New-York tribune., 1903-07-19

the city's Indebtedness to him, and the other
half as soon the fire money was received
"reserving in hand what may be suff1cient TO
supply the poor"
/ Benjamin Fletcher the new Governor ar
rived from England this year. 70 succeed Gov
ernor Slaughter. and meeting of the Com
| mon Council 1t agreed that there be a
| treat made to welcome him to this city. TO the
value of 32Q Alderman William Merritt to pro-
vide the same accordingly" Just imagine the
hospitality-and penuriousness-of these old Col
onists!
Surveyors were appointed I'm 1901 TO Law ont
streets and lots. for each of which they were
| to receive six shlings. OF their work a chron-
icler OF the history of New-York says:
The moderate expectations of the founders
OF the city as to it's future extent and influence
together with the European notions irnbibed bv
them as to the compactness and narrowness of
streets. in the Continental cities, caused that
closeness and irregularity in the ancient form
and aspect OF the city which has devolved on
their posterity full measure of vexation and
expense in remedying the mistakes of their an
cestors."
AS early as 1914 the first street mentioned is
Pearl-st which near the south walls of
Fort Amsterdam and under command of its
guns 1t was so located to protect it's inhabi-
tants from the savages. Other streets were soon
after formed in the vicinity with a similar pre-
caution In view In 1853 the great wall was
erected across the island, and stood until 1699
when the increase of population and the scarcity
OF building room within 1t forced its demolition
This wall was of earth and PALISADES, with
two gates Cor poorts). the so-called land gate
in Broadway, corner of Wall-st and the water
gate in Wall-st., corner Of Pearl-st then close
to the water. Outside of the wall were six
houses and one windmill on the highest land,
and inside of il were I Ia houses
Some of the streets assumed the winding shape
OF the eastern shore of the island. Pearl-st.
began at the Battery and fronted on the water,
and other streets paralleled It, The cross
streets were laid out where the least obstruction
of hill or valley presented itself There were no
steam shovels then, and the natives could not
cut down and level the entire face of the island,
as the builders of a later generation have done.
Objection was made. indeed, by the directors
of the West India Trading Company, when in
1856 the first plan Of the city was sent to
Holland, that the width of the streets was un-
necessary and that too much space allotted
to gardens and open grounds
The coonists were preparing for family quar-
rels in 1891, 1t was ordered that there be
duckng-stoo built forthwith upon the wharfe
before the towne-house" CCoenties Slip, between
Pearl and Water sts).
Abram de Peyster became Mayor in 1892, and
he recommended that the city make wharf
fronting King-st. (now Pine-st.) thirty feet
wide. and two other wharfs. u feet wide,
on each side of Maiden Slip (?),
ming to high-water mark. 1t appears that the
tide entered up the street as far as William
ST. "Spuyten Devil" Creek bridge was built in
this year.
July s, 1693-"Ordered that the Mayor doe
provide coat of the city livery, with badge
of the city arms. shoes and stockings for the
bellman. and charge it to the account of the
city" What do you think of that, Mr.. White
Wings, Mr.. Policeman? etc. Also ordered
that the Recorder doe draw up address to
congratulate his excellency on his safe return
from Albany" An historian of old New-York
IN 1899. commenting -pol this incident, calls
attention with evident pride to the fact that
methods OF transportation had greatly improved
IN the interval the trip from Albany requiring
but twelve Q2) hours, instead OF four days
! formerly. Further was ordered that the
Mayor doe provife a cup of gold to the value
of one hundred pounds to be presented unto his
excelIency on behalf Of this city, token Of
their gratitude" The Mayor bought of Peter
Jacob Marius twenty ounces of gold for the cup,
at cost of f106. for which he and others gave
| their bonds, ard desired fund might be raised
TO pay the same. a:d It was ordered that the
revenue of the ferry between the city and
Brooklyn which doth annual. arise, be not
converted unto any other use whatsoever until
the SdlQ one nuHOEeu anu SIX POUNDS De palQ as
above
John Arsoon, farmer and the lessee of the
ferry mentioned had complained of his inability
to pay the rent GLAD of the ferry, and had it
reduced to f140 this year, and in the old
document which notes this startling information
is this remark: Thus nearly whole years in
come from this source was absorbed in this
pensive golden cup-the first Of the kind ever
presented by the corporation"
| In 1894 the coIonists had "a chiel amang them
takin' notes" in the person of William Bradford,
printer. We wonder if they had embryo editors
then. The following has nothing to do with the
EDITORS. however: kid the pirate committed
great depredations on the coast about this time"
AS this is in quotation marks, there is no chance
for libel suit.
Lots of ground in Wall-st. in this year were
ordered sold at 30 shillings a foot, and lots
nearer the water at "a shillings a foot The
market house in Broadway was let to Henry
Crosby for a farm for FL year.
What did James Graham, the Recorder, 90
to entitle him to such grant in perpetuity as
a lot IN Queen-st. (Pearl-st) thirty feet in
breadth in front and forty-four feet in the rear?
We hope Be was not a Pantata-
MANnuECTFR-TN-TH MOUNTAINS.