The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-26
TIE enEAr rssr SIDE
re. wonderful Growth wnhi. ~. Pa
Ftwe Yenrs


Five Years.
About Ave years ago Com mission appointed
by the Legislature came to New York TO lnves.
tieate the Bloomineda Insane Asylum and
determine whether IL should be allowed con-
tinued exemption from taxation. large part
OF the time OF this Commission was taken up
in listening to testimony as to the values Of
property on the west aide OF tho city above
Forty second street. All tho Witnesses agreed
in saying that the prices OF real estate In that
part OF Manhattan Island were considerably
above their apparent value. There had been
boom in property over there. they said. and
investors had rushed in 80 rapidly as TO hoist
prices unreasonably. But. asked the Com
missioners. why had the high prices remained
after the boom had subsided2 The invnrlabls
reply was that the future would Justify the
boom and demonstrate beyond the possibility
of doubt that the great section Of the city
living west OF the Park was the choicest part OF
New York
within the few years that have elapsed since
that testimony was given its truth has been
amply proved Five years ago the traveller on
the west side elevated roads could detect many
large plots Of vacant ground. The Eighth ave.
nue. cars ran past very few houses above Fifty
ninth street Vegetable gardens stretched for
blocks, Interrupted only by sunatters huts.
GROUND during he boom we're now land POOR,
and found great difficulty in raising the money
strong was the belief Of every investor in the
future Of his holdings that sales except at
high prices, were ;, u AZ, Nm ho,. i.,,
fed those high hopes The fact is that even
those enthusiasts. who were deemed dreamers
by the conservative real estate men VI that
day. never fnncied In their widest moments.
how great the west side was to grow nor how
soon the strides to greatness were to he mani
An interesting chapter in ono OF Hula's
novels describes the growth OF "A real estate
boom in Paris The description Is Intended to
be go exaggerated as to force the attention OF
every reader The n ,anS OF 'n a, mSnipnlato,
intrigue. vast sums OF money are Involved.
and the readeris brenthless as he sees old
lanes into magnificent boulevards.
All this. OF course. Is fiction. but excepting
the causes Of the marvellous changes, Ioes
wonderful description could be applied to the
recent growth Of our west aide without In any
wSs the result Of scSeming backed 6y POLITICAL
influence: our local AFFAIR was the outcome OF
natural conditions. which no human agency
The observant New Yorker needs not to be
told how the great west side suddenly
Of which had never been seen before
either in this city or elsewhere on this
gun tiis city had been suffering from
the repronch TINT it's architecture was monot-
ron,s 81
cal In design. still In outline. ugly in effect.
Thus IL was necessary to travel great dis
tances to lind the few exceptions TO the rule
the residences that were INTELLECTUALLY worth
looking at.
How different has this become since the
west side was built upi Now the stranger can
spend hours In roaming through streets filed
with beautiful houses. each one OF which IL
worth looking ut. and no two alike The west
side has become tho show place Of Manhattan
Island. a region OF beauty ami the home OF
fashion. Moreover. It has exerted splendid
influence upon building everywhere in tho
city. Owners OF property In all parts Of New
York. realizing the beneficial effect Of variety
and elegance in the architecture Of the west
side. now insist upon having the same in their
new buildings. so that New York IL becoming
more beautiful with every new structure.
I. Nor Is 1t in the private residences or apart
ment houses alone that the west side has de-
yeloped our architectural taste. The office
buildings and stores erected there are inarvels
OF beauty aud convenience and contain i'm
provements for the convenience OF their occu-
pants which were never thought OF before.
The enterprising merchants who have located
palntial stores in this section Of the town have
made them in harmony with their surround
ings, and have come supplied with everything
that shoppers could desire.
Altogether. the west side has Approached to
a state Of perfection within a few years. and
the property values that were deemed eN-
cessive ive years ago are far below those
quoted now. II Is ms though some modern
Aladdin had rubbed the wonderful lamp and
set q host Of all-poweriul Eenii at work to con-
vert bare rocks and weed grown thorouRhfares
into . region Of palaces and boucvards