New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-21
THE ISLANDS RECENTLY 1NNEAED
PICTURESQUE ADDITIONS TO THE CITY IN LONG


PICTURESQUE ADDITIONS TO THE CITY IN LONG
ISLAND SOUND.
Some picturesque islands which are little known 10
many New Workers In the territory recently
annexed to the city and formerly belonging 10
Westchester County. The principal OF these Is
City Island which has enjoyed some reputation as
a place for shipbuding. and is frequently visited
hv Measure parties from the northern parts of the
city. Many OF the inhabitants are oystermen. Inc
name "City Island conveys little knowledge 70 the
average citizen OF the history OF the Island. but 10
those who know more of its past 1t tells OF hopes
and ambitions which were long ago found to be
delus,ve The group OF islands OF which 1t Is a
mart was formerly known as the Minniefords, and
the largest of these now City Island. was known
as Great Minnefcrd's Island. 1t was part OF
the extensive manor OF Pelham, and was sold In
1856 by John Pell TO John Smith 1t was bought In
1858 for e. 300. and in l76l Benjamin Palmer pur-
chased 1t for e 100 He sold large part OF the
island and with his associates formed plan for
making the island a centre OF trade with the East
Indies and other foreign countries The island had
100 proprietors in 1862. and had been divided into
400 lots each 25xlOo feet with public squares and
all preparations. such as are known to western
boomers for the large population which the I'M
mense prospective trade was TO bring to the
island.
The community made laws for itself and many
of those enacted between 1863 and 1891 still pre-
served. The founders OF this paper city 1ound
their plans interrupted by the Revolutionary war.
but after peace had been declared they still tried
to attract interest 10 the island as commercial
port and issued seductive circulars setting forth
its advantages for trade BY the beginning or tho
nineteenth century the hopes OF commercial pros
perity had faded away. and the shpyards ana
oyster beds long ago became the principal IN
dustries engaging the attention OF the small popu
a,on. The island had according to the census OF
1890 a population of about loo
Hart Island though containing only eighty five
acres is more widely known among New ork resi-
dents than some OF the larger islands. as the city
of New-York has long owned the island, though II
was within the limits OF Westchester County, HART
Island was formerly known as spectacle Island
Ii belonged at one time to Oliver De lIancey: ana
later to John Hunter In the War OF the Rebel
lion the island was used by the Government Tor
hospitals and other purposes The city OF New
York has in later years owned hospi'ai anu
workhouse upon the island ,,
Hunters Island. containing about TWO huhuren
and nfty acres. is another one OF the group re-
Gently annexed 10 the city A century ago II Pc
iongcd to John Hunter; 1t was IN later years the
properly Of Aiva Higgins All OF the Islands are
attractivelv situated the course OF tnc
steamers IN Long Island Sound. and the whte
buildings and sandy beach at city Island ana the
mxuriani verdure OF the other Islands nave at
tracted the eye OF many n passer-by long peiore
they became a part of The city OF New-iork'