The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-25

BRooKlYS.-The number and splendor on the
new buildings now in progress of erection in
various party of our city were amongst the
features that most attracted the attention of the
Prince OF Wales and his suite during their visit
here. They gave them better idea of the
rapidly increasing wealth and growing import
ance Of this metropolis than any thing else thai
fell under theig observation.
Take the line OF Broadway to the Central
Park, and there will be found more evidences
Of building activity and enterprise than are to
be met with 10 any similar thoroughfare IN the
world. The stores, both in their proportions
aud architectural decorations, surpass every
thing that the ambition Of European communal
ties has aspired to. They have, in fact, more the
character OF Italian palaces than Of trade empor-
ums. Built of white marble or colorea stone,
composed Of the richest styles OF architecture,
and but too frequently ting q lavish com
bination of several, they offer to the eye of the
foreign visiter spectacle which cannot but i'm
press him with the supremacy to which New
York is destined amongst the capitals Of the
world.
But ii Is not In commercial structures alone
that are TO be found the indications Of our unpa.
ralleied prosperity and nascent greatness as a
metropolitan community. The new churches the
new theatres and the new hotels, which are
sprineing up in every direction, prove tina. all
our social and religious wants are provided for
With the same ambitious taste and prodigality Of
expenditure that characterize our other build
ipgs AT the present time there are in progress OF
erection several churches, en- institute Of fne
arts, a new theatre (Wallack's), and variety OF
other public edifces more or less costly either
on the line Of, or within stones throw Of
Broadway. At the corner Of Fifty-nintn street
and Eighth avenue whole square has been
purchased for the erection OF a magnii cent
bofel, overlooking the Central Park. In fact
the general movement in that direction has
acquired such an impetus since the Park has
been opened to the public that our wealthy
people are buying up all the ground they
can procure in its neigh borhood, and COM
mencing there the construction Of residences
Intended to surpass in palaiial elegance aud
costliness those Of Fifth avenue and Madi-
son square. Taken altogether, the expendi
ture on buildings in this city alone during the
present year will probably not fall short of
ten millions.
In Brooklyn large outlay Is also being in
Cured for new buildings. An Opera House
is DOW approaching completion, which, ia pro.
portions, will almost vie with our own Academy
of Music. II detracts nothing from the enter
prise OF our pious neghbors across the river
that their new theatre is being decorated
strictly in the ecclesiastical style. They had
difficulty in reconciiing themselves TO the pro.
ject at ALL and they are providently arranging
matters so that il the building should not pay in
the service of the Devil ii can easily be adapted
to that OF God Between the expenditure on
this and the numerous other buildings, public
and private, which are at present going
up in the City Of Churches, there will
not be less than three millions laid ont
this year, thus making for the two cities an ag
gregate outlay in buildings alone for the last
Twelve months Of thirteen millions.
Ii should not be forgotten that this enormous
expenditure Is being incurred at time when
the country is threatened with political dangers
Of the grarest kind. and which may bring ia
their train the destruction Of our commercial
interests and civic prosperity. Should seces-
sion follow upon the election, or upon the acss
Of a republican President, II may be safely esti-
mated that the new buildings on which all this
money has been laid out will be reduced to
twenty per cent Of the vaine Of their total cost
a ,tr -. I.
thus invested.