Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-09-02
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

Entered AT tiie tD-tNillct ol AicAdiuIltit II
ginia, as second-class matter.l
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette. ]
As we travel from one partof the city to
another our attention is occupied by the
construction of the underground railroad
system, which causes great part ofBrOad-
way and Madison Avenue to be torn up
this summer. 1t is remarkable and
stupendous piece of work. While it is
being carried ON, the surface cars run
with but little Inconvenience. Their
tracks are propped up by under girding
wherever the tunneling Is going on be-
Meath In the upper part of the city
this has to be done through mass of
solid rock, so drilling deep holes for the
blasting charge and the blasting itself
are going on all the time. Every pre-
caution is taken to dcaden the vertical
force OF the explosions. Heavy matt II :
made Of rope material with beams of
timber laid upon it is placed over the
rock before the blast is set OF, and in
addilion to this warning is given so
That all traffic may keep at safe dis
tance until the charge has taken effect.
One morning we we're waiting at cor
ner TO board car, when a man
with red flag came along
and told us to step into
side street until the blast went
Off In a very few cases, we
were told, fragments Of rock have fallen
in the streets, but scarcely any accidents
have happened from this score, although,
rs your readers know, serious casualties
have occurred in the progress Of the
work. The underground railroad is in
all stages of construction from the earlier
eua,ations to the completed tunnel.
We suppose the cars will be running in
about Il years time. The elevated and
surface roads are already congcsted so
his will supply a long-ielt need in the
Manhattan transit system.
A very interesting place to visit is the
New York Aquarium situated in Bat
terry Park. The building itself has had
a long and noted history. 1t was built
in 1907 by the United States govern
mcnt rs a fort, and was known as the
southwest battery, After the war of
1912 it was called Castle Clinton, which
was ceded by the government to the
city of New York in 1922, and in 1924
was leased by the city to private persons
for place of anu iem(nt. Then it be-
came the famous Castle Garden, the
fashionable resort of the New York Of
that day. 1t would seat 5000 persons
and as many as 10000 could be ac-
cOmmodated Here Jenny Lind sung
on her arrival in this country
in 1889 and before her departure in
1852. Here, too, Lafayette was re-
ceived in 1924, President Jackson in
1892, President Tyler in 1913, and
Kossath in 1851. But by 1915 the
trend of the residence section was moved
50 far northward that the glory Of Castle
Garden as q fashionable place Of amuse-
ment rapidly faded, and in 1855 it was
turned over to the commissioners of i'm
migration when it became equally cele-
brated as the great landing place for i'm
migrants, until in 1891 the landing sta
ton was changed to Ellis Islaud.
Castle Garden then became place Of
amusement in a different way, and of
instruction in a department of natural
history as well. The present Aquarium
was completed and opened in December,
1896. Its popularity may be shown by
the fact that its visitors during the first
year amounted to 1,G35, 252, and from
the numbers that visit it now, its power
to attract appears to be steadily incrcas-
ing
The Aquarium contains seven large
pools, four turtle tanks, ninety-iour wall
tanks, and large number of smaller
glass tanks, all for exhibition purposes.
The large pools and turtle tanks are on
the main floor and the rest are arranged
arou I'd the walls Of the main floor, and
of tn, gallery running around the build
ing. 1t would take too long TO describe
thus very interesting resort, and the
grea. care needed to preserve the
large number of fish on exhibition
in health. Suffice it to say that
there are many beautiful aud
strange varieties especially from the
tropical waters of our country. Among
these NAV be mentioned the lovely
angel-lish of Bermuda, the squirrel-lish,
the lady and the green and blue parrot
fish. found in the same waters. Our
own familiar fish such as the perch, the
bass, the cat, and the trout look very
beautiful swimming about in their tanks.
The most amusing fellow is the harbor
seal which has a big pool all to himself.
He swims and rolls around and quite
frequently the large crowd of amused
spectators standing by his spoolare treated
to a good sprinkling from his antics.
We wish that young friend in AleSan-
dria could have enjoyed this we'll
equipped and noted Aquarium with us.
On second visit to the Metropolitan
Museum we saw and enjoyed Rosa
Bonhour's celebrated ''Horse Fair,
1t was her desire that it should remain
in her beloved France, but the offer
made by Mr.. Vanderbilt, ''the American
millionaire went beyond that of any
Frenchman and it is now the property
of the New York museum.
In our walks around the residence