New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-12

bu, sandwiched In on these are scores Of tiny
houses half century old. few not far from
the century mark. One Of these little houses is
historic and by good fortune Git is not known
whether Intentionally or by chance) the extern
sion passes it by without displacing a single
brick. This is the former home of ex-President
Monroe. a now dingy, Dutch-roofed. red brick
house fat and squat Of design. fronting on
Prince-st. at the northwest corner of Elm It's
chambers that once echoed with the slippered
footsteps and saw the nightcapped head OF one
Of the earliest American Presidents are now
given up to petty traders and the side Of the
house is blazoned with huge advertising sign.
A FORGOTTEN THOROUGHFARE.
Beyond this Eln-st is undistinguished and has
no memories. Nor. so far as is known. will the
extension from Prnce-st through to Great
Jones-st, strike any sites Of Importance or
interest. 1t will open up. though, and
bring into public notice what Is perhaps
NETWORKS most completely forgotten byway-
Jersey-st. Few know that there is such street,
and it is wonder Running from Crosby
to Mulberry. between Prince and East Houston
SITS. it is little more than alley squeezed
In between high buildings. And yet. by chance,
Jersey-st. has gained place in literature. 1t
was high above its narrow depths that Henry
~
and one day. struck by the Italians passing and
repassing along its curb. he sat himself down
and forthwith wrote a magazine article Jersey
Street and Jersey Lane"
The course of the new street is worth giving
more in detail From Great Jones-st 1t Is to be
cut south to Blocker there Joining Mulberry
almost opposite Police Headquarters queer
and quaint old church is here to go. Thence the
cut continues. plunging through large factories
and taking slice Off Of the Puck Building
across Jersey Lane to meet Marion-st
just above Prince. Below Prince a strip
on the west side varying from foot and
half TO ten feet in width Is to be
taken. Below Springst. the east side OF the street
is levied upon to the extent Of four to twenty
feet wide by four hundred and fifty long. From
Broome to Grand thirty feet Of the east side Of
Elm is called for and from BroOme to Howard
strips from both the east and west sides ranging
from one foot to twenty mine feet are taken.
After Canal is crossed the new street incnes
to the east. When Worth is reached it has
moved thirty-four feet over. From Worth on its
direction changes 1t cuts almost diagonally
through the blocks across Pearl Duane and
Reade into City Hall Place at Centre and Cham
bers sts wiping out the little triangular block
completely. Its course here it was found neces-
sary to plan in this manner. the new Records
Building. TO be set at Chambers. Centre and
Reade SITS. will stand in what is really Em-sts
logical and direct line to the Bridge.
BY October l practically all the present build
ings within the new street line will be destroyed
or in active process Of being set back AS has
been said, many Of these alterations are we'll
under way now. Some strange methods Of con-
struction to be seen. In one building, at
Elm and Spring SITS. masons putting up
new outer wall four feet within the old. while the
old wall is still standing. 1t is a curious freak
Of building and attr acts a crowd of loterers all
the day. This particular building is to be SO
crowded together by the new street that at its
rear end it will be only four and half feet wide.