New-York tribune., 1903-07-26
LITTLE OLD NEW
Some odd Phases of Her March to
Greatness.
Ill.

- IN all foreign markets engaged the SER
- of tvyo-thirds of her population in boiling
= -ocl-ing II and was source OF large reve-
= - her Indeed. so steady was the increas Sc
r.,enue and population from the furtherance
.t,e industry that in 1897, about eighty years
O. the beginning Of the settlement. there
9a2 inhabitants. and in 1893 there were
90, The trainers Of the law of 1853, by which
-aononoly was given to the colony, com
rigid system of inspection of all flour
49, for export. and because of this it main
- i,s supremacy over the -four of the Old
- and enriched its producers.
ne,ition to the legislature in 1885, when
ottau,pt was made to repeal the law. the
-.-aoratjon Of New-York stated that when the
sI,t,1 of hour began, in 1913, there were only
oes houses. as against 9S3 in 1885; that the
-ersnue for the three years after 1878 was
p ooo and in 1857 it had increased to 5000;
-, IN 467s there were 3 ships, Z boats and s
ICONS engaged in the traffic, as against 60
.bins. 40 boats and % sloops in 1894.
The law. however. had become odious and op-
,,-sssive to the country people, and their grow
Do influence with the Governor and the legis-
,.+r-s caused its repeal in 1899. but not without
long and strenuous resistance from the city
.,,borities. who were loatk to have such a lucra-
.i,,e r-onopoly taken from them. And to-day
,,oroposts still fight against the trainers Of
,av-s that viii protect the interests OF the peo-
ME as against theirs.
In 1886 Trinity Church was built, the Rev.
Mr. Yesey holding the first service in it on
Febr,arv G. 1897 i was originally a small
edifce. but was enlarged in 1735 and 1877.
The first place Of worship in the old city used
hv the Episcopalians was the small church
built by the Dutch in 1910 inside Fort Amster-
dam. Its service was in accordance with that Of
gHrI s---AT1
when the fort and everything within its walls
vas taken possession OF by the British troops.
Il was destroyed by fire on March is, 1741, as
the result Of the negro uprising.
During the fire which destroyed the south
vest part Of the city on September p. 17I6 the
venerable edsfce e Trinity met its fate, and lay
IN ruins during the war and fer several years
after The present structure vas rebuilt in lIoS
and consecrated in 1871 by Bishop Provost 1t
Is moi so long as the old church, but is the
sane width, with steeple twenty feet higher.
The ground was gratuitously ceded to the
vestry by the corporation Of the city in 1902, on
condition that il should always be neatly fenced
IN and burlals in il granted TO the citizens for
ever for the fee Of IS Cd for grown persons and
Is Cd for all under twelve years OF age.
On June &c, 1896, city hall was ordered built
On the corner Of Nassau and Wall SITS, TO cost
5000 It vas 2 modest, plain, substantial edi-
fee. sufficient for those days Of primitive sim
rlicity. and continued with occasional repairs
and alterations until after the War Of the
Revolution. Prior TO the assembling OF the Con
gTess Of the United states in this city in 1877
and 1IS9 The building was altered and enlarged
for its accommodation by the corporation, and
remained so until demolished in 1911. II had
spacious portico projecting into Wali-st- sew
eral feet and resting on arches. with arcades
underneath, extending around into Nassau-st.
From the portico Of the second story. facing
Broad-st, General Washington was inaugu-
rated first President o United States.
That the readers Of this chronology Of old
New-York may know the inception Of the City
Han il viii be necessary TO 60 back to 1912,
when the town was yet in its infancy. In this
year. that the citizens might have building in
which 10 assemble, a "Stadt-Huys," or State
House. was built on the corner Of Pearl-st. and
Coe1ties Alley. fronting the slip, by the West
India Trading Company. and called their tav-
ern IN il strangers who could not be con-
veniently received under the hospirable roof Of
The governor were entertained, and the most
important affairs of the city and colony were
transacted. Il sheltered the first school in 1852.
and the first court Of admiralty. organized by
Governor Nichols in 1868 Courts were held
and transfers Of sovereignty were made in
5an Of the city was kept In front of the
building the militia paraded. and the stocks,
whipping post and duckng stools were also
there. In 1889 II was in such a decayed and
dangerous state that al public sale John Rod
man. & merchant, bought il for 1920
The second City Han was erected in 100 at
the north end Of Broad-st,, and was succeeded
by The present building which few know is Of
native white marble. from Stockbridge, Mass.
its foundation stone was laid on September 26,
1903, and it was finished in 1912. at a cost. X
elusive Of the furniture Of half q million dol
lars. See Tweed records for further cost.
Soil was valuable, apparently. in 1896, for
Captain Teunis De Kay petitioned that "a carte
way be made leading out Of the Broad-st. to the
street that runs by the Pye-woman's (now Mas
sau-st), leading to the commons of the city
'now the park; and that he viii undertake to
GOO The same provided ne may have the soyle"
"-'nout me tulness thereof. Complaints Of
great scarcity Of bread existed in this year.
II 1881 Church-st was laid out and city
watch OF four sober men was ordered by the
1913
Here is gena-the simple and cheap method
O hrst lighting the city: November %, 1887
144ls BOARD, taking into consideration the great
lACoaFenlency that attend this city, be ng a
tIaa!hg place, for want Of having lights in the
oa'k Tine Of the moon in the winter season;
therefore ordered that all and every of
els Aousekeepers within this city shall put out
I-sn's II Their windows fronting the respective
sIse's @ the said city, according to such man
1Io rue as shall De directed by the mayor,
- e'1eFmen and TWO assistants, under the
U hihepence for each night OF defa ult."
Va december it was ordered that every
- mouse 90 hang out a pole with Ian
1s'a ana candle: and the said seven houses to
eqoal portions OF the expense"