Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-02-14
BEN BEAR IN NEW YORK.
LETTER DESCRIBING METROPOLIS.
Mr.. Bear Gives Interesting Description OF
City's Remarkable Growth and
Some New Enterprises.

City, up TO now, mas peeu tAteueiy
mild. in fact, last night and today
being the fist snow storm of the
season. While todav's storm was by
no means as serious as the last years
storm, which was in progress while
l was here, nevertheless this storm
came so unexpectedly that traffic was
very much interferred with. The last
nights snow turned into a bad rain
storm this morning, and at the present
writing the roads are almost impas-
sible, but the street cleaning depart
ment is dumping thousands of wagon
loads of snow in the river every hour,
and by tomorrow the main streets of
the city will be pretty well cleaned.
There is always some agreeable feature
in connection with these snow storms,
as thousands of idle laborers are en-
ployed night and day in clearing away
the snow.
Since have arrived here, couldn't
help but notice the continuous i'm
provements which are constantly going
on old buildings disappear as if by
magic, and new ones spring up in
their places, before one realizes it.
Among the most notable buildings
which have been erected within the
last year, is the now famous New York
Hippodrome, an amusement center on
a larger scale than has ever before
been undertaken. This building is
located on Sixth Avenne, covering the
entire block between Forty-third and
Forty fourth streets and cost to erect
nearly two million dollars. The
structure is supposed TO be entirely
fire proof, and built Of marble, brick
and steel. In its capacious interior
over 5000 persons find comfortable
sitting room, and the stage is the
largest in the world, bein" 100 feet
deep and 200 feet wide, between side
walls. In the front part of the stage
is huge steel and concrete tank over
fourteen feet deep, in which aquatic
performances are given. This tank
when not in use is covered by the
floor of the stage. This flooring sinks
into the tank in order to permit that
part of the show which takes place in
the water. At present the attraction
there is called ga Society Circus,
which to my way of thinking, is one
of the greatest performances / have
ever seen. The costuming and general
scenic effects are beyond description,
while the "circus feats" are the most
won lerful collection of European
artists ever assembled under one roof.
The electrical effects of the closing
scene, which is named "The Court of
the Golden Fountain" surpasses even
those of the famous worlds fair ele-
trical exhibits, and any of my DEBORAH
and Winnesl,iek friends who visit New
York certainly don't want to leave the
city without visiting this really
wonderful place.
oth ihs dOOut dihuoCihChtS lChluOo
me that l have seen number of
managers, who know DEBORAH pretty
well, and / am assured that we will
have our full share of the good at.
fractions of the season. l have seen
1.-THE Girl of the Golden West"
which is one of the leading shows of |
the season, and enjoyed it very much.
David Belasco, one of the prominent |
playwrights and managers, is the
author of this play, and the theatre
is crowded to the doors every night
in fact. all theatres in the city
are exceptionally we'll patronized this
season. The fact of the matter is,
New York is full of strangers; every
hotel is filled to its capacity, the sur
face as we'll as elevated and subway
cars are crowded, and l often wonder
where all these people came from,
and where they find living accom-
modations.
This is busy town and seems TO
be growing continually, and no other
city in the United States can possibly
come anywhere near it. On account
of the subway, which takes You up
town. before you know it, the north
ern district of the city, known as the
Bronx, is becoming very thickly
populated, and property ia that
vicinity has doubled in value in the
past few years. had occasion TO see
a promi nent manufacturer in that part
of the city the other dav, and l was
greatly surprised to see the great
change that the past few years has
brought about. Rents are high, but
you can get more comfort for less
money in the Bronx than in the older
sections You can see houses there
with some patches mot very big) of
grass surrounding them, while this
is entirely out of the question in the
built up portion of the city. The
crowded condition will be relieved
when the Pennsylvania tunnel is COM
pleted one will then be able to go
to the suburbs in New Jersey or Long
Island without a change OF cars, or
being Obliged to cross the river on
ferry boats. Two other tunnels are