USA > New York > Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 2 > Part 14
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The Park is a triangular space of 10} acres between Broad- way. Chatham. and Chamber Sts .. near the present center of continercial business in the city. The City Hall, Hall of Records. Rotunda, and New City Hall, used for courts and public offices. are located upon it. It has a large fountain, which is seldom used. This tract, forinerly called . The Fields," or " The Com- mm." from the beginning has been owned by the city and used for public purposes. While distant from the settled portion, it was used as a place of execution ; and the victims of the negro plot proscription were here borned. In the early part of the Revo- lution the Sons of Liberty here rallied to assert their rights; and at a later period it became the scene of cruelty as the prison and execution ground of American patriots. The s. gateway was formerly of marble, beautifully finished. and surmounted by two marble badls. gifts from the Turkish Government to Com- modore Perry, and by him presented to the city. They had been made for canon balls. The foundation of this gateway was laid with great pomp. the Mayor presiding and depositing in it varions coins, papers, and menuorials. The Park is now i
partly surrounded by an iron fence, and its sides are open for some distance to allow the easy passage of pedestrians. Its central location renders it a favorite place for popular gather- ings, and, from the throng constantly passing, an audience can he swelled to thousands in a brief space of time. This Park is valued at $3,000,000.
Washington Square, containing 94 acres, formerly the " Pr.t- ter's Field," lies between Waverly Place, MeDongal, Fourth, and Wooster Sts. It is handsomely laid out, and is surrounded with residences of a superior class. It has a fountain, and is a favor- ite resort for promenade. It is estimated that 100,000 persons were buried here before the ground was taken for a park. It is valned at $816,000.
Union Park is an oval area, with a fine fountain, on Broad- way, bounded by University Place, 4th Avenue, 14th and 17th Sts. It is much frequented in summer by nurses and children. It is valued at $504,000. Adjoining the park, but not within its paling, is the equestrian statue of Washington, in bronze, by H. K. Browne, erected in 1856 at a cost of over $30,000. 1t is 14 feet high, and stauds ou a grauite pedestal of about the same height.
Tompkins Square, formerly a parade ground, is bounded by Avenues A and B and by 6th and 10th Sts. it is still new; but it is well laid out and will become an ornament to the eastern side of the city. A fountain is under construction, and other improvements are in progress.
Madison Square, comprising 10 acres, between 5th and Madi- son Avenues and 23d and 26th Sts., is beautifully laid out and planted with trees, The adjoining streets are built up with first class dwellings, and it is one of the most fashionable places of promenade in the city. It is valued at $520,000. Adjoining this square on the west is a moumeut to the memory of General Worth.
Stuyvesant Square lies between 15th and 17th Sts. and Ist and 3d Avenues, the 2d Avenue passing through it. It has a fountain on each side of 2d Avenue, and is tastefully laid out and planted with trces aud shrubs. It was presented to the corporatiou by the late Peter G. Stuyvesant, and is valued at $196,000.
Reservoir Square, adjoining the distributing reservoir, bc- tweeu 40th aud 42d Sts., on 6th Avenue, from 1851 to 1858 was occupied by the Crystal Palace. It is valued at $150,000, and is at present unimproved as a park.
Manhattan Square, between Sth and 9th Avenues and 77th and 81st Sts., is a rough, nuimproved piece of land, valued at $58,000.
Hamilton Square, at Yorkville, between 3d and 5th Avenucs and 68th and 69th Sts., has a rolling surface, mostly above the level of adjoining streets, and is uninclosed and unimproved. The corner stone of a monument to Washington was laid with pompous ceremonies on this park Oct. 4, 1847; but the patriot- ism that instigated the enterprise was expended in the effort, and the work was abaudoned without further action. The park is valued at $97,000.
Mount Morris Square, between 120th and 124th Sts .. ou both sides of 5th Avenue, uct yet laid ont, is valued at $40,000.
A square of 17 acres was reserved for a park at Blooming- dale, between 8th and 9th Avenues and 53d and 57th Sts .; but the location of the Central Park has led to its abandonment. lu various parts of the city are several sinall triangular plats at the intersection of streets, valued at $10,000 to $15,000 eacli. The city also contains several parks not belonging to the city, which are laid ont with great care and are truly oruamental.
St. John's Park. or Hudson Square, fronting St. Jolin's Church and bounded by Hudson, Varick, Beach, and Laight Sts., be- longs to Trinity Church, and is valned at $400,000. It is kept for the exclusive use of the inhabitauts living near it, who pur- chase keys of the keeper at $10 per annum. It contains a beautiful fountain.
Grammercy Park. between 20th and 21st Sts. and 3d and 4th Avennes, is owned by those living around it, having been ceded to thein by Samuel B. Ruggles. It is inclosed with an iror railing aud a thick hedge of sweet print, and is planted with: ornamental trees and shrubs. It has a fountain in the center.
2 This department has a Board of Fire Wurdens, consisting of 14 members, a Chief Engineer and 13 assistants, and 3.700 men, of whom 1.922 are ntembers of engine companies, 1,262 of hose companies, and 502 of hook and Jadder companies. This body of men constitutes a distinct and powerful combina- tion, whose services, although gratuitous, are prompt and in every respect praiseworthy, and whose interests the city author- ities find it their policy to protect. The city is divided into 8 lire districts, furnished with 11 district fire alarm bells, all connected by telegraphic signals. There are 47 engine compa- nies. 57 hose companies, 15 hook and ladder companies, and 4 bydraut companies. The first class engines have companies of
424
NEW YORK COUNTY.
The Bureau of Lamps and Gas has in charge the lighting of the streets.1
The Croton Aqueduct Department is under a board styled the Croton Aqueduct Board, consisting of a President, Commissioner, Chief Engineer, and Assistant, appointed by the Mayor and Aldermen for five years. It has charge of all structures and property connected with the supply of Croton water and the collection of water rents, of the underground drainage of the city, of publie sewers, of permits for street vaults, of paving and repairing streets, and of digging and constructing wells. It has a Bureau of Water Rents, and one of Pipes, Sewers, and Pave- ments. The department was organized in July, 1849, under an act passed April 11 of that year. Previous to this the Water Commissioners were appointed by the Governor and Senate.2
70 inen, the second of 60, and the third of 50. The hook and ladder companies have each 50 men, and the hose companies each 30. The number of fires in the year, ending Feb. 17, 1859, WAS 261, and of alarms, 160. The loss by fire on buildings was $593,647, and on stock $514,999,-of which the Crystal Palace, burned in Oct. 1858, formed a large item. During the last year two large steam fire engines have been obtained; but, except in extraordinary cases. they are not used. The city owns about 80,000 feet of hose. The Department elects one Fire Commis- sioner annually for a term of 5 years from among exempt fire- men. These commissioners forin a Board to decide upon the formation of new volnnteer companies, to investigate applica- tions for admission to companies, to examine into charges against members. and for cause to suspend or remove them. The Fire Department possesses a fund derived from special trusts, donations, festivals, concerts, fines for violation of fire laws, and other sources, the income of which is applied in aid of the families of deceased and disabled firemen. The report of 1857 Allowed an expenditure of $30.567.91 by the trustees of this fund. Among the items of this expense were 1,978 pairs of shoes and 500 tons of coal. The invested fund amounts to $95.250. Two scholarships for educating the sons of firemen in the University of New York have been endowed by Myndert Van Schaick.
1 The city gas lights are furnished by three general com- panies, as follows :-
The New York Gas Light Company was incorp. March 26, 1823, with a capital of $1,000,000. It has works on 21st and 22d Sts., from Ist Avenue to East River, and lias 6 large gas holders at that station and 7 others at different parts of the city. It sup- plies the lamps s. of Grand St., and has about 130 miles of mains under the streets.
Manhattan Gas Light Company was incorp. Feb. 26, 1830, with a capital of $4,000.000. It has 2 manufactories of gas,-one on the Hudson, at the foot of 18th St .. capable of making daily 2,000,000 ft., and one on East River. at the foot of 14th St., mak- ing 400,000 ft., and when completed will be capable of making 3,000,000 ft. daily. It supplies the city . of Grand St., and has about 200 miles of street mains. It lights 8,000 street lamps and supplies 22,000 stores and dwellings. Iu 1857 it made 600.000,000 fert of gas.
Harlem Gus Light Company was incorp. Feb. 8, 1855, with a capital of $250,000. Its works are situated upon Harlem River, at the N. extremity of 1st Avenue. There are also several minor gas works for furnishing light to hotels and private esta- hlishments.
2 The Croton Aqueduct is the most extensive and costly work in America for supplying a city with water ; and its magnitude justifies a somewhat minute account of its origin and subse- qnent history.
In 1741 the General Assembly passed a law (which was con- tinued by repeated enactments) for mending and keeping in repair the public wells and pumps of the city. In 1774 Christo- | in 2 divisions, designed to contain 36 ft. or 20,000,000 gallons. pher Colles contracted to erect a reservoir on Broadway, between Pearl and White Sts .; and the plan was partially carried into effect before the Revolution. In 1785 schemes were again agi- tated, which led to surveys and examinations; and in 1799 the Manhattan Company was formed, ostensibly to supply the city with water, but really as a banking institution, with a perpetual charter and large privileges. Its principal well was at the corner of Duane and Cross Sts., whence the water was raised by steam and distributed in pipes; but the supply was limited in amount and was of very impure quality. During the next thirty years varions schemes were proposed for constructing common and artesian wells, and open canals from the Bronx and other | up to 1859 :-- streams in Westchester co. and Conn., and several companies | Previous to 1849, 1,024,051 feet. | Previons to 1854. 30,575 feet. were formed; but no practical steps were taken to secure the July to Dec. 1849, Tu 1850, 1855, 36.921 4 1851, 41.328 4 20.236 : reenit. An act was passed May 2, 1834, which authorized the city to supply itself with "pure and wholesome water" and to 1856, 29.983 4 issue its stock to defray the cost. The Governor and Senate 1852, 65.199 4 1857, 23,320 " 1×53, 1858, 19,550 4 Total 1,388,380 ft. 33,782 4 63.535 4 appointed Stephen Allen. R. M. Brown, Charles Dusenberry, Saul Allev, C. T. Woodruff. and William W. Fox Commission- ers. under whom accurate surveys were made and various plans 01 262 mi. 5.020 ft and estimates considered, which resulted in recommending that the water of the Croton be taken near its month and brought in an aqueduct to a reservoir on Murray Hill, 114 ft. 41.324 feet. above tide. This plan was approved. March 11, by the Mayor, 6 20 inch pipe and In April, 1835, by the people, by a vote of 11,367 to 5,963. 930,816 " 4 inch pipe 9,472 feet. 5,400 * David B. Douglass was appointed Chief Engineer; but iu Oct. 10 5.875 4 30 4 44,862 4. 1836, he was succeeded by John B. JJervis, The work was begun 12 4 279,804 4 36 4 60,578 4 in the spring of 1837. and so far completed as to allow the ad- 16 14,978 « 48 - 4.0$7 4 mission of water into the distributing reservoir, July 4, 1842.
Its completion was commemorated by a grand civic celebratiou Oct. 14 of the same year.
This aqueduct is a covered canal, of solid stone and brick masonry, arched above and below, 8 ft. 5} in. high, 7 ft. 5 in. wide at the widest part, and 40} mi. in length from the dam to the distributing reservoir. It has a descent of 47.9 ft., or 13 In. to a mi., and a capacity of supplying 60,000,000 gallons of water per day. At intervals of I mi. are openings through small towers for ventilation. The flow of water is generally 2 to 3 ft. in depth, or 27,000,000 gallons a day. It is covered below the reach of frosts; and the surface works are carefully guarded by fences from injury hy cattle. It passes through 16 tunnels in rock, varying from 160 to 1,263 ft., with a total of 6,841 ft. In Westchester co. it crosses 25 streams 12 to 70 ft. below the line of grade, besides numerous small brooks furnished with cul- verts. Harlein River is crossed upon High Bridge in two 48 inch mains, 12 ft. below the level of the grade of the aqueduct, and furnished with gate chambers at each end. This bridge is of granite, 1,450 ft. long, 21 ft. wide between the parapets, 100 ft. above the surface of high tide to the crown of the arch, and 114 ft. to the top of the parapets. It rests upon 15 arches, 8 of which are of 80 ft. span and 7 of 50 ft. Upon one of the piers is inscribed the following record of the construction of the bridge :-
AQUEDUCT BRIDGE. JOHN B. JERVIS, Chief -
BEGUN 1839; FINISHED 1848. STEPHEN ALLEN, SAUL ALLEY, C. DUSENBERRY,
II. ALLEN, Princ. Assist. ENGI-
P. ILASTIE, Resident NEERS
E. H. TRACY, Assistant
W. W. Fox, MISSIONERS.
T. T. WOODRUFF,
SAMUEL ROBERTS, ARNOLD MASON,
CONTRACT- ORS.
The aqueduct of masonry is continued from the bridge 2 mi. to the Manhattan Valley, a depression which is 4,171 ft. wide and 102 ft. deep. This is crossed by an inverted siphon of iron pipes 4,180 ft. in length, with a gate chamber at each end. The masonry is then resumed, and the aqueduct is carried 2.17.3 mi. to the receiving reservoir in the Central Park, crossing iu this distance the Clendening Valley, 1,900 ft. across and 50 ft. deep, on an aqueduct, with archways for three streets, each of which has 30 ft. span for carriage way and 10 ft. span on encl. side for foot passengers.
The receiving reservoir in the Central Park is 1,826 ft. long, 836 ft. wide, covers an area of 3,505 acres, and has a capacity of 150,000,000 gallons. The banks are of earth, 18 ft. wide at top, and rise 9 ft. above the level of the water. The pipes pass through brick vaults. A new reservoir is now under construc- tion adjacent to the former ones, and also upon Central Park. It will cover an area of 106 acres, and will be surrounded by an earth hank of irregular outline, which will constitute a broad promenade. The distributing reservoir at Murray Hill. between 40th and 42d Sts. and 5th and 6th Avennes, is a stone structure Its surface is 115 ft. above mean tide.
The cost of the work was $8.575.000. including water rights and land, besides $1,800.000 for distributing pipes. Tbe expense came within 5 per cent. of the estimate of Mr. Jervis, the Engineer. The annual interest, amounting to $665,000, is paid by direct water taxes and by some indirect taxes ; and a sinking fund is provided for the final liquidation of the debt. The construction of this work has lowered the annual rates of fire insurance about 40 cts. on every $100 insured. Sing Sing Prison is supplied from the aqueduct as it passes near that place.
The amount of pipe laid in different years has been as follows,
The amount of pipe of different sizes (internal diameter) laid np to 1859 has been-
A survey of the Croton Valley was begun in 1857, with the
WATER COM-
GEORGE LAW,
425
NEW YORK COUNTY.
The Almshouse Department is under the charge of a Board of Ten Governors of the Almshouse, generally known as the "Ten Governors."] The department was organized under an act of April 6, 1849, and was modified the succeeding year. This board has charge of the Alms- house, of the Relief and Support of the Poor, of the County Lunatic Asylum, of the Nurseries for Poor and Destitute Children, the Penitentiary, and all the city prisons and houses of detention, except the sheriff's jail in Elbridge Street and the House of Refuge. All ordinary appropriations for this department must be submitted to a board consisting of the Presidents of the Boards of Al- dermen and Councilmen, the Mayor and Comptroller.2 If this board approves, it reports to the
view of ascertaining its topography minutely, the bettor to decide upon future reservoirs or other structures as they may be fouud necessary. The ridge lino or watershed inclosing the valley above the dam is 101 mi. in length. The stream is 39 mi. in length, and its tributaries 136 mi. The total area of the valley is 352 square mi .; and within it are 31 natural lakes and ponds, many of which are available as reservoirs, and 16 of which have been minutely surveyed and estimated.
The revenues from water rente from Oct. 5, 1842, to Dec. 31, 1858, have amounted to $6,725,947.98; and the amount has in- creased from year to year,-except in 1851 and 1856, when it fell off.
The public sewers connected with this department, since Feb. 6, 1846. have cost an expenditure of $163,527.13; and the nmount of $248,572.00 has been collected from permits to connect premises with the public sewers. Tbo length of sewers con- structed by this department since its organization in 1849 has been 92 mi. 1,340 ft.
1 The Governors of the Almshouse are elected by single ballot, one being voted for and two elected. This places the board above the control of party politics.
2 Public measures for the relief of the poor are among the first necessities of a civilized government; and one of the earliest statutes of the General Assembly in 1683 was for this object. In 1699 a law was passed for the relief of the poor at their homes; and about 1714 the first almshouse was built, on the present site of the City ITall. In 1795 a lottery of £10,000 was granted for a new alinsbouse, aud the large brick lmilding on the Park near Chambers St. (burned in 1854) was erected. In 1811 a tract on the East River, at the foot of 26th St., was bought ; and the first stone was laid Aug. I, 181I. The present main edifice at Bellevue Hospital was opened April 22, 1816, as a hospital, penitentiary, and almshouse, at a cost of $421,109. The management was for many years intrusted to five commissioners appointed by the Common Council. In 1822 the average number of paupers was 1,547 ; and the cost of the establishment for several years was as follows :-
In 1817
$90,886
In 1820. $84,420
" 1818,
107,600
" 1821. 85,000
" 1819
105,509
1822.
82,200
The law tben required paupers to be returned to the town where they had gained residence; but this was often difficult, and vessels then, as since, often landed paupers in or near the city from distant places. In 1822 two vessels put about 100 paupers on shore a few miles from the city, and brought on their baggage. Efforts were made to remedy these abuses; but it was found difficult in a large population to distinguish those coming into tlie city liable to public charge, until they applied for relief in the early winter months .- Sen. Doc. No. 86, 1824.
Meanwhile the affairs of the institutions at Bellevue became very corrupt and mercenary; but a malignant fever, which broke out in 1825 and committed frightful ravages in the filthy wards and loathsome cells, forced the question of reform upon the public. In 1845 the Almishouse was placed under the care of a single commissioner, and in 1849 the present system of super- vision went into operation.
Blackwells Island was bought in 1828, and Randalls Island in 1835. In 1848 the Almshouse was completed on the former ; and the whole of both islands is now devoted to objects of charity and reform, Randalls Island being in part under the care of the Governors of the Alinshouse and in part under the Trustees of the House of Refuge.
Upon Blackwells Island, commencing at the s. end, are located respectively the Small Pox Hospital, the Penitentiary, Island Ilospital, female and male Almshouses, Workhouse, and Lunatic Asylum. Upon Wards Island is the Potters' Field, under the charge of the Teu Governors; and upon Randalls Island are the extensive nurseries and hospitals for poor children. Bellevue Ilospital, the largest in the city, remains under the charge of the Governors as a fever, surgical, and general hospital. The Colored Orphan Asylum, Colored Home, four city prisons, and the out-door poor, are also under the care of this department. A short sketch of these several charges is essential to a full kuowledge of the city.
Bellevue. Hospital. is 350 ft. long, the center portion 5 stories high and the wings 4 stories. Upon each story are verandas and outside stairways of iron. Its arrangements throughont are ample and judicious, and it can accommodate 1,350 patients. It has a clinical theater fitted up for the accommodation of large classes of students. In 1858 the number of prescriptions was 145,503; and the number of birthis is about 350 anuually.
The results of its operation during 10 years have been as fol- low8 :-
YEARS.
Admitted.
Discharged.
Remaining.
Dird
1849
3,114
2,716
512
483
1850
3.728
3,224
571
445
1851
5.401
5,304
609
550
1852
5,020
4,449
547
633
1853
4,836
4,210
594
579
1854
6,213
5,634
674
725
1855
5,743
5.476
582
629
1856
5,484
5,186
602
604
1857
7,074
6,166
853
667
1858
7,925
7,512
843
812
The Small Por Hospital, Blackwells Island, was commenced April 1, 1854, and was finished in the same year. It is built, in the English gothic style, of stone quarried upon the island. It is 104 ft. by 44, 3 stories high, and cost $38,000. It is not de- signed for the treatment of paupers only, but is fitted up with express reference to receiving persons able and willing to pay for their treatment, and where, secluded from friends to whom they might impart their disease, they may receive every atten- tion that science and the most atteutive nursing cau bestow. It is the only hospital of the kind in or near the city, and takes the place of some old wooden buildings previously erected on the island.
Its statistics have been ss follows :-
YEARS.
Admitted.
Discharged.
Remaining.
Died.
1849
263
24I
13
20
1850
208
132
48
41
1851
296
276
10
59
1852
149
122
12
25
1853
156
104
25
39
1854
185
165
5
46
1855
56
4S
3
10
1856.
134
11
27
1857
197
148
97
33
1858
216
198
5
40
The Penitentiary, opposite 55th St., is built of hewn stoje and rubble masonry. It consists of a middle building, 65 by 70 ft., and two wings, each 50 by 200 ft., making the whole length of the building 465 ft. A new wing was finished in 1859; and another is needed for the accommodation of the inmates. The total number of cells is 1,736. The convicts are employed as occasion requires in quarrying and dressing stone for buildings upon the island, and as blacksmiths, shoemakers, carpenters, weavers, coopers, painters, wheelwrights, &c. This establish- ment was finished in 1848,-since which time there have been admitted and discharged the following numbers :-
YEARS.
Admit- led.
Dis- charged.
Re- main- ing.
YEARS.
Admit- ted.
Dis- charged.
Re- main. ing.
1849
2,109
2,066
809
.1854
5,983
6,286
873
1850
3,575
3.581
803
1855
5,197
5,503
511
1851
3,450
3,374
879
1856
1.01I
1,549
533
IS52
4.444
4.150
1,173
1857
3,058
1,640
743
1853
5,236
5,233
1,176
1858
2,974
2.075
773
Much the largest number of convicts are received from the police courts: over a third are females, and a very large pro portion are foreigners. Over half are committed for petit lai ceny : and the next largest number for assault and battery. The terin of sentence is usually 1. 2. 3. 4. or 6 months: and but very few are sentenced to 1 year and upward. The longest terin of years reported in 1855 was Jo, and this in only a single instance.
The Island Hospital. Blackwells Istand, was first erected ib 1849, under the name of the " Penitentiary Hospital." Its name was changed Dec. 15. 1857. The building was found to be con- structed "in a most reckless and careless manner, and as a public building was a reproach to any city." It continued. in uso, however, until destroyed by lire, Feb. 13, 1858. At the
426
NEW YORK COUNTY.
Supervisors; and if it disapproves, it returns to the Ten Governors with objections. If the latter still adheres by a vote of two-thirds, the subject must be reported to the Supervisors.
time of the fire it centained 600 inmates; hut they were all re- meved without loss of life. In Feh. 1858, a most humane regu- lation was adopted, hy which the suffering poor are relieved without being committed as vagrants. The building now in the process of erection to supply the place of the foriner is 3+ stories high, includes 14 wards and accourmodations for 744 patients. As on other buildings on the island, cenvict and workhouse laber is largely employed in the erection. The statistics of the hospital have been as follows :-
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