The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-22
A Generation Ago.

The enlargement of one Of the great ba-
zaars on the Sixth avenue brings strikingly
to view tho wonderful progress Of tho whole
town and OF that thoroughfare, particularly
since the concern was established in 1858, or
generation ago. A little shop, with sales
OF few dollars a day, has grown in that
time into vast business, employing two
thousand persons. and with sales often
amounting to $4,000 in q single day.
In 1858 the population and the Inhabited
area OF New York were not half what they are
to-day. Omnibuscs and horse railroads fur
nished the only means OF public transit.
For tho most part the streets were badly
paved with cobble stones and badly lighted
with gas lamps. Tho Central Park was only
In its beginning. and more unpromising
place for great pleasure ground could not
have been looked upon. The Fifth avenue
afforded scarcely promise Of what it has
now become, and above the square at
Twenty-third street, Madison avenue pre-
sented few attractions In the way OF notable
residences even for that day. AS contrasted
with the elegant houses now SO numerous,
there were no grand and imposing private
dwellings in town, and generally the archi-
lecture was insignificant and commonplace.
New York was very provincial place q
generation ago. It was also badly gov
erned town as compared with what 1t Is
to-day. The arrangements for cleaning the
streets were insufficient and primitive. Tho
sanitary regulation OF the town was not yet
reduced to q system. and tho death rate
was high. The police supervision was so
neglected. that criminal gangs hourished.
Fires were apt to stir up riots because of
the disorganized Fire Department. Elec-
tons provoked invariable disorder and
violence, and corruption and rascality
marked the receiving and the counting Of
the votes. Both life and property were In
hazard, whore now they are secure under
the protection OF rlgidly administered laws.
The Sixth avenue was o street Of small
shops. hopeless Of any large growth Of busl-
ness. Landed property was Of low value
along the thoroughfare. The retail trade OF
the more important and extensive kind was
concentrated on Broadway below Four
teenth street, and 1t gave no Indications Of
spreading either westward or eastward. The
expected development Of such trade was to
tho northward only, along Broadway. and
the Sixth avenue was left unconsidered as
the predestined home OF little shops, haber-
dashers. grocers, and butchers. And 80 the
situation continued for many years after
1885, or until the elevated railway was built.
The prospect OF such structure frightened
both landlords and tenants. They thought
1t meant ruin for trade. Instead, it built up
trade and enhanced vastly the productive
value OF landed property. Without it tho
establishment Of which we have spoken
could never have grown to fifth of what it
is to-day.
Rapid transit gave the town its greatest
impulse. and yet its introduction was OPP
posed by newspapers and so-called reform
srs AS gigantic scheme OF public robbery.
and the work was hampered and embar-
raised by obstacles. Meantime, too, every
other step in advance was resisted In tho
same way. AS progress went on tho cry
was sent up continuously that the town was
going backward and good municipal gov
eminent under popular suffrage was impos-
sibe. A commission even advised that to
check the retrogreSSion property qualifi.
cation for voting be required; and through
cut the Union the enemies OF the Democracy
echoed the SANDER that 1t was a party hostile
to the true welfare Of New York. This cry is
kept up even now. and President ELIOT OF
Harvard College came hither not long ago
to condole with the MuGwumps because the
citizens had refused to turn the government
Of the town over to them as tribute to
their moral grandeur.
Yet New York has advanced during the
last generation more than any other capital
OF the world, not In population only, but In
everything that belongs to a civilized capt.
tai; and never before was the progress SO
great as 1t has been since the people destroy
ed tho last vestges of Mugwumpery In the
municipal Government and put the Demo-
cratic party in complete control.