USA > New York > New York City > Leslie's history of the greater New York, Volume I > Part 55
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30.000. In 1894 the Lucania made the quickest passage vet achieved between Queenstown and Sandy Hook, in five days and eight hours, the Campania just previously accomplishing the journey in five days and nine hours.
In spite of the panie or the conditions that premonished it. the citi- zens of New York were not behind others in duly celebrating the four hundreth anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus. As the time approached it was eminently proper that the thought should have occurred to mark that event by an Industrial Exhibition, or a World's Fair, such as had expressed to the nations our appreciation of the one hundred years of independence in 1876. And it was also natural that as this idea took shape the spot for the holding of such a fair should have suggested itself as unquestionably the metropolis of the continent given to the world by the genins and perseverance of the Genoese discoverer. In Enrope such expositions are invariably located in the largest cities of the country inviting the display; Paris, London, Amsterdam, Vienna, have been their scene. Philadelphia was so nearly the largest city that its historie connection with the Declaration of Independence properly turned the scale in her favor in 1876. But in 1892 by every consideration of fitness, as well as his- torie sentiment-New York representing the acme of achievement realized by that spirit of commercial enterprise which sent Columbus across the Atlantic and made his discovery so significant for Europe -the Fair should have been held there. Besides, as a mere matter of convenience, New York was the place for it. Vessels laden with the precious products of the old world of the new. or bearing the ponder- ous constructions that were to exhibit their engineering or mannfac- turing skill, could be brought immediately to the grounds appointed for the purpose without further transhipping their cargoes. Of a sud- den, however, a ery arose from the West that Chicago must be the scene of the Columbian Fair; and pressure was at once brought to bear upon Congress, and all the arts of the demagogue and small politicians applied to its members, as if the country were in the midst of a presidential campaign or a local party fight, to induce that body to vote that the Fair be held in the far inland town. As poetic fitness or historie propriety are not considerations of minch weight with the average member of Congress, especially those hailing from the ernde and breezy West, Congress voted as the West desired, and Chicago won the prize. All the bitterness of the contest, fortunately, was dis- sipated in the splendid success of the undertaking; and the beauty of the fairyland, created on the borders of Lake Michigan by the aid of its waters, made up for the unrivaled advantages of hill and river scenery which would have furnished the setting for the gems of architecture on the spot intended for the exposition on Morningside and Riverside heights in this city. By reason of the fear that men's minds might be unduly absorbed by an exciting presidential cam-
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paign in 1892 (although that objection was equally pertinent in 1876). it was determined to postpone the Columbian Fair to 1893; while still another enrions chronological misfit was caused by the excessive astronomical acenracy which seized upon some people, whereby they were led to insist that October 12, in 1492, was really October 21 by the later Gregorian correction of the calendar. Therefore, preferring astronomical exactness to the historical associations, they demanded that October 21. 1892, be proclaimed the anniversary of the discovery, and President Harrison accordingly made official announcement of this date as that for the national celebration. To the credit of New York State and city it must be said that this painful Gregorian cor- rectness was disregarded, and October 12 made a legal holiday by legislative action. The city began the celebration on Sunday, October 8, in the various churches, where discourses, appropriately comment- ing on the great providential event. were very generally delivered. At
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AU COMMEMORATE THE FOVR HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY.OF THEDISCOVERY.OFAMERICA.BY CHRISTOPHER. COLVMMEVS.
BY AVTHORITY.OF .THE COMMITTEE.OHOHE HUNDRED . CINZIA
YORK.
OCTOBER. XH:
COLUMBIA CELEBRATION MEDAL.
Twenty-second Street, on Fifth Avenue, an arch was built of trellis work, covered with evergreens. From Twenty-second to Thirty-fourth Street, along Fifth Avenue, one hundred standards were placed on either side of the street, bearing gonfalons or pointed banners with the arms of Ferdinand and Isabella. Lines were stretched across the street from one to the other of each pair, from which were suspended flags and Chinese lanterns. At Fifty-eighth Street there was another arch painted to resemble marble, adorned with bas-reliefs. The whole structure was 160 feet high and 120 feet wide, the opening 80 feet high and 40 feet wide. There were fountains on either side of it. and the bas-reliefs in the panels represented Columbus at the Convent of Rabida, and Columbus at the Court of Spain. On October 10 the cele- bration proper began with a school and college parade, in which 25.000 persons took part. The boys of the public schools had been drilled for months, and they marched like trained soldiers. On Octo-
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ber 11 there was a naval parade, led by United States ships and a few French, Italian, and Spanish war vessels. The parade passed up the North River; as the United States ships anchored in two lines the others sailed up between, and, returning, sailed between them a sec- ond time. In the evening there was a parade of Catholic Societies. October 12 was the high day of the festival. All business was sus- pended by act of the State authorities; fifty thousand persons
marched in the parade on that day, the line of march being from the Battery to Fifty-ninth Street. During the day there was un- veiled the handsome statue of Columbus, standing upon a lofty column, on the circle at Fifty- ninth Street and Eighth Avenue, Central Park; this being a gift to the city by Italian citizens. In the evening there was a parade illuminated by gas and electric light devices; fifty floats passed before the delighted spectators, presenting historical and alle- gorical scenes, and five thousand bicycles ridden by ladies and gentlemen formed a striking fea- ture of the procession.
In preparation for the World's Fair at Chicago the countries of the world had been invited to par- ticipate in a grand international naval display at New York in the spring of 1893. The rendezvous for the assembling of this fleet of many nations was appointed in Hampton Roads, Virginia, where the squadron of the United States " new " navy were waiting to re- COLUMBUS STATUE-EIGHTII AVENUE AND 59TII STREET. ceive them. Neither municipal jealousy nor political chicanery could prevent the display from taking place in the only harbor of America where there could be at once ample room for its movements, and ample oppor- tunity for its being seen and appreciated by an unlimited mmm- ber of spectators. On April 25 the foretaste of succeeding days came in the shape of the three Spanish caravels, made as nearly as possible like the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina, which constituted the fleet of Columbus in 1492. They had been con-
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structed in Spain and successfully towed across the ocean by a United States cruiser. On the morning of that day they were towed np the North River and anchored off Ninety-second Street. Meantime. on that same day, the international fleet arrived from Hampton Roads. and anchored in the Lower Bay. just outside the Narrows. On the morning of April 26, the vessels passed up to their anchoring ground in the North River. The procession was imposing and impressive beyond all language to describe. Up between the Narrows, past the Staten Island shore, between Castle William and the Statue of Lib- erty. past the Battery and between the Manhattan and Jersey banks of the noble Hudson, they steamed in the most stately and steady manner, the huge machines obeying the impulse of their engines and the guidance of their ridders as if they were things of life, keeping distances like files of trained soldiers, without a break or an error. On the west side the line was headed by the United States cruiser Philadelphia, followed by others of the " White Squadron." the New- ark. the Atlanta. the San Francisco, the Bancroft, the Bennington. the Baltimore, the Chicago, the Yorktown. the Charleston, the Vesu- vius, and the Concord. These were followed by the Nuevo Julio. Ar- gentino Republic; the Van Speyek. Netherland; the Kaiserin Angusta and Seeadler, Germany; the line closing with the United States moni- tor, the Miantonomah. Accurately opposite each ship of this line moved the vessels on the eastern side of the river, hundreds of feet away, led by the Blake, Australia. Magicienne, and Tartar, Great Britain; the Dimitri Donstoi. General Admiral, and Rynda, Russia; the Arethuse. Hussard. and Jean Bart. France; the Etna and the Giovanni Banson, Italy; the Infanta Isabella. Reina Regenta, and Nueva Espana, Spain: the Aguidiban. the Tiradentes, and the Repub- lica. Brazil. Places for anchorage had been carefully marked for each. and as they reached their ground every vessel remained station- ary like a sentinel on guard. Ou the next day. Thursday. the 27th. President Cleveland reviewed the fleet by passing between the two lines in the United States dispatch boat the Dolphin. Just above the two leading vessels, opposite Eighty-eighth street. the Dolphin came to anchor; whereupon the Admirals and Captains proceeded from their several ships to pay their respect to the President. On Fri- day, 28th, the sailors and marines from the ships formed a parade. Landing at Forty-second Street, they marched down Broadway. Gov- ernor Flower, escorted by Troop A. led the way, followed by the United States sailors and marines, and then by those from the foreign ships, the commanding officers riding in carriages. There were 12,000 men in line. In the evening the Chamber of Commerce gave a banquet to the visiting officers, at which four hundred and fifty guests sat down.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE CLIMAX OF THE GREATER NEW YORK.
S Mayor William L. Strong began his administration on Jan- uary 1, 1895, the citizens watched with much interest to see what use he would make of his appointing powers. These had been considerably modified by the new State Constitution of 1894. The Mayor was enabled to get rid, much more quickly and readily than before, of officials whom he deemed detri- mental to the service, and left over from the preceding administra- tion. Tweed's charter provided that most of the appointments should
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exceed the Mayor's term, so that even a successor out of harmony with Tammany would be seriously handicapped in seeking to serve the citizens against the politicians. Mayor Strong's appointments gave universal satisfaction. We need mention only a few: Mr. Fran- cis M. Scott, the Democrat who had led the forces of reform in 1890, was made Corporation Counsel: Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, Republican candidate for Mayor in 1886, and now an efficient member of the United States Civil Service Commission, was appointed President of
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the Police Commission. About him and the Commissioner of Street Cleaning. Colonel George E. Waring, centers the chief interest of the new administration. Mr. Roosevelt, with characteristic vigor. pro- posed that the police force should do its duty. He soon infused new life into the department, and raised the tone of the service to such a degree that the hang-dog look, resulting from conscious guilt because of their disgraceful practices recently brought to light, was replaced by one of manly pride. Admission to the force was possible only by fitness. and continuance on it only by merit, and merit was ascer- tained by such searching and unmistakable methods that each man was put on his mettle to do his best in his particular line of duty. It was impossible that under this new régime any laws upon the Statute books should remain unenforced; and here came difficulties. The liquor laws had been left to fall into " innoenons desnetude " under the former system. Their enforcement produced wrath among the citizens of foreign birth. The Germans had nobly stood by the cause of reform and had helped to overwhelm Tammany, but the exertions of the police sadly interfered with their beer-drinking on Sunday. It might have been somewhat more reasonable to find fault with the laws restricting this privilege, and to agitate for a change in them; while at the same time commending that thoroughness and uprightness of administration which conscientiously sought to enforce such laws as were upon the books. But this position was not taken even by such an intelligent leader of opinion as the New York Staats-Zeitung. so often found on the side of reform and purity in city politics. It encouraged. rather than allaved. the opposition against the administration, so that at the next municipal election the German citizens supported Tammany, whereby one or two city offices were recovered. and some of their henchmen were sent to AAlbany. There the Raines law was con- cocted to deal with the liqnor question, and at the same time to save the Republican supremacy. This took the licensing of the traffic ont of the hands of the municipal government, making it a State affair, under the charge of a Commissioner. We are not yet through with the Raines law, and whether it has accomplished its double purpose re- mains to be seen.
People soon began to see that something wonderful had happened in the Department of Street Cleaning. The streets were actually cleaned, the men employed really worked. whereas before these hum- ble functionaries had merely posed at working, flourishing brooms and shovels with no reference to their base mundane uses, but only as badges of office, as guarantees for the right kind of vote before elec- tion, or reward for the same thereafter. Now " White Angels " took their place, an affectionate and grateful title bestowed by the happy New York public upon the men employed by Colonel Waring. He had devised a uniform for his laborers consisting of a white jacket or coat and white pants, which made the cleaners at once conspicnons. The
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men were chosen as in the police department for their efficiency to do the work required, and on no other ground whatever, and an esprit de corps soon awoke among them born of self-respect and pride in their work. Tremendous was the pressure brought to bear upon the Com- missioner to make him yield to political influences in his appoint- ments. But he trusted to the thorough accomplishment of the pur- pose of the department to win the support of public opinion. At one time the next in command under him, alarmed by the threats of poli- E EE EE ticians, said: " Colonel, we will have to do something to pacify them." "Certainly," was the reply; " go right out and do something: clean the streets!" The streets were cleaned, and the public sustained the Commissioner enthusiastically. It was a nuique event when the de- partment turned out in parade for the first time. The citizens ob- tained thereby oenlar evidence of the excellent discipline and the almost military or- ganization of the force. The health of the city was ma- terially improved by the cleanliness of the streets, and even the children in the poorer dis- tricts of the city have been ronsed to a sense of pride in the condition of the thoroughfares in their vicinity. and second the ef- forts of the depart- FOURTEENTH STREET WEST OF UNION SQUARE. ment to keep things tidy. In winter the heavy snowfalls are not allowed to render the city difficult for traffic or disgusting to the sight. In an incredibly short time the snow is gone, and the streets as clean and dry as in summer. Altogether, therefore, the result of the upheaval against Tammany proved satisfactory thus far, and the municipal housecleaning was fitly symbolized by this efficient cleaning of the city's streets. But it is nevertheless a sad commentary on what things were before, that we are all so heartily congratulating ourselves and so eagerly surprised to find this department simply performing the duties assigned to it. and real- izing for onr streets what has long been the commonest and entirely expected condition in European cities.
The happy event of 1851 had rather a sad ending in 1895. The same sportsman who had so gallantly come to race for the America's
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Cup in 1893. and had borne his defeat so royally that he won all hearts, came over again in 1895 with a sloop-yacht called Valkyrie III. the second boat of that name having been sunk in a collision during the races off the English coast in 1894. The Americans pitted against her a new boat. the Defender, built on an entirely different plan. The American yachts in former races had all been provided with a center- board. The Defender was without one, but her keel was run down into the water thin and sharp so as to have very much the effect of a permanent centerboard. This was more in accordance with the Brit- ish ideas, which had never tolerated that feature. It was thought. therefore, that the results of the race, whatever nation they might
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favor, would be all the more satisfactory from the similarity of con- struction between the two champions. The first race was sailed off Sandy Hook on September 7. 1895. The Defender won in eight min- utes and twenty seconds. There was a good breeze, and all circum- stances contributed to make the event a fair test. On September 10 the second race took place. It began badly. An excursion boat was in the way of the Defender, and to avoid her she ran too closely to the Valkyrie. Although the Defender was to leeward of her, and. there- fore, had the right of way, the Valkyrie did not give her sufficient room, and in turning struck her and carried away her topmast rig- ging, compelling the lowering of the topmast. The Defender crossed
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the line and started on the race, but raised a signal of protest. The race was won by the Valkyrie by a very few minutes. Lord Dunraven, the owner of the Valkyrie, insisted on calling it a race, which was the more surprising as he had generously refused to take advantage of a mishap in 1893. The third race was set for September 12. Every- thing was favorable for the contest: a good breeze, and no excursion boats in the way. When both yachts had crossed the line to the amazement of all Dnnraven put his boat abont and went back to his anchorage off Bay Ridge. On his return to England he published charges of gross fraud against the owners of the Defender. These were investigated at a regular trial, assisted by most eminent counsel. before a committee composed of ex-Secretary of the Navy Whitney. Captain A. T. Mahan, the author of " Sea Power," ex-Minister to Eng- land E. J. Phelps, J. Pierpont Morgan, and George L. Rives. The charges were proved utterly without foundation. Dunraven, how- ever. made no apologies, and therefore he was expelled from the membership of the New York Yacht Club. His condnet placed British sportsmanship in a most extraordinary light. The only inference is that the man saw that defeat was inevitable, and he wished to rob the Americans of the satisfaction of a fair test. In such international contests, prejudice will always take sides and be ready to believe the grossest accusation against the opposite party. Enough thorough Britishers would cling to the conviction that Dunraven was right. and the Yankees wrong, to rob the Americans of an indisputable title to the trophy, no matter what any committee would decide.
The Presidental campaign of 1896 had again a special interest for New York City, because it touched so closely the question of finance. The platform of the Democratic party, advocating the free coinage of silver and repudiating the single gold standard, was looked upon as a blow at " sound money." and men and newspapers lost sight of ques- tions of civil policy in their alarm at the threat to the financial policy of the republic, so that party affiliations were quite disre- garded. Several journals, hitherto strongly Democratic, supported the Republican nominee. New York. too, as the financial center of the Union. was looked upon and frankly declared to be the " enemy's country " by the Democratic nominee, Mr. William J. Bryan. Wish- ing to carry the war into Africa, he decided that he would receive the formal notification of his nomination, and delivered his speech of acceptance in New York. Accordingly he came to the city, Wednes- day. August 12, having been fixed upon for the ceremony, and Madi- son Square Garden engaged to accommodate the audience. Unfor- tunately, the date fell during that frightful heated spell, of which we shall speak below, and this. with other circumstances, perhaps con- tributed to make the affair not so brilliant a success as was hoped. Another event of the campaign worth recording was the MeKinley parade, which took place on the Saturday before election day. The
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people had been requested to make this a " Flag Day," and every- where flags were hung out by householders of either party. The parade itself was remarkable because of the absence of distinctive or obtrusive party emblems or mottoes. The organizers of the campaign were shrewd enough to encourage the idea that patriotism required the sinking of party lines. It is estimated by some authorities that 120,000 people marched in the procession. A feature worth notice was that there were no breaks or gaps in the line, although it took eight or ten hours to pass any given point. This was due to the fact that each division of the parade was told, with great accuracy, the precise hour they were to fall into line, and were not required to re- pair to the point of assembly till a little while before. This obviated that endless waiting, which is apt to take all enthusiasm out of paraders, and render them weary even before the march begins.
When the remains of General Grant were deposited in the little brick vanlt on the banks of the Hudson in August, 1885, active meas- ures were already under way for erecting there a splendid mausoleum that should worthily express a nation's estimate of the dead hero's service to his country. The work of collecting the cost, $500,000, was in itself a task of no small difficulty. The design adopted promised to place within the bounds of New York a memorial ontrivaling that reared to any other great character in any of the cities of the world. Work upon it was begun on April 27, 1891 ; the cornerstone was laid on April 27, 1892, and on April 27. 1897. it was formally dedicated, and Grant's remains removed from their humble resting-place to this splendid tomb. The moment covers a space one hundred feet square on the ground line. In front, facing sonthward, a portico pro- jeets, supported by six fluted columns, which is to be surmounted by four equestrian statues of the most prominent generals associated with Grant. On the path near the broad flight of steps is to be placed a pedestal and equestrian statue of General Grant himself. From the main portion of the structure rises a cirenlar dome, surrounded by columns forming a colonnade, and supporting an outer gallery, one hundred and thirty feet above the ground line, affording a splendid view of the surroundings. The total height is one hundred and sixty feet, which places the topmost point more than three hundred feet above the level of the river. Within, the ceiling is finished in the style of the Pantheon at Rome. The center of the interior rises to the full height of the dome, and light penetrates in abundant measure to the circular crypt, beneath the level of the main floor. Everything here is finished in white polished marble, in harmony with the pure white of the exterior. The body is placed in a black granite sarcophagus, space being reserved on one side for a similar sarcophagus for the deposit of the remains of Mrs. Grant. The moment, superb in itself. is superbly located. The unrivaled Palisades of the Hudson begin about opposite its site; the view sweeps up and down the river for
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miles and miles of bewitching or imposing scenery. From the South front and porch no view can be obtained of the busier portion of the great city: but a glimpse is caught of the opposite shores of Jersey, and these are abundantly suggestive of the traffic that lies behind the hills and woods intercepting the view. The place where stood the lit- tle vault which held the body of Grant for twelve years is not left en- tirely unmarked. It is directly in the rear of the mausoleum, fenced off, and contains two trees, one of which was planted by the Chinese Ambassador. Upon the South front we read those simple words, no mere platitude when Grant uttered them; big with the promise of a re- union of hearts and of a national being then hardly hoped for; always his desire and aim when he had sheathed his sword; the words that lent glory to his first inaugural address as President: " Let us have peace."
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