New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-03
South Brooklyn Board of
Trade Strong and Alert

poses.
When the Department OF Education de-
cided to establish the new building OF
the Manual Training High School, in
! South Brooklyn, this board urged its
erection In the Park Slope section. That
proposition was opposed by some infiuen-
tial members OF the Board Of Education.
But the advice Of this board of trade was
followed. the site at Seventh avenue and
4th street being chosen for the school
building.
The wisdom of this selection has ever
since been apparent.
The board was also instrumental in
having the Carnegie library, at Sixth
avenue and 9th street. placed on that site.
This Is the largest and costliest branch
library in Brooklyn, and because Of its
| commanding position II is a distinct ad-
dition to the neighborhood.
Probably one of the most important
measures that this board urged and
brought to fruition was the cleansing OF
the Gowanus Canal. That fight was
waged for ten years and II was not till
| 1911 that it was crowned with success.
Another great improvement urged by
this board was the installation Of the
/ high pressure water mains in South
Brooklyn from Flatbush avenue 90 65th
street This has reduced materially the
! insurance rates on certain classes of ousl-
ness property.
II is estimated that the saving in this
respect will amount to several hundred
| thousand dollars year.
| Some years ago a private contractor
! offered 10 supply water TO the city by
driving wells in South Brooklyn. An In
vestgation OF this plant some time after
il was opened revealed the fact that the
quality of the water furnished was detri-
mental to the peoples health. Acting
upon the complaints Of representatives Of
the board the city authorities finally re-
fused 10 accent the water supplied.
These are some of the larger questions
that have come before this board and re-
ceived It's support Besides. it has been
active in insisting on the proper main
tenancc OF the streets. due care of the
public health. adequate transportation
facilities and that other municipal tasks
be efficiently done.
In order to obtain the views OF MI Max
well as to the probable future growth oil
South Brooklyn. a Tribune reporter VS.
tied the Collector last week at his once
In the General POstofTice Building, in
Brooklyn.
81 have lived about thirty years In the
district" said Collector Maxwell 10 the
reporter For twenty-five years ] con-
Quoted the drygoods store Of Maxwell q
! Co AT 18th street and Fifth avenue.
"'rhat part Of South Brooklyn was
sparseJv settled when / went to make
my home there Further south there were
more green spaces between houses, the
Sunset Park region being notable especial
ily for its rural atmosphere and It's big
tracts Of billy. vacant land. Bay Rids"
closely resembled town Of detached
| frame cottages surrounded by acres 81
vacant land.
Thirty years ago. or 10 be more exact
about 1852, there was no bridge spanning
the shores of Brooklyn and Manhattan IN
use.
THE Brooklyn Bridge, then and stll
one OF the engineering wonders OF the
world. was being built. II was opened
q wear later. the opening date being May
d ON Seetember a. 1883 the first cable
train was operated over the structure
Now there are four great bridges over
the East River, namely, the BROOKLYN
Manhattan. williamsburg and queens
boro. and. moreover. Manhattan ana
! Rroo,;lvn are permanently welded To-
gefher BY the Interborough subway link
..Ip 1852 the Atlantic and Hamilton ave-
me ferrieG besides the Fulton and 18th
s,roet ferries, did a lively and conse-
! ouentIy profitable business. They were
the principal ferry lines between Ne"
York and Brooklyn, and most OF the peo-
nile bound TO old New York or Brooklyn
for business or pleasure travelled that
wav. Thousands Of trucks and wagons
NJ various kinds were conveyed over those
ferry lines daily, too
,.Vb.n the days were fogsy or stormy
90. On. river was cloggcd with ice IL was
no pleasant or sure way OF eee''hs ~ VI
from Brooklyn.
I "About twelve years after the first caoie
train ran across the Brooklyn Bridge eiec-
E,ricItv was installed as motive power
and the age OF the trolley car was mere
"J mention these facts to recall to nina
come If the remarkable changes In transit
facilities which have taken piace sihIe
1882 when south Brooklyn was thiniy
settled.
THE bridge structures, the trolleSs ""'
elevated structures, with electric motive
power. and the subway have undouptediy
been important factors In changing sou'h
Brooklyn from a little home ana s'ore
settlement to its attractive residential anu
other characteristics, everywhere visible
there to-day. Yet II has developed In
building way in a steady, healthfui man
ner It's home bailiwicks are right at the
great threshold OF Manhattan stu, they
ace far from being overcrowded.
THE more northerly part OF the distric'
is lust emerging from its private dwelling
bouse form. In other words, the nme
has arrived when numerous apartment
houses, with broad frontages and win
the most popular household conveniences'
can be profitably built in the section by
spectators.
consequently. better investment
epoch for the section Is here, and from
now on there are more roseate prospects
for South Brooklyn TO have apartment
centres which Will compare favorabiy as
regards home comforts with some OF inc
,st modern northerly New York and