The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-07
NEW YORK or TO-DAY.

Tho probable growth and possible rturs
OF New York have of late been much discussed
by n certain portion of the press.
Tho people who live. work. and toll anon,
us-those who read newspapers and watch
for themselves the progress OF ev"n,s-aro
much moro concerned touching the actual
pres sent condition Of New York, her siz,
trade. shipping. wealth, and commercial
Importance than they possibly can be in
any. even the best founded. spcculuiions con.
corning her future greatness. A bird in thu
hand is worth two in the bush. 1t is not ths
name or the corporate form which gives a citv
its character ~ such; but tho fact that its in
habiiants live closely togcthcr-in other words
that the population is urban as distinguished
from rural.
New York contains to-day hard on I 400.
0OO inhabitants. For present purposes Brook.
lyn-if not all the area within Ave miles of
the City Iiall-should bc regarded M form.
ing part OF Now York. Brooklyn alone oontains
at this present writing n population of jj0.0O0f
this. added to 1.30OODO. would give New York
1sjn,01O. IT, however. we tako in Jersey CITY
and Staten Island. which clearly belong to ;his
ACCOMMODATION ofpopulation, New York. viewed
MS u metropolis. is the second largest city Of tho
civilized world, containing over 2OOJOOO in
hnbiiants. Thus: London. 3.4s0 42s New York,
over 20OO0 900, and then Paris with S5l 7g2
The city Of New York transacts considerably
moro than one-half OF the total Of imports and
OF domestic exports for the whole country. This
commerce amounted in 1874 TO 81 .2Ss. 0OO. 3O2 OF
which New York transacted 1855. l99. sol, or 81
per cont Of the whole. During the past thrco
years this ratio has sensibly increased. on a
vastly augmented export trade. TIL withina
comparatively short period. tho city Of New
York had almost a monopoly Of the export trade
in cereal products and provisions rs well as in
their receipts from the Interior She has boz
come the great grain centre of the world. Her
grain receipts attained their highest point in
1874 viz. 1917 273.l53 bushels. Last year they
werc0j.9i0,2i2 bushels 1t is believed the abun-
dnnt crops OF the present year will swell tho
total Of New York grain receipts to "a higher
point than ever before reached.
~ New York has grown in sizo she has ike
wis" grown in beauty. wealth. luxury. and cx-
trnvagance. Wedoubt il any two million people
in the world Spend annually in rent dress.
and pleasures rs much money ~ il spent
by the people Of this metropolis. The cnor-
nous accumulation " wealth at this centre
represents very considerable portion Of tho
profits Of the commerce Of tho nation for tho
last twenty-five years. OF the actual amount OF
this wealth to-day tn total valuations on real
give but u feeble idea. Now York mil ionaircs
have become proverhinl tho world over. II we
iHk The Fithaycnu- from Washington luare to
Filty-ninth street. AMI mark tho gradual in
creaso in size beauty. elegance. AMI interior
comfort which chara 'terzn the dwellings of the
wealthyas we approa IN the Central Park. we can
form fair estimate Of the rapid growth Of the
luxurious habits and expensive tastes which
have made New Norl, one Of the dearest ia well
H. one Of the most charming cities in lhe world
'or that part Of its population which have got
hold of more than their proper share vi its
riches.
When. years ago. Mr. Rhinelander built the
threc-stOry brick house-in which he still lives
ton the northwest corner Of Fifth avenue and
Washington place. 1t was considered almost The
ne pins ultra Of private dwellings. Now Mr..
Fred Stevcnss city 'hat'au. on the southwest
'orncr Of Fifth avenue and Fiity-sev"nth street
the last expression II a New York mi.lionairc's
town houSe-eavr, il 50 entirely In the shade
TINT the two houses cannot in any mlnnrr 10
compared. No sire in the world teNrcpt pos.
~'hly in l.ondonl represents in the short space
'i two miles and a hall anything like the cnor-
NOUS aggrcsnt" of wealth rcprrsentni hy Fifth
a, nue residents between WASHINGTON square
and C'ntra Park. We give haphazlt lew
namos: