New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08
LITTLE OLD NETWORK
Some odd Phases of Her March to
Greatness.


That the t-ysrirg place OF NETWORKS bellies
and beaus a century ago was the Battery
an oasis IN the congested lower part Of the city
and shamefaced because Of its DETACHMENT by the
elevated roads known 70 few. II was, how
ever. And even when the centre Of fashion OF
the Youthful city was at Blocker and Bond SITS.
the termination Of an afternoon walk Of knlck-
erbocker lovers and their staid elders was IN
der the trees by the waterside at the Battery.
The park was then half its present size and
with no formidable sea wall 70 stop the tide
which riupIed decorously on q beach OF rocks
and sand. and Castle Garden was froNnlng
fortress. reached by q wooden bridge.
F7ef--A Dame Fashion turned her magnet 70
tbs part Of the city where the Dutch laid the
first foundations Of Z metropolis for the New
World there clustered the homes Of merchants
Of sterling Qualities. II the neighborhooo OF
Bowling Green was the home Of stephen "nlt-
ney. later one Of old NETWORKS millionalres-
Robert Goelet lived in Safest, and the Rhine
lan6erg. Leroys and Schermerhorns on lower
Broadway.
When Dame Fashion laid her magnet tenn
rorarflv aside. Washington Square, Great Jones'
s. and Lafayette Place held her devotees, and
The current Of business buried their former
sbodes under its waves the last Knickerbocker
house 10 be engulfed being that Of Stephen
Whitney. which faced Bowling Green and looked
Up Broadway
At this period Of the city's history fashionable
hotels and boarding houses a-plenty were 10
D. found OF Broadway. The Adelphi Hotel was
on the corner Of Beaver-st: the Mansion House
ar No. 50 Broadway; The City Hotel occupied
the entire block between Thames and Cedar sts.'
and was The Ioftiest edihce OF that kind IN the
city. the National Hotel was At No III Broad
Vay. the Franklin House. corner OF Dey-st-'
the American Hotel Broadway and Barclay
81. Washington Hall. Broadway and Reade-st-'
Park Place House. corner Of Broadway and PARK
Place. NiDlo's Bank Coffee House. Pine and VIII
sam SIS Tontine Coffee House, WaIl-st-, corner
o. Water. The principal book stores and libraries
were also IT. lower Broadway. What was more
natural then. than 70 h-ve 'one Of the MODEST
places OF public recreation in the world con-
venieat the business centre Of the city-tIe
Castle Garden. which was built place OF os-
fence IN 1s07. and retained for public purposes
until 1s23 when II was coded BY the Chi'e-
States Government 10 the corporation OF New
York. Immense SIMS u money for that t-iie'
were expended Fl rs erection. and the loul'1A-
clon. superstructur= and bridge cost the govern
nent 81 different times several hundred n0usaiu
dollars IN 1924 il was leased for nVe years a
81 4Bp a year. and became q fashionaDIe reSoi
Here is d description OF it worth reading IN
1a,g.
The felicitols situation Of this SPOT project
inz out from the line OF the BATTERY Iito TIE
deep waters Of the harbor and commanding one
- - ,lt,feef views in the world, caused al us
..-t--.- . -,,Sb of senteei company during the
-, sasson that was quite unprecedented be-
g.. a, o,r city The illusions OF the scene al
mis- plaoe during the pleasant evenings OF sum