The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-13
THE SHADOW ON ".rHE BAT"
Causes OF the DiminishinE Prosperity in FAX
ter Street.

Causes OF the DiminishinE Prosperity in Bax-
ter Street.
It is not 50 many years ago that Baxter street
boosted of the distinction of a boys theatre,
THE Grand Dukes Opera House" that it wasa
focus of resort for many eminent and distin-
guished Sixth Ward politicians, and that as the
great secondhand clothing" resort of town it
acquired the title which 1t now seems likely to
forfeit. "The Bay" Down The Bay" Just of
Park row. or Canal street, as the case may be,
for Baxter street begins at one and ends al the
other. was o colloquialism which grew into
great favor among those who had need of bar
gains in the clothing line or who were
under stress Of putting up q good appear
ance" on a small investment for cash
strictly. Business doomed for a long time in
Baxter street. The clothing business-that is,
of coats and pantaloons. vests and listers lben-
jamins), and dress suits-boomed amazingly
under the stimulus of backing and kerosene,
new buttons and collars. dyeing and pressing.
In an evil day for THE Bay" however. the So
called Mulberry Bend Park. opposite one part
Of Baxter street, was planned, and its construc-
ton led to three things in turn: First. the inn
provement OF the neighborhood; second. the
establishment Of a pretty park. and, third, the
degeneration of retail business In Baxter street.
reluctant, the unsophisticated, the resisting
purchaser. a victim TO the wtles and the force of
the '.puller In" walks now unabashed through
the th~orouRhfare with an easy means of escape
The character OF the neiRhborhood about The
Bay" the nelghborhood tributary to Park row
and the Bowery, has changed very much. Pur-
chasers, those having money to spend, have
sixth ward. OF which Baxter street is an i'm
portant thoronghfare, is now populated largely
ward. adjacent, and the italian colony there has
been supplemented With another, the colonyo of
Inrka anh Graaka ara unf 1iharnl nafrnDa nf
secondhand clothing stores. and still another
elem, element mt p Of injnry, b to c the once once tn thriving vim.
made clothing sold at first hand. It is as cheap
purchase a secondhand suit in Baxter street a
the new suit may be procured in q finely fitted
store under pleasant IL not altogether reassur-
aaf The sa danSers. sisks s1 or % anneSSaces WHICH Whieh any at.
! .TS purchases often surreptitiously made. in
One source of supply to such places. the
thieveries among the young crooks In the neigh
borhood of the Tombs, is now a thing OF, the
done for-they cannot be resold at second hand.
goods was better. there was long wear In a
suit or In The articles composing it. dAs nd
to the dificuities Of The Bay" men OF BSxter
street. a red button worn BY the pullers-in,
tended. but it is a good one. Tor much Of the
clothing sold on Baxter street. Is united cloth
ing" and II 10 rather imperfectly united, one
part with another. as many persons can testify
from experience. The competition OF the ready
mado clothing stores, a change in the character
of the neighborhood, a park In front of II, a new
Tombs In the rear, and red buttons for the pull.
ers-in-such is the complication OF commercial
incidents which has greatly aRitated Baxter
street, now in eclipse. All that remains is for
borne for years with profit to its merchants the
motto mo Trust"