New-York tribune., 1902-06-15
DESERTED PART OF CITY.
WHERE THE BIG PENNSYLVA-
MA STATION IS TO STAND.
MANY EMPTY HOUSES - BUSINESS
BROKEN Up AND PROPERTY IN
nERGOING DESTRUCTION

Z the heart Of New-York there is deserted vii
Iaee From the south side OF Thirty-thrd-st- 10
the north side Of Thirty-hrst-st. between Seventh
and Ninth aves-. the general impression is one Of
inter desoIation. This is the property which has
heer condemned by the Pennsylvania Railroad for
the station in connection with the great tunnel
under the North River Douglas Robinson acting
agent for the corporation. IS turning the tenement
house dwellers and the storekeeDers out by the
wholesale and The whole district seems out at e4-
novs and heels There are variations Of neglect:
Thirty-second-st-. between Seventh and Eightn
aves is almost pathetic in its complete abandon
urent whereas the south side Of Thirty-third-st-'
between Eighth and Ninth aves-. still shows now
ers and faces at the windows. Il is evidently the
purpose of the PENNSYLVANIA road 10 be ready for
tearing down some six months ahead Of time
The spirit OF desoation that walks through this
district is different from that which prevails IN
lower New-York az night There It is temporary
desertior, everything is neat and to-norro" the
crowd will return: but in this little patch Of the
X1th Assembly District everything is rarnshackle
the windows have lost their panes and are stuned
with old rags gaunt cats haunt the houses. and
children are growing afraid OF the sound Of their
voices il certain blocks Oliver Wendell Holmes
once prayed that when he grew old he might quiet
" 20 70 sleep in q dear old ebb tide New-England
town where the grass pushing through the
pavement and COWS had the right Of way.
But the deserted village Of New-York Is no
place for man 70 grow gracefully Old in; it is the
sort q region which. given a few months more
Will De full Of unpleasant superstitions Ghosts
vii walk there in the minds OF the ignorant II
would not be such had place for midnight murder
The houses are OF three sorts-the great double
decker lodging houses. built Of cheap brownstone
the little cid three story private dwelling houses
made Of red brick. which was the fashionable
architecture O. the middle Of the last century and
finally. several old fashioned Dutch residences.
Captain Foody reports that this wholesale naigra-
don has not been detrimental TO the order Of his
precinct but property say that every avail
able doorknob every letterbox and fully half OF
the lead pipirg have been stolen from the tene-
rnerts and houses by hordes Of young vandals
They carry thievi1g 10 d fine art, and carefully
take out panes Of glass from such windows as
have been left unpunctured by the small boys OF
the neighborhood. Just q few Of the houses, par
ticularly n Thirty-second-st, from Eighth to
Ntnth-ave have one floor occupied, for several
persons have volunteered as carerakers and in re-
turn received lodging rent free The seven houses
either side Of No 315 are occupied by policemen
and their families.
Il is OF course. the purpose Of the Pennsylvania
road TO raze 70 the ground these entire blocks OF
buildings. This work of destruction will include
St Jaraes's Presbyterian Church. which occupies
the top floors Of No. III 70 rs West Thirty-second-
St the first floor being used for horseshoeing
the North Presbyterian Church, at Thirty -1rst-st-
and Ninth-ave. and the Boys West Side Home,
branch Of The Chii6ren's Aid Society, situated at
Thirty-second-st. and Seventh-ave-
When the road first began quietly buying UP