New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10
THE HARLEM VALLEY.
A PANORAMA FROM THE DOME OF lhE
NETWORK UNIVERSITY LIBRARY.

From, the copper dome of the library buiioihs
of the New-York University. now nearing oo''
nIetion. on University Heights above the mar
lem River and little below the ola village y,
Kingsbridge one of the finest, most chai iii'is
sights In all New-York City or It's heiehooinoo0
Is obtained The panorama shown III 'ne MUS
tratIon. q series Of views taken recently ny o"'
=, Tho university students, who took his camera
I'M on the dome tells the story better IMAM "oiu
OF pen could do.
or this dome the valley Of the Harlem spreaus
mt with a glimpse here and there over 'ho
erests Of Washington Heights on the northern
extremity of Manhattan Island, ana over '"e
still wooded growths of Inwood, which was the
old Tubbys Hook of the early DAYS OIL 'he
century. The picture is Of the Harlem Naiiey'
however Modern building and the inroaos VI ING
great city upon the country to the hor'h n"'e
not yet marred 1t. though the respite ~ shoi.
ana the CITY is almost up there. The heaps OF
hrick stone and mortar which are the vanguard
Of its march can be seen much more distinc'y
,han O vear mr. so ago That "avant courier or
the town. the Speedway. is in full evidence 's
broad stretch of roadway and its stone retain
ing wall standing out wildly where once were
only Harlem River mud fats
To the far south of the panorama. It's extreme
left, may be seen the approaching CITY do !e'
far off. confused massng of buildings INC
Harlem of One-hundred- and-ffty-ninth-st. Then'
closer High Bridge comes into view. aeIlca'e
tracery ending in the high banks OF nsa
Heights. Nearer yet Is the more 81 a. onnpsIta
ring OF WASHINGTON Bridge, with the opposI.e
snore OF the Harlem clear and precise, Ns en
fective stonework above the speeoway S""'p
and clear against the steep green Jain. So,c,
All the way cliffs line the Harlem uhtIi pm.
almost AT Kingsbridge is reached, niue shoi
NJ that on the west side where the ciiils Gnu a.
ruptly in a curving promontory sKlruus the 80,
Of plain. With good reason Was ir [lij1 Of
chosen for the scene OF an historic HClu' %
the Revolution. general Of Washington Ga
racity seeking 10 protect his troops IIo az s,ch
Vancing British, could not nave me-, 80 - Of
obvious natural strategic advantages as ~
fered and there he made stand On the ea as
bank however. the cliffs continue. ula i WV
bend of the river at KingSbrldge Is reaChVu' 80
Al the west these cliffs tower dlrectiy aooev
~ motor AZ the east they set a little way
lack and form n more gradual slope out o,e
which is quite as high however. .ooro ~
two the Harlem flows slugglshiy' d st!e"t ~,
i,,Ia yyofor and much mud. Mud mats snow
themselves barefacedly and point 10 d tash VI
reclamation that some day Wheh ~ 10 e"''
rouct necessarily consume full haIl cen,ui9
Of wonderful beauty and OF fine artlsuc qua
e.. &c the scene from this height. q polnt Oh
vantage II now possesses for the nrs' , ~
Directly opposite. across the s'len req, -. ond
George and Wendell stand out Doiu anu ,o,itng
,ben there is a sight OF some OF the new uMI!iIe
tousas and tinv glimpses of still others, WIZ "a
fuller outline Of the pleasure gardens 20 old
these payiIions are built in terraces on the slopes
~ the cliff. Here the bluff abruptly ends; an,
there is fat plain across Manhat'a t,rthnr a.
with promise Of hills and WOODS YET i"'
the north 49, o, tho trees the
Northward, peeping from among 'ne ~, 80 Webh
tower and bits of the fine building OF tne TeoD
Academy for Shipbuilders reveal tle.'i be do
Reyond the village of Kingsbridge may We u
srred the winding river. the whole presenting
superb picture with BACKGROUND OF nc. hoi, niS
country for its frame II Is dast nro by the
oroIyth OF the modern city, but soon 10 disappear