Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-04
THE SEVEN WONDERS OF NEW YORK.
What the Metropolis Has to Show in the "
OF Great Achievements
New York Commercial Advertiser.

New York Commercial Advertiser.
a friend from distance who intends
to make flying visit to this city and
wishes to make the best usa of his limited
time writes to ask what are the great
''sights" of New York. 'WilI yOu," he
writes, "clothe yourself with the discrimi-
mating Judgment of a PhiIo of Byzantium
and name the seven wonders of New
York? The seven Wonders of the ancient
world, according to this writer, were the
pyramids, the hanging gardens at Baby
Ion, the temple of Diana at Ephesus, the
statue of Jupiter at Athens, the mauso-
leum, the Colossus at Rhodes, and the
Pharos of Alexander. Now what are the
corresponding wonders of New York;"
1t would be easy to make fun of this
application, but treated seriously it opens
an interesting field Of inquiry. What
might be named as the seven most re-
markable achieyents of mind over matter
that this city can show? We put this
query to number of number of citi-
zens, and the lists they returned will make
a basis for tentative one of our own Sc
lection, npOn which we invite the criti-
clsm of our readers, in order that our
friend from the provinces may get the
benefit of every point of view.
Ohe list Is as follows: The Brooklyn
bridge, the aqueduct, statue Of Liberty,
the elevated railroads, any large office
building, including the elevator system
fourteen-story flats, the Central depot and
approaches. Another list reads: Brook
Ign bridge, statue of Liberty, artificial
channel at He'll gate, produc-excange
building, Casino theater, ST. Patrick's
cathedral, John L. Sullivan. A third is:
Brooklyn bridge elevated railroads, statue
OF Liberty, High bridge, Grants tomb,
subtreasury vaults, st. Patricks cathedral.
And fourth makes these selections:
Brooklyn bridge, Vanderbilt viaduct.
Navarro flats, statue of Liberty, the
elevated railroads, Central park, Coney
island
1t will be seen that all opinions concur
IN putting the Brooklyn bridge and the
statue OF Liberty along the seven won
derS. Three of the four include in the
list the elevated cathedral, representa-
tive apartment-house OF the sky-scraping
pattern and the railroad engineering
work of the Vanderbilt roads from the
Harlem river to the Grand Central depot
as worthy to be classed in the list. Bv
including High bridge under the general
appellation of the aqueduct two of the
jurors would agree also to include that
great work in the schedule of wonders.
There remain a number of works that
are well worthy of consideration, though
named by only single juror. Grants
tomb, for instance, possesses a human
interest which is unique. Whatever NAV
be the architectural display at the spot
Its chief interest TO visitors will consist
IN the patriotic associations which center
there. The tomb is properly includ ed
IN any list of scenes in and about New
York which an American visitor should
see.
Then there is the sub treasury building
not impressive In architecture but won
oer1ul as national treaSure-house, Here
the visitor may be found in any building
on the continent, if not in the world, and
greater prabably than any similar collec-
tlon OF antiquity. This fact certainly in
vest the-trcasury with peculiar interest.
announcer suggestive selection Is Central
park, and Coney island is still another.
Much that is wonderful is expressed bv
each of these titles. The Hell gate i'm
provements are truly remarkable. Our
large office buildings are also amazing
and they are an absolute novelty in the
world, Solomon to the contrary notwith
standing. And then the glimpse at mod
ern business afforded by visit to the
produce or the stock exchange is fairly
to be ranked among the greatest of me-
tropolitian marvels. The beautiful Casino
theater is gem in its way, and few would
to prominence in his line. If anybody