New-York tribune., 1896-10-04
ing TO the same authority. this was notably the
case at the point where the present Improvement
is being projected.
A MAZE OF STREETS.

A MAZE OF STREETS.
Let anv one interested in the question take up |
the map of the city of New-York, or. If he de-
sres to be entertained, let him wander some fine |
afternoon through the West Side Of old New
York. Let him wander up old Greenwich, with |
its innumerable points of historic interest 1t
will be as plain sailing run before the wind
in June breeze so long as he adheres to a deter
mination to remain beneath the sheitering
shadow Of the elevated road but, as the pedes-
trian advances, he will find the temptation Is
strong to wander off on exploring tours among
the crooks and elbows by which the crisscross
network Of thoroughfares. each with specihc
usefulness of it's own serves to make Of the city
map a labyrinthine puzzle.
Suddenly, however. and just as the moment
arrives when he thinks himself lost beyond re-
demption. the man seeking exercise and enter
tainment turns sharp corner, and before MIN
runs Ninth-ave.. stretching away as straight as
a line for distance that seems deathly to a
tired man. especially If he has to cover it on
foot That turn comes where old New-York
leaves off and the newer portion Of the city be-
gins 1t is a place where a more orderly sue
cession OF experts took hold, but 1t Is also just
where compass points are at an unmercifui dls-
count. II he turns to the right and traVerses
short space, ne fetches up on West Fourth-st'
although he is aware he has passed West
Twelfth-st only few moments before one or
two circumstances Of this character convince
him that he needs guardian or guide, and
finally believing in odd numbers he may turn
down West Eleventh-st toward the river. II he
fetches it the first time he can be classed among
the experts at divination, but by doing so he will
find himself on the line Of the proposed improve
ments. 1t is one Of the odd corners of New
of localities. west
Eleventh-st extends in a straight line with
itself but not with the river for the shore Is
nreparing for its bend around to the nOrthward.
and the old maps reveal that in the early years
Of the century peculiar state of affairs existed
that the later labors Of the reclaimers OF land
under water effaced. In fact there was deep
natural in-curve Of the shore at this point, and
the deepest edge OF this in curve extended nearly
IN Creenwich-st as that thoroughfare Is now
known The lower edge of the curve must have
been nearly at the point where now stands the
White Star Line pier, at the foot of West
Tenth-st.
Those familiar with the region are aware that
Just above the White Star Line pier West-st
narrows perceptibly. And right where 1t comes
to the narrowing point a whole group Of funny
little oyster wharves float about in the greasy
water Of pier-locked basin. 1t looks as though
when those piers were put in place the builders
had come In contact with condition OF things
they could not exactly master on geometric lines,
and so they evaded the issue by the construction
of what is known among the longshOremen as
the Elbow" pier. that runs of at more or less
acute angle from the bulkhead line and then
bends outward to form pierhead on the river
front in proper form. Great steamers float In
this small basin easily as anywhere on the
broader bosom of the tide. The other side of the
basin is formed by the reclaimed land that
makes the extension Of West Eieventh-st.. and
this extension Is exaggerated by an old platform
pier that at present is under process of demoli-
ton for the new Improvement.
An old map dated 1907 clearly shows this
inward bend to form natural haven and the
Indications are that 1t began as stated and
finally, turning rverward. again resumed the
normal shore line at Little West Twelfth-st
which Is simply the natural extension OF West
Twelfth-st that was interrupted by the revO-
lutonary disturbance between old and new
New-York City. There was deep water in this
basn too, for the survey maps of 1880 reveal
that even with the partial filling that had been
made there was depth Of eleven feet little
outside the shore line The filling went on. and
Washington-st. was created across the origina
curve Still the reclaimers continued with theii
work and the extension Of West-st. was ef.
fected But the desire for more land was moi
vet satiated, and the filling was carried outward
until finally Thirteenth-ave spread Its generous
surface along the river front. IT was widene'