New-York tribune., 1886-07-18
TALL BUILDINGS IN FORMER PEARS

FOURTEEN STORIES HIGH BEFORE THE WAR -
AN ANTI-sLAvERY SUGAR REFTNER,
@These great business blocks, nine and ten
stories high are wonderful structures" remarked
veteran architect and builder but you must not think
the present generation enjoys monopoly OF them.
Away back, years before the had some rst as
tall and they wero Guilt by mon wLo made great for
tunes about rapidly tho money kings of to day are
doing.
"Por example, there was Harris's suear-house In
Duane st. west OF Broadway remember II rris well.
He came from Bristol England, about the year
1885. lie was Methodist local preacher, with almost
no education and with hardly dollar in the world
When he reached New York he got work in a sugar
refinery In Duane-st II small affair, next door to
a brewery, and in rather disreputable neghborh0od
The York HOSP ital the block boundedby
Broad way and Anthony now WORTH Duane and Church
sts its grounds enclosed with high brcg WALL and the
surrounding streets, especially Duane and Church. were
the resort OF tue immoral classes every evening Well,
Harris got employment IN this refinery at dollar day,
his work being to stir a csdron OF boiling sugai Before
long his lges were increased until he much
$50 a week. Then day the proprietor who was old
aud childish offered to sell out the whole concern to him.
Harris jumped at the opportunity, and set about to
borrow tue 500 which 1t necessary 10 pay In cash.
didn't find easy get it at He tried first to
get it OF George sukeey. who was president OF the
wich Savings Bauk, but sukeey declined TO loan
it. Harris always felt little hard toward sukeley after
that, thinking ought 10 nave et nave III only
because they fellow Methodsts, sukeley beiig in
the Oil vestry Street Methodist Church and a member OF
the class led by Francis Hail. then proprietor OF lhc
CoDlmerrim AdrertiSer.
However, Harris managed TO get the $500 somewhere
and bought the refinery. lie fitted up in it
and his family there to live, and they remained
there for time although. have said, it
unpleasant street for decent people to live in and the
sugar house sboI dirty and malodorous place
aS
n1 He often told me that ho Ouly wanted to get to DO
worth $1,000 when he would retire from the business
aud settle little farm in New Jersey. A'tcI time
fully paid FOR the establishment. and then went back
to England and brought over big vacuum pan and
other machinery it, which could be obtained IN
tus Then he to build him new SUGAR
house IL was OF brick and was no les than fourteen
viii, anv of vonr modern sky-scap.rs' That was be-
fore the lays Ot passenger eeVaoI TOO SO You can I'M
that tney not bothered as you TRIBUNE peo-
pie are with visitors who wanted 10 up and take
look from ne roof Within years tune OF us compile
ton tn, nuildune entirely destroyed by fire. nut
Harris pucky, and got me to rebuild II Tor hm at
"You may well believe that Harris had already made
his - 900 aud good deal more But he lid not retire
TO any New-Jersey farm. On, no. lie Kept rght on
naIin. money. Que day reminded him o his $1,000
retirement notion. 'Ot,' he said. I'm making Lot
merely ~, 900, out $4,000 year now; but truly
often WIS [ we're Dack again, contentet win my dollar
~ stirring tue big cauliron. He kept on at suga
rehnins, however, until suppose he hal fothne or
100000 Then he sold and his successor failed to
eontinue 10 his stream OF prosperity considerable
of his money lie invested III fes estate up-town ia
what was thea known CaTnansyi To- tic WAS also
pre- .lsnt the Wrustsr nsur Company. which Was
So Enthusiastically managed that the state ordered ls
affairs To imvcstgtt tted rarreupOn the concern cOi
!lsed, and Harris went 10 Ens.Aui again Tor ne e
returned to YORK, however, AID entered tue
sugar business again.
"Iarrls, as have said. local preacher OF the
Met ho list CAurch. lie also active member OF
slavery society and assisted In the operations
OF the under ground railway We New-iork AbOll-
touists got up big petition to tho General Com
ference, protesting against the rule which refused
To admit tue testimony Of coOred church M N
bers AGAINST white cAurch momhers IN churel Trials
TIIs created seusatiOn and WAS vigorously de-
nOuuccd by many OF the slavery men Dr. ID. VI
Reese the author Of UImhugs OF Now York pat him.
snlf forward the ch npOn Of the prO-saYerY party
He WAS native Ot Baltimore. but lived IN New York
He made q preteuce investigating the origin OF tine
peton aud reported that 10 was bogus, and that no
sucn uersons as q petitioners were to he found. The
ignt brought mt the VeStry rect ChurchIn which
DR. Reese "a csss-lesier. and charges or mlSrepre
sentatiOn. etc preferred against Harris, who mad
been one Of the petition presume nearly
every one perfectly well that tho petition
uiue and signeI IN iath. But dominant the
slavery sentiment here that the charges were
sustained. aud Harrls was actually for Time suspendei
from his church functions. The petitioners held tEet
ground however, and many Of them went out TO Utica III
1913 and made tue scnism OF the Wesleyan Connec-
rou