The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-09
Our Buffalo Correspondence.
BUFFALO, July z, 1901.
Basi~ess Of -Jrarei-Bwning Of the
GriEh-Hotols-Sn1pi of Watcr, &c.


Busi~ess Of Bs6aio- Jrarci-Bmning Of III,
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of Water, &c.
1t has struck me rather singular circum-
stance, that in your very extensive correspondence
you so rarely get letter worthy Of publication
from the city of Buffalo. In every respect, it is the
most important point in the whole north west, and
to commercial men il is Of the most interesting
spots in the whole country.
do not propose TO give you any flour or provision
statistics, fer those you get n compact and intel
ligibe form, in the two principal papers, the Err
yrcss and the Adr0tiser, one published in the
morning, the other in the evening But in town
Of this size-for you must know that Buffalo, with
the suburbs, which ought TO be embraced in the
corporation limits, contains population of nearly
G0,O0o--there are incidents frequently occurring,
worthy of place in the Herald; specifically Buff
ao is the smalls st city on the continent and quite
likely in the world. Our city boundaries enclose
lees than 5000 acres Of land; we are wholly en-
crced landward by the town Of Black Rock, and
you cannot go out Of the city without going into
Black Rock, unless you 20 by water. Efforts have
occasionally been made TO take in more territory,
but the outsiders resist them because taxes are
heavier in the city.
The costo grading, paving and sewerage. is very
onerous with US, as they must necessarily be in
new place, and many Of our heaviest capitalists live
just over the line to get rid OF the burden.
Business has been uncommonly dull so Tar this
season, owing to the short supply Of breadstuis at
the West, and the high prices on the Ohio and
Mississippi. The travel has been heavy, but
freighting has been ruinously light. Our accounts
from northern Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Wis
consin, all concur in representing the wheat crop
on the ground unprecedentedly large, and vessel
owners and forwarders, and commission men,
antiei; atng an immense business Immediately
after harvest, TO run late into the fall.
The terrible disaster OF the burning OF the
steamer Griffith, has turned some travel across the
mountains from Cincinnati but the shock will soon
pass away. The accident was the result OF the
most culpable carelessness, to which condign pun
ishment should be awarded. Most OF our boats
strong and safe, and in msjority OF them there
IL the greatest vigilance and skill on the part oil the
officers and extra care will be exercised hereafter,
while additional means Of escape will be provided
in case OF accident.
The burning Of the commodious and excellent
hotel, the American, causes great inconvenience 10
the great numbers of travellers who have been ac-
custcmed to make that their resting place, passing
east and west, and TO the Falls. You are aware
that Buffalo II an immense thoroughfare. We
have five trains Of cars passing each way daily,
over the railway from here to Albany, two to the
Falls, and soon to be three. Ten or twelve steam
ers arrive and depart daily, and every means Of con-
veyance rs crowded all the time Probably an ave-
rege OF ZOO persons pass through Buffalo daily
during the heaviest portion OF the travelling season
This number Of persons require extensive accom-
modations while here, and since the destruction Of
| ed. But the American being more eligibly situa-
| ted, and built and conducted ON a more extensive
and liberal scale, was accustomed 20 entertain the
great bulk Of pleasure travel, and the other hotels
| do not well supply its place. The Mansion House,
| and the Western Hotel, are good houses, and con-
| yenient for business men. Then we have four or
| five temperance houses, all OF which have good
reputation. The Phelps House is the best located,
but IL lie built narrow constructs plan, and u
is managed in a way to give great dissatisfaction.
| The rooms are small, with low ceilings; cold wa.
ter is the only beverage, and the guests are called
| TO prayers by gong every morning and evening.
| In short, IL is nothing but good sized boarding
| house, where the most exorbtant prices are paid
In fact, you pay Astor House prices, wine and all,
without getting any thing to drink, and very indi-
| ferent fare.
Recently, a couple Of New Workers bought the
cite Of the American, under pretence Of desiring "a
/ build spacious and eleg nj hotel; but they now
| propose 20 run up petty block Of stores, 10 rent
| TO Dutch grocers. We are thus to have the mosi
beautiful part Of our Main street dishgured by q
parcel Of paliry shops. But time will bring the
remedy, for the citizens will not long endure the
want of a hotel adequate to the necessities o
! travel
We have Just organized a company for supplying
the city with pure water The water is to be taken
| frorn the Niagara Rive, and raised TO reservoir
al the western limit Of the city, sufficiently ele-
| waited TO he taken into any house IN town. This
has lJng been a desiderstum, for the water in ouI
wells il Of a miserable qualify, hardly 1T for ord-
nary purposes, and necessary sbluiops.