The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-29
AMONG THE CLOUDS.
Pretty Home Nests on the Roofs of
2O-stOry buildings.
From the Plttsburg Dispatch.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
New York, Feb 20-High life on lower
Broadway differs somewhat from high life
on Fifth avenue, of course. But both are
picturesque. High life downtown is con-
fined to the roofs of'the slxy-scrapers, and
the colony is growing. These curious lit
tie homes are well worth inspection.
Some of them are set exactly on a line
with the paVements of Broadway, while
others have been built few feet behind
neat little front gardens, which bloom in
season. Many of these quiet home nests
rest on foundations some fifteen or twenty
stories in hight, and are consequently free
from damp cellars and similar complaints.
These apartments, the highest in the me-
tropolis, rent for a few dollars month,
which is very reasonable considering the
value of real estate on Broadway. They
are inhabited by the jaDitors of the i'm
mense buildings which form the founda-
tions of the modest cottages. Real estate
on the lower end of Manhattan Island has
grown so enormously m value that even
the roofs of 20-story buildings cannot be
allowed to go to waste. The architecture
in many of the small. homesteads follow
the style of the IS or 20-story foundations
on which they rest. In many cases the
cottages have been constructed at a cost
of many thousands of dollars Some of
them are built entirely of stone, or terra
Gotta or other valuable materials, and
are deliberately decorated. The most pic
turesque of them all is located in the
tower of the produce exchange building
Viewed from the streft this tower looks
more like a dovecote nnan a human habi-
high, and contains a dozen comfortable
room, which shelter the janitor and his
family, not counting the cog A parapet
keeps the household gods from dropping
to death while viewing the passing show
on sea and shore far below.
These high homes have their advantages.
Few homes here can boast of so large a
front yard as the one enjoyed by the ten
ants Of the produce exchange roof top 1t
is nearly block IN length, and quite as
bright in summer as any city or suburban
yard can be, barring natural effects. He
has fresh air TO burn at all seasons, both
of the land and the sea breeze sort. House.
keeping goes on up near the sky much the
same as on the solid earth 200 feet below.
The front yard is well supplied with
clothes lines on which the wash is regu-
larly hung out to dry. The roof is covered
with sand, giving il ground effect. There
are no trees or grass growing there to be
sure, but In season there are several flow
er beds arranged in boxes, which aid a
pleasant touch of color to the whole. The
dog kennel stands beside the Kitchen door
and the bow-wow roams at WILL with no
opportunity to exercise his Jaws on
tramDs or burglars. The children who live
in these high attitudes have carried their
bicycles, wheel barrOWS and other toys up
with them and have ground all to them
selves which is not eaualled by any mil
Just at present they are running up their
sleds to enjoy the shedding in their airy
playground on lower. broadway. Inc IN
teriors of these lofty habitations are cozy
as well as quiet and secure, providing the
occupants do not dream Of FIRE, cyclone or
earthquake The occupants Of these high
homes are as a rule not very neighborly
as calling after nightfall is q physical
impossibility. After the express elevators
stop visits necessarily cease. 1t would
consume an hours time to reach a neigh
Dor living within speaking distance, as
stair climbing is both hard and slow. es-
pecially in a one-hoor town that is full of
lifts" But the high life populations is in
creasing and the outskirts Of the settle
park and will soon be hugging Harlem.