The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-30
THE BOROUGH Or RICHMOND
KEEPS UP ITS REALTY BOOM
STARTED BY THE NEW FERRY.
Speculative Builders and Operators In
Lots Invade staten Island, Which
Is Developing Into an Important
Factory and S%hlpbulldlng Centre.

Is Developing Into an Important
Factory and |ShIpbulldIng Centre,
Staten Island, although forming one OF
the FIVE ~boroughs Of Greater New York, lie
geographically more a part of New Jersey
than a southeTly extension of New York
State. A narrow strip OF water on its west
ern boundary, known as Arthur Kill or
Staten Island Sound, is all that separates
the Borough of Richmond from the main
land. A railroad bridge and several ferries
span the channel and the waterfront on
both shores is lined with manufacturing
plants and shipyards.
The business relations of the island are
bound more closely 10 the mainland OF
New Jersey and the lower end of the Bay
onne promontory than they are TO New
York. This is due largely TO the five mile
stretch of water in the upper bay, which
has until recently made Richmond difficult
of access and has prevented the establish
ment of adequate transit between. the
borough and the city proper. The sheltered
waterfront along the Kill van Kull, which
connects Newark Bay with the upper por-
ton Of New York Bay, and along Arthur
Kill nave attracted a great many industrial
concerns and shipbuilders, who have estab-
lished big plants on both the Staten Island
and Jersey shores. The factory hands and
operatives have built up small colonies
here and local shops and markets have
appeared. The inhabita nts Of these in
dustrial centres are almost entirely indie
pendent of New York. They nave their
own theatres and markets and are con
uected by ferry and trolley with the cities
Of Elizabeth and Newark only a few minutes
rid TO the westward.
Since the opening Of the municipal ferry
with its fast roomy boats the situation has
changed materially in some parts of the
island. This new ferry has made it con
venient for people employed in southern
Manhattan to live in Staten Island. A
large part of the borough has been opened
up for settlement and a boom in building
and in the buying and selling of vacant
land for Improvement has developed.
The slow service of the old ferry and the
lack Of adequate transit to the interior of
the island have so retarded its development
thai al the present time extensive areas no
further distant from the Battery than the
thickly settled sections of Brooklyn and
Harlem are taken up by farms and unre-
claimed land, A great deal Of speculation
10 such acreage has been noted in the last
year or two. Small farms have been bought
and sold many times over, eventually to be
cut up into building lots and placed on the
market with prices and terms arranged to
attract people OF narrow means. Clerks
and other salaried employees of downtown
firms form the bulk Of the recent addition to
the committing population.
The topography Of the island Ii "a attractive,
buC the growth of manufacturing Industries
is deterring people of wealth from taking
up residence there. Staten Island, though
ever noted for lis fine country estates, is
now prominently an industrial centre, and
the big manufactures and colonies of opera
tives occupy fully two-thirds of the water
front, controlling practically all of the
shore on the western and northern borders,
To the southeast, on tine lower bay, are
big salt meadows intersected hv winding
creeks and separated from the ocean by
a long strip Of sandy beach, similar i'll APP
pearance TO the New Jersey coast, further
south s.
South Beach and Midland Beach, located
on the sandbar, are summer resorts of a
popular character. \ ridge of hills rises
from the lowlands along this portion of
the waterfront and attaIns an. elevation
of from 200 to 800 feet. Along the summit
are many fine country houses and several
tANtll- . ~ llUF ~ nv " ANFA
dental section planned especially for we'll
TO do people has grown up recently. The
settlement is known as Emerson Hil-lt
was at one time the residence of Ralph
Waldo Emerson- and 1t * carefully re-
stricted. The owners, a syndicate Of Man
haitian capitalists, have expended a great
deal Of money IN improvements and "A num-
Der Of high class dwellings have been
erected. The site comma nds a wide view
owe the upper and lower bay. the Narrows
- alE lNHa
Grvmes Till, back of Iompkinsville,
and The high ground overlooking ST. George
and New Brighton are also being settled
by well to do people.
At wcst New Brighton, Livingston. Port
Richmond and Ne-terleigh many frame
houses and summer cottages are being
erected. The high ground overlooking the
bay is being rapidly built up with private
houses. The establishment of the new
ferry has led to considerable building
activity ia hitherto sparscly settled sections
within walking distance Of the st. George
About midway between New Brighton
and Port Richmond is Sailors Snug Harbor,
including several hundred acres and some
Iiur buildings. Pert Richmond is "A bust
ling town with shops and markets, schools
and churches. A short distance to the
westward is Mariners Harbor and the
big ~shipyards on SHOOTERS Island. a
ferry crosses the Kill van knll from Port
Richmond to Bergen Point The Baltimore
and Ohio Railway bridge spans Staten
Island Sound n short distance TO the west.
ward and the freight yards of the road
are located along the north shore. ,
A single TRACK trolley extends southwark
from Port Richmond to Bulls Head, a
distance Of about four miles, The little
crossroads terminal dates back to early
times when d cattle marker'was conducted
there.
New ~Springville, a mile or 50 to the south
ward il a small settlement. consisting
of a blacksmith shop, n general store,
q district school and a volunteer fire de-
Dartment. A big pumping station near 10y
supplies water from several wells TO the
towns along tho north shore,
East q New %Springville. in tho interior
Of the island and south as far as Richmond,
is a stretch OF rolling farm and Woodland,
The region includes some Of the most pic
, oonntrv In Staten Island The