The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-14
Tho Future of New York.

The wonderful activity in real estate opera
lions which has prevailed here since the be-
ginning of the present year, and the continued
interest still manifested in this department of
speculative enterprise prolonged to a period
far exceeding the experience of former years,
are suggestive facts pointing to more general
realization of the future greatness of our city.
An amount of real property far exceeding that
of any previous similar period has this year
cred have been overrun by the wave of appre-
citation, which, starting from the lower end of
the island and swelling into greatest magni-
tude about its business centre, there burst,
sweeping for miles in every direction. Thus
and the neighboring towns of New
Jersey and Westchester county have all felt its
presence In some of these localities the in
crease in the value of the land has been almost
fabulous. But nowhere has it been greater
than in the metropolis itself. In March last
less than five blocks (two hundred and forty
six city lots), south of and adjoining the Park,
which few years ago, as part Of farm, were
offered for six thousand five hundred dollars,
realized at auction sale nearly two millions,
a portion being afterwards sold at still
greater advance. Recently land at Fort Wash
ington was sold for twenty thousand dollars
per acre, and later a single lot in Carmansville
brought three thousand five hundred dollars.
Instances similar to these of appreciation could
be cited by the score. Nor are these the only
indications Of future of great promise. Pro-
jected improvements about which there has
been 80 much discussion, all of them designed
either for the adornment of me-
tropolis magnificent in its extent or
to meet president necessities, and all
of them practicable and certain of &C
complishment, have in their conception SINH
lar proofs, while going further in even pointing
out the direction and character of develop
ment. Thus we find boulevards, drives and
parks for the west side, and an underground
railroad and the removal of the distractions
at He'll Gate for the east, have already settled
the future of EACH The west side, attracting
to the shores of the Hudson the wealth. ele-
gance, fashion. culture and refinement of the
city, where, in that most beautiful portion of
the island, Fort Washington, they can at once
realize the attraction of rural surroundings
and enjoy the advantage Of proximity to bust
ness, subject in their journeyings to and from
the city to no chance of delay from steamboat
or railroad, is destined to be the aristocratic
quarter. Presenting as it does the double ad-
vantage Of town and country, the river enclosing
it on one side and 80 shutting out offensive in
trusion from that direction, and the Park on the
other separating 1t from the dust and turmoil
of the great city and forming barrier to the
encroachments of trade, it presents peculiar
advantages to the favored classes. Here will
be built the houses Of the rich, and palatial
residences rivalling Hyde Park, London, will
spring up, monuments of the taste and az
fuence of their owners and lasting ornaments
to the metropolis.
New York, as the great centre of all that is re-
fined and elegant in life and superior In art on
this Continent, attracts many who have made
fortunes in other cities of the Union, who come
here that their means may secure them .
share in these advantages; and from these
classes society pre-eminent in its culture will
be formed, the patrons of art and the conser-
vators Of the graces and re6nements Of life, CIV
ing tone and elegance to the national character
and literature, and elevating the standard of
moral excellence. The east side, sharing also
in the material development of the future, will
be benefited in q different way. With the
completion Of the Pacific Railroad and the
opening up of trade with China and Japan, the
commerce of New York, as the eastern termi-
nus Of the road, will receive immense access
sions. As the shortest route to India the
United States will be the highway between
Europe and Asia, and the exports and imports
of both will pass through this city. Already
all the great steamship lines make this their
point of departure, and railroads from East,
West, North and South concentre here. This
addition to the traffic Of the port will render
the clearing of the channel at He'll Gate q
necessity, and we may confidently look for the
establishment of spacious docks and the build
ing of vast warehouses along the north.
easterly shore of the island and adjacent por-
tons Of Westchester county to meet the wants
of such increased business. The underground
railroad, having its terminus at this side, will
determine the residence Of the working popu
lation, necessarily correspondingly increased
and the completion Of bridges or tunnels ovel
or under the East river and the Hudson brins
into intimate relation the present outlying
suburbs Of Long Island and New Jersey
uniting in one grand metropolis all the citie
clustered around this maritime centre, with {
population Of three millions of persons and {
million readers Of the HERALD.
A Coop EXAMPLE. Seymour ex