 Professional 
 Schools 
 
 1. ]\Iount \'ernon 
 
 2. Oswego 
 
 3. AYatertown . . 
 
 4. Poughkeepsie 
 
 5. Elmira 
 
 6. Xew Rochelle 
 
 7. Gloversville . . 
 
 8. Jamestown . . . 
 
 9. Auburn 
 
 239 
 231 
 209 
 206 
 205 
 202 
 192 
 188 
 163 
 
 29.2 
 23.6 
 28.6 
 18.4 
 23.3 
 22.0 
 23.1 
 28.8 
 20.4 
 
 16.5 
 10.0 
 9.4 
 8.0 
 12.1 
 9.2 
 6.9 
 7.6 
 5.9 
 
 21 
 
Entering 
 
 Average Colleges or 
 
 Daily Xuniber of I'rofessional 
 
 Attendance Graduates Schools 
 
 10. Xewburgh 159 20.6 6.9 
 
 11. Rome .149 14.3 6.4 
 
 12. Syracuse 148 18.9 13.2 
 
 13. Kingston 139 11.3 9.3 
 
 14. Yonkers 135 15.7 7.8 
 
 15. Niagara Falls 134 13.6 5.9 
 
 16. Binghamton 127 17.4 6.6 
 
 17. Schenectady 114 14.8 10.3 
 
 18. Utica 121 16.6 6.1 
 
 19. Albany 107 16.3 6.4 
 
 20. Rochester 82 12.5 7.5 
 
 21. Amsterdam 92 9.6 3.8 
 
 22. Troy 80 8.5 2.9 
 
 23. Xew York 76 8.6 4.3 
 
 24. Buffalo 82 11.8 4.6 
 
 25. Cohoes 72 4.8 0.0 
 
 The total number of the i^'raduates this year from the Ab)unt 
 Vernon High School was 164, of whom 54 took the two } ear course 
 in the Commercial High Schcjol. 
 
 The a\erage daily attendance in the Hii^h Schools of Abjunr 
 Vernon, Xew Kochelle and ^^)nkers for 1914-1^>15 was as follc^ws: 
 
 Per 10,000 
 Total of Population 
 
 Mount Vernon 894 230 
 
 Xew Rochelle 042 202 
 
 Yonkers 1.218 135 
 
 Thus the a\-erage attendance in the ]\Iount \'ernon High School 
 per 10.000 of inhabitants, is 1 1-5 times that in Xew Rochelle, and 
 1 4-5 times that in Yonkers. 
 
 Twice a year, the students in the High School and Academies 
 of the State are examined by the examiners employed by the 
 Regents of the State University. In some High Schools and 
 Academies no student is permitted to take the Regents' Exami- 
 nation, who has not passed a preliminary examination conducted 
 by the High School teachers. In this way, the doubtful ones are 
 eliminated. In Mount \ ernon there is no such preliminary test 
 or weeding out. Xevertheless, Alount \'ernon ranks third of all 
 the cities in the State having a population of more than 20,000 each, 
 
 22 
 
 as shown in the following table 
 
Percentage of 
 Perfection 
 
 1. Watertown 92.6 
 
 2. Yonkers 87.4 
 
 3. ]^Iount \>rnon 83.6 
 
 4. Xew Rochcllc 817 
 
 5. New York (05.1 to 70.7) 81.5 
 
 6. Amsterdam 80.1 
 
 7. Kingston 78.2 
 
 8. Elmira 77.5 
 
 9. Auburn 76.5 
 
 10. Troy 75.7 
 
 11. Utica 75.4 
 
 12. Xewburgh 73.7 
 
 13. Syracuse 73.6 
 
 14. Jamestown 73.4 
 
 15. Rochester 73.2 
 
 16. Poughkeepsie 72.2 
 
 17. Buffalo 72.1 
 
 18. GloversviUe 70.9 
 
 19. Schenectady 68.1 
 
 20. Niagara 1-alls 67.8 
 
 21. P)ing"hamton 66.3 
 
 22. Rome 64.1 
 
 23. Oswego 63.3 
 
 24. Albany 55.6 
 
 V[\ c facts speak \ olumes for the intelligence and public spirit 
 of the people of IMount A'ernon, Xew Uochelle and Yonkers. and 
 for the excellence of their public school system : 
 
 First. In the Average Daily Attendance in their public schools 
 Blount \Arnon stands first among all the cities of the State, having 
 more than 20.000 inhal^itants. Xew Rochelle second and ^'onkers 
 fifth. 
 
 Second. in the Average Daily Attendance in the High 
 Schools, Blount \Arnon is first, Xew Rochelle is sixth and Yonkers 
 is sixteenth. 
 
 Third. In the number of graduates last year from the High 
 Schools in the cities referred to above, ]\Iount \'ernon is first, Xew 
 Rochelle sixth and Yonkers is eighteenth. 
 
 Fourth. In the number of these graduates who are about to 
 enter colleges and professional schools, Mount \'ernon is first. 
 Xew Rochelle is sixth and Yonkers is eleventh. 
 
 Fifth. In the Regents' Examination last year, Yonkers is 
 second. Mount W-rnon is third and Xew Rochelle is fourth. 
 
 23 
 
Although W'atcrtown excelled Mount Vernon in the Ivegents' 
 Examination last year, we sent, out of every 10,000 inhabitants, 
 16.5 to colleges and professional schools, while Watertown sent only 
 8.7 and New York City only 3.7. 
 
 The Mount Vernon High School was organized in September 
 1894 with three teachers and 74 pupils. The Academic Depart- 
 ment moved into its new High School on Gramatan Avenue in 
 September, 1914 with 36 teachers and 859 students. 
 
 The first graduating class received their diplomas in June, 1896 
 and numbered ten. The Class of 1915, which graduated last June, 
 numbered 108. 
 
 During the twenty-one years of its existence, the Mount 
 Vernon High School has had on its rolls 1837 boys and 2153 girls, 
 an aggregate of 3,990. 
 
 The total number of graduates to date is 1,025 of whom 405 
 are boys and 620 girls. 
 
 The graduating classes from 1904 to 1914 inclusive numbered 
 708 members, of whom 520, more than 73 per cent, entered colleges 
 and other institutions for the higher or professional education. 
 These numbers do not include students matriculating in business 
 colleges or schools of music. 
 
 Many graduates of the Mount Vernon High School have 
 achieved distinction in the professional and business w^orld. They 
 comprise lawyers, doctors, teachers, clergymen, bankers and super- 
 intendents, and are represented in many other callings of dis- 
 tinction. Some of them have served on the Bench, in the Legis- 
 lature and in other high offices in the gift of the people. 
 
 In addition to the semi-annual Regents' Examination, the 
 University of the State of New York conducts examinations for 
 Certificates of College Entrance. Those High School students 
 who, in their four years course, attain a certain high standing in 
 the Regents' Examinations are awarded these Certificates. There 
 were 155 of them given this year in Westchester County. Of 
 these the graduates of the iMount Vernon High School received 
 51 — practically one third. As the population of Westchester 
 County is about 325,000, the City of Mount Vernon with its 37,623 
 inhabitants has about 11.5 per cent, of the whole number. 
 
 Mount Vernon's pro rata share of the College Entrance Certifi- 
 cates would be less than 18, yet we won 51. 
 
 The Regents of the University of the State of New York give 
 twenty scholarships every year to the High School Graduates in 
 the whole County of Westchester, who stand at the head of the list 
 of those given College Entrance Certificates. This year the Mount 
 Vernon High School graduates won 7 of these scholarships, those 
 
 24 
 
from the Yonkers High School won 6, those from the New Rochelle 
 High School won 2. Ossining won 3, White Plains 1 and North 
 Tarry town 1. 
 
 Thus Mount Vernon with 11^ per cent, of the population of 
 Westchester County takes 33 per cent, of the College Entrance 
 Certificates and 35 per cent, of the Scholarships awarded by the 
 University of the State. 
 
 The graduates of the Mount \'ernon High School have won in 
 open competition, 23 scholarships in Cornell University, 4 appoint- 
 ments to the W^est Point Military Academy and 2 to the Naval 
 Academy at Annapolis. They have also won a number of scholar- 
 ships in the New York University. 
 
 From its inception, the Mount Vernon High School has had 
 for its Principal, Prof. A. B. Davis, and to him, in a large degree 
 is to be credited the magnificent growth and the si)lcndid record 
 of the crowning glory of our educational system. 
 
 HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS. 
 
 In athletics as well as in scholarships, the Mount \'ernon High 
 School stands first in Westchester County, and holds its own with 
 the High Schools of New York City. 
 
 In 1902 the Westchester Interscholastic Athletic Association 
 was organized. There are six High Schools in it, to wit: those 
 of ]\Iount Vernon, Yonkers, New Rochelle, White Plains, Port- 
 chester and Marnaroneck. Since its organization, the Alount 
 Vernon High School has won the following championships : 
 
 Track and Field Events in 1903, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1913 and 
 1915 — six times. 
 
 Basketball in 1903, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1915— 
 eight times. 
 
 Football in 1908 and 1911 and a tie with New Rochelle in 1913. 
 
 Baseball in 1908 and 1910. 
 
 Tennis in 1914 and 1915. 
 
 Cross Country Run in 1915. 
 
 In 1907 we won 2 Championships. 
 
 " 1908 " 4 •• 
 
 " 1909 " " 1 
 
 " 1910 " 3 
 1911 " 2 
 
 . 1912 " - 1 
 
 - 1913 " iy2 
 
 " 1914 " " 1 
 
 " 1915 " " 4 
 
 In this record our triumphs in the Track and Field Events 
 have been counted as only one championship in each year. 
 
 25 
 
In 1912 one of our High School Graduates who entered Columbia 
 University, H. S. Babcock, won the Olympic Championship at the 
 International Games in Stockholm, and was the Intercollegiate 
 Champion of the United States, in the pole vault. 
 
 Harold Phipps was the manager of the Columbia Varsity 
 wrestlers in 19L3 and Vincent Jones in 1914. 
 
 In one year, High School students won the County Champion- 
 ship in Football, Baseball, Track Events and Basketball, defeating 
 in the latter, the Interscholastic Champions of New York City. 
 
 During the past two years, our High School students have won 
 the championship in Tennis. Herbert L. Bowman, who has just 
 graduated has been the champion not only in the Westchester 
 County Interscholastic Athletic Association, but in Westchester 
 County at large. 
 
 In l^\)otball and Baseball our High School students have not 
 won as many championships as in the Track Events, and Basket- 
 ball, because they have not had a suitable athletic field; but as 
 they will have one ready next year, there is no doubt, they will 
 excel in these athletic sports as well as in the others. 
 
 There are about thirty graduates of the Mount Vernon High 
 School who are now students in Columbia University. Of these 
 at least one has been on every Freshman Crew which has com- 
 peted in the annual regattas at Poughkeepsie since 1911. One of 
 them, Oscar B. Myers, the son of Dr. S. Oscar Myers, was the 
 stroke oar of the Junior Varsity Crew in 1914 and 1915, as well 
 as a member of the Freshman Crew in 19L3. Irving \W Hadsell 
 was the Captain of the Columbia Varsity Crew which won the 
 championship at the Poughkeepsie Regatta in 1914, and rowed 
 number seven in the boat. He was also in the Freshman Crew in 
 1911. Harry Bird was the Coxswain of that crew. Herbert M. 
 Tichborne was on the Freshman Crew in 1914 and on the Varsity 
 Crew in 1915. Charles W. Cronenberg was on the Freshman Crew 
 in 1912, the Varsity Four in 1913, and the Junior Varsity in 1914 
 and 1915. n 
 
 When we consider that there are over 13,000 students in 
 Columbia University from all parts of the world, the High School 
 of Mount Vernon has just cause to be proud, and the citizens of 
 Mount Vernon have just cause to be proud that in the champion- 
 ship crews of Columbia our High School has been represented every 
 year from 1911 to 1915 inclusive, by one or more representatives, 
 having in 1914 the Captain of the Varsity Champion Eight and 
 three of the Junior Varsity Eight. There is not another High 
 School or Preparatory School in the United States which can equal 
 this record. 
 
 26 
 
PLAYGROUNDS AND SCHOOL GARDENS. 
 
 Mount Vernon has seven playgrounds and four school gardens, 
 which were open to the children during the past summer. They 
 were maintained under the auspices of the Board of Education and 
 the Playground Commission appointed by me. Instructors or 
 leaders were in charge of these grounds and gardens. They com- 
 bine work and play, instructing the children in several kinds of 
 hand-work, such as making of mats, kites, hammocks, hand-bags, 
 doilies and small picture frames. The children are also instructed 
 in folk dances, singing-games and baseball. 
 
 Although the High School Athletic Field has not yet been 
 developed, it has been used as a baseball field during the past sum- 
 mer. A Junior and Senior Baseball League comprising eleven 
 school teams has been organized. On this field, four field and track 
 meets open to all boys in Mount Vernon were held this past sum- 
 mer, and each one was a great success. 
 
 A large number of boys in the higher grades of the Grammar 
 Schools availed themselves of the use of the apparatus in the Gym- 
 nasium of the High School during the summer, under a competent 
 instructor. 
 
 In the four school gardens about 200 boys and girls took 
 advantage last summer to learn how to care for and cultivate 
 flowers and vegetables. 
 
 The total attendance at the playgrounds was 41,930 — an 
 average of 940 a day. 
 
 At the school gardens, the average daily attendance was 185. 
 
 In his report to the Board of Education, the Superintendent 
 of Instruction, Dr. William H. Holmes says : 
 
 "The $1,000 voted by the Board of Aldermen and expended 
 ''under the direction of the Playground Commission made it pos- 
 "siblc to establish the four playgrounds at Hartley Park, the High 
 "School, South Seventh Avenue and South Thirteenth Avenue 
 *'which gave supervised play and enjoyment, as well as a large 
 ''amount of profitable occupation in the way of handwork, to an 
 "average of 940 a day. 
 
 "This good work on the part of the Board and the City should 
 "be continued and extended the coming year. No one can estimate 
 "the benefit which comes from having so large a number of children 
 "and youth of the City engaged in properly supervised play during 
 "the summer vacation.'' 
 
 The total cost of carrying on the seven playgrounds and the 
 four school gardens was about $2,532 — a little over 5 cents a day 
 for each child. 
 
 I think that we have done more than any other city in the 
 
 27 
 
State of New York, in solving the problem what to do during 
 the summer vacation with the children who are compelled to stay 
 at home. I believe they get as much enjoyment, instruction and 
 outdoor exercise as many of those who go into camps or spend their 
 vacation in the mountains or at the seashore. 
 
 Physical Training lessons are given during the year in all the 
 Grammar Schools and the first year of the High Schools under 
 competent instructors for both boys and girls. 
 
 Outdoor sports are also provided in season, such as field hockey, 
 tennis, baseball and football, track and field events. 
 
 The attention given in the Mount Vernon Schools to the 
 physical condition of the children and to their physical development 
 has much to do with the health record of the city and w^ith the 
 splendid results they have achieved in their studies. 
 
 THE COMMERCIAL HIGH SCHOOL. 
 
 This branch of our school system was created fifteen years ago, 
 and the results achieved by it have been phenomenal. 
 
 It now has 358 students, and about 40 per cent, of the graduates 
 of the Grammar Schools enter it. 
 
 The full course of study covers four years, embracing steno- 
 graphy, typewriting, bookkeeping, commercial geography, com- 
 mercial arithmetic, banking and almost every branch of instruc- 
 tion to fit a young man or w^oman for business. 
 
 It also has a two year course especially adapted to those who 
 desire to become stenographers, typewriters and bookkeepers. 
 
 But this is not all. Our Commercial High School is not merely 
 a "Business College." It is a High School in which a liberal 
 education is given in English Literature, Mathematics, History, 
 Biology, Physics and German. 
 
 This year it had 54 graduates. 
 
 Last year the number was 44, and every one obtained a 
 position in a very short time. The total number of graduates is 
 about 460, and the total number of students who have profited by 
 the instruction given in the school, sufficiently to earn their living 
 as stenographers, typewriters, bookkeepers, salesmen, accountants 
 and the like is over 900. They earn, in the aggregate, over $750,000 
 a year. 
 
 The cost of the school is between $16,000 and $17,000 a year. 
 
 It is one of the most profitable investments the City of Mount 
 Vernon ever made. 
 
 Many of its students have taken up advanced work in other 
 educational institutions. Among these, two are teachers, one a 
 surveyor, three lawyers, two doctors, two state engineers and one 
 an architect. 
 
 28 
 
Many of them have established themselves in business. 
 
 For five years there were annual contests in typewriting and 
 stenography, in which all the commercial schools of the county 
 competed. The Mount Vernon Commercial High School won 
 every contest, and for three years past has not had a challenger or 
 competitor. 
 
 Last year it entered the competition in New York City in type- 
 writing for students from the Suburban Day High Schools. 
 
 The first prize, a gold medal, was awarded to Daniel Stubing, 
 a pupil in our Commercial High School, who won with a net rate 
 of 88 words per minute. 
 
 The second prize, a silver medal, was won by Charles E. Kuhn, 
 a pupil in our Commercial High School, who won with a net rate 
 of 71 words per minute. 
 
 There was also a contest for Novices, who had not written for 
 a record in any previous contest. This was open to any and all in 
 New York City and its suburbs. One of the pupils in the Mount 
 Vernon Commercial High School took the third prize. 
 
 From its commencement, the school has had for its Principal, 
 Mr. Clyde O. Thompson, and to him is due very much of the credit 
 the Commercial High School of Mount Vernon has earned. 
 
 SCHOOL OF THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS. 
 
 The City of Mount Vernon seeks to give every boy and girl 
 in its limits a Grammar School Education. Of the graduates from 
 the Grammar Schools, some enter the Academic High School, 
 some the Commercial High School and some the High School of 
 the Industrial Arts. 
 
 The last named is only four years old, and is as yet in a forma- 
 tive state; but our Board of Education is evolving a course of study 
 in it which will make it one of the best features in our High School 
 System. 
 
 During the past four years 2750 students have been registered 
 in the day and evening classes, mostly the latter. A large number 
 of the young mechanics in our city avail themselves of the oppor- 
 tunities this school aft'ords at night, to fit themselves to become 
 superintendents, foremen and master-mechanics, and to enter into 
 business for themselves. 
 
 For the girls there are classes in cooking, millinery and dress- 
 making. For the boys there are classes in electrical work, wood- 
 working, metal-working, the use of the lathe and printing. 
 Mechanical and Architectural Drawing receive special attention. 
 
 The object of this High School is not merely to make mechanics 
 but to fit the students for directive work, that is to enable them to 
 
 29 
 
be superintendents, foremen and master-mechanics ; to give them 
 such knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, physics and drawing, 
 as will enable them to be masters of the work in which they are 
 engaged. It will take some time to adapt this school to the needs 
 of the community and its surroundings, but I believe it will, be- 
 fore long, become one of the most important features of our Edu- 
 cational System. 
 
 THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 
 
 The University of the State of Xew York issues quarterly a 
 magazine entitled New York Libraries. In the number of Novem- 
 ber, 1912, the editor says : 
 
 "The Public Library of Mount Vernon has the distinction of 
 ''circulating more books than any other library in the State belong- 
 "ing to cities of between 25,000 and 35,000 population." 
 
 In the number of November, 1913, the editor said : 
 
 "The Mount Vernon Library reports, for the past year, 157,474 
 "volumes issued for home reading, the largest figure reported by 
 "any library system operating in a city of a similar size. The 
 "issue to children numbered 37,338 volumes, of which nearly 50 
 "per cent, was non-fiction." 
 
 The comparison with New Rochelle and Yonkers for 1914 is 
 as follows : 
 
 Aloiint Vernon Xew Rochelle Yonkers 
 
 Books in Library 31,378 33,378 32,655 
 
 Issued for Home Use 185,878 118,973 208,161 
 
 Issued per 1,000 of 
 
 Population 4,928 3,747 2,274 
 
 Thus the number issued out of the Public Library of Mount 
 Vernon is almost 57 per cent, greater per 1,000 inhabitants than in 
 New Rochelle and 116 per cent, greater than in Yonkers. In other 
 words, the number taken out in Mount Vernon is 1 1-3 times 
 greater than in New Rochelle and 2 1-8 times greater than in 
 Yonkers. 
 
 The New^ Rochelle Public Library ranks next to ours in the 
 number of books issued. Of the other cities of the state the next 
 ten are in the following list : 
 
 Circulation 
 
 Per 1,000 of Full 
 Population Population 
 
 Mount Vernon 4,928 37,623 
 
 New Rochelle 3,747 31,752 
 
 Poughkeepsie 3,690 30,534 
 
 Buffalo 3,568 461,335 
 
 Binghamton 3,335 55,901 
 
 30 
 
Circulation 
 
 Per 1,000 of Full 
 Population Population 
 
 Brooklyn 2,931 1,990,614 
 
 Svracuse 2,878 152,534 
 
 Utica 2,799 83,876 
 
 Albany ....2,646 103,580 
 
 Schenectady 2,373 95,265 
 
 Yonkers . 2.274 91,543 
 
 Rochester 1,451 250,747 
 
 Troy 1,421 77,738 
 
 For this splendid showing, which places Mount Vernon far 
 ahead of all cities in the State, our thanks are due to Messrs. Charles 
 C. Roberts, A\^illiam F. Gay, Maitland B. Sloat, William P. Brinck- 
 erhoff and Edwin L. Ford, who constitute the Library Board, 
 and especially to the Librarian, ^liss Francis Banner Thomson and 
 her efficient assistants. 
 
 BOARD OF ASSESSORS AND VALUATION OF 
 REAL ESTATE. 
 
 The Board of Supen*isors of Westchester County, after 
 a careful investigation, determined last year that the assessed valu- 
 ation of the real estate in the City of Alount Vernon is 80 per cent, 
 of its full value, in the City of Xew Rochelle 80 per cent., and in 
 the City of Yonkers 75^ per cent. 
 
 Thus the assessed valuation and the full valuations of the real 
 estate in these three cities compare as follows : 
 
 Assessed Full Full A'aluation 
 
 \'aiuation \*aluation Per Acre 
 
 Mount Vernon . . . .$ 39,578,492 $ 49,473,115 $17,568.57 
 
 Xew Rochelle 40,837,281 51,046,601 7,545.91 
 
 Yonkers 114,080,686 151,100,246 13,130.93 
 
 It follows from these figures that real estate in IMount Vernon 
 is worth almost 2 1-3 times as much per acre as it is in X'ew 
 Rochelle, and over 133 1-3 per cent, what it is worth in Yonkers. 
 
 Of the $114,080,686 assessed valuation of the real estate in 
 Yonkers, 823,000,000 consists of the assessed value of the aqueducts 
 of Xew York City. Judge Alills recently decided that the City of 
 Yonkers has no right to assess the four aqueducts. If his decision 
 is sustained $15,000,000 will be taken from the assessed valuation of 
 the real estate in Yonkers. The figures will then be as follows : 
 
 Assessed Full Full Valuation 
 
 Valuation Valuation Per Acre 
 
 Mount Vernon.... $ 39,578,492 $ 49,473,115 $ 17,568.57 
 
 Xew Rochelle 40,837,281 51,046.601 7,545.91 
 
 Yonkers 99,080,686 131,232,696 11,404.37 
 
 31 
 
It follows from these figures, that real estate in Mount Vernon 
 is worth almost 2^/2 times as much per acre as it is in New Rochelle, 
 and over 154 per cent, what it is worth in Yonkers. 
 
 TAXES. 
 
 Having all these things, how much do we pay for them? 
 
 What do our schools cost us? 
 
 What does the city government cost? 
 
 First of all, out of every $100 paid in taxes for the year ending- 
 May 1, 1916, the taxpayers in our city will pay almost exactly $40 
 for education, including the Public Library, and payment of school 
 bonds falling due and interest on all school bonds issued by the 
 city. In New York City only $22 out of every $100 of taxes are 
 spent for education; in New Rochelle only $29.08 and in Yonkers 
 only $26.25. In the case of New York City the school bonds falling- 
 due and the interest on the school bonds are not included. 
 
 Here are the exact figures : 
 
 Raised for 
 Tax for Education out 
 Total Tax Education of every $100 
 
 Mount Vernon $ 986,931 $ 392,394 $ 39.76 
 
 New Rochelle 1,145,003 332,951 29.08 
 
 Yonkers 3,236,781 849,621 26.25 
 
 New York 159,787,337 42,449,578 22.01 
 
 Here is another way of regarding the taxes : 
 
 In Mount Vernon the total tax for all purposes, State, County, 
 City and School is $26.23 per capita; in New Rochelle it is $36.06, 
 in Yonkers $35.76 and in New York City $31.71. 
 
 The total taxes in New Rochelle are 37.6 per cent, higher per 
 capita than in Mount Vernon. In Yonkers they are 35.1 per cent, 
 higher and in New York City 20 per cent. 
 
 Here are the exact figures : 
 
 Total Tax 
 
 Total Tax Population Per Capita 
 
 Mount Vernon $ 986,931.22 37,623 $ 26.23 
 
 New Rochelle 1,145,003.19 31,754 36.07 
 
 Yonkers 3,236,781.49 90,502 35.76 
 
 New York 159,787,337.00 5,006,544 31.71 
 
 This is the way the taxes in Mount Vernon are to be distri- 
 buted for the year ending May 1, 1916: 
 
 Total Tax Per $100 of Total Tax 
 
 Education $392,394.34 $ 39.76 
 
 City Government 472,912.32 47.92 
 
 County Government 108,263.46 10.97 
 
 State Government 13,361.10 1.35 
 
 $986,931.22 
 32 
 
 $100.00 
 
Thus the amount expended for Education in Mount Vernon 
 is ahnost as large as the total expenditure of the City Government, 
 including Police, Fire Department, Streets, Avenues, Sewers, 
 Health Department, Charities, Street Lighting, Rents, City Court, 
 Corporation Counsel, Election Expenses, Interest on City Debt, 
 Redemption of Bonds, flavor's Office, City Clerk's Office, Common 
 Council, and all the other branches of the City Government. 
 
 I know of no other city in the state which can equal this 
 showing. 
 
 In this respect the following tables arc very interesting and 
 instructive : 
 
 New Rochelle. 
 
 Per $100 of 
 Total Tax Total Tax 
 
 Education $ 332,951.82 $ 29.08 
 
 City Government 683,070.03 59.65 
 
 County Government 115,168.19 10.06 
 
 State Government 13,784.65 1.21 
 
 $1,145,003.19 $100.00 
 
 Yonkers. 
 
 Education $ 849,621.37 $ 26.25 
 
 City Government 1,995,814.72 61.66 
 
 County Government 349,668.94 . 10.80 
 
 State Government 41,676.46 1.29 
 
 $3,236,781.49 $100.00 
 
 The State and County Taxes are beyond the control of the 
 City Go\'ernment or the Board of Education. The foregoing figures 
 show how very much more Mount \'ernon spends per capita for 
 Education, than Xew Rochelle, Yonkers or New York; and they 
 also show how very much less ]\Iount \^ernon spends for its City 
 Government, than either Xew Rochelle, Yonkers or Xew York. 
 
 Here are the figures for the City Government taken by them- 
 selves : 
 
 Total Tax Tax Per Capita 
 
 Mount Vernon $ 472,912.32 $12.57 
 
 Xew Rochelle 683,070.03 21.51 
 
 Yonkers 1,995,814.72 22.05 
 
 Xew York 105,727,740.53 21.12 
 
 For those who wish to go more into detail than is shown in 
 the foregoing, the following comparison will doubtless be of 
 interest : 
 
 33 
 
Out of every $100 received in taxes this year (1915) the ex- 
 penditures will be as follows : 
 
 
 
 Mount 
 
 
 Xew 
 
 
 
 
 
 Vernon 
 
 
 Rochelle 
 
 
 Yonkers 
 
 Education 
 
 $ 
 
 39.70 
 
 
 29.08 
 
 
 26.25 
 
 County Government 
 
 
 iu.y/ 
 
 
 lU.Uo 
 
 
 lU.bU 
 
 State Government . . 
 
 
 1.35 
 
 
 1.21 
 
 
 1.29 
 
 
 
 52.08 
 
 
 40.35 
 
 $ 
 
 38.34 
 
 City Government . . . 
 
 
 47.92 
 
 
 59.65 
 
 
 61.66 
 
 
 
 100.00 
 
 
 100.00 
 
 S 
 
 100.00 
 
 The amount appropriated for the several branches of the City 
 Government for 1915 are as follows: 
 
 Mount Xew 
 
 A'ernon Rochelle Yonkers 
 
 Mayors Office S 7,050.00 $ 4,942.01 $ 11,900.00 
 
 Board of Estimate 282.54 900.00 
 
 Board of Contract 
 
 and Supplies 2,353.00 
 
 $ 7,050.00 S 5,224.55 S 15,153.00 
 
 Office of City Clerk. . . .S 5,960.00 $ 9,909.21 $ 12,890.00 
 
 Office of Comptroller. . 4,800.00 7,450.34 20,644.50 
 
 Office of City Treas. . . 1,500.00 3,693.68 14.545.90 
 Office of Receiver 
 
 of Taxes 3,650.00 4,577.06 6.200.00 
 
 Office of Clerk of 
 
 Arrears 2,000.00 2,000.00 
 
 Contingent Fund and 
 
 Sundries 4,304.08 30,223.27 
 
 $ 22,214.08 $ 55,853.56 S 56,280.40 
 
 Common Council $ 5,620.00 $ 4,852.96 $ 27,050.00 
 
 Board of Assessors. .. . 5,600.00 6,329.80 17,567.00 
 
 Civil Service Com 2,000.00 2,086.39 3,625.00 
 
 City Court 12,100.00 4,754.71 22,987.50 
 
 Law Department 10,950.00 5,584.24 13,460.00 
 
 Election Expenses .... 14,000.00 9,997.90 27,472.00 
 Rent and ^Maintenance of 
 
 Public Buildings . . 8,780.00 19,730.00 
 
 $ 59,050.00 $ 33,606.00 $131,891.00 
 34 
 
708.94 
 
 Alount Xew 
 X'ernon Rochelle 
 
 Office of Building 
 
 Inspector S 3,277.60 $ 1,674.38 
 
 Office of Plumbing- 
 Inspector 3,245.00 
 
 Office of City 
 
 Electrician 1.850.00 
 
 Board of Examining 
 
 Engineers 240.00 
 
 Examining Board of 
 
 Plumbers 
 
 Pounds and Pound 
 
 Master 1,270.00 
 
 Weights and :\Ieasures 500.00 
 
 Gateman at Putnam St. 1,014.70 
 
 $ 11,397.30 
 
 Police Department . . . .$ 80,000.00 
 
 Eire Department 40,000.00 
 
 Dept. of Public Safety. . 
 Bureau of Combustibles 
 
 $120,000.00 
 
 Department of Public 
 
 Works $ 79,200.00 
 
 Street Eighting 44,000.00 
 
 Ashes and Garbage. . . . 14,000.00 
 Sewage Disposal 7,800.00 
 
 $145,000.00 
 
 Health Department . . .$ 8,480.00 
 
 Dept. of Charities 9,420.00 
 
 Hospitals and 
 
 Nurseries 8,000.00 
 
 Parks and Playgrounds 750.00 
 Concerts and 
 
 Celebrations 050.00 
 
 Public Baths 
 
 Pavilion and Dock 
 
 $ 27,300.00 $ 36,811.22 
 35 
 
 Yonkers 
 
 S 4.090.00 
 
 S 61,766.84 
 45,933.03 
 
 $ 97,699.87 
 
 $111,821.71 
 55,117.34 
 18,500.00 
 5,888.21 
 
 $191,327.26 
 
 $ 8,608.43 
 9,071.51 
 
 7,114.00 
 12,017.28 
 
 2,135.00 
 
 225.00 
 
 2,437.00 
 4,265.00 
 
 S 2.383.32 S 13,152.00 
 
 $291,609.86 
 189,458.45 
 9,256.00 
 3,363.00 
 
 $493,687.31 
 
 $222,586.74 
 165,479.17 
 104,857.20 
 
 $492,923.11 
 
 S 42,091.00 
 22,735.00 
 
 105.258.00 
 26,216.00 
 
 2,050.00 
 9,978.00 
 4,830.00 
 
 $213,158.00 
 
Mount Xcw 
 
 \'crnon Rochelle \ oiikers 
 
 Water for Fire 
 
 Hydrants $ 15,109.45 $ 34.320.00 
 
 Water Rents for 
 
 City Property 2,294.28 
 
 Fire Insurance 
 
 Sinking- Fund 5,000.00 
 
 Judgments and 
 
 Settlements 4,025.94 5,054.40 
 
 $ 4,025.94 $ 20,163.85 $ 41,614.28 
 
 To Pay Bonds $ 20,000.00 $140,000.00 $459,435.54 
 
 Interest on Bonds 64,800.00 100,028.93 314,623.23 
 
 For Sinking Fund 33,075.00 
 
 $1 17,875.00 $240,028.93 $774,058.77 
 
 Grand Total $513,910.99 $683,098.56 $2,231,919.37 
 
 Estimated Revenue ... 41,000.00 236,104.65 
 
 Amount to be Raised 
 
 by Tax $472,912.32 $683,098.56 $1,995,814.72 
 
 Public School $334,405.85 $256,779.00 $669,071.85 
 
 School Bonds Due 5,000.00 34,000.00 75,990.00 
 
 Interest on Bonds 38,425.50 30,000.00 87,854.52 
 
 Public Library 14,500.00 12,172.82 16,705.00 
 
 $392,394.34 $332,95 1 .82 $849,62 1 .37 
 
 State Tax $ 13,361.18 $ 13,784.62 $ 41,676.46 
 
 County Tax 93,938.81 97,668.19 293,017.59 
 
 County Tax for Poor.. 14,324.65 17,500.00 56,651.35 
 
 $121,624.64 $128,952.81 $391,345.40 
 
 Total Tax for State, 
 County, City Schools 
 
 and Public Library. .$986,931.22 $1,145,003.19 $3,236,781.49 
 
 36 
 
CONCLUSION. 
 
 If efficiency is to be measured b}' economy of cost as well as 
 by the results achieved. Blount \'ernon has certainly no reason to 
 be dissatisfied for the manner in which her municipal affairs are 
 being administered. 
 
 The facts presented above prove con\ incingly that ours is a 
 pretty good cit\' to be living in and raising one's children in. It 
 can be made even better than it is if the people will onl}' take the 
 trouble to inform themselves as to real conditions. Co-operation is 
 needed to promote municipal betterment, and that depends upon 
 a clear understanding of facts : upon municipal intelligence, in 
 other words. 
 
 Public Officials when facing a perplexing problem often say : 
 "I shall be guided by public opinion.'" How can we expect in- 
 telligent counsel unless the citizens possess an understanding of the 
 situation sufficient to help them to know the real forces making for 
 or against the well-being of the people of ]\Iount \'ernon: ]\Iany 
 a good project has been lost or unnecessarily delayed by pre\"ail- 
 ing ignorance of municipal affairs. Irresponsible criticism and 
 "knocking" would soon disappear and give wa}' to constructive co- 
 operation, once our people knew their city. 
 
 Mount \'ernon is really a business corporation, with a capital 
 stock of $39,635,792. You are a share holder in this corporation. 
 Know your Cit}' I 
 
 Respectfully submitted. 
 
 EDW'IX W. FISKE. 
 
 ]\Iavor. 
 
 37 
 
Honorable Edwin W. Fiske, 
 
 Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon. 
 
 Dear Sir : — 
 
 At your request we have carefully examined the figures given 
 in the foregoing message to the Common Council and find them to 
 be correct. 
 
 They place ]\Iount Vernon so far in advance, not only of its 
 neighbors but of all the other cities in the State of New York, that 
 we deem it best not only to verify the figures, but to state the 
 authorities and sources upon which we have relied. 
 
 1. For the populations of the cities of the State of NewYork, 
 we have relied almost wholly on the State Census which was taken 
 last summer. In several cases, where the figures of the State Cen- 
 sus have not been made public, we have taken the estimates of the 
 National Board of Fire Underwriters published May 27, 1915. 
 
 2. For the population of the cities of the United States out- 
 side New York State, we have taken the estimates of the National 
 Board of Fire Underwriters above referred to. 
 
 3. The areas of all the cities in the United States we have 
 taken from the annual reports of the National Board of Fire Under- 
 writers, and those of the cities in Westchester County shown in 
 the Twentieth Annual Report of the Comptroller of the City of 
 Mount Vernon, which has just been issued. 
 
 4. The number of deaths in each city of the State of New 
 York, for the year 1914, we have taken from the monthly bulletin 
 published by the State Board of Health in February, 1915. 
 
 The death rate we have determined by dividing the number of 
 deaths in each city by its population as ascertained from the State 
 Census or the Annual Report of the National Board of Fire Under- 
 writers, dated May 27, 1915. 
 
 5. The comparisons in the death rate of Mount Vernon with 
 those of the other cities of the United States, we have based on the 
 Mortality Statistics for 1913 of the United States Census Bureau. 
 
 6. The other data in relation to the Health conditions of 
 Mount Vernon, were verified by the Health Officer of our city. 
 
 7. The statistics in relation to losses by Fire we verified from 
 the Annual Reports of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. 
 
 8. The statistics in relation to the Public School Systems of 
 Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Yonkers and the other cities of the 
 State of New York were verified from the Annual Reports of the 
 Mount Vernon and Yonkers Boards of Education, the Report of 
 
 38 
 
the Educational Department of the State of Xew York for 1914, 
 and the Report of the Commissioner of Education of the United 
 States for 1914. 
 
 Wc also obtained much valuable information in ^•erification of 
 the facts and figures set forth in your message, from Dr. William 
 H. Holmes, the Superintendent of the Public Schools of Blount 
 Vernon, Prof. A. B. Davis, the Principal of the High School, Mr. 
 Clyde O. Thompson, the Principal of the Commercial High School, 
 Mr. Hugh H. Stewart, the Principal of the High School of the 
 Industrial Arts, and Air. W. H. Geer, the boys' instructor in 
 athletics and physical development. 
 
 9. The verification of the facts and figures relating to the 
 Public Library we obtained from Miss Frances D. Thomson, the 
 librarian and the quarterly publications in relation to public 
 libraries issued by the University of the State of New York, Novem- 
 ber, 1912, November, 1913, and February, 1915. 
 
 10. The verification of the figures relating to the erection, 
 alteration and improvement of buildings in ]\Iount Vernon, Yonkers 
 and New Rochelle, we obtained from the Building Inspectors in 
 each of those cities. 
 
 11. The statistics as to public streets, sewers and other matters 
 relating to the Department of Public Works, were verified by the 
 Commissioners of Public Works in ]\Iount \'ernon and New 
 Rochelle and by the City Engineer of Yonkers. 
 
 12. In like manner the facts and figures relating to the Police 
 and Fire Departments and the other branches of the city govern- 
 ment of these three cities, were verified by officers of the same. 
 
 13. For the verification of the facts and figures set forth in 
 your message in relation to taxes and expenditures for the Public 
 Schools, the City Government, the County and State, we have relied 
 on the Twentieth Annual Report of the Comptroller of ]\Iount \'er- 
 non and the Budgets of New Rochelle and Yonkers, which have 
 been issued within a few weeks ; also upon the reports of the Comp- 
 troller of the City of New York, 
 
 14. The facts in regard to Parks, Parkways and Railroad 
 Facilities are all matters of record set forth in the reports of the 
 Bronx Parkway Commission, the Park Commissioner of New York 
 City and in the records of the Public Service Commissions. 
 
 We congratulate the people of Alount \'ernon on the splendid 
 showing you make in this message. 
 
 To have the lowest death rate in the State of New York, the 
 
 39 
 
lowest loss by lire, the highest average daily attendance in our 
 Public Schools and High Schools in the State of New York and 
 to possess all the other advantages you have set forth in your mes- 
 sage, places Mount \'ernon at the head and front of all the cities 
 in this State and its adjoining states. 
 
 Dated September 25, 1915. 
 
 JOSEPH S. WOOD, 
 
 E. M. DAVIS, 
 
 JOHN F. FAIRCHILD. 
 
 40 
 

 
 DEATH RATE IN 
 
 1914. 
 
 
 
 
 Per 1,000 Population. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DpMflm Per 
 
 
 
 Population 
 
 Ueatlis 
 
 l.OOO Population 
 
 1. 
 
 Mount \'ernon 
 
 37,623 
 
 ^Q? 
 
 10.42 
 
 2 
 
 Xew Kochclle 
 
 31,754 
 
 ou^ 
 
 11.40 
 
 3. 
 
 jamcstown . . . 
 
 37,839 
 
 
 11.35 
 
 4. 
 
 Tonawanda . . 
 
 8,660 
 
 
 11.82 
 
 
 Xorth 'i'onawanda .... 13,508 
 
 167 
 
 11.94 
 
 6. 
 
 Salamanca . . . 
 
 8,341 
 
 
 11.91 
 
 7. 
 
 Yonkers 
 
 90,502 
 
 1 0Q4 
 
 12.09 
 
 8. 
 
 Johnstown , . . 
 
 10,592 
 
 1 X> 
 
 12.43 
 
 9. 
 
 Portchester . . 
 
 15,095 
 
 1Q4 
 
 12.83 
 
 10. 
 
 Schenectady , 
 
 80,384 
 
 1 041 
 
 12.94 
 
 11. 
 
 Xiagara Falls 
 
 42,097 
 
 551 
 
 13.12 
 
 12. 
 
 Dunkirk 
 
 17,599 
 
 
 13.21 
 
 13. 
 
 Olcan 
 
 17,981 
 
 
 13.94 
 
 14. 
 
 Batavia 
 
 15,247 
 
 ?1 T 
 
 13.96 
 
 15. 
 
 Rochester . , 
 
 245,077 
 
 
 14.33 
 
 10. 
 
 Ossining- 
 
 12,987 
 
 1^7 
 
 14.42 
 
 17. 
 
 Elmira 
 
 39,847 
 
 =;77 
 
 J / / 
 
 14.56 
 
 18. 
 
 Amsterdam , 
 
 34,317 
 
 407 
 
 14.57 
 
 19. 
 
 White Plains 
 
 17,487 
 
 ~-ijy 
 
 14.73 
 
 20. 
 
 PeekskiU 
 
 17,327 
 
 255 
 
 14.74 
 
 21. 
 
 X^ew York , . 
 
 5,006,222 
 
 74 80^ 
 
 14.76 
 
 22. 
 
 Oneonta 
 
 10,495 
 
 1 ^4 
 
 14.76 
 
 23. 
 
 Rensselaer 
 
 11,027 
 
 1 ^ 
 
 14.81 
 
 24. 
 
 Corning 
 
 13.459 
 
 —WO 
 
 15.12 
 
 25. 
 
 Syracuse 
 
 146,583 
 
 9 90^ 
 ,^,0 J 
 
 15.14 
 
 26. 
 
 Lockport .... 
 
 18,749 
 
 
 15.18 
 
 27. 
 
 Cohoes 
 
 25,049 
 
 000 
 
 15.32 
 
 28. 
 
 W'ateryliet 
 
 15,037 
 
 9^1 
 
 15.44 
 
 29. 
 
 Hornell 
 
 14,304 
 
 991 
 
 15.46 
 
 30. 
 
 Buffalo 
 
 454,112 
 
 7 
 
 15.52 
 
 31. 
 
 ( jloyersxille 
 
 21.177 
 
 ^^1 
 
 15.63 
 
 32. 
 
 Ithaca 
 
 15.489 
 
 
 15.71 
 
 33. 
 
 I-\ilton 
 
 11.135 
 
 1 7(\ 
 
 15.84 
 
 34. 
 
 Auburn 
 
 34.178 
 
 ~ " -1 
 
 16.21 
 
 35. 
 
 Poughkeepsie 
 
 32,080 
 
 516 
 
 16.33 
 
 36. 
 
 \\'atertown 
 
 26,899 
 
 441 
 
 16.42 
 
 37. 
 
 Port lervis 
 
 9,413 
 
 157 
 
 16.75 
 
 38. 
 
 Lackawanna 
 
 19,012 
 
 322 
 
 16.91 
 
 39. 
 
 Oswego 
 
 25.4^8 
 
 433 
 
 17.02 
 
 40. 
 
 Oneida 
 
 9,472 
 
 164 
 
 17.35 
 
 
 
 Al 
 
 
 
Deaths Per 
 
 Population Deaths 1,000 Population 
 
 41. Cortland 12,390 216 17.42 
 
 42. Glens Falls 16,307 284 17.44 
 
 43. Geneva 13,232 230 17.43 
 
 44. Little Falls 13,025 230 17.67 
 
 45. Albany 109,279 1,992 18.25 
 
 46. Bing-hamton 55,905 1,016 18.27 
 
 47. Plattsburg- 10,360 190 18.32 
 
 48. Kingston 26,546 489 18.43 
 
 49. Beacon 10,826 199 18.47 
 
 50. Saratoga Springs 14,899 259 18.53 
 
 51. Newburgh 27,596 517 18.73 
 
 52. Utica 82,434 1,548 18.81 
 
 53. Hudson 11,544 220 19.12 
 
 54. Canandaigua 7,515 146 19.43 
 
 55. Middletown 18,491 388 20.51 
 
 56. Troy 74,003 1,592 21.56 
 
 57. Rome 23,868 530 22.23 
 
 58. Ogdensburg 16,360 427 26.10 
 
 POPULATION AND AREA OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES 
 
 OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 1914. 
 
 Area in Population 
 
 Population Square Miles Per Square Mile 
 
 1. New York 5,066,544 326.00 15,541 
 
 2. Chicago 2,450,000 191.50 12,794 
 
 3. Philadelphia 1,660,000 129.50 12,819 
 
 4. St. Louis 790,000 61.33 12,881 
 
 5. Boston 750,000 47.00 12,958 
 
 6. Cleveland 660,000 51.80 12,474 
 
 7. Baltimore 600,000 31.50 19,047 
 
 8. Pittsburgh 565,000 40.67 13,892 
 
 9. Detroit 560,000 42.00 13,333 
 
 10. Buffalo 454,112 42.00 10,812 
 
 11. San Francisco ... . 450,000 38.87 11,577 
 
 12. Milwaukee 420,000 25.72 16,329 
 
 13. Newark, N. J 400,000 23.50 17,021 
 
 14. Jersey City 300,000 23.00 13,043 
 
 15. Providence 245,000 18.26 13,417 
 
 16. Rochester 245,077 21.87 11,206 
 
 17. Paterson, N. J... . 135,000 8.75 15,429 
 
 18. Cambridge, Mass 110,000 6.53 16,845 
 
 42 
 
Area in Population 
 
 
 
 Population Square Miles Per 
 
 Square Mile 
 
 19. 
 
 T^rentnn IST T 
 
 103,000 
 
 9.25 
 
 1 1 H'^ 
 
 20. 
 
 Reading" Pa. 
 
 105,000 
 
 9.50 
 
 11,053 
 
 21. 
 
 Ca.niden N J 
 
 102,000 
 
 9.25 
 
 1 1 ,027 
 
 22. 
 
 T.awrenre TVTa^^ 
 
 95,000 
 
 7.50 
 
 12 666 
 
 23. 
 
 S n m p r V 1 1 1 TVT ^i ^ s 
 
 85,000 
 
 4.50 
 
 1 8 888 
 
 24. 
 
 Hoboken, N. J. . . . 
 
 75,000 
 
 1.12 
 
 66,694 
 
 25. 
 
 Savannah Ga 
 
 72,000 
 
 6.72 
 
 10,714 
 
 26. 
 
 Charleston, S. C. . . 
 
 60,000 
 
 4.50 
 
 11^216 
 
 27. 
 
 Bayonne, N. J . . . . 
 
 65,000 
 
 4.25 
 
 15,294 
 
 28. 
 
 Passaic, N. J 
 
 66,000 
 
 3.50 
 
 18,848 
 
 29. 
 
 Mt. Vernon, N. Y. 
 
 37,653 
 
 4.21 
 
 8,944 
 
 
 Per square mile of 
 
 area Mount Vernon 
 
 I exceeds in 
 
 population 
 
 every other city in the 
 
 L^nited States except the twenty-eight in 
 
 the 
 
 foregoing table. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Among those it outranks in this respect 
 
 are the foil 
 
 owing : 
 
 1. 
 
 Cincinnati 
 
 402,000 
 
 70.08 
 
 5,742 
 
 2. 
 
 Nev^^ Orleans .... 
 
 360,000 
 
 196.25 
 
 1,834 
 
 3. 
 
 Washington, D. C 
 
 353,370 
 
 70.00 
 
 5,048 
 
 4. 
 
 Los Angeles .... 
 
 450,000 
 
 121.25 
 
 3,711 
 
 5. 
 
 Minneapolis 
 
 350,000 
 
 53.50 
 
 6,542 
 
 6. 
 
 Kansas Citv, Mo. 
 
 280,000 
 
 60.00 
 
 4,666 
 
 7. 
 
 Seattle, Wash 
 
 303,000 
 
 51.92 
 
 5,836 
 
 8. 
 
 Indianapolis 
 
 260,000 
 
 38.00 
 
 6,842 
 
 9. 
 
 St. Paul, Minn 
 
 240,000 
 
 54.44 
 
 4,409 
 
 10. 
 
 Denver, Col 
 
 250,000 
 
 60.00 
 
 4,167 
 
 11. 
 
 
 260,000 
 
 53.46 
 
 4,863 
 
 12. 
 
 Louisville 
 
 250,000 
 
 29.00 
 
 8,620 
 
 13. 
 
 Richmond 
 
 165,000 
 
 26.00 
 
 6,345 
 
 14. 
 
 Utica 
 
 82,434 
 
 12.00 
 
 6,869 
 
 15. 
 
 
 72,000 
 
 8.70 
 
 8,276 
 
 Also 17 other cities with population between 100,000 and 
 200,000 and 49 other cities with population between 50,000 and 
 100,000. 
 
 43 
 
POPULATION IN CITIES OF THE STATE OF 
 NEW YORK OF MORE THAN 25,000. 
 
 Census Census Increase Per Cent, 
 
 of of In Five of 
 
 1910 1915 Years Increase 
 
 Mount Vernon .. 30,919 37,623 6,704 22.4 
 
 Yonkers 79,803 90,153 10,350 12.9 
 
 New Rochcllc ... 28,867 31,754 2,887 10.0 
 
 Xew York ... .4,766,883 5,006,554 239,671 5.0 
 
 Jamestown 31,297 37,839 6,542 20.9 
 
 Binghamton . . . 48,433 55.905 7.472 16.5 
 
 Poughkeepsie ... 27,936 32,080 4,144 14.9 
 
 Rochester 218,149 245,077 26,928 12.4 
 
 Utica 74.419 82,434 8,015 10.8 
 
 Schenectady .... 72,826 80,384 7,558 10.4 
 
 Amsterdam 31.267 34,317 3,050 9.7 
 
 Albany 100,253 109,927 9,674 9.6 
 
 Syracuse 137,249 146,583 9,334 6.8 
 
 Buffalo 423.715 454,112 20,397 4.8 
 
 Kingston 25,908 26,546 638 2.5 
 
 Elmira 37,176 39,847 671 1.8 
 
 Watertown 26,730 26,909 179 0.7 
 
 Niagara Falls ... 30,445 42.097 11,652 38.3 
 
 The following named cities have lost in population during the 
 past five years : 
 
 Census Census Loss in 
 
 of of Five Per Cent. 
 
 1910 1915 Years Loss 
 
 Troy 76,813 74.003 2,810 3.7 
 
 Auburn 34,668 34,178 490 1.5 
 
 There is only one of these cities in the State which has grown 
 faster than Mount \'ernon, that is Niagara Falls. 
 
 The growth of ]^Iount \'ernon has been more than twice that 
 of Xew Rochelle and almost twice that of Yonkers. 
 
 44