The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-05

A Square Mile Of Swamp Land In the City
Without "a Single Inhnbitnnt.

Sahara is the name given, no one knows how
long ago, to n tract of country between tho
White Plains road and the Boston road, a mile
or so south Of Mount Vernon. When the city
recently annexed certain parts of Wcstchester
county Sahara came In with the surrounding
territory, and IL is perhaps the only square mile
OF the city outside the parks without "a single in.
habit@nt. Indeed, II is doubtful whether any
one of the parks contains so large an area with
out permanent residents. Sahara not only has
no human inhabitants, but il also is without
n single building Of any sort, without any pub
lie road. and much OF the time 1t is impossible
even on foot.
This strange hit of wilderness amid n densely
peopled area lies Immediately northeast OF
Eleventh street and Fifth avenue, Williams.
bridge. Eleventh street Is one of the worst coun.
Try roads in all the suburban urea, and Fifth
avenue IS at times not much better. enc easily
guesscs by the appearance of the region clging
sahara on ~ west that il must once have ex'
tended some blocks In that direction and quito
Ia the White Plains road, THIS edge Of the
wilderness. is, now occupied IN large part 10y
colors, after the bronx VALLEY tyne, but now fad-
ing into Il slHhbincss That l. u relief to the eye.
Sahara Itself is an almost level area. AZ tins
season largely Swami, and Fever at any SEA
son entirely FIRE" from water, Much Of the
area Is covered with low shrubs cltanglod with
II luxurious growth Of cathriar which even in
mid winter gives 10 the region a duh green
color. Part Of sahara Isl Z buck from Eleventh
lf'
sycamorcs, and other wnt"r-luNing trees, in.
tcI spcrscd with shrubs common Ia the region
and uvrrSrown with cathrlUr, Virginia creep
ers. and Wild grLuu vines, Wild roses edge
the wilderness, and wild tcasels grow there
AhoUts. Cow paths lead into sahara and tray
crse II with curious Windiuss, Ilts OF up
land show here and there, and the paths lead 10
these pasture patches, \ grass-RTowu cart
rUt shows where II sold Im-u,td wood road pcur-
tratc9 the wilderness, and near the northeast.
ern corner Of the area u 'yid" street has lust been
cut through The tangled growth at shrubs and
small trees, and SOM" one IL preparing to per
suadc home seckcgs that here - IA good place
IA settle,
- seen from the White Plains road and from
the highest mint ui Eleventh street, sahara il an
incXprcs 'lhly drcary prosurct,a n seems worthy
Of its name, over IT, icvel rNpHn~e enc see,
Ia the east n CLEAN ~ the Sound, and to tho
mort ami mort lWtst the Gown ut Mount Yer.
non. The wilderness wa ONE a iunuus rat.
hit hunting ground, n il stIll Inhabited hy u
considerable number ut Wild creatures, iurlud.
ing IN spring ana sUmmrr swarmS at birds.
With the coming ot spring IL loses n little of
It's winter OrcaTiness, but nj any season II Is
"a depressing spectacle, Most persons would
hardly believe That Sahara IL likely within a
quarter of "A century "a De rendered habitahle.
but a large area that was recently part Of II
has come 10 be OcCupied by a pretty dense pOpu
lAtiOn, and the wilderness must be worth even
now something like half a million dollars