The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-16
SOUTH FIFTH AVENUE.
One Of the City's Rookeriss Rszed-5unshine
and Air to Get Chance in the Eighth
Ward-The Widening Of Laurens
Street-Whst Has Been Done
and What VIII Be Done.

whhc New York IL rapidly accommodating wealth
ana fass becoming the centre OF commercial enter
prise ofboth hemispheres II s gratifying TO note the
changes going ON In the aspect OF different portions
OF the city. Narrow thoroughfares through which
vehicles laden with merchandise josted and
sqneez d for passage are now being made broader,
the dens on which the genial sunshine never
shone ana where congreeated swarms OF human
drones are being razed to the ground "ranchcsm
ana rookeries are being demolished and the pure air
now permeates the space heretofore polluted by I'M
wholesome and nauseous 0d0S. Within two or three
years the progress made In this summary ana CON-
mendate undertaking. il surprising, and there are
many places throughout the metropolis marked
not long since Its standing disgrace which
are now Its pride and ornament Yet ID
cannot be denied that there are vast difficulties i'm
roofing out the inhabitants OF . locality who look
upon their stagnant pools as lakes Of beauty, their
heaps OF filth as undulating hills all the while think
ing that sqnalor is natural accompaniment 70 vice
and degradation, ana regard their miserable nests
as castles, to which they fondly cling with affection,
well remembering the "good times" spent there.
The wide ming Of Laurens street. as indeed of
many 9th ers, has been attended with beneficial
results. Twenty-Five feet, though not great ex-
pansion s still something; but the demolition Of
its dnapldated wooden and brick shanties and
the substitution OF substantial dwellings, merits
public commentator. Laurens street ana.
sore OF Its adjoining localities are not at all
unfamiliar to those wont to read the police records
In the daily papers 1t has ere this figured promi-
nently as the scene Of many q nightly brawl, OF
many stab in the dark, OF many q nideons cry, Of
many Q scufle, and the clear, quick, warning rap
OF the poiceman's baton, and the rapid strides OF
the officers to the ground. only to find the cupric
gone down through an alley where even JUS
tice paused and the keen eye OF the pur-
suer was gouged for its pains. Laurens street, or
nasbed on cooed peope Tne we're
various and In some instances dlscredtable IL
abounded moreover In haunts where orgies were
continued with spirit TO an advanced hour In the
morning. Lights stole through shutters at all hours
Of the night; loarers, men and women, assembled at
discussions. Vile ruf1ans prowled about in
quest Of prey ,n retiring only as the , dawn avn
sons pns Of doubtful character who iouneed BY DAY
ana robbed at night Often might the rickety stair
ways that led to the more rickety dwellings, be seen
gazing with profound stupidity at their bronze.
oolored, sckly onsprng walowing in the dirt before
Of which &c 0u iners was no lack, and giving
TO cholera, scores Of fresh and innocent VIC
sun. Many others found q home in this wonderful
street, parts Of which. however. were at all times
s 1ns aaa worn out ballet s
novels. Men whose incomes were nothing and ex.
penditures the same lived there, nob0dy knows how.
Canal to Amity street the dens OF infamy and Nth
have been battered down, and new and m some
cases beautiful houses have been erected instead.
The skeletons OF few OF. the former houses re-
main. ana give but faint idea OF their deformity.
msny Of WITCH have not enjoyed the luxury
for years. peer out strange looking faces and still
stranger surroundings. The signs on few OF the
old dwelling houses still to be seen, and nunner
GUS among many are "oysters In every style.v
What rare nights must have been spent In those
divesi But among the most significant ana appro-
mangling done here" for 1t Is not improbable tnat
many midnight waylarer went through tne same
The sale OF the property took place In June last,
and since that time the work OF demolition, widen-
ing and rebuilding has been carried on with remark
able rapidity. The street viii run through
to Washington square and viii be known
nue.. The department OF Public Works
has the matter In charge, and nothing Is being
to complete the Ihoroughfare and make it continu-
GUS with Fifth avenue, that portion OF Fourth
street which intersects the end OF Laurens street s
being cut through TO the square, and there VIII end
the commendable operations OF the Department or
Public Works, only, however to be taken up oy the
Department OF Public Parks.
A plan has been effected for the improvement or
Washington square. As South Fifth avenue Will
lead to the great avenue ITSELF graceful Ines on a.
being made to complete that object. The same
graceful curve win be made from Sullivan street to-
Fifth avenue, and Thompson street will deboucn
' junction between these ' Streets win '- be
eHeCbeu, WHHe tnc pdEk itseH VIII NC Constuer-
ably improved The curved roads through the
square Will on either side OF the fountain, whle
the intermediate space will be adorned with green,
plots, which will be covered with tur and
flowers. Over o hundred men were at work in
Washington square yesterday, and have been since
Monday last and before long old I.aJrens,
Thompson and Sullivan streets Will have outlet
at their northern extremities which their innabi-!
tants never anticipated, while the park will be rem
dered additionally attractive. Thus has public agi-
tation done Its work; thus has another dArkly
stained spot OF our city been washed away, au1 the
ia NAV M he IN n uel
VIII be worthy OF the name.