Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-08-06
Ben BEAR WRITES
FROM new YORK CITY
Enormous Growth of City Amazes
Every Visitor.
NEW SUBWAY, HOTELS AND
MANY OTHER IMPROVEMENTS
Interesting Letter Telling of Progress
of American Metropolis From
DecOrah's Square Dealer.
New York, Aug. 2, 1913.

New York, Aug. 2, 1913.
My Dear Editor:
You will pardon me as usual to
eend line or two from this busiest
of all cities in America. AS sit
here in my room looking up and
down Broadway, the thought comes
to my mind, where are all the peo-
pie going, when do they eat--where
do they sleep-and how do they all
make their living. Indeed, among the
many thousand who pass this great
street you will notice men and women
from all countries. % you must re-
member that this 10 the place where
they all meet. I have watched with
great interest the development of
this great island, as New York is an
island, surrounded by water on all
sides, and 1t seems there is no end
to improvements, no end to wonder
full achievements, no end to doings,
which were not dreamed of twenty
years ago. At this time the Lexing-
ton avenue Subway is being built.
and the work is done so rapidly
that they intend to have the cars run
ming inside of two years. You can
hardly notice that this underground
railway is now fast nearing compile
tion, as the streets are not torn up
at all, all work being done by spec
ial machinery built for this purpose,
and all debris is removed without OBJ
servation. This subway will be Of
great convenience to those who live
on the sast side of the city, and u
being built clear to upper New York,
The other underground railways now
running are being patronized BY mill
lions OF people each week, going and
coming from their places OF business
and ares certainly great saving -of
time for those1who live many miles
away from their places of business.
The McAlpin Hotel which was Id
construction when was here six
months ago, is in full operation and
is being patronized to its full ca
pacity. 1t Is a grand, big, hotel, all
the new modern conveniences you
can think off. and is located in the
heart of the city, and within a couple
of blocks from the new Pennsylvania
railway depot.
The heart of New York at this
time, is Long Acre Square" 42nd st.
snd Broadway, although ten years
ago, 14th and 23d SITS. were consider
ed about the center of population.
There is such rapid growth up town.
that within another ten or fifteen
years 59th st. and even still further
up town will be the center Of the
city.
This season Of the year all those
who can are staying at the sea shore
or in the mountains and you can see
people rushing after the railroad
trains any evening, as thousands Of
them go to these nearby places after
the days business is done, and again
return in the morning for another
day OF struggle.
I came by way of the Lake Shore,
passing through Illinois. Ohio, Indi-
ana. Pennsylvania, and New York.
and had nothing to do. but to OBJ
serve the crops. None however look
like our splendid lands Of corn at
home. In fact crops are not nearly
as good all along the line as in Win
neshiek, and with splendid good pri-
ces for all farm products It would
appear to me that all our farmers
have every reason to be grateful.
The New York Central railroad
station rs by no means completed,
but 1t is near enough 80 that an idea
OF its beautiful appearance can be
had. 1t is q movement to the pro-
gress of America. 1t Is q monument
to those who are In charge OF the
construction and 1t is further mon
ument to labor. Some day. when ]
have the patience, will give a de-
tailed description of It, The station
is surrounded by the beautiful Bel
mont hotel on one side and the grand
elegant Manhattan hotel on the 9TH
err, and all the comfort that human
mind could think of is found right
here in this great magnificent new
building.
Upper Fifth Avenue. and ! allude
to from saith street up, is fast becom-
ing great business center. Ten