Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-02-18
Ben BEAR WRITES
FROM new YORK
Interesting Letter From the Square
Dealing ClOtllier, Telling About
His Trip to the Metropolis.
NEW YORK TANGO CRAZY.
EVERYBODY is DANCING 1T.
Hudson River as Clear as i'm May,
and Ice Harvest for tt q Sty
Seems Doomed. n
My Dear Editor:

My Dear Editor: "a.
The old saying that time passeSc
quickly is true indeed, as it .eems
but yesterday since l was here, and
it certainly does not seem possible
that / have left New York city 3S
years ago; but facts remain and fig
ures in my case are facts, as it was
in 1876 when l left here, and after
looking about for a location to start
in business, pitched my tent in De-
corah. 1t seems long time ago, but
not so long after all-and while
have seen many changes all along
the way, still it seems to me the most
marvellous changes have taken place
right here in this big American city.
Other cities may well pattern after
it. as / don't believe there is city
in the world, where people are so
quick to see and do as right here.
The spending of money isn't consider
ed, if the thing to be done is worth
while. The subways, so many of
them were a necessity for the COM
fort and existence of the people and
it didn't take the city long to see it.
The work was commenced and in less
than years, New York could boast
of the finest and best subway trans
portation in the world. 1t was only
yesterday that had occasion to
come from way down town to one of
the up town business places, and in
less than 20 minutes l was at my
destination, whereas by ordinary
street car service it would / we TAX
en- an hour. Even at the present
time another subway is being built,
expenses of which runs into many
many millions, but the growth of the
city demands it. And even then thou
sands of People going and coming to-
their worl; must stand in cars, as
their isn't half seat room for the
many who live way out of the city,
but are employed in factories right
in the heart of New York. Hard
times apparently are thing of the
past At least / can't notice any, as
there is as much building as ever,
and all who want to work certainly
can get employment. The elegant
new terminal of the New York Cen
tral Railroad is nearing completion.
ntt hfer hot
you can easily loose your way, and
yet the building is simple in con-
struction, but grand in appearance.
Hundreds of trains enter and leave
the city and the work Of handling
these trains is so we'll in hand, that
there is no noise, no mix up, and
above all, perfectly safe, and 1t is
claimed accidents in the Terminal
can not occur.
Trains run in the depot by electri.
city-no smoke nuisance, nor any
noise of engine. In fact the en-
tire train enters the depot noiseless
Hotels and other conveniences viii
be in operation very shortly.
The Hudson river which Is usual
1y frozen when 7 pass 1t, on the way
from Albany to New York is as clear
as the water is in May-not cake
of ice to be seen anywhere, while us
ually the Knickerbocker Ice Com
pany, as we'll as others, have thous
t. :ands of men on the river cutting ice
for their summer business. Up to thi
time no ice has been made, and un
less they have zero weather the mex
80 days there will be no ice from
the river at all, and artificial ice will
be the only kind that can be bough
here, which of course will be so ex
pensive that rich people only will b.
able TO buy it. 1t is indeed a serious
matter, as there are not enough ic,
plants to supply the enormous
amount the city uses.
Broadway is as lively as ever, an,
especially is this the case Saturda.
evenings between o'clock until /: o.
a. IN. in the morning People in ;
city live for amusement. They don
need much sleep, as the business ex
citement of the day keeps then
awake. j have known of men, wh,
work all day, go to the theatres a
night, get to bed at 100 or 2:0
O'Clock in the morning, and are read.
early in the morning for days bust
ness. It's quite pace, but soone
or later it has a bad effect; as NJ
matter where men live they are onl,
human and can only stand about S,
much. Theatres are crowded. at ad
Continued on last page)