USA > New York > New York County > Manhattan > Manhattan: historic and artistic; a six day tour of New York city > Part 9
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This largest statue of modern times is one hundred and fifty-one feet in height. In one hand the figure holds a tablet, while with the other she uplifts a torch. The body is grace- fully draped, and the head is surmounted by a diadem. The material is hammered copper. A spiral stairway within the statue, leads to the head, where forty persons can stand together without material inconvenience. An- other stairway in the arm leads to the torch- chamber. No elevators are provided, and the climb is very trying, but the view afforded from the top is magnificent. At night the torch is lighted by electricity, and the base and pedestal also are illuminated. The fore- finger of the right hand of the goddess is seven feet in length, and at the second joint, four feet in circumference. The nose is over three feet long, and the statue weighs over twenty- five tons. The extreme height above low- water mark is nearly three hundred and six feet. The pedestal, constructed of granite and concrete, is one hundred and fifty-five feet in height. This colossus can be seen from a distance of many miles.
ELLIS ISLAND, once known as Bucking Isl- and, contained, until 1827, a small circular fort, called Fort Gibson. The five acres that constitute this plot of ground belong to the 12
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United States, and have been used as a place of storage for explosives. At the present time government officials here receive immigrants in the landing depot, which was formally opened on New Year's Day, 1892. The wooden structure erected for this purpose, nearly covers the island, is three stories in height, and has a tower at each corner. The cost of construction was almost half a million dollars. The first floor is devoted to baggage- transfer and local express offices, as well as to the private offices of the government express.
At the landing of a ship the newcomers are received on the second floor, the crowd pouring over the gang-plank in a compact mass, push- ing, jabbering, gesticulating. Officers calmly direct the bewildered strangers to desks, where name, place of birth, age, occupation, and destination, are registered. Everything here is so perfectly systematized that from twelve to fifteen thousand immigrants easily can be handled at one time, twelve lines being formed, with a registry clerk in attendance at each line. From a gallery in this room the public may view the motley procession. On this floor there are also rooms for the detention of pau- pers, lunatics, criminals, and persons suspected of being contract laborers. Women and children are provided with separate apart-
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ments, and a telegraph station, money ex- change, postal station, information bureau, and railroad and steamship office are in convenient arrangement. The third floor contains sleep- ing rooms for the accommodation of immi- grants who are detained over night. None of the officials reside on the island except the surgeon.
A ferryboat continually plies between Ellis Island and the Barge Office, and visitors are permitted at any time.
The greatest number of immigrants landed in New York in one year, was four hundred and fifty-five thousand, four hundred and fifty. This was in 1883. The greatest num- ber landed in one day was on May 11th, 1887, when nearly sixteen thousand were registered. Of late years the immigration from Italy has far exceeded that of any other country.
GOVERNOR'S ISLAND .- This egg-shaped plot of ground, containing nearly sixty-five acres, is situated about one thousand yards south of the Battery. It was first purchased from the Indians by Wouter Van Twiller, the second Dutch governor of New York, and that worthy personage whom Irving describes as having weighed the books of disputing merchants to discover if their accounts would not balance. The Indian name of the island was "Pag-
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ganck," or Nut Island, for some time called Nutten Island, but after it became the Van Twiller residence it was known as Governor's Island, and has retained that appellative.
Since the War of 1812, at which time the batteries now found on it were erected, this property has been exclusively under the con- trol of the United States War Department. It is now headquarters for the Military Depart- ment of the Atlantic, and the Major-General and his staff are residents. The northern por-
tion of the island is occupied by the Ordnance Department as the New York Arsenal. Can- non balls are ranged about it in pyramids, and on the little wharf is one of the largest guns owned by the Government. The parade- ground is adorned with fine old shade-trees, and the residences of officers. A chapel erected by the widow of General Hancock, the library and picture gallery of the Military Service Institution, and the Military Museum, which contains battle-flags and other war relics, are interesting social features of the present occu- pation. A footpath leads to Fort Columbus, the stone fortification in the centre of the island, now utilized as quarters for the soldiers. Castle William, an old-fashioned stone work, with three tiers of casemates, is located on the northwestern shore. In the haste incident to
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the War of 1812, even the professors and stu- dents from college and school were called upon to assist in the completion of this prominent fortress. A small triangular battery and two magazines are situated on the southern point of the island, and everything is in preparation for the rapid throwing up of earthworks and the mounting of heavy guns, Castle William being considered entirely too old-fashioned to withstand the fire from modern ships-of-war.
CHAPTER XII.
THE SIXTH AFTERNOON .- A SAIL ON THE EAST RIVER.
The Jersey City Ferry at the foot of Cort- landt Street, where also is the dock for the Glen Island boat, was the one for which Rob- ert Fulton built the two boats, the "York" and the " Jersey," in 1812.
After leaving its pier the steamer must first round the Battery, the southern terminus of Manhattan Island. At the west and south lie the Ellis and Bedloe Islands, and the shores of New Jersey, whereon the Jersey City docks are more conspicuous than pleasing. Robin's Reef Lighthouse is below these, on a reef of rocks that once was a resort for seals.
STATEN ISLAND, at the south, is a richly wooded and hilly tract of country, containing about sixty square miles of land that are occu- pied chiefly by the villas of New York business men. A point of the eastern shore forms, with the western coast of Long Island, the Narrows, or entrance to New York Harbor,-a passage protected by Fort Wadsworth and a
IS2
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line of water batteries on the Staten Island side, and by the two forts, Hamilton and Lafayette, on the opposite shore.
Staten Island was purchased from the In- dians in 1657, for ten shirts, thirty pairs of stockings, ten guns, thirty bars of lead, thirty pounds of powder, twelve coats, twelve pieces of duffel, thirty hatchets, twenty hoes, and a case of knives.
New York Harbor is a body of water about nine miles in length and three miles in width. From the ocean at Sandy Hook to the metrop- olis at the head of the bay it is about twenty- eight miles. No city in the world has a more majestic approach or a more agreeable situa- tion. The waters of its harbor are deep enough to float the largest vessels, and from their contiguity to the ocean, are never frozen in the winter. The wide expanse of the lower and upper bays, the wooded slopes that form at once a shelter and a picture of rare beauty, the islands, and the rivers that, like encircling arms, hold in their caress the fairest city of the freest country on the earth, and the proud city itself,-uplifting spires and domes on stately buildings that tell of prosperous times and un- exampled greatness of achievement,-enthuse and melt the heart of the returning patriot, or inspire with new sense of possibility the mind
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of the foreigner who watches from the deck of an incoming steamer this panorama of nature and display of human progress.
Quarantine Station is on the eastern coast of Staten Island. Governor's Island, which will be remembered, is separated from Long Island by Buttermilk Channel, east of which are located the docks and piers of South Brooklyn. The New York shore, for a con- siderable distance along the East River, is crowded with merchant ships from every country, river and sound steamers, and ferry- boats loaded with passengers, plying between two of the busiest of cities.
THE WHARFAGE FACILITIES OF NEW YORK excel those of any city in the world, and the cost of handling the cargoes is much less than in Liverpool or London. Over one hundred steamers, belonging to the trans-Atlantic fleet, ply between New York and European ports. Twenty distinct lines, exclusive of the local, are in operation between this and the coast and Gulf ports. The yearly average of foreign vessels entered during the last five years is eight thousand. The number of vessels re- ceived and despatched annually aggregates about thirty-four thousand. The imports of merchandise in 1631 amounted to about twenty-three thousand dollars; the exports in
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the same year, twenty-seven thousand dollars. In the year 1891 nearly 600 million dollars' worth of merchandise was received, and near- ly 400 million dollars' worth of material was exported. The first wharf was constructed in 1648, when the population of New York num- bered less than one thousand. In 1687 the total shipping amounted to but three ships and fifteen sloops and barks. In 1807 Fulton's steamboat, the "Clermont," made its first trip to Albany, in thirty-two hours. The first steamship, the "Savannah," crossed the Atlan- tic in 1819, taking twenty-five days, the usual time for fast clipper-ships having been from sixteen to twenty-one days.
JEANNETTE PARK is a small space between Pearl Street and the river, above Broad Street, -formerly designated "Coenties Slip," in honor of an influential Dutch shoemaker whose shop once occupied a corner in this locality. Here stood the clumsy stone tavern, or city hall, of the Dutch administration. A corporation pier, erected at this point in 1751, was the first public improvement for which money was borrowed, the bond given having borne an interest of six per cent.
The water front, from the Battery to Fulton Street, is artificially-made ground, the natural riverside having been at Pearl Street, along
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which the little village of New Amsterdam first extended itself. This was a favorite local- ity for markets, the old "Fly Market " having
THE OLD STADTHUYS.
been the most celebrated. The Dutch word vly, meaning valley, was the original appella- tion. Near Fulton Street the first ferry to Long Island was established in 1638, a small skiff having been used to convey the passen- gers, who sometimes had to wait an entire day before crossing.
BROOKLYN BRIDGE, the history and propor- tions of which already have been described, spans the East River as it bends eastward, and is seen to great advantage from the boat.
A little distance beyond, at the Brooklyn side, the steamer passes the United States Navy Yard, situated in Wallabout Bay, the name of which is a corruption of "Waale
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Boght." The United States Naval Lyceum and the United States Marine Hospital are located at this point. Preparations for ship- building are conducted within the enormous sheds near the river; the cob-dock occupies the bay.
CORLEAR'S HOOK .- This point of land, be- low Grand Street and opposite the Navy Yard, has been called Corlear's Hook since Stuyve- sant granted the property to one sturdy Van Corlear, for faithful services rendered. In 1643 a number of Indians having encamped at this place, awakened the fear of the white settlers, who surprised the red men at mid-
10
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THE FIRST FERRY FROM NEW YORK TO LONG ISLAND.
night, killing over thirty and inflicting atro- cious barbarities. This action was the direct cause of the revolt of eleven tribes of previ-
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ously peaceful Indians. The locality now is headquarters for the most daring river thieves.
BELLEVUE HOSPITAL, at 26th Street, is easily discerned from the river. The Morgue, where dead bodies are left for identification, is near the water's edge.
KIP'S BAY .- According to Washington Irv- ing, this indentation at the foot of 36th Street received its name from the following advent- ure; “ . . . At the bow of the commodore's boat was stationed a very valiant man named Hendrick Kip. . . No sooner did he behold these varlet heathens" (Indians) "then he trembled with excessive valor, and although a good half mile distant, he seized a musketoon that lay at hand and, turning away his head, fired it most intrepidly in the face of the blessed sun. The blundering weapon re- coiled and gave the valiant Kip an ignominious kick, which laid him prostrate with uplifted heels in the bottom of the boat. But such was the effect of this tremendous fire that the wild men of the woods, struck with consternation, seized hastily upon their paddles and shot away into one of the deep inlets of the Long Island shore.
" This signal victory gave new spirits to the voyagers; and in honor of the achievement
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they gave the name of the valiant Kip to the surrounding bay."
It was here that the British landed when, in September 1776, they made their first attack on Washington's army, and caused the precip- itate retreat of American soldiers stationed at this point.
LONG ISLAND CITY, which begins directly opposite Kip's Bay, and extends northward for a considerable distance, comprises the formerly separated districts of Ravenswood, Astoria, and Hunter's Point,-a locality occupied by oil-refineries and factories. The former sec- tions, however, contain country villas and handsome residences, and do not in reality fuse with their hardworking sister.
BLACKWELL'S ISLAND .- This long and narrow strip of land, the next point of in- terest on the route, was once the country seat of John Manning, the captain in charge of the fort at the time of its capture by the Dutch in 1673. A more delightful place of residence scarcely can be imagined. Graceful in form, with moss-covered rocks, swaying trees, flowers, and abundance of greensward, this charming island was a home of which its owner might well be proud. It was not until 1828 that the city purchased the property for its charitable and correctional institutions.
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These now include the charity hospital, pen- itentiary, almshouse, hospital for incurables, female lunatic asylum, convalescent hospital, workhouse, and blind asylum. The buildings all have been constructed of stone quarried from the island by convict labor; the general style of architecture is somewhat feudal in its character. Residences occupied by the officials in charge are surrounded with lawns and gardens, that are kept in perfect order by the inmates of the prison, almshouse, etc. These individuals also farm certain portions of this fertile land, row the officials and their families to and from the city, and have built and kept in repair the heavy granite sea-wall that protects the shores of the entire one hun- dred and twenty acres of land.
HELL GATE .- This celebrated strait is en- tered shortly after leaving Blackwell's Island. By reason of numerous rocks, shelves, and whirlpools,-known under the various appella- tions of " Flood Rock," "Negrohead," "Grid- iron," "Hogsback" (on which his satanic maj- esty often was seen astride), "Fryingpan," (in which the same well-known individual always cooked his fish before a storm), "Pot Rock," etc.,-this narrow passage was very dangerous to shipping, and only could be entered with skilful pilots. Since 1876, however, the
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channel has been opened, the United States Government having expended nearly two millions of dollars to render it safe. The final explosion of this great work occurred at Flood Rock in 1885, at which time over fifty-two thousand pounds of dynamite were used.
WARD'S ISLAND, at the left of Hell Gate, contains about two hundred acres of ground owned by the city, the Commissioners of Emi- gration, and private individuals. Under the care of the city are the insane asylums for males, and the homœopathic hospital here lo- cated. A lunatic asylum, houses of refuge, and a hospital and nursery for children, constitute the buildings in which sick and destitute aliens are cared for. There is also a home for inva- lid soldiers who served in the regiments raised by the city during the late war. These build- ings are all substantial, and some of them are highly ornamental. Groves of fine old shade trees cover portions of these structures, adding greatly to the appearance of the island. A sea-wall, which was constructed by convicts from Blackwell's Island, also girts this prop- erty. The grading and general improvements have been done by this same class of labor.
RANDALL'S ISLAND, which lies between Ward's Island and the mainland, consists of
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one hundred acres of city property, hand- somely laid out and ornamented with shade trees. An idiot asylum, nursery, hospital, and schools, are placed here by the city, in order to provide for the wants of its destitute children. A house of refuge, under the charge of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delin- quents, is at the southern end of the island. In this institution children who have been
RANDALL'S ISLAND.
sentenced by the city magistrates are taught to work, as well as instructed in all the com- mon-school branches. Passes must be obtained from the Commissioners of Public Charities and Correction, in their building at the corner of Third Avenue and IIth Street, in order to visit any of the institutions on these last-men- tioned islands. A special permit is required for the lunatic asylum on Ward's Island. A
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ferry conveys passengers to these localities from the foot of East 26th Street.
THE CHANNEL at the south of Randall's Island, is called Little Hell Gate, the one at the north is the Bronx Kills. Several islands lie clustered within the embrace of the West- chester and Long Island shores, where the waters of the Sound begin. A fort at Throgg's Neck, and another one at Willet's Point, command this entrance to New York. Along the northern shore is Pelham Bay Park, a tract of land containing seventeen hundred acres of beautifully wooded territory, recently pur- chased by the city.
CITY ISLAND is noted as the place where American oyster culture first began. Hart's Island belongs to New York City, and is occu- pied by the Potter's Field, a branch workhouse, and a lunatic asylum. David's Island was purchased by the Government in 1869, but was used as a hospital-station during the War of the Rebellion. It is now a receiving-station for recruits.
GLEN ISLAND .- At this picturesque resort it will be fitting to terminate the labors and pleasures of the week. Rest and refreshment will be found in cool groves filled with choice varieties of rare exotics; and the return to
I3
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busier haunts will be at the close of the day, when the weary traveller, having learned the history of its events and the institutions of its present time, can be content to view in the half-light, the city which promises such stores of wealth for the sightseer of the future.
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CHRONOLOGICAL SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
1524 .- The Island of Manhattan was discovered by John De Verrazzani, a Florentine.
1609 .- Hendrik (or Henry) Hudson, a navigator in the service of the States General of Holland, and the second discoverer of Manhattan Island, sailed up the Hudson River to a point a little below Albany.
16II .- The first ships that carried merchandise from the North River, the "Little Fox," and the "Little Crane," were sent from Holland on a voyage of speculation.
Three more vessels were at this time fitted out for the purpose of establishing trading posts on the Hudson River, where furs might be collected, thus saving time for the ships that crossed the ocean. One of these was called "The Tiger," the other two bore the name of " The Fortune."
The first vessel built on the shores of New York Harbor, and the first to pass through Hell-Gate, was called the " Restless," and may be considered as peculiarly entitled to hon- orable mention, because it was the means of filling many important blanks in the geogra- phy of the world.
1613 .- Captain Adrien built four small houses and established a fur agency at what is now No. 41 Broadway.
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1614 .- An expedition from South Virginia, dis- patched by Sir Thomas Dale, took possession of the infant colony.
Later in the year, Holland, having regained possession of the Island, sent an expedition of five vessels, that explored the whole length of Long Island, passed up the Hudson and Delaware Rivers, and were given the exclu- sive right to trade between the Delaware and Connecticut Rivers for three years.
1623 .- A charter, under the title of the West India Company, went into operation.
This is considered to have been the era of the permanent settlement of New Netherlands. 1624 .- Peter Minuit arrived at Manhattan, in the capacity of Director-General of New Nether- lands, and organized a provisional govern- ment.
1625 .- Three ships and a yacht from Holland, brought a number of settlers and one hundred head of cattle.
1626 .- Manhattan Island was purchased from the Indians, for trinkets worth twenty-four dollars. 1633 .- The first schoolmaster arrived from Hol- land.
The first ship-of-war, "De Soutberg" (the Salt Mountain), brought a company of soldiers to garrison the stronghold that had just been completed on the southern point of the Island. 1638 .- The first ferry crossed the East River to Long Island.
1642 .- A church, built of rock stone, which cost about one thousand dollars, was erected within the walls of the fort.
The first tavern, "Staadt Herberg," was built by the Dutch West India Company at Coenties Slip.
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1643 .- The first deed recorded was for a lot thirty by one hundred feet, that was sold for nine dollars and fifty cents.
The wreck of the ship " Princess" occurred in Bristol Channel. This was one of the most notable maritime events in connection with the early history of the city, eighty passengers, including the Director-General Kieft, and Dominie Bogardus, the first clergyman estab- lished in this city, having been drowned.
Lots were freely given to whoever would build in the town.
1648 .- 'The first wharf was constructed.
The first ordinance for the prevention of fire was passed, after which four fire-wardens, or chimney-inspectors, were appointed.
The settlement contained twelve retail dealers.
1650 .- The first lawyer, Dick Van Schelluyne, commenced practice.
1651 .- All persons who were absent from the city four months lost their burgher rights.
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