The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-07
New York Their Jerusalem.

According to the estimate Of Mr.. CHARLES
FRANK. the Secretary of the United Hebrew
Charities. the Jewish population Of New
York last February was from 225.OO0 to $780,
600. and this total. he expected. would be
increased by immigration during the rest
of the last year by from 5000 to $4,000.
instead OF returning to the Holy Land to
build up Jerusalem and to restore the
glories of their race the chosen people are
coming to tho metropolis Of the New World.
New York is my Jerusalem. and the
United States is my country" is the cry Of
the Jew. says the Rev. DR.. WHEArLEY in an
article on the Jews OF New York in the
Century magazine.
The great numbers Of the Jews In New
York are indicated by the frequency with
which the Semitic type OF features is en-
countered in all public places. The rich
and well-to-do among them are fond of
music. theatres. and good eating. to re-
markable degree. and therefore they make
up large part OF the audiences at operas
and plays and OF the crowds which fill the
restaurants Of the best and better kind
In every department Of trade and bust
ness they are becoming more and more
numerous.
OF the 1900 wholesale firms occupying
the buildings on Broadway from Canal
street to Union square. it is estimated that
1000 arc Jews. In both the wholesale and
retail dry goods. fancy goods. and clothing
trades they are dominant in all parts of the
town. AS butchers they arc remarka-
bly, successful The Jewish jewelry firms
number 1873. They have entered largely
into tho leather business. in which
so many Of the great fortunes in New
York have been gathered. AS tobacconists.
both wholesale and retail. they are incrcas-
wine and liquor trade they are prominent.
Wherever they see chance for profit they
60 for it. The aggregate OF the capital con-
trolled by 2.0ls jewish merchants In New
York is estimated at $2O7. 3sS.0OO. In Wall
street the growing consequence OF the race as
bankers and brokers has excited Christian
jealousy for many years past: and now DIR.
WHEArLEY puts their available capital
there at 500. 900. 900. Their holdings OF real
estate in the town are estimated at from
| $15o.OOOOO0 to $500 900 900. and ive-eighths
OF the transfers are said to be for their &C.
count. Jews are the most numerous OF the
buyers and sellers at the Real Estate Elk.
change. aud their tendency to speculation
| on the Stock Exchange Is proverbial.
In every direction the Jews Of New York
are forging ahead. and not only in trade
and finance. but in the professions also. Al
| the bar they are numerous. and In medicine
they are increasing with great rapidity
Jewish names arc borne by n minority OF
| the pupils of the public schools and colleges
larger than their proportionate number IN
the community.
Yet the great majority OF the Jews now in
| New York are poor. recent immigration
having increased enormously the number
OF those who are yet at the bottom OF the
ladder SO far as fortune goes. These arr
congregated chiefly in the region east o
the Bowery and to the south OF Fourteenth
street. and the district therein which Is de
scribed more particularly as the Jews
quarter is more densely populated than an!
other equal area in the world. The nun
Der Of Inhabitants. DR.. WHEATLEY tells
us, averages in that quarter $4,000 to thu
square mile. as against only 175.O0O In TIN
most crowded district Of London. These
Jews are largely employed Mt small wage
in tho clothing industry. They are bitter
sufferers from a rapidly increa sing compe
tition. Yet they are an indomitable race
and bent on getting ahead in the world
Very many OF the rich Jews of New Yorl
were fully "a poor when they mad
! their start here. though 1t u true that the,