USA > New York > New York City > The City of New York. A complete guide and a complete new street directory 1885 > Part 2
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Steamers and vessels approaching from Long Island Sound pass through Hell Gate and discharge cargoes on both the East River and North River piers. The Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, and other steamboats from nearer ports, land at East River piers-at Peck slip and vicinity; while the Fall hiver. Stonington, Providence, Norwich
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
and New London, and Boston outside lines, pass round the Battery and discharge at Hudson River piers. The Hudson River steamboats discharge on the west side of the city. Passengers via New York and New Haven, Harlem, New York Central and Hudson River Railroads, are dropped at the Grand Central Depot, East 42d street and Fourth avenue. All railroad passengers from Boston and the East are landed at Grand Central Depot. The Pennsylvania Railroad lands its pas- sengers by ferry-boat, from Jersey ('ity, at Cortland street and Des- brosses street. The N. Y., Susquehanna and Western at foot of Cort- land and Desbrosses street. The N. Y., West Shore and Buffalo at Jay street and W. 42d street; the N. Y., Ontario and Western at Jay street and W. 42d street. The Erie Railroad and Northern New Jersey at Chambers street and West 23d street. Philadelphia & Reading at Liberty street. Delaware, Lackawanna and Western at Barclay and Christopher streets. Staten Island by ferry to Whitehall, and Long Island by ferry to Roosevelt and E. 34th streets.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Jean Verrazani, a Florentine navigator, entered the Bay of New York in 1525, but, his explorations being interrupted by a sudden storm, put to sea without making a permanent settlement.
Manhattan Island was first visited by Europeans in September, 1609, when Henry Hudson, in his yacht, "The Half Moon," entered the bay and sailed up the river. The information he carried back to Holland led to repeated visits by Dutch traders, and in 1624 a formal settlement was made. In 1626, under Peter Minnet, Fort Amsterdam was built, and the entire island was purchased of the Indians for $24, paid in goods. In 1664 the place was taken under English control, and the name was changed from New Amsterdam to New York. In 1673 it was retaken by the Dutch, but their occupancy was short, and it soon reverted to the English. From 1674 it began to grow rapidly, and at the time of the Revolution was a city of 23,000 inhabitants. In the Revolution it took an early and active part till captured by the British in 1776. It was occupied by them till 1783, when it was finally evacuated at the close of the war. From 1785 to 1790 New York was the seat of Government of the United States, President Washington having been inaugurated in the old City Hall, then located at the corner of Nassau and Wall streets. The free school system was founded in 1805, and in 1807 the Hudson was first navigated with
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CITY HALL.
3
CITY OF NEW YORK.
steamboats by Robert Fulton. The present system of streets was, north of Houston street, planned in 1821, an 1 the survey occupied ten years. The first steam ferry was opened in 1814, and in 1817 the first line of packets sailed for Liverpool. Gas was introduced in 1823, and the Croton water in 1842. Several great fires have impeded the growth of the city, but it has continually advanced northward.
The original charter of the city of New York was granted by James II., of England, in 1686. Another was granted by George II., in 1730. This charter was of the mnost liberal character, and made New York practically a free city, and was the law till 1829, when a new charter was made by the people. This charter, with its various amendments, formed the basis of the present law of the city. The following table illustrates the growth of the city in population:
1653
1,120
|1820
123,706
1661
1,743
1825
166,136
1675
2,580
1830
202,589
1696
4,455
1835
270,089
1730
8,256
1840
312,710
1756
10,530
1845
371,280
1774
22,861
1850
515,394
1786
23,688
1855
629,810
1790
33,131
1860
813,669
1800
60,489
1865*
726,386
1805
75,587
1870
942,292
1810
96,373
1875
1,046,037
1880
1,206,599
*The census returns of 1865 are universally acknowledged to have been inaccurate.
STREET SYSTEM.
Like all of our older cities, New York at first spread its streets and avenues in any direction that seemed at the time most convenient. The original settlers had no conception of the ultimate destiny of their town, and they built their stores and houses wherever they pleased and with little regard to the street traffic. The result was that the lower and older part of the city, south of Houston street, became oc- cupied in no particular order, and to-day is more or less irregular. The first streets were laid out at right angles with the water fronts, and as these were not parallel the streets did not meet at right angles. North of Houston street the city is laid out on an admirable plan that is at once simple, convenient and easily understood. Man- hattan Island being long and narrrow, readily conformed to the
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
American plan of streets at right angles. North and south the larger axis of the Island are the twelve great avenues that extend its entire length. In addition to these are a number of shorter avenues that extend part of the way each. These avenues are numbered and let- tered from east to west. The most casterly of the long avenues is Avenue A. East of this, however, are three shorter avenues called B. C, and D, and named from west to east. The other avenues are num- bered from the east. First avenue is next west of Avenue A; Second is next west of this; Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh follow in regular order till Twelfth is reached at the water side on the west. Besides these are two shorter avenues -Madison, between Fourth and Fifth, and Lexington, be- tween Third and Fourth. These avenues are parallel and are wide streets.
Extending northward from the Battery to Central Park is Broad- way, the great thoroughfare of the city. It passes through the center of the lower part of the city, in a straight line to Tenth street, and then crossing the avenues diagonally it continues in a north-west di- rection till it joins Eighth avenue at 59th street. Beyond this point it follows the line of the old Bloomingdale road, and assumes the name of the Boulevard. The streets crossing the Island and the avenues above Houston street are numbered from First street northward. One street in ten is made of double width, and twenty of the blocks between these streets average à mile. Fifth avenue, in the center of the island, divides each of these cross-streets into two parts known as East and West, as East 14th street, West 51st street, etc. In marking the streets numerals are used, numbering from Fifth avenue each way east and west, as East 19, West 45, etc. The avenues are marked Second ave., Fourth ave., Avenue D, etc., and these numerals and Dames may be found on the street lamps on the corners. Hence it is easy to understand the street system, and the stranger is able t · find any required locality quickly and readily. The numbering of the stores and houses is equally simple. On the avenues the numbers are con- tinuous from south to north. On the cross-streets the numbers ex- tend west on streets west of Fifth avenue, and east on the other side. The numbers begin at Fifth avenue at No. 1, and go to Sixth avenue. Here a break is made, and the numbers begin at 100. At Seventh avenue the numbers begin at 200. At Eighth avenue the numbers begin at 300, and so on. Going cast the numbers begin at 1 next
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
Fifth avenue, 100 at Fourth avenue and so on, the odd numbers being on the north side and the even numbers on the south of the cross- streets. For instance, 326 West 57th street is on the south side of West 57th street, between Eighth and Ninth avenues. No. 141 East 21st street is on the north side of the street, between Fourth and Third avenues. There is one exception, W. 11th street, in which the numbers begin at Broadway to go west, and at Fourth avenue to go cast. Central Park, extending from 59th street to 110th stecet, and from Fifth avenue to Eighth avenne, makes a blank in this street plan, so that nearly all the streets between these and Sixth and Seventh avenues are cut in two. 65th, 79th, 85th and 97th streets, however, cross under the Park, and ample roads continue the avennes north and south. These great avenues are almost wholly devoted to business, and above First street most cross-streets are occupied by dwelling- houses. This makes the streets quiet and agreeable, and at the same time places all the stores within easy reach. Below 14th street all the streets are invaded by business, and below Houston street warehouses and manufactories claim very nearly all of the space. To get a good idea of the character of New York City it is best to walk or ride through the great avennes. All the public buildings, churches, stores and in- stitutions are on the avennes, or so near them as to be easily found, and to see them all, cach avenue may be taken in turn, beginning with the most important.
BROADWAY.
This great thoroughfare begins at the crescent-shaped Park known as the
Battery.
This was the site of old Fort George, and is now merely a water-side l'ark and the emigrant landing station. The round building on the west side was a round fort known as Castle ('linton. It was given up to the city in 1823, and was afterwards converted into an opera house, where Jenny Lind first sang in this country, and finally became the landing-place or reception room for the emigrants arriving at the port. Here the new comers are properly cared for on arrival and are dispatched on their various journeys over the country. The view from the Battery over the Bay is one of great beauty and animation, and the Park is well worth a brief visit. West of Castle Garden is Pier 1 and the large iron building used as the waiting-rooms of the
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
Iron Steamboat Co., whose boats run to the Iron Pier, Coney Island. East of the Garden will be seen the granite Barge Office of the Custom House. Near by are the Staten Island and South ferries and the ter- minal station of the elevated roads, where trains may be taken for all the four principal lines. The buildings near the Battery are of the older types. All are occupied as warehouses or hotels, and some were celebrated places in revolutionary times. As we emerge from White-
1
BROADWAY, SOUTH FROM BARCLAY STREET AND POST OFFICE.
hall street to Broadway, passing the new Kemble Building, we reach the magnificent brick structure of the Produce Exchange, reaching from Stone to Beaver streets. It fronts 307 feet on Broadway and Whitehall streets; has a tower 225 feet high, with a clock whose face is 12 feet in diameter, and the main room is 220 by 145 feet. Just beyond is the Welles Building and Petroleum Exchange. Broadway begins at the north-eastern corner of the Battery, opposite the circle known as
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
Bowling Green.
Here once stood a leaden statue of George III., but it was happily made into good bullets for Continental muskets in 1776. The place is now neatly planted with trees and shrubbery. Opposite the Pro- duce Exchange stands the nine-story Washington Building, erected by Mr. ('yrus W. Field on the site of the old Washington Hotel, once the headquarters of Gen. Washington, and before him of Gens. Gage and Cornwallis. Now they are devoted to steamship agencies and express offices. There is a slight rise in the roadway, and at the top of the hill stands
Trinity Church.
This noble church, standing opposite the head of Wall street, was erected in 1846. It is 80x146 feet and 60 feet high. The tower is 284 feet high, and visitors are allowed to ascend it and enjoy the fine view from the spire. The building is open to the public every day and is well worth a visit. The altar and reredos were erected as a memorial to the late Wm. B. Astor, by his sons. Trinity Church yard adjoins the church, and is interesting on account of its monuments, notable among which are those of Alexander Hamilton, of Capt. Lawrence, and the "martyrs' monument " in the north-east corner, commemor- ating the "Patriotic Americans who died during the Revolution in British prisons." Turning for a moment from Broadway we pass the splendid brick and stone building of the First National Bank, ofter. jocularly called " Fort Sherman, " and enter
Wall Street,
famous for its bankers' and brokers' offices, its " bulls and bears," and the center of a cluster of streets, Broad, New, Exchange Place, Pine, Nassau and William, often spoken of genially as " the street." A few minutes' stay in the gallery of the Stock Exchange is well worth while. The visitors' entrance is on Wall street. Opposite is the old Sub- Treasury, containing millions of gold and silver in huge vaults, and furnished with steel window shutters and other defenses. It extends to Pine street, 200 feet. On its steps was unveiled on Nov. 25, 1883 the centennial anniversary of the evacuation of New York by the Brit- ish-Mr. J. Q. A. Ward's fine statue of Washington taking the oath as first President. The statue stands on the very spot once in Federal Hall. Notice to the right, in Broad street, the imposing office of Drexel, Morgan & Co., and the superb Mills Building, with its ten
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NEW YORK PRODUCE EXCHANGE.
BOBBETT & HOOPER
CUSTOM HOUSE, WALL STREET.
CITY OF NEW YORK.
stories of offices occupied by brokers and lawyers. To the left, in Nassau street, is the new Mutual Life Insurance Co.'s building, com- pleted in 1884, reaching from Cedar to Liberty street; probably the most costly and elegant building devoted to commercial purposes in the city. On the corner of Wall and William streets is the Custom House, once the Merchants' Exchange, a huge and ugly pile of gran- ite 200 feet long, with 18 granite columns 38 feet high and 4} feet in diameter. Hanover square and the new Cotton Exchange are close by. On
Broadway Again
we find that above Trinity Church the old stores give place to the immense structures of modern times. The Trinity Building, with the elegant Boreel Building just north, the Guernsey Build- ing, the Equitable Life Insur- ance Building, of Doric and Renaissance architecture, on the corner of Cedar street, from the roof of which a superb view may be obtained, the Mutual Life Insurance Co.'s old building, on the corner of Liberty street, the gigantic palace, in composite style, of the Western Union Telegraph Company, on the corner of Dey street, the Evening Post Building, on the corner of Fulton street, and many others here unite to present a sight unequaled in the world. Nowhere in the world can so many lofty and expensive buildings be found clustered in so small a space. STEINHAUS. Down Fulton street a con- stant tide of travel flows to EVENING POST BUILDING. the Fulton Ferry, near which the dilapidated wooden buildings familiar to old citizens as Fulton Market, have been of late years replaced by
fNY
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
substantial brick structures. By following Fulton street to the west of Broadway the visitor may reach Washington Market, bounded by Fulton, West, Washington and Vesey streets. Early in the morning is an excellent time to see this great food mart at its best.
St. Paul's Chapel,
between Fulton and Vescy streets, was built in 1766, and is 51x151 feet, with a spire 203 feet high. Several monuments and inscriptions of historical interest are to be seen in the yard, beside the church. Opposite is the elegant white marble building of the Park Bank. Adjoining it is the New York Herald building, on the corner of Ann street. Next, north of St. Paul's, between Vesey and Barclay streets,
POST OFFICE.
and fronting the junction of Ann street, Park Row and Broadway, is the famous Astor House Hotel.
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NKEMP
ING
1870
Kemp's Building, Corner Cedar and William St8.
CITY OF NEW YORK.
The Post Office
stands in the triangular end of the old City Hall Park, at junction of Broadway and Park Row, and is not only a substantial and elegant structure of Doric and Renaissance architecture, with domes patterned after those of the Louvre, of Paris, but the largest public building in the city. Its dimensions are 144 feet front on the south, 279 feet on the Park, and 2621 feet on both the Broadway side and Park Row side. Its cost was nearly $7,000,000, and was first occupied in September, 1877. The U. S. Government Supreme, Circuit and District Court rooms are in the upper part of the building. Park Row, the wide
BROADWAY AND PARK ROW.
and exceedingly busy street that opens to the right, is mainly devoted to newspapers, and makes the terminus of a number of horse rail- roads. The scene here in the middle of the day is past description.
20
CTT.' OF NEW YORK.
The enormous traffic, the crowds on the walks, the frantic haste that seems to possess every animated thing, the variety of men and teams, and the general uproar and confusion, make a picture as peculiar as it is original. Here is a bit of New York intensified, a type of the whole country, and a thoroughly American scene. Passing the Post Office, we come to
City Hall Park.
This was the first park laid out in the city. It formerly covered about 10 acres, bounded on the east by Park Row and Centre street, by Chambers street on the north, and by Broadway on the west. It contains the City Hall, the new Court House, the Hall of Records, and other public offices.
The City Hall.
This building faces the south, and is a good sample of public build- ing in the Italian style. It is 216x105 feet, and 65 feet high, sur- mounted by a tower. The city government holds its meetings here, and here are the rooms of the chief public servants. In the Govern- or's Room are preserved a number of relics of the Revolution of some historical value, and well worth a short visit. In the rear of the · City Hall is
The New Court House.
This building was begun in 1861, and was first occupied in 1867. It was made notorious in connection with the Tweed frauds on the city. It is occupied in part by various courts, and makes one of the most costly and sumptuous structures of the kind in the country. It is 250x150 feet, and is to be surmounted by a dome 170 feet high. Other public buildings devoted to the city service stand near. The neighborhood of the park is rich in fine stores and offices. Just east of the park is the site of the old Brick Church, built in 1767. It was used as a jail by the British during the Revolution, and finally was turned into a hospital. The site is now occupied by the New York Times building Just here, on what is called Printing House Square, stands a fine bronze statue of Franklin. The immense structure, with a lofty tower, is the Tribune building. It is built of brick, stone and iron, in composite style, and is surmounted with a tower 85 feet in height. The building is fire-proof, and is the highest in New York. With its recent additions, it surrounds the Sun building on the east and south. At the corner of Nassau and Beekman, close by, are the huge Kelly and Morse Buildings-the former known as Temple Court.
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
Here, also, is the new Potter Building, another mammoth pile of offices, erected in 1884 on the site of that burnt by the fatal fire of 1882. At the north end of the Square, at the junction of Chatham street and Centre street, is the handsome granite building of the Staats Zeitung, with statues of Franklin and Guttenburg above its portal.
4
STAATS ZEITUNG, CHATHAM STREET AND CENTRE STREET.
Not far away, at Centre and Leonard streets, stands the "Tombs," a fine but oppressive example of Egyptian architecture, the most im- portant of the city prisons.
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE.
On the east of City Hall Park, close by the terminal station of the City Hall branch of the elevated road, will be seen the imposing en- trance to the magnificent Bridge across the East River, between New York and Brooklyn, which, with its stupendous towers and cables, and the graceful curve of its roadway, illuminated at night by a brilliant
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
arc of electric lights, forms the most striking landmark as the visitor approaches the city, and is one of the first and most important objects to be visited. The necessity of such a structure is apparent when it is realized that not far from 100,000,000 persons pass annually from one city to the other. The first plans were drawn in 1865. Two years later Mr. John A. Roebling was appointed engineer, and in 1869 pre- liminary surveys were made. His death in 1870 left the work in chief charge of his son, Washington A. Roebling. Actual work was begun on January 3, 1870. The first wire rope was thrown across on August 14, 1876, and on August 26 the master-mechanic, Mr. E. F. Farring- ton, made, in a "boatswain's chair," the first trip between the tow- ers. The bridge was formally opened on May 24, 1883, with impress- ive ceremonies. President Arthur and many distinguished officials were present. In behalf of the trustees Mr. W. C. Kingsley presented the structure to the mayors of the two cities. Six days later (on Deco- ration Day, May 30, 1883) occurred the terrible panic in which twelve persons were crushed to death at the stairs on the New York approach, and many more were seriously injured. The cars, drawn by an end- less cable, propelled by stationary engines on the Brooklyn side, to · which they are attached, and from which they are detached by a traction grip invented by Col. Paine, were set in motion some weeks later. Fare, 3 cents; foot passengers, 1 cent. By all means walk one way, if the weather is fair. The elevation is gradual, and the view a thing to be remembered.
As we enter we notice that the width of the bridge (85 feet in all) is divided into five parts-one on each side for vehicles, the two adjoin- ing occupied by the railway, and in the center a broad promenade 13 feet wide, raised above the other lines of travel. The total length is 3 5,989 feet; central span, 1,595 feet; from towers to anchorages, 930 feet each; New York approach, 1,562} feet; Brooklyn approach, 971 feet. The center of the span is 135 feet above high water. The 4 cables are 153 inches in diameter, each containing 5,434 wires, and each will hold 12,000 tons. There are 1,176 suspenders, each capa- ble of upholding 70 tons. The two great towers (through the tops of which the cables pass on " saddles," thence to the anchorages built in solid masonry about the cables, which end in 23-ton anchor-plates buried in the ground) are 271} feet from high-water mark to summit; 159 feet from bridge roadway to summit. Including foundations, the New York tower is 350 feet in height from base to summit; Brooklyn
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CITY OF NEW YORK.
tower, 316 feet. There are 46,945 cubic yards of masonry in the first; 38,214 in the second. At high-water mark the towers measure 140x159 feet ; at the top, 136x53. The towers rest on caissons, the sinking of which was one of the most difficult and dangerous parts of the work. Plat- forms, where the roadway passes under the tower-arches, form agree- able places for rest, and give a splendid view, especially of lower New York and Brooklyn, the Bay, the Narrows, Staten Island, etc., etc. The Brooklyn terminus is at Sands street, near Fulton, whence cars may be taken in all directions.
The total cost of the bridge was, in round numbers, $15,000,000, of which two-thirds is assumed by Brooklyn, one-third by New York.
Broadway, Continued.
North of the park, on the east corner of Chambers street and Broad- way, is what was once the A. T. Stewart wholesale store, now improved by the addition of a story, and devoted to stores and offices. On the corner of Broadway and Warren street is one of the great stores of Devlin & Co. All the stores and other buildings here are of the largest size, and of most substantial construction, and the journey continued up Broadway opens a long and wonderful series of business palaces. The view up the street from this point gives one a good idea of the extent of the city, and forms a good picture of its busy life. Grace Church ends the long vista, while lines of omnibuses and the vast crowds of people give animation and life to the wonderful scene. At the corner of Leonard street may be seen the beautiful marble build- ing of the New York Life Insurance Company, in the Ionic style. Three magnificent business buildings occupy three of the corners of Broad- way and Grand street. The Grand street line of horse cars crosses Broadway here, connecting Grand street ferry, on the East River, and Desbrosses street ferry, on the North River. The Metropolitan Hotel, on the east side, on the corner of Prince street, is one of the first of the great hotels of the city. Niblo's Garden Theatre is in the same building.
Rogers, Peet & Co.'s clothing store, on the corner of Prince street, and the Grand Central Hotel, on the west side, between Bleecker and W. 3d streets, are both notable buildings. The American Watch Co.'s building in Bond street, near Broadway, is worthy of attention. At Waverley Place we find the New York Hotel, one of the oldest and best. Just opposite is Harrigan & Hart's Theatre Comique. The re-
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