New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-05


1t has been frequently said TIA, TIC lopala-
ton Of New-York City presents some remarkable
and peculiar characteristics. Before IT, settle
mcrt reached 20 far as Fourteenth street, there
was but little in tho style OF building or tbs
circumstances Of The people 70 distinguish them
from those OF tho sister Cities Of Philadelphia
and Boston, except such "a belonged 10 The
nationality OF the early settlers. Although tie
lines OF tie streets Iartook much Of he rcgular-
ity Of cow-ps,hs, aud were in many instances
too narrow, vet 90 moderate was the hight Of
the houses (oi,en occupied by their wealthy
proprietor. in Tire double capacity # dwelling
aud store, 80 unassuming were their tastes ard
habits). tia. TIC sun was not denied access 10
the payements. and the hes.,hlu winds found
no barriers to their vsita,ions into every door
and window. Before the days Of brown.stone
fronts and alright stoves, our fathers built bat
ono hon % on n lot, and on les than halfthe lot
G, that, giving The remainder to the occupancy
Of the coddescs Flora and Pomona while
Hygcia held sway over oil. Then, every morn
Ing tie street In froat wGs swept by The occu-
pant, as required by Corporation ordinances
then, Pot-Pe Palmer, with his changing bell
daily called the maids 20 empty their swiHpa.l,
into his capacious cart, b. which III Wa re-.
moved beyond o.iaoiory reach then. the stree.
pump supplied all tie water needed for drink
ing and cooking. and the rain-wa'cr cg'crn for
washing and clcaning-while the la,hing-tnbs
OF tho people were The Eas; and Hudson Rivers.
In those halcyon day. Of our youth, when The
Battery Hollow was tie rcndezyCI- for QUOT
and bali, and is yordurc.t6rni gravel walks
were the sunny resorts Of fashion; when, rs
iIalleck sings Of Fanny father, tia.
Tho good man kept. some eighteen years ago,
A retail dry so"ds shop IN Chatham street,
And nufsed bis little rafrIncs. sure. tholgk alV,
TN having mastered vhcrcglthl 90 rect
Tie gnHe - tie great world. D. bIo4thed the air
OF Pearl street. and set ~ 10 Hanover slglfoi'
in tlose days Of moderation, wido-morthcd
chimnoy5 and 40 omnibuses. preventive sani-
tary science was unheard-of, because not need.
ed. Tho annual mortality was but ono in 80
and &c Of the population, and 81. Pauls, Trin-
ity, ard q few other church.yords, with tho
potters Field ia Washington squarc, afforded
ample room for all the Ncw.York dead. Bat
now how changed tho circumstances and the
scene! With unprecedented strides, the popu-
lation has increased from 3l3, 900 in 1910 to
go, 600 in 1850 (ai stated by the Board Of Po-
lice)-oycr 100000 in twenty years have been
added TO This little island. II ia now o. closely
populated up to Fifteth street as it was below
Fourteenth street at the period alluded 10, and
tho population OF tho outskirts. rs Yorkyillc.
Harlem, Carnansvillc, &C., Is almost a. dcnse,
while that Of tho older settlements is doubled
or trebled in density.
With this vast increase have como certain
gEat Improvements. Tho entire section above
Fourteenth street have been laid ont with d reg
uar.ty and breadth Of avenue aud street which
would provoke the envy Of even rhila1ol- |
phian, were tho BrotherIy Lovers capable OF so
ungenerous n sentiment. river flowing be-
meath the pavement, aud giving at tho touch of
tho finger. stream of the purost water in un-
limited quantities 10 every household for every
purpose replaces tho cistern and tho pump. a |
net work of scwcys receives the waste water
from dwelling, hctoy, and street, and carries
it, not ai.in London, to e huge central ditch |
whence noisomo odors poison tho air but TO
either side where wide t'dl salt streams con /
duct il rapidly TO The ocean With is numcr- /,
Gus open squares, itS broad avenues. its we'll |
graded aud woll.payol streets, It's pala,ial resi-
donccsi with railroads and steamers pouring /
into ita lap tho commercial and agricultural
rib .os not o,lY Of .ho whols American CONT !