New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-07
rIMhLY TOPICS IN BROOKLYN.

someh,ng Of an index to the expansion Of Brooklyn
Is furnished by the way In which Barnums circus mas
been forced TO shift its ground almost from year 10
year as tho open spaces occupied by inc pis
tents have been, after another, made use OF TOT
bnIldng purposes few years ago the tents were
pitched on the old CapitoIne Grounds, which are now
occupied by long rows of brownsone houses
Driven from this point of vantage, the circus has re-
treated further and further uptown For the last TWO
years It has made stand at Sumner and Putnam avcs'
but new site Will be required next spring. Al
ready the work of excavatng the cellars for half a
dozen or more new houses tho bloch where the ring
was drawn and the clown cracked HIS well known JOKES
has been completed, and the future jewellers IN ha'
neighborhood Will doubtless never be aware OK the
thrilling scenes that once were enacted IN what havo
como to be their back-yards. In q few years at the
f,irthest the circus will find campng-pace In BROOK
Ign proper and will DO forced TO betake Itself 10 inc
suburbs Of East New-Iorh
1t IS well as a rule that people arc not aware OF
what once existed where their houses stand. know
family uptown who formerly got rid OF their ashes
by flnging them into the vacant lot In the rear OF
tho house they occupied Subsequently house was
built on that lot, which they purchased and now 1--we
IN; so that it Is literally true that they are living
upon ashes Of their former home That is not SO bad
But within two years I have seen a row OF brown
stone houses going up what was the site for many
years OF large carstables. The houses are hand
some and attractive IN appearance but one familiar
with the neghborhood could hardly buy or lease one
Of them without misglvlnss. When friend told me
that he had purchased one OF them had not the
heart to disclose fact which presumably I'M
known to him.
A company is seeking from the Park Commission
ers the right to build electric railway along the
Ocean Parkway to Coney Island, and the Corporation
Counsel has informed the commissioners that they
havo the right TO grant such franchise II they see
fit to do so. It will DO q serious mistake to permit
any railroad company to invade this boulevard 1t
has been pronounced the finest drive In America,
and to permit cars to along It would damage
It irrerievably. The Parkway consists Of one broad
drive and two side roads. Presumably 1t Is In one
of the latter that the tracks to be laid, II at
all. On common-senso principles It would seem that
no right existed to permit railroad there
than in Prospect Park The Parkway was laid out
for entirely different purposes. Why should not the
company buy a right Of way through the farms
between Brooklyn and Coney Island? II the right
to grant such franchise really exists, tho Legs
laturo cannot too pass act forbidding the
construction Of any railroad along any part Of this
magnificent parkway. Several petitions against the
road have been presented to the Park Commissioners
It is evident that most II not ALL Of the Commission
ers are opposed TO the scheme, but they have con-
sented to give public hearing the matter on Mon
day. A negative decision IS In every way probable