New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-03

interesting and entertaining material. The
large map of COney Island, printed on this
page, is the only correct one, frOm actual sur
vey, which has ever been published, and the
smaller maps of the principal railway and
steamboat routes to the island, given on the
second page in connection with it, will convey
a fair idea of the means of rapid transit to this
breathing place for the metropolis. Frequent
excursionists will find it advisable to cut out
these railway maps and the accompanying
timetables for ready reference.
RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF COMFY ISLAND.
The true history of the later development of
Coney Island wateringpace and seaside resort for
the Metropolis would be strange romance, and prob
ably it will have stranger sequel in the next few
years. Nothing more remarkable in the way of sud-
den prosperity and popularity after long neglect and
continued disfavor, known in the history OF any
other like enterprise singular Of these enter
prfses have BEEN The rapid rise TO fictitious prices Of
real estate in this city under the manipuatons OF the
Tweed Ring not a singular Illustration OF
what is romantic in trade. business speculation.
Within less than ten years since, four miles Of the
Ccney Island beach barren waste TO which nobody
claimed title, and which few people visited. Part
OF il desolate that few persons venured TO
penetrate the wildness 1t given up to elammers"
and craDbers" as the fishermen who lived back ia tho
swamps Of the creek which divided it from the nam
land Of Long Island called AT tie west
end small pavilion and few lighthouses existed aud
little further east there a small hotel far in
land, at which invalid or two could half live, half
sarye. To the west end single dlapidated steamboat,
which did duty OF the year tugboat and some
times condescended to the ignOmny of labor lighter
made a morning and afternoon trip during the Sum-
months but the character Of the persons awaiting
themselves Of this OF reaching the surf
that decent and quiet folks who did insult and
wished TO avoid robbery and RIOT Stunned the route
railroad track built connect Bath, NewUlreeht and
other little towns along the baycOast with Brooklyn
extended point the centre OF the island,
but 1t had neither depot hotel at its end its trains
faster than street horse-line, and patron
lied chiefly by picnic parties In fact IL is scarcely four
years since legal requirements compelled this railway
company drive horse in front OF each OF its locOmO
tives, in order to comply with ordinances against
steam in the village streets There was also horse
railway part OF the island still further but it
required at least four hours to from Fulton Ferry
the beach On the whole stretch OF beach there
hotel where lodging might he had for about per-
SONS; the others Of the four five buildings
Sheds called PdviiOns where clans and crabs could be
eaten and bathing suits obtained.
Within four years, and chiefly within the last two
years, seven railways, running at the most rapid
the largest locomotives, and each train capa-
Bile OF seating 1000 persons In nney-hnshed
open palacecars been put OperatOn aud Brook
Ign, which then limited speed that OF horse, has
lately authorized any number OF elevated and UNDER
ground connections to be built through its import
ant thorOughfares The one dilapdated tug-boat has
been replaced by three elegant steamers and new
routes TO the island lately opened, employ four other
magnificent excursion steamers, which ply with the reg
ularty OF ferries and which lone lady child Is
safe from insult injury Claimants for the beach have
plenty; the town Of Grayesend has discovered
that it has title 200 years old leases hat five
years ago went begging at $75 each are held 90
100000 for the two years yet 30 lapse and the aues
ton OF title and leases is the basis OF all political aa-
ton the little old hamlet Of the solemn suggestive
name Land which nobody then claimed, and on which
few had the courage to squat cannot be bought
for price to be named. The lonely fisherman, who
caught occasional crabs and delved and dragged
lated in the sluggish creek has resolved himself
into numerous bands and immense beds OF CLANS culti-
waited In Gmvesend Bay, the OF breaches Of
the peace and of miniature itself wAie the pur
suit Of the soft-shell crab has become an or
ganized industry The four five pavilions have
been multiplied until there are forty fifty,
each with restaurant and lighthouses; aud the
family hotel with it's i've shabby rooms has been re-
placed by twenty times the number three at least Of
which fine as any 70 be seen at any sea-beaeh
resort In the world and the whole OF which capable
comfortably lodging 900 persons at night II is safe
to say that not than 100000 invested in
COney Island hotels payions, railways and steamboats,
prior to 1874 while at this moment there employed
fully $5 900 600 OF capital And where fifty persons
found occupation for three months OF the year, $500
now find almost constant employment There
over $500 lighthouses along this beach, where four
years ago there not fifty. In detail below will be
found other facts which illustrate the marvellous de-
velopment Of this island