Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-05-07
For tie Southern Standard.
4 History CT the City CT Rev York.
FROM THE TIME OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND
IN 1909, TO THE PRESENT DATE.
Ch2pt. VI.

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Under the old part of the city, were some
swamps and salt marshes The first to be men
toned was at the lower end of Broad street, the
second at the old Fly market, now The lower end Of
Maiden-lane; the third, the swamp of Ferry and
Jacob street; and foarth lay under that part of
the city where Oak street crosses Oliver street.
The next swamp and largest Of all, was called
"Lspenard'S meadows one arm Of this swamp
began near to, and little north of Reade street,
between Church street, and the range of hills be-
fore described which ran parallel with the Hudson
river. The middle Of this swamp ran through
that part of the city on which west Broadway is
now built crossed Canal street, and ended where
Spring street now intersects Laurens strcet-from
East to West, it ranged between Howard and
Walker streets, west of Orange street, and was
bounded on the South by the Collect pond It
covered much of the ground on each side of Canal
street, had creek in its centre, whose source was
the aforesaid Collect pond and ran under the
Stone bridge, into the Hudson, where the foot
of Canal street now is. Another brook came in
from the north. These streams met in the middle
of the swamp, near where West Broadway and
Laurens street meet Canal street AT the source
OF the northern branch, there was a spring Of
fresh water, which gave the name to Spring street
At ''sprng tides the water of the creek often
backed up, and could be seen running up as far
as the Stone bridge, which stood where Canal
street crosses Broadway.
The ''Minetta water" which gave the name to
that little crooked lane Minetta street, was small
brook, the head Of which lay north of part of the
''old Potters field" (now Washington parade
ground, and near where the corner of 9th, street
and oh, avenue now is. In 1920, there was still
small colony of muskrats, bordering this creek.
The brook passed along the lower end of Potters
field, and formed large pond, called "Bolus 5
poud,' where Downing street now is. The low
swampy grounds that were filled up caused this
pond. 1t lay a little northwest of Richmond
hill. The great tract of land, which has been
altered by Improvements, is Colonel Marnus
Willett'S and Stuyvesants meadows. Col. Will
let's house stood little north Of Corlear'S hook
At the first lowland, near where IRWIN ,ton and
Columbia streets cross each other, the Salt marsh
began, and ran along the East river, to a small
distance beyond what called Brandt Muhle
point" burnt Mill Point, so called from wind
mill formerly burnt down at that place. 1t was
afterwards called Manhattan Island, and now
known as DRY Dock" This was once famous
place for the credulous to go money digging, for
it said by all the ways Of those days, that the
pirates Kidd and Blackboard had buried their
pundered treasures there. These meadows were
nearly mile long on the shore, and more than
half mile in width. Now they are all filled over
with the earth Of the surrounding hills, and built
upon.
At the foot of 3Oth street, near the Hudson
river, was small salt marsh now all covered over
with earth from the surrounding hills Another
was near the foot of 42d, street. at the upper end
of the Timber basin," which has been filled up
in grading the 10th avenue, and the surrounding
streets There are some salt meadows yet beyond
the six mile stone, on the East river, which are
but little altered. There were many small streams
or brooks on the island, but none of Importance
if we except Harlem creek, which runs through
the salt marsh, at the six mile stone. This creel
has two or three branches, one of which follows
along the lowlands to near Manhattanvlle, where
some projectors in speculation commenced few
years since a canal, which they left when partly
| finished