The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-12-02
THREE EASTERN CITIES.
Growth of New York, Philadelphia, and
Boston Since the War.

The New York Herald prints an in
teresting account, illustrated by maps
of the growth of three cities-New York,
Philadelphia, and Boston-since the
war. 1t is record of wonderful pros
perltv and full of encouragement for the
future.
In 1866 the solid blocks of New York
extended as far north as Thirty fourth
street. Between Thirty-fourth and
Forty-second streets, east of Sixth
avenue it was partially built up, but
west of Sixth avenue few improvements
had heen attempted. North of Forty
second street the only improvements
were between Second and Fourth ave-
nues as far as Fifty-ninth street and be-
tween Eighth and Ninth avenues to
Central park. North of Seventy-ninth
street was the scattered population of
Yorkville. and north of One Hundred
and Eighteenth street was Harlem. on
the Harlem river, which was then the
northern boundary of the city. Since
that time a tract north of the Harlem
river, more than half as large as the
former area of the city, has been an
neXcd from Westchester county. This
tract is bounded on the east by the
Bronx river and on the north by Yonk-
ers. This extensive district, it is ex-
pected, Will be devoted mainly to man.
ufactories and the population they sup
port, while the rest of the people will
find homes on Manhattan island, south
of the river.
The population of New York city in
1865, as ascertained by the state census,
was 726,3S6, which was less by more
than $1,000 than the population re-
ported by the national census of 1860.
But if the war gave a check to the
growth of New York 1t was but tenn
porary effect. In 1870 the population
was 942, 292. In 1880, 1,206, 299. The
Herald now claims a population of l.
SOC, 200, which we must think to be an
exaggeration. The increase from 1870
to 1880 was something more than %
per cent. We are not prepared to be-
lieve that it has been 80 per cent in
the last SIX years. But if the present
population is 100000 it is an evidence
Of wonderful prosperity. In 1866 Madi-
son avenue was not graded above
Forty-second street, and along Forty
second and Forty-third streets in the
neighborhOod of Fifth avenue there was
a cattle-yard. Now the center of
activity in building is north of One
Hundred and Flftieth street. On One
Hundred and Fifty-fourth street houses
of three stories with mansard roofs rent
readily for $1,000. Within twenty
years about fifty thousand new houses
have been erected.
The consolidation, which increased
the area of the city of Philadelphia from
one of the smallest of American cities
to the largest, and made it in popula-
ton the second in the country, was
adopted in 1854. The growth of Phila-
delphia since the war has been steady
but not phenomenal in any degree. Its
population in 1865 was GIG, ,735, and is
now estimated To be round million.
1t lacked less than $4,000 of that num-
Der last year. The number of buildings
erected in Philadelphia largely exceeds
the number in New York for the same
period, which is due to the fact that
they are smaller and cheaper, the
majority being intended only for one
family each. The records of the build
ing inspectors show that since 1865
nearly "a, 900 buildings he been con-
structed While New York is the city
of high rents. Philadelphia is the city
of low rents, in comparison with any
otner large city in the country.
Boston has aIso grown rapidly. Since
the war, RoXbury, Dorchester. West
Roxbury. CharlestOwn, and Brighton
have been annexed, and the population
has increased from 49,, 900 TO nearly
100000.