New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-23
THE GROWING WEST SIDE.
WONDERFUL CHANGES IN RECENT YEARS.
HOUSES sPRINGING OUT OF THE GRoUND-soME
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS AND ATTRACTIVE

HOUSES sPRINGING OUT OF THE GRoUND-soME
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS AND ATTRACTIVE
DRIvEs-THE HoME.DIsrRIcT.
At the present rapid rate with which building IS
going up In that part Of the city called generally py
New Workers the West SIDE" it will not be many
years before all available ground there has been
buit upon. As 1t Is commonly considered, Inc
West sde' at least from home point OF view' Is
that part OF the city running from Fifty-nnth'st 10
spuyten Duyv Creek west Of Eighthave., until that
horoughfare ends in the Harlem River and rom Una.
point along the river 30 the creek NO part OF the
city has developed more rapidly than the section Just
described. One who has not visited 1t for twenty
years would fail absolutely TO recognize the uistrc'
as II now Is. with Its well-pavcd streets IN many
places, fne broad avenues and drives, handsome
private homes row upon row OF artisticahy con.
stIucted flats and apartment houses ana beautIui
parks. It's transformation from what might be terncd
a rocky waste Of land has been marvellous. one WHO
has not visited this part OF the city In fifteen or
even ten years would be astonished by the remark
able development OF 1t, while those VINO nave hoC
becli there for FIVE years greatly surprised az
the change. Occasional visitors who are called there
perhaps once or twice annually cannot avoid COM
mentng upon the Transformations which have &C.
Cured even between their visits.
Few Of the old landmarks now remain to inform the
nfreQuent visitor that this is the same part OF the
city that not long ago almost entirely given up TO
goats, squatters and truck gardens Inc httlc oid
wooden shantes" which once the homes Of scores
of "squstters,n have disappeared almost completely.
Occasionally one may now be seen, but only in the
more remote regions where the steam drill and the
contractor yet unknown. With the disappearance
OF the "sQuatter" has gone also the Harlem goat.
There is and then an od-fashoned Dutch manor
house, which in its day considered to he no
doubt all that could be desired from architectural
view or in point of outward display and interior
comforts These old dwelling houses look odd and
strange indeed beside the structures which spring
ing up around them almost daily and upon every
hand 1t is no unusual sight, either to in this dis
trct great OF sandstone rock standing alongside
of a handsome and costly dwelling house. Wherever
such thing is seen it is a monument to the enter
prise and energy Of those who have made this part Of
the city what and what 1t is bound to be with
in the next decade.
A great majority of the houses which stand in this
district are built where there were formerly high cliffs
ridges of sandstone which had to be blasted away
But the steamdrll has done the work, and for the
last six or seven years there has been hardly work
ngday when the noise OF the drill has not been heard
from a dozen different places. STROLL through the
streets Of the West Side" would lead stranger to
believe that there had been mighty earthquake some
where in that part OF the city and that large part Of
the population of New-York had turned in TO aid in
repairing the damages which had been done by 1t.
On every side the noise Of the steam drills, the dull
rumble of blasts catter OF hammers and the sound
of other tools can be heard Here is a gang of men
Mt work making excavations for cellars where perhaps
n dozen houses will stand in q few months. Nearby
the and hod carriers are hard at work. lay ing
foundations and building walls. Close al hahd' 100
is row Of buildings raised as high as the second
story and the elevator is lifting to mosons the
lodfus OF brick and mortar which the carriers ieeo
to it, Practically the entire street Is gwen up
10 this work, in dozens Of cases. and skilled
stone masons are putting the finishing touches upon
big blocks OF brownstone, granite or marble.
From Fifty -ninthst. north to Onehundreda and
fftiethst building operations are going on at every
side 1t Is estimated that at least GOO new buildings
are now being put up, and there are many more hearty
ready for They OF all STYLES and plans OF
architecture from the plain homely 1aiihKe ana COM
fortress looking of tenement and fiat houses to the
artistic and substantial homes built for the rich, or
the pretty and cosey little Queen Anne order OF
building. Those who can afford to put from SJoooo
TO 900 in house on the West side generally pre-
fer those which built after the queen Anne idea'
with broad winding front steps and with wde
halls and parlors Seventy second and Eighty
SITS are conceded be just now the finest two streets
in the CITY, Both broad and well paved. ana both
have many fine and costly dwellings. One thing mars
them considerably, and that is the elevated railroad
which crosses them II II were not Tor tle structure
one standing at Central Park West would nave view
down one OF the finest streets that there are Perhaps
in this country Another thing which tends to mar
very mich the beauty OF these streets is tho lack Oh
attention given 10 them by Hans S. Beatte the Street
Cleaning Commissioner
IN last Tuesday morning. after the rain OF Monday
those streets were both nearly ankle deep with heavy
sticky mud. This, however, was the case WIN '"'
Fchihave entrance TO Central Park The entire piazza
there was covered with mud deep that 1t came over
the tops of low shoes. Horses and wagons WHICH
went through it looked II they had travelled over
twenty miles OF the worst of Virginia roads III Is 10
be hoped however that New York will some DAY nave
a Street Cleaning Commissioner who will devote more
time to the streets and less to figuring upon maps
and Mans which result only in additional buruens
upon the taxpayers and In dirt in the Streets
There are many things which make this part Oh
the city most desirable one for homes. From fIity-
pinth-st to One hundred and feminist central farh
form. the eastern boundary, while Morningsde Park
follows along just above it for threequarers OF c'
Riverside Park which in reality begins with RIVERSIDE
Drive at seventy ST. the western bound
airy TO one hundred and twenty nlntirst Toge'her
with this great amount of park area Is the HudsoS
River which is a never-ceasng source OF attraction.
II is here that its banks widest apart ana mere
| there Is constant procession of ships steamers,
barces and other craft up and down upon its glsenng
and ever changing surface. >Skirng the edge OF tho
high blun which overlooks this magnificent river Is
Riverside Drive. There are few finer drives in the
country than this, and many competent Judges pro-
| nounce Il the very finest.
From only one point along the drives entire length
| is the Hudson hidden from view, although there are
Trees and shbbery at almost every foot OF the dis
lance The trees grow beneath the high blum upon
the edge Of which this road has been constructed and
when In foliage TO hide the tracks OF the New
York Central aud Hudson River Railroad which run
along tho waters edge down deep in the valley.
Tho drive and park have both been completed as far
sorth rs Seventy nintlst, but ION that point much
has to DO and will be done before the Park Department
authorities are thoroughly satisfied with their work
That part Of the park from the tomb OF General Grant
north TO The Claremont Hotel has yet 10 DC
finished. The plans have been completed ior some
time bnt the Park Department has been com
| PEELED TO await the decision OF the plans TOT
the Grant Monument and the completion. at least
in part Of the monument before the grounds coud DO
laid out as il is intended that they shall be finally.
~s.I