The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-28
A City Built BY One Man.

History affords numerous instances OF
the foundation of cities by single indi-
viduals, and the Identification and en-
largement of portions of the same
through the munihcence of others; but
nowhere, as We believe, is it recorded
that any one man from his private for
tune has ever attempted the actual con-
struction of a complete town. All the
more remarkable, therefore, is the enter
prize which for some five years past has
been quietly pursued by Mr.. A. 7. Stew
art gentleman Of whose immense wealth
no accurate information has ever been
made public. The high rates of taxation
and the consequent exorbitant rents in
cident to ownership and occupation of
dwellings in New York city have heen
the means of virtually banishing a large
number of persons doing business there
in, whose moderate incomes forbid the
Necessary expenditure, TO the adjacent
suburban districts Hence arose great
demand for cheap homes: and as result,
village after village has sprung into ex-
istence in Long Island, New Jersey, and
in fact al every point within radius of
forty miles of the metropolis
Mr.. Stewart, in view of this Constant
exodus of the city population, conceived
the unique idea of building a model su-
burban city, where comfortable homes,
provided with all modern improvements,
could be obtained for moderate outlay.
Accordingly, he purchased a plot of
land, ten thousand acres in extent and
EN- bracing that portion of Long Island
known as Hampstead Plains. This is in
compact tract of about ten miles in
length by one mile in width, and nearly
perfect parallelogram in shape. Sur
veying and stalking out the new city fol-
lowed close upon the acquisition of the
ground, and the first work taken in hand
was the making of streets and avenues,
with pavements, sewers, culverts and
conduits, for blocks of buildings vet to
be erected. Simultaneous with laying G
the foundations of the houses, was the
commencement of gas and water works,
and of a railroad connecting the city
with New York. Unlike the usual
course adopted in projecting new towns
in the vicinity of the metropolis, no lots
were advertised; nor has any attempt
been made to dispose of the property, as
it is the intention to treat the city as q
single house, finishing it first, and sell
ing it subsequently,. The New York Sun
aptly describes the enterprize as a new
city springing up, with no Mayor OIL
| Council, no assessments for street i'm
provements, no taxes for water and gas
no entangling alliances or issuing oi
/ bonds to secure railroad transportation,
no scrambling or grumbllng to secure
/ immigrants.
An admirably kept hotel, situated in
the middle of fine garden plot, togeth-
er with some forty houses, are thus fal
complete. The latter are located in lots
of 2OOx20O feet and provided with out
houses and handsomely laid out grounds
They rent for from $3.50 to $500 per veal
on three year leases, and contain every
convenience found in the best city dwell
ings. Work upon this remarkable town
to which the name of Garden City hai
been given, is rapidly progressing, anc
we understand that the advantages offer
ed are meeting with a wide popular ap
reciation.-Scientifc American