The New York herald., 1870-04-24
Staten Island as Suburban Residence and
the Brilliant Destiny Of Its Future.
Its Climate and Its scenery-Parsimrny of Ferry
Monopolists and Miserably Mean Arrange
ments Of It's Railroad Affairs-The Great
Bridge to Connect the Island with
New York-Grand Central Park
and Hotel Scheme.

more than mere suburb-that with the growth or
time ana our growing population and growing COM
merce and growing greatness, II Will become mag
nihcent city by ITSELF BY the beginning OF the next
century our present population will become nine
millions. These millions OF people must have places
to live must have workshops and stores and count
ing houses, and room for every kind OF business
and must have homes Staten Island, with Its sixty
square miles holds out more attractive inducements
for settlement than the sandy plains OF Long Island
or the miasmatc marshes OF New Jersey. strong
point OF attraction Is Its cOntguity to our city. and
then there Is the bracng breeze giving GOODNESS
and comfort in the hercest heats OF the summer SOL
stice, the broad expanse OF sky and ocean, the un
paralleed extent Of beautiful and sublime views, the
grandy superb sunrises and sunsets to be seen from
Its towering heights and or which the people OF our
pent-up and fiat city have sort OF conception the
wide spreading bay ana harbOr Of New York, ami
mated with the commerce Of the world and present
ing perpetual panorama OF moving steamships ana
sailing vessels to be seen nowhere else within the
broad expanse of the habitable globe.
INCREASE IN POPULATION.
In spite OF all the which have retarded the
progress OF Staten Island she has more than doubled
her population every decade OF years. In 1885 the
population was .091, In 1855 1t was 28,2O9, and it
viii not now probably fall far short OF 50,O0O The
number OF New York business men residing on the
island in 1S4s was ninety In 1868 this number
had increased to over three thousand an enormous
percentage OF gain in twenty years. Last year this
number was greatly increased, and, now that her
real active development has commenced her popu-
aton is increasing at percentage wholly unprece.
dented in her past history. When her shores and
hilsides and SUBMITS shall have become popu lous
with busy and energetic people; when she be-
comes great city. ana when all the metropolitan
appliances OF broad avenues, gas, water. docks
manufactures ana everything appertaning to
gigantic growth, wealth and refinement shall have
become hers. her ascent to the dignity OF rival to
New York will have been established.
HEALrHFULNEss OF THE ISLAND.
the great quarantine Of New York; that ships laden
with passengers suffering from pestental diseases
fill It's encompassing waters and that the island
itself is only made up OF alternate rocks and miry
marshes; that chils and fever are Its principal ii
dlgen0us product, and that mosquitoes possessing
vigOr and venom OF bite hold here unrivalled and
undisputed sway. Persons holding these views know
nothing whatever Of the island. Those who do know
the island know II only to fall In love with 1t and
become enthusiastic over It's manifold attractions
place OF residence. 1t Is true tnat people get sick
here and die here but inherent in the soil incident
to the climate there exists no positive disease In
the western portion there are some marshy lands
careless exposure to which will induce chiils and
fever, as wet low lands VIII do any where; but The
general health OF tho island Will compare fayorably
with any other suburb of the city.
The superiority OF Staten Island as summer resi-.
dence may be briefly summed up in the ract that it
heatny and economical home. More strongly than
ever before the attention OF parties seeking homes
In the country or places to improve as such are being
diverted in this direction. The reason Is obvious.
In the first place real estate is much cheaper here
than In any other vicinity OF the city, although
real estate here, as elsewhere. has not fuctuated
in value iu accordance with the fluctuations in
the gold market-a fact, however that speaks more
NOS no IN Y On mn
of the finest villas IN the country scattered along
the southern and eastern shores OF the island well
SUBMITS. The present season promises to add
largely to tns number and It viii not be long before
from New Brighton to Wards Point it will become
q succession OF elegant villas.
AS WINTER RESIDENCE,
and, in fact as a continuous residence the island
has manifold attractions Each year Is adding
largely to this class, very many who used to summer
here and hibernate in New York having given up
their city residences and located here permanently
number OF new dwelling houses have recently
been erected at New Brighton embracing among
them twenty new cottages of the mOss tasteful style
OF architecture to let to permanent residents. The
trouble is that at the present prices of dwellings,
compared with rents demanded In this city for the
same character OF houses there are not fractional
part or the number required to meet the pressing
demand. Within the past few days there has been
perfect rush OF house seekers IN this direction and
the number will doubtless continue to increase as
the season advances.
PRICES OF REAL ESTATE.
We have already stated that one or the strongest
inducements to purchasers OF homes and settlement
on Staten Island Is the ceapness of real estate
as compared with prices demanded elsewhere In the
vicinity Of the city. There is one sure consolation
for real estate owners on the lslandresumptiOn OF
specie payments viii not cause fall in prices the
latter having all along been very low. Even
at the highest prices which have been paid every
purchase has been good paying investment to
few, however, great profits are made. The fact is,
the purchases have been mostly Tor actual use, and
prices having at the highest seldom ranged up TO
One-third OF that ruling for properly IN other dis
trlcts less convenient to New York. But there Is
use dwelling On this subject Of real estate values
here. We have simply described the existing state
oil affairs In general terms. Where there Is prOms.
ing assurance OF fortunes in real estate transac-
tions as here. SPECTATORS OF course Will
show themselves Fortunately these land sharks
have not thus far got much Of foothold In this
fast anchored isle.
WANT OF FERRY AND RAILROAD FACILITIES.
We have thus far written eulogsticaly OF this
isle Of Deauty-l0r it would almost seem as II Tom
Moore, is his beautiful poem the elsie Of Beauty"
had this Island IN view, so grandly picturesque IL
the description gven-but The ferry and railroad
facilities are most lanentably lame, and in their
sive spirit and demands Of the times Underlying
the niggardly policy OF the managers both OF the
ferries and Staten Island Railroad Will be found the
reason OF the island being comparatively little built
up as il is. and Its population so far behind IN num-
bers what 1t would be otherwise. The ferries run
with becoming regularity during the day, but they
only run every hour which Is not half often enough.
The general impression Is that the principal man.
ager OF the Quarantine ferry Is more fitted to be the
manager OF small shall0p than anything else.
Running Doat only once an nOur is u great 1ncUn-
venence, as, II passenger happens to be q minute
behind time. ne must lose an hour, and this com
paratively at almost stones throw from home. IL
Is quite sure from present indications that TINS Will
soon be remcded. An additional boat is now being
fitted to be put on this line. On the New Brighton
side there s much more enterprise new boat is
now beng built for the ferry On this side It is the
superior energy this side that induces the growing
immigration IN tns direction, or energy that looks
not only TO giving adequate facilities OF communica-
ton to the people already resident on the north
shore and vicinity, but 10 drawing more people here
instead Of repelling them. Another thing
greatly needed, and which cannot continue
| much longer as it IL, is 10 increase the
facilities OF night travel. At present the boats
DO not run with one-quarter the frequency they
should ut night, 10 meet the requirements OF
people living the island. There Is no reason
why the residents should not be able to
reach their homes at any h0ur during the evening
and night almost with the same convenience, and
certainly in less time and with great deal more
comfort than IS afforded by our city car lines, 10
those living IN the upper part Of the city. Nothing
but very short-sightcd management Keeps matters
as they are. proper spirit Ol accommodation and
a little vigorous enterprise would wholly remedy
existing evils In this regard, and not only increase
tho facilities of night travel adequately and