The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-26


THE NEW FAUB0URG.
Progress of the Southern Observation-Disclosures
of the Underground Railroad Upon Harlem
and Contiguous Townsville Future Of the
East Side-Its Real Estate vaiues-Reai
Estate Movements Along the Southern
Boulevard Limo.
The success Of the east side Underground Railroad
project and the prospect Of speedy realization OF
this desderatum have already had the effect to direct
the attention OF real estate operators in this direc-
tiOn 1t being conceded point that, with this ad-
vantage In its favor the whole length OF the east
side far as Harlem, and more especially the tract
north and east OF the Harlem river, are likely to be
more rapidly developed than was year since anti
clpated. The formation Of an east side association
with an especial view to develop these tracts,
now comparatively undeveloped, has already
taken place, and several important improvements
have been projected upon the tract between the Har
lem river and Legget's creek-a small stream that
falls into the Sound, rather into the neck Of It,
little east of the Harlem bridge. This tract includes
the village and township Of West Farms, and is b.
sected by the Hunts Point road the Fifth avenue Of
the Harlem neighborhood; has fine water front Of
considerable extent and is mostly composed OF roll
ing, elevated country for sghtliness OF view hardly
exceeded by Washington Heights. For year or two
nearly all the advance In real estate has been limited
to the west side, great amount Of capital being at
present engaged In the development Of that tract
which lies between the Park and Hudson river, and
real estate operators have operated gigantcaly In
connection with its probable leading centres Of value.
During this period the east side has been compare
lively neglected. with the exception of the rather ague
sh belt Of land which lies on the route to Fordham,
by rail and street East Of this line however, and
rising into higher and more undulating country,
lies far more desirable tract for purposes Of resi-
dence, which is at present simply partitoned into
farms Of moderately large acreage or country seats
and villa seats. Its prevailing features in these
specs those Of the Fort Washington tract though
IL Is less developed and has, perhaps, q population
more sparsely distributed as well as somewhat more
mixed. With the Underground Railroad completed
and in active Grafton this tract will be notmore than
half an hours ride from Wall street, less distant
in point Of time than the lower corner Of the Park
the west sde and hence both from the nature of the
ground which is undulatlng, and from its accessi-
biity will speedily become Of the most desirable
tracts within hang distance Of the city for purposes
of aristocratic residence f.r.rrn a
Another fact may be noticed in this connection
viz, that this tract is one Of the natural outlets Of
the city. being Immediately accessible by the Har-
and being even but one hour from the City Hall by
either Of these roues while, owing partially mostly
to the indectness Of the route pursued by the street
railroads. 1t is about threequarters OF an hours ride
from the Eighth avenue and Fifty ninth street corner
of the Park to this point This is sufficiently
near for all practical business purposes; and with
the underground an accomplished 1act and
no longer legislative myth, this region will
at once enter the lists as competitor OF
Brooklyn and Jersey City for the furnishing Of
fOr q NJ ffOnO f mr.
lati0n now concentrated below Thirtyf0urth street
tendency to the reduction Of New York city rents
being to a certainty one OF its consequences. The
great want hitherto prevailing and tending to force
rents upward to the extent Of an eXorbitant figure
s y IN 1 a @ 81 e o 70 BY
lation within haing distance in point OF time OF Its
central business points Comparatively speaking,
paratively speaking, has none now, presenting
the somewhat anomalous phenomenon of q great
sUbMrss Which /: absolutely needed for the proper
shelter of its population. 1t has been fact thus FAR
in the history OF the metropolis that as dwelling places
as homes, the numerous available points In It's vi
entity have only been available to gentlemen Of leis
urc at least to those whose business engagements
absolutely impossible to i've out Of town without
consuming some part OF ones business hours
flanders and ACCIDENTS, It now requires e that an
allowance Of not less than two and a half
hours should be made for transit to and fro. even in
living as far north as Harlem-an allowance which
few business men, to say nothing OF clerks and en-
ployes cannot really afford. The opening Of the I'm
carried into actual eTect opens this region there.
fore, to the expansion OF New Yorks busy
pSSosss Of n ps.ain rs a g SSs
consequences In point Of fact, the opening
and judicious management OF this means of commu-
nication cannot fail to double the value OF real es-
tate within the arc Of circle OF three miles in d.
ameter, beginning upon the Harlem river and curv-
OF the next live years; and this fact land owners in
the neighborhood are beginning to appreciate.
stu another fact may be adduced wherefore this
tract Is destined to become one OF the most vaua-
BILE in the vicinity Of the city; and this is found in
the recent legislation of Congress looking to the
rs to render 1t safer and more available for pur-
poses OF navigation. This great project accom-
pat"rav s take tne east side ~ aeain ae WIZ
into the river, not by way OF Sandy Hook,
as is now the case but by the upper and more direct
now consumed In the tortuous passage to the North
river side. This advantage to the east side will in
lions OF the Harlem River Navigation Company, the
surveys OF which have already been completed. That
the East river therefore Is to form ultimately the
infinitely acquainted with the topography of the
water ways which render New York what 1t is-the
great commercial mart OF the two American CONT
nents. The accumulation OF larger business pOpu-
lation on the East river is therefore, imminent and
an exceeding competition for residences In the
urbs OF the east side cannot but result q logical
consequence. The pushing out and pioneering of
the east side-its expansion-for these reasons
10 hereafter w W uOTlteasteTV, anu the
time Is near at hand when Brooklyn. now
simply dOrmit0ry Of New York, will
have been superseded by the more natural dormtory
Of the upper county. Even now, owing TO the dan
gers and delays Of ferry transit especially in the
winter, q prejudice is growing up in the minds of
business men against Brooklyn AS place OF resi-
dence; and to this may be added the further fact that
Is vast lodging house for the city OF New York
BROOKLYN rs Decomlng 0vercrowded land rather hope
lessly sol within anything like available distance Of
the ferries.
All these causes point to the development OF new
faubourg along the shores OF the Harlem river and
Long Island Sound embracing West Farms and other
towns which now dot that portion OF the map and
accessible by four lines Of communication-viz. the
Underground Railroad, the Harlem Railroad two
lines OF street carsand as many lines Of steam