The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-14

According to figures complied by the
Department Of Commerce and Labor at
Washington. Long Island City in 1909
stood seventh on the list Of manufac-
turing cities in this country Since
then something like 300 new industries
have been located there. which undoubt-
eddy have brought that community
nearer the top OF the list OF manufac-
turing districts. That Long Island City
is about to take precedence over Man
haitian Island even. the greatest manu-
featuring centre in the country, is indi-
Gated In the plans just completed by
the Degnon Realty and Terminal I'M
provement Company, which has under
taken the greatest industrial develop
ment ever mapped out for this part Of
The world.
Quietly and without the blare of
,rumpets that usually accompanies such
an undertaking the Degnon Company
has gone about preparing a great tract
of land II owns in Long Island City,
making all street improvements, build
ing a waterway from Newtown Creek
right into the heart of it's property,
side yards of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road throughout their own land. and
getting a franchise from the city for the
operation Of a terminal railroad. Then
to show what they expect to do with
the property they have erected the
largest single Industrial building in the
United States there and have leased it
10 single concern, where $500 en-
ployees concentrate in work under one
roof Now they are preparing for the
erection Of a second mandatory, where
1900 men Will be employed. the building
FOR which will cost for construction
alone in the neighborhood OF So 900. 900.
This Is a development that IL going
On at the very front door to New York
city. 1t is part of an industrial growth
the like of which has never been seen
before. Primarily II Is caused by the
Joining up Of Long Island City with
Manhattan by swift subway lines,
bridges and tunnels which bring that
section Just across the East River
within few minutes OF the centre OF
population on Manhattan Island. Only
second in their influence on this indus
trial district are the unusual transporta-
ton facilities both water and rail. which
Long Island City enjoys.
In taking up the development OF a
section like that in Long Island City
the Degnon interests have added a
new department to their business,
which heretofore has been confined
principally to large contracting work.
AZ everybody knows, the Degnon Com
pany built the Steinway. or Belmont
tunnel and handled three OF the most
difficult contracts in the building OF the
present subway. They are contractors
100 for large part OF the dual sub
way system which is now being built.
Prior to this the company did extern
sive railroad and municipal work, in
Guiding the building Of pneumatic calls
sons towers and anchorages on the
Brooklyn side of the Williamsburg
Bridge
II was while engaged in the work OF
building parts OF the present subway
mat Michael ]. Degnon. head OF the
contracting company. took the first
steps toward tho great Industrial sec
Ton which he Is developing in Long
island City. In building the subway
The Degnon forces excavated immense
quantities OF earth and rock. to dis
pose or which cost considerable money.
Ihey saw an opportunity to turn the
expense Of d!sposng OF subway ex-
'avations into profit by purchasing
me Long Island City property, bring
ing 1t up TO grade and selling 1t on
tor factory sites. Then 1t was an
eonnced one day that the Pennsyl-
,ahla Railroad was about to tunnel the
hudson and East rivers 20 bring their
lralns from New Jersey right into Long
sand City. where a great terminal
would be established, later to be Joined
connecting railroad from The Bronx
.''o Long Island City, over which
freight for the whole country, Canada
ma Mexico could be handled.
SO It was that the Desnon Company