New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-20
BUILDING IN |. |. CITY
Many Industrial Concerns join
ing the Colonies There.
DISTRICT NEAR MANHATTAN
The Crying Need of the Borough
Is for More Flathouses
for Wage Farmers.

Long Island city is unquestiona bly, des-
tined to be one OF the strongest and larg-
est industrial centres in the Metropolitan
district. and therefore in the world. 1t
seems TO have been kept for the present
dav builders 10 transform from place
of series Of rapidly growing factory
areas and home zones into one OF many
hundred acres in extent
For years Long Island City was of the
line of easy travel. as il were. and TINS
retarded its growth It's water facilities
then were not widely appreciated nor
were there big docks and yards adequate
Tor the quick handling of big cargoes OF
inbound or outbound freight. Its trolley
service was also poor. and il was diiii-
cult task for persons living in other parts
Of the city 10 make a quick trip to the
hoart of Long Island City. Nor was this
ereat industrial beehive of Queens Bor-
ough on an all-rail route TO the centre OF
Manhattan Island.
The Journey from Manhattan TO Long
island City was usually made by ferry
boat as the trip across the Brooklyn
Bridge and thence by the Greenpoint
ears. was not only slow. but eXasperatng.
Few persons who were not well acqualnt-
"a with that route TO Long Island City
cared 10 go that way. often the trip
across the East River was tedious one
too. owing to heavy fogs, which delayed
river traffic.
But Long Island City no longer has any
water barriers separating il from Manha'>
tam Island. and hence annoying delays III
travelling are thing OF the past. MORE
over Long Island City has been Joiheu
by bands OF steel TO the heart OF New
York. and these steel links have alread!
been largely responsible for the upoullu-
ing OF a large area of queens into great
automobile district. They will undouol-
cdly continue to be an important II not
"a bigger. factor i'm this respect.
From 42d street north along Broadway
Manhattan. are the principal automobile
showrooms of the city. To use fami-
lar expression. this is "sasolene row.
Tho row has its most northerly DIVISION
in the heart Of the big apartment mouse
sphere near I'D street and Broadway. IL
is necessary for the showroom section TO
have large storage quarters within easy
distance. and also. i'm many cases TO
have repair works and shops, and, De
sides. factory places near by.
II will be readily seen by studying the
topography of little Old New York that
Long Island City furnishes most suit
able place for such storage. repair works
works and factories. 1t is joined TO auto
mobile row on direct and easy line or
travel by the great greensboro Bridge.
When the Steinway tube extension is
built and the Seventh avenue route of the
lnterborough and the Broadway-Seventh
avenue line of the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit Company are in operation to Queens,
Long Island City will be placed perma-
nently on the rapid transit subway and
elevated system of the greater city. and
the fare for a continuous journey will be
five cents.
Regarding the present real estate CON
ditions in Long Island City. James b.
Thomas, one of the leading brokers OF
the borough, said yesterday to a Tribune
reporter Queens Borough is rightly
named II is the queen Of all boroughs. 1t
is rapidly becoming one of the finest in
dustrial and home boroughs of old New
York. IL is a vertable field Of golden
. opportunities for spectators and inves-
tors. Ii has good transit facilities now.
there being direct trolley service over the
greensboro Bridge 10 Manhattan for five
cents. And from West 42d street, Man
haitian, one may ride TO the easterly
terminus of the bridge for five cents also.
There is a crying need in the borough
for nathouses for working people. The
expansion of the fathouse area is not
keeping pace with the industrial growth.
and in view Of this the demand for
medium priced houses is far greater than
the supply. Last summer l sold forty
eight lots to speculative builder on
that plot now stands a row Of buildings,
called the Currie Apartments. at Thr-
tcenth. Fourteenth and Graham avenues.
near Broadway. Every room of the
houses is an outside one: therefore the
occupants enjoy the maximum of sun
shine and fresh air
In each building there are suites for
six families, the suites Of three and four
rooms, with bath, renting from s13 10
SIS a month. These apartment houses
are modern in every respect. some of the
features of their construction including
tiled halls. tiled bathrooms. white
enamel tubs and sinks and artistic in
terror decorations. Since January /
have leased more than eighty suites in