New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-10
LITTLE OLD NETWORK.
Some Odd Phases of Her March
10 Greatness.
XXXTIII.

il signined "rsmparts" in the language OF the
first settlers. What an interesting and curious
history surrounds this mart Of finance OF the
Western continent. where Mammon reigns IN
curbed,
The purchasers OF the island Of Manhattan.
according to a Dutch historian. were liberal IN
auottinR 70 settlers suitable parcels Of land for
their habitations. gardens and farms but below
she present Wau-st. no considerable tract TOT
farming purposes was granted. This part was
appropriated 70 the city prcDe-. when coca
sion offered FOR the establishing OF some sInaIi
business 70 enhance the comfort Of the
settlers. and the applicant for land couIa
guarantee to improve =, suitable plot was
given q him within the so-called city limits
but he had to live up 20 his contract IN oroer 10
hold H. For twenty-five years these building
sites were confined 20 n few lanes or thorough
fares adiacent TO the fort on the south point OF
the island and along TIE East River. in the same
vicinity the ungranteC land lying IN common
under the name Of T'Schaape Waytie' or Sheep
Pasture, with boundaries according 10 the pres
% ent streets as follows: Newest. on the west
= Beaver-st from New 10 William. on the south;
81 William, from Beaver to Wall on the east ana
Wall, from William 70 New, on the north us
extent was about fifteen acres. This parcel OF
land was reserved for many years as pasturage
even after the growth Of the settlement fore
shadov-ed its appropriation for Improvement
purposes.
During the administration Of Governor Stuy-
vesant the Sheep Pasture began 10 lose It's
identity as such Along the line OF the present
Froad-st tanneries were established which took
in the meadow land Of swampy character ana
20 persons Of influence was granted the remain
ing ground. To Dominic Drissius was given the
lions share. apparently. for It was a great part
b. OF the northerly portion. extending along the
line Of waII-st and from the present line Of
New-st. TO william-st. II lay south OF the
land OF Jan Jansen Damen. which ran parallel
with the present northerly line Of Wan-st-, from
Broadway to william-st.. and formed an oblong
projection extending along the easterly bounds
Of the present william-st. to near Beaver-st,
: then eastwardly some distance along the latter
p and then along the rear Of the company's gar
dens fronting on the present Pearl-st- as far as
p Maiden Lane" The original grantee Of the land
through which Wall-st- was Cornelis
Groesens. one OF the early settlers. These per
sons therefore, were the original grantees Of the
greater part OF the land In which Is comprised
the present financial district OF the city.
The entire year OF 16z6 found Governor
/. Kieft the predecessor OF stuyvesant, much
harassed by what he styled the "impu-
6 dent encroachments' Of the New-Englanders.
and by difficulties with the swedes on the Della
ware River. The advent OF Stuyvesant the fol-
lowing year ala not seem 20 lessen these diff
callties but brought on others. The Indians ex-
hibited signs OF uneastness. because their
promised presents were In arrears and they de-
rnanded, too, firearms Of the Dutch. As for the
people OK New-England. they were growing
stronger IN numbers. and were disposed TO take,
without much regard for technical rights, what
territory their progress required on February
e. 1863 Stuyvesant learned that military
preparations were going on IN New-England to
force the city to yield IN the so-oallsd boundary
dispute OF 20 end It by attack upon the capt.
tai OF the Dutch province, he called a Joint
meeting OF the Council ana City Fathers, and
they resolved TO erect line OF defences along
the suburbs. extending from the North TO the
East River About forty OF the principal men
OF New-Arnsterdaln subscribed loan OF $1,000
to prepare the city for the siege. The fence
which Kieft had built across the island
for the protection OF the cattle stu re-
Ennined, ana it was decided to incloss the city
by a ditch and palisades with breastwork. on
about the same line Proposals for the con-
struction OF the work were issued IN March.
1858. ana by May the defence wall was COM
pleted. with ditch two feet wide and three feet
deep Gug on the inside. and the dirt thrown up
against the fence TO make q platform suffl-
GENTLY high TO permit the assailed 10 overlook
the stockade. The whole length OF the work
from river TO river was 2340 feet During the
whole summer the citizens remained under
arms expecting an attack, but, while war upon
the Dutch colonists was actually IN contempla-
ton IN New-England the General Court OF
Massachusetts, refused TO sanction any invasion
OF the Dutch territory.
In 1856 Il was resolved TO erect large
and suitable gate at the wall the
East River, according TO the plan OF Cap
tain ConsnclG" an officer in the service OF the
company then stationed in New-Amsterdam
This structure crossed the present Pearl-st at
tts junction with wall-st.. and was known IN its
time 1T Water Poort." or the Water Gate. to
distinguish Il from the one situated IN Broad
way ana known The Land Gate" At the
same time the East River shore in the vicinity
first improved by the construction along its
natural shore ct high water mark OF a wharf
elongated about fifty feet, that ships, which
usually sent their eargoes on shore IN scowE,
could deliver at the wharf The wall was
nevertheless. kept IN tolerable repair for some
years ana when the Dutch Captain Colve re-
captured the city from the English In 1913 It
was added TO and strengthened materially.
Soon after Its completion buildings were erected
along the southern line OF The street. but they
were humble affairs. and mostly taprooms or
beershops
The speculative instinct seems 20 have entered
materially into the erection Of this wall across
the island. or perhaps was consequence Of Il,
for investigation reveals that the first consider
able plot OF land divided into parcels and offered
at public sale in this city was the Jan Jansen
Damen farm. before spoken Of which fronted
800 feet on Wnil-st., from William to Pearl:
ran eco feet along the present winiam-st. $40
feet essterly. nearly along the present Beaver
st. and thence 20 Wall-st., one hundred feet OF
n covering the site OK the old Custom House
uarnen af the time this plot was sold IN 1865 TO