Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-04-30
For the Southern Standard
History Gf the City Of New York.
FROM THE TINE OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND
IN 1909, TO THE PRESENT DATE
Chapt. III.

NAAsa pa AAAs
There have been numbers of maps engraved to |
represent New Y ork City. The first was taken
somewhere about the year 1640, when it was
under the Dutch Government. From that as well
as from numerous other evidences not to be mis-
taken, it is easy to perceive that the town was
originally commenced without any regular plan
For many years the settlers continued to lay out
the streets, and construct the buildings according
to accident, or the mere caprice of Individuals
About thirty years afterwards another view was
taken, which has since been re-engrayed. In
1873, an enlarged map was published by William
Bradford, from an actual survey, made by James
Lyme A fac-simile Of this map has recently been
published by John Slater, No. 2O4 Chatham
square, New York Another map Of the city APP
peared in 1866, and one in 1774. In 1866 also,
the English Parliament caused one to be engraved
in London. Another was issued in 1903; and in
1911, map was executed by order of the Com
missioners appointed by the state for the purpose
of laying out the greater part of the island for
building Since then numerous maps have been
published. By reference to the map published by
VIM Bradford in 1928, it is shown that there was
no street beyond the Broadway westward, but
that the lots the western side of that street de-
scended severally to the beach; that from Court
land street northward, all the ground west of
Broadway, was occupied by trees and tillage, and
called the Kings Farm The eastern side of
the city was all bounded by Water street, having
houses only on the land side and its northern lin
its terminating at Beekman street At the foot Of
Broad street were two great docks, called West
and East dock, as they lay either side of Broad
street. They occupied the ground now built up
on from Water street. and from the east side OF
Moore street, nearly to Couenties slip. Between
Moore street and Whitehall street, lay the ship
yards and all along where now tower stately trees
on the Battery promenade, lay numerous rocks,
: forming ''the Ledge" leaving the river close up
to the line of the present State street, fronting the
Battery. At that time, almost all the houses pre-
sented their gable ends to the street, and all the
most important public buildings, such as "Stuy-
a vesant Huys,' on the waters edge, Cat present
Moore and Front streets, and the ''Stadt Hugs, ,
or City Hall, on Pearl street, at the head o
Counties slip, were then set in the foreground t.
be more easily seen from the river. The chic
e part of the town in that day, lay along the Eas
e river, called Salt river in that time and descend
ing from the high ridge of ground along the lin
y of the Broadway. Three half-moon forts, calleC
Rondees, lay at equi- distances, for the defence
the place; the first at Counties Slip and the thir,
at the Water gate, or the outward bounds of th
city, being the foot of the present Wall street,
!. called from its being then shut in there bv lin
l. of palisades along the said street, quite over
e the junction of Wall and Lumber streets wher
the North river limits, then terminated in a re
doubt. This wall was built about the year 1865
l. to secure the city against sudden attacks of th
y aborigines 1t was built of earth and stones, an
y extended entirely across the island. A gate nea
O. the present corner of Wall and Pearl streets, We
4 called the Water Gate, and another in Broadway
the Land Gate.
In 1745, there was much apprehension from I'll
French and Indians, and $4,000 appropri;
ted for the purpose of building the Palisades an
Block Houses The Palisades began at the hou
Il now 81 Cherry street, then the last house on IL
IG East river towards Kps bay thence they extent
w. ed direct to Windmill Hill (near Chatham square
to and thence in the of the poor house to Dom
MES Hook on the North river at the foot of Re;
nv street. The Palisades were made of cedar log
fourteen feet long, and ten inches in diameter
ieS They were placed in trench three feet Deep wi
loop-holes all along for musketry; having also
breastwork four feet high and four feet wide
There were also three block houses of about thir
= feet square, and ten feet high. These had in ca
" six port holes for cannon, were constructed of 10
eir of eighteen inches thick, and at equidstances
ry tween the three gates of the city. These thr
sn- gates placed at each of the three entranc
or outlets of the city. One was in Pearl sire
d nearly in front of Banker street; a second in t
,e rear of the poor house; and the third lay betwe
,es Church and Chapel streets.
< CIHapt. Nv.
There is every indication to evince the fact, Il
- New York was in its primitive days Getty
y hills" The hills were sometimes PERCEPTIONS,