The general opinion was so much against these “sky-scrapers” that the Board of Trade and Transportation decided to send a bill to the Legislature in Albany, praying that the erection of such dangerous buildings might be stopped.

They ask that no structure may be higher than 165 feet.  This will allow for twelve and thirteen stories.  It was proposed to run up some offices that would be twenty-two stories high, and it was this that frightened people into action on the subject.

The Board of Trade and Transportation does some very good work for the citizens of New York.

It is made up of men who have large business interests in the city, and they watch all the bills that are sent up to Albany, and all the work done by the Mayor and Aldermen, and take notice of every part of the city’s government, to make sure that the best interests of the citizens are being cared for.

This Board is of the greatest service to all New Yorkers.  The business interests of a city demand that all the roads shall be kept in good repair, that the ways of reaching the city shall be many and easy, and that the fares shall not be too high.

Over all these matters, and a great many more which we have not space to write about, the Board of Trade and Transportation watches faithfully and untiringly.

* * * * *

There was a meeting of the George Junior Republic Association the other day.  Many interesting things were spoken of in regard to the settlement at Freeville.

You may not perhaps know what a wonderful association this Republic is.

The Junior Republic was started in 1890 by Mr. William R. George.

This kind-hearted man read a story in a newspaper, about a ragged boy in City Hall Park, eagerly watching a little yellow spot on the grass which he hoped was a dandelion.  It told how, after a weary waiting until the policeman’s back was turned, the boy dashed under the forbidden rail, stooped for the prize, only to find that it was a bit of orange peel.

Mr. George was touched by the story of the boy’s disappointment; the more he thought of it, and of the longing of a city child for the trees and flowers of the country, the more he grieved that so many little ones never had a chance of seeing the green fields, and enjoying the wonders of Nature.

The result of it all was, that Mr. George collected twenty-two poor little ragged lads, and gave them a two weeks’ outing at Freeville that summer.

From this beginning, the whole wonderful plan of the Republic shaped itself in his mind.

He thought that if he could get hold of the rough children of the streets, who have no kind parents to care for them, and use the summer holiday to influence them to good actions, he would be doing a great work for them.

He felt that the best way to bring this about was to put them in a miniature world of their own, where they would have the same trials and temptations as in their city homes, but with the advantage of having some one at hand to show them the right way.