Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-05-02
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

AsToR HOUSE, New YORK, Apr. 30, 1872.
This is the eighth day that I have been in
he Empire City, and allow me to give you
What may be confused medley" of some of
he sights that one meets every day here. In
Sew York every body is in hurry and you
would say-judging from apprenticeship
very business man did not expect to live be-
FOND to day and all depended on the amount of
business performed before his sudden demise.
Here as in Western cities, the streets are
all parallel with each other and there is no
in finding any point desired One
can start from the Battery and find any street
between the North and East rivers with very |
little trouble. Street cars run from vicinity |
of City Hall to all parts of the city and the
small sum of FIVE cents will suffice to take
you to almost any point of interest. Sup
pose we start from the Battery which is prob
ably the oldest settled part of the city. Near
by is Bowling Green with statue Of WASH
ington enclosed by an iron fence. Here is
the spot where Arnold planned his reasonable
project with Andre. Still farther up on Wall
Grated President of the United States But
find must drop these matters which are
part of history and confne myselfto the pres
ent as more interesting to the reader Of o-day.
Before we leave the Battery let us look in
upon Castle Garden, that was once used AS
fertilization and afterwards as place of pub
lie amusement, and is said TO be the largest
audience room in the world. / think Jenny
Lind made her first appearance here after her
arrival in America. 1t is now used as depot
for emigrants. Here we see them on arrival
of steamers congregated together, the most
of them with all the impress of poverty
stamped upon them-"strang in a strange
land" Next you see them together with what
constitutes their earthly possessions carted to
Jersey City ferry to be taken to the Erie
depot whence they are whirled away to the
Western Prairies to make homes for them
selves and to become thrifty farmers and good
citizensall of which have seen. The most
confusion and Babel is on Broadway where /
am told $4,000 vehicles pass and repass daily.
Let us proceed to Central Park, an institution
every citizen of New York takes an interest in
and Of which he is justly proud. While the
corruption and recklessness of her public OFF,
GERS has aroused her citizens to take the gov
eminent Of the city into their own hands inn
provements upon the Park have not been sus-
pended. 1t contains $40 acres. There are
! ten miles of drive and twenty-seven miles of
foot walks, and one may travel all day and
see something new and attractive continually.
For me to attempt to convey any idea of the
beauties to be seen on every hand, or the
varied scenery would be useless, for to be
appreciated it must be seen. / ought to say
here that 1S5 acres are covered by Lakes and
Reservoirs, furnishing ample accommodations
for boating, and boats are always in waiting
at Il moderate price. There is Museum,
also, containing animals and birds from all
parts of the world that have been presented |
TO the city, and near this are the buildings |
containing the living animals donated to the |
Park. The collection consists of everything |
usually contained in first class menagerie, |
while on the lakes are swans from Hamburg |
and London and also ducks, all of which are |
quite tame and come at call. Here we find |
with gentlemanly attendants in waiting, all |
Of which is furnished at the expense of the |
city. thought when was passing a few |
hours upon the Park that could give some /
faint description of it, but the case is hopeless,
cannot do it and must leave the subject.
There are other Parks, but none on so gigan-
tic a scale as the above.
The cemeteries of New York, l am informed,
are on scale not inferior to Central Park.
Greenwood Cemetery is the largest, containing
over 400 acres. Lots vary in price from $500
to 5000. Her Churches and Benevolent In
stitutions are all on a magnificent scale. The
Post Office is an unpretending one story struc-
ture, and has long been disgrace to the city,
but the new building in process of construc-
ton on Broadway, when finished, will be one |
of the most magnificent structures in the city. |
Congress appropriated So, 800, 900 to build it, |
1t is of granite and iron, and it is probable it
will take two years more to finish 1t. The
granite is from Dix Island, Maine. Work
ias been delayed somewhat by the loss OF
largo of granite on the way. l have not had
opportunity to visit Exchange" where the
Bulls and Bears do congregate and probably
shall not be able / visited the Cooper In
stitute and heard the great temperance orator, |
John b. Cough, lecture on "Will it pay"
This is a building covering whole block,
and was built by Peter Cooper at cost of
$1,000 and is gift to the city. There are
hosts of public institutions that have not
had time TO visit. l did, however. visit the
"fombs" and had the satisfaction of seeing
justice administered in New York. think | !
never saw business dispatched quite SO rapidly
as IN the few MON ents passed there. think
not less than half dozen were tried for petty |
offences in twenty minutes and received SEN
tence, none were discharged. 1t looked to
me very much one-sided If ] may be allow ed |
the expression. l thought it depended very
much whether the culprit was dressed in
broadcloth or rags. Yesterday visited the