Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-12
MAKES RAPID PROGRESS
BUFFALO, METROPOLIS OF WEST
ERIN NEW YORK.
Increase in Population and wealth
Municipality at the Foot Of
Lake Erie.
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

SPeclhl Correspondence OF Inc star.
BUFFALO. N. Y, November Z. 1905.
Fifty years ago, then a country lad. 1
walked the streets of this city, wondering
at the great buildings and the busy life.
Since then, year after year, firsf as resi-
dent and afterward as visitor, have
noted with equal wonder the increase in
population. more than tenfold. and in
wealth., more than thirtyfoid, all of that
substantial sort that endures. This Is now
the second city in the state with a probable
future beyond anything which the most
sanguine would predict. Its location cam
not be surpassed for beauty, health and
trade. Lying at the foot of Lake Erie 1t
has received the enormous grain products
of the west and sent them forward to the
east.
Buffalo has passed through a series of
remarkable transformations, In which the
past has contributed its conservative lnfu-
! ences, but at every point new forces have
had the fullest opportunity to mark out
new career. Unlike Albany that moved
directly forward along a beaten path laid
down by it's Dutch founders. this city has
made sharp departures, at all times finding
room for new men and new ideas.
There has never been a conflict among the
elements. yet a complete blending OF
the elements as in certain larger CONNER
ciai centers. The most potent of the city
population have for time managed things.
and the others without dissent have allowed
tleIil, anu even HeipCu lueul " W SO
The Dutch came here first and established
a village called New Amsterdam, 300 miles
west of Albany, with here and there a set
Element between. That village was the
headquarters for this region Of the Holland
Land Company, that owned most of the
land west of Genesee river to the lake.
There were wealthy and influential men in
that company who evidently Intended to
speculate in real estate. for they held much
property in their individual names. Those
names are now the despair of clerks in the
recorders office when abstracts are made.
Peter Won Schimnepinnich, Heinrich Won
observation-disclosures stop with those-did YOU
ever see the like? How could such men -ex-
pect or deserve earthly immortality?
Emigration From New England.
At the close of the revolutionary war, in
dependence and nationality being assured.
there was large emigration from New
England. The men of the Green mountains,
of the Berkshire hills, Of the Connecticut
valley and of 1.-The land of steady habits
turned westward to improve their fortunes.
Prevented from pursuing direct course
by the Catskilis and the Ad!rondacks, they
bent their steps toward the gateway at Al
bany, passed up the Mohawk valley, leav-
ing the Dutch settlements behind, entered
the great plains of central New York and
spread abroad in every direction.
Descendants of the Purftans they were,
worthy men with high ideals of home re-
ligfon and government. The children Of
those New Englanders moved on into west
ern New York. and some of them came to
New Amsterdam. These soon captured the
town, gave 1t a new name. laid out its
streets a new plan and made it alto
gether new. That second chapter in the
towns history ended when the British in
1872 burned the place to the ground.
Joseph Ellfcott, a surveyor. had con-
spicuous position in rebuilding the town,
becoming kind of boss and hoping to en-
rich himself. He planned so that the chief
streets would lead up to a central tract in
which he expected to erect mansion.
Those surveys are great curiosities. for one
may easily see how one strong man can
shape things in a young community to his
| liking. The diverging and streets Of
Niagara, Erie. North Division, South Di-
vision and main streets. remaining on the
present plat a surprise to many, resulted
from his designing, modified, however, by
the act of the town council. Ellicott. fall
ing in his purposes, disposed of all his
holdings and went east Disguised.
The opening of the Erie canal. in 1897 1
think, gave great impetus to commerce, and
the lake trade increased Rapidly. The build
consolidation in the New York Central sys-
tenn still further developed the shipping
of them the largest in the world, were built
in Buffalo river and vast storehouses were
erected along the docks.
From 1915 to 1850 there was great ac-
tivity, and vast fortunes were made here
by men who came on from the east and
contributed their best labor to the advance
ment of the city in every way High.mind-
progressive, benevolent, the praise of all
who knew them.
Some time late in the sixties new spirit
aWoke here. No one can tell whence it
came II was the spirit of Improvement
and expansion which like some guardian
angel still hovers over the city. Old streets
were paved and new streets laid out, CIV
ing today the most magnificent System of
thoroughfares In the country. Parks Were
opened street railways laid, water and gas
1-tp cta6
buildings of new pattern, particularly resi-
dences with side and front grounds, ap-
peared.
1t is impossible to enter into details on
these matters One must see to understand
or believe what is here. Walk up Main
street, gently rising In its course. with
rothnk like it save Market street, San
Francisco. Turn off to the west, walk
through North, Delaware, Franklin, Upper
Pearl, Park, Williams and other streets
where the people reside, and one Will be
prompted to go home and remove here
Forthwith, The city on the west side GER
tainly has no superior and few equals IN
its general appearance of neatness and
order.
Iron and Coal Business.
About twenty years ago the iron and
coal business was greatly enlarged here.
The iron is brought from Lake Superior
and the coal from western Pennsylvania
Vast rolling mills have been established
employing many thousands of men who are
encouraged to own their little homes and
are helped by their employers. There are
several ideal establishments where houses
are built for the men, reading rooms
opened, schools established physicians and
hospitals maintained, and everything is
done on a large scale to make men healthy
and contented. If there have been any
strikes here they have escaped my mem
DRY.
One popularity of the city deserves to
be mentioned-it Is intensely and always
American. There are Irish here, filling all
the lower part, In numbers sufficient to
assert themselves. There are Germans
here occupying fully one-third Of the citys
area, from Clinton street north and from
Main street east to the city limits. But
these never set up any claim on the score
OF nationality. They mix In with Ameri-
cans and call themselves. not Irish-Ameri-
cans or German-Americans. but Americans