Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1906-11-29
Wonder Works OF
the Metropolis
Continued from FIRST Paae

the encircling blue than the roof OF the
Singer building And il is said that one
Of the widest known proprietors OF the
american newspaper world, just as soo7
rs these two buildings have been COM
plcted far enough 20 make a change IN
their plans out Of the question. will com
mencc building a home for his various
metropolitan publications that viii give
him free worldwide advertising as
owner Of the worlds tallest office
building.
Il was only eighteen years ago last
/ June that there was erected in New
/ York the building that made the sky
scra9er a certainty Il was the first
| building 20 have a skeleton frame: m
this case It was not steel, as nowadays
but cast iron. How puny il looks to-
day surrounded by us mighty children
crowding one another on both sides o
lower Broadway But 1t viii not be
looked upon much longer by is proud
and lofty offspring Il is to go the way
q all things earthly and on It's site IS
90 rise a building that viii be a modern
tower in truth as well as in name For
This original skyscraper. a mere ten stor-
les in height. has borne the name Of
Tower building al these years When
gaping hundreds came 90 lower Broad
Vay 90 see il constructed and completed
70 was o tower of commerce. indeed
Hundreds OF skysorapers have been
erected in Manhattan since ihat day. in
me two and a half years beginning with |
January. 1903 one hundred and eleven |
buildings. each over ten stories IN height. |
were put up Anything over ten stories /
is known as a ,kyscrlper 20 the builder /
under the old method Of construction a
building ten stories IN height could BE-
erected. but 300 more. hence the differ
al ths point ly far the vast
majority OF these commercial towers
have been erected m che lower business
districts Vow Lover Broadway IS pra-
.ica'ly a lane between two gigantic. I'M
broken walls of "scupcrs" Many cross
streets TO the east Of Broadway are ike
wise SD lined siyscrapers are being pvt
.p in ever Increasing numbers ON thc
cross streets west % Broadway Real /
, ate dealers and the heads Of sky !
scrapcr construction companies declare |
That the DAY IS not far distant when an |
Tat portion Of che city which is known |
as downtown" vii be given over ex-
-lusiveiy 20 skyscrapers. barring. Of !
course. spots here and there where light |
rights have been bought from adjoining |
property owners. thereby Keeping small |
buildings ou certain plots This method /
of securing light 90 a sSy7crapcr IS So /
expensive that it IS not frequently I
adopted. the city viii thus De given over /
b. slyscrapers from the Battery 20 City /
Hall, a distance Of mikes. and in |
time. even for blocks beyond, say the /
authorities on sgsorapers.
You have heard Of New Yorks China
town, probably the wickedest section IN |
the metropolis Plans are now on foot |
TO rae the entire network Of human |
traps and turn their sites into a park.
Is not that a wonder in itself. and espe-
cially when one considers how cramped |
the city Is for space for buildings
When the writer came 20 New York /
four years ago, he saw block after block
in his walks on Washington Heights tina,
had no buildings other than squatters
huts on them Now they are being rap
idly covered with substantial brick and
stone buildings six and more stories in
height Some blocks arc already built
up. Over in that portion Of the Borough
OF the Bronx where the elevated ex;sn-
sion OF the subway runs, a similar de-
velopment is taking place. What were
farms and old country homesteads yes
terday are now solid blocks OF buildings.
And on all sides the frenzy of rearing
brick and stone walls goes on undated
All this is the wonder Of the fat. Il
is the result Of earnest endeavor TO fur
nish accommodations for the quarter OF
a million and more persons who hurry