New-York tribune., 1901-09-02

I found In the fact that on the lower Long AcIe
"fatiron" excavations are already well under
way for the station to the underground road
| that will make the Long Acre district one OF
the great amusement and business centres OF
New York is undeniable.
Were it necessary to adduce other inustra-
tions of the building movement that is already
under way or projected. attention might be
called to the Grand Circle, at Eighth-ave. and
Fifty-ninth-st.. which of late has been storm
centre in real estate activity, and to the I'M
mense apartment house at Seventy-second ana
Seventy-third sts., conveniently in touch with
the Seventy-second-st. express station of the
subway. All these things are more remarkable
in that the operation of the underground road
is still two three years ahead, and that this
road was built primarily for the outlying sec
tons OF the outlying sections thus far affected
the most noteworthy, of course. is Washington
Heights Here is an immense stretch OF coun-
try capable of housing at least two hundred
thousand people, or as many as the present
West Side: for natural beauty the finest part
of Manhattan Island, and. from the point OF
view of health, one of the most Saubrious
places i'm the United States. This section is
now with the exception of a few streets. un1m-
proved, simply because it is practically mac
cesSible to the business districts. Here the
great benefits of the underground road VIII be
most Immediately felt, and here as conse-
ouence the realty speculation of the last few
months has been especially active. The actv-
ity started in in the fall and was uninterrupted
through the winter and spring months. Lots
have been bought up by the thousands, one
syndicate alone having invested S5.oooOOo IN
these holdings. and the movement has only
Just begun. In many cases high prices have
been paid-not high however, in comparison
Cd 1Ie1t q
justified is the reasonable query, even when the
rapid transit road is an accomplished fact? Will
the Washington Heights district undergo that
remarkable metamorphosis that astounded
the public in the magical building up of the
West Side? The answer to this question is
found in the rapidly growing Importance OF
New-York as a business. manufacturing,
social a literary centre; in the great increase
in its population: in the demand by this popu-
lation for comfortable housing at reasonable
cost. When the Washington Heights district is
brought within twenty or twenty-five minutes
OF the City Hall it will be strange if its natural
advantages a place Of residence do not at
once appeal to the general public.
There are other considerations. Of course.
There are tunnels and bridges that will tend to
distribute our population laterally; hut Man
haitian Island itself is a pretty attractive sort
of place and strongly appeals to persons OF n
certain temperament Its capacity for housing
hundreds of thousands more people than are
housed here now is constantly overlooked, and it
is this capacity that the subway will develop 10
the utmost extent And It is noteworthy in CON
nection with this point that 1t is not only Wash
ington Heights that has thus far been affected
by the underground Eoad but the lower part of
Broadway as well. Up to the present time, there
fore the subway may be said 10 have more than
fulfilled the expectations entertained of it. That
the spectators who have bought so largely in
subway property are bound TO reap great re-
turns is unquestIonable; and 1t IS especially
encouraging 10 note that for the most part they
are conservative business men who are not
looking for quick returns, and who are fnan-
caly capable OF waiting until time jusifes
their foresight No mushroom growth Of the
new districts Is expected or desired rs the
result of the transit facilities. Such a
growth would only demorallze other valuable
parts of the greater city which serve their use
ful purpose and whose development Is essential
10 the fullest life of the community. Such sub
way speculation there has been. therefore.
can only be regarded as of the most healthy
kind.