The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-13

Local RE,OiUIsSNa IN New Yosx Cwv~--
Since the foundation Of our federal governuere
there have been moys peaeefuI rcyoldacns IN
this city, changes in the habits, conveyances,
places OF business. ana residences, than in. any
other civilized place on tile face of the Globe.
IL is curious to trace these revolutions, which
are simply the effects Of the sudden growth Of
this metropolis. which in seventy or eighty
years has achieved work wfiehthe EurNpeaa
cities took centuries to perform. Wher the
federal constitution was adopted, and Washing
ton called TO the chair of State, the business OF
the city, wholesale and retail wascagried on be-
tween Maiden lane and the Bowery. The town
residences Of the merchants were I'M and about
Greenwich. Pearl and State streets. The first
theatre was in John street. People had coun-
try houses in the Bowcry. A few years later,
aud the foreign trade pressed the retail shops
towards the City Hall, and the fine residences
were in Deck,nan, Vcscy, Warren, Barclay and
Murray streets and Park place. Countey resi-
denccs now about Union. square. The boys
have fine skating ground where Lispenard
street now is. Trade pushes steadily ON and
rched by il rise proudly in Blocker, Bond
and other streets thcrcabouts. Here they make
an obstinate stand. A few 60 towards Four-
tecnth street, and finally the Fifth avenue il
begun. Palaces rise on either side until they
reach Murray HILL Now people say we can
go no further. Yet they go further; and with
the inception of the Central Park it became
t,at la IL nf ho.l
began TO decline. The Park already opens
fine drives for splendid rides for eques-
TRANS and walks for pedestrians. The
advantages OF residences in its vicinity
are already apparent, and real estate
there takes an upward start. Within five
years the Park will be entirely finished,
aad then We shall see all the grand houses
around it filling up the avenues that bound it
and the cross streets for several blocks, just as
the Fifth avcnue and its cross streets have
flied up
We alluded 10 the first theatre just now The
second was the Park, and for maay years there
was no theatre above Chambers or Leonard,
street. We find them now all above Grand
street. The Opera House is over two miles
from the site of the old Park. and there will
be one or more theatres in the vicinity of
Union square. Very likely, when the Park is
finished. there will be a theatre above Twenty
third street, which even now is not too far up
town for mammoth hotel.
After the streets about the Park shall have
been built over with splendid residences. we
shall find the Fifth avenue sharing the fate OF
Blocker and Bond streets, given up to dem
fists, miliners, lodging house keepers restau-
rants &c, &c. The fashionable houses will
be about the Park and stretching to the north
of it. cover up all the thialy settled part Of the
sland all the way to Washington Heights
Then all this magnificent faubourg will be
taken into the city proper, which will have at
least million OF inhabitants, and every posi-
BILE facility for enjoyment of the good things
Of this life. This last grand local revolution,
which is now going forward. will put the fin
ishing touch TO this splendid metropolis, and
place il on par with the finest cities of the
Old World.