New-York tribune., 1915-02-14
EXPECT BRONX TO
EXCEL 1914 RECORD
Building Increase Thought
To Be True Gauge of
Trend of Affairs.

The records OF the Bureau OF Build
ings of The Bronx for January, show
ing an increase of nearly s750O00 in
the cost of new buildings as against
q similar period for 1914, is evidence,
it is thought, that the borough will be
the scene of much more construction
work this year than in 1914.
with the completion of the new
rapid transit lines now building, The
Bronx will have, in addition 10 the )6O
miles of street railways now in opera
tion nearly Atty miles OF additional
subways and elevated roads" says the
Bronx Board of Trade. "A goodly per
centage of these lines will be ready for
traffic by January / next, thus insdr-
ing splendid rapid transit facilities
with Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long
Island City.
Recalling the wonderful develop
ment of the borough in the year pre-
ceding the opening Of the Third Ave
nue. IL" and for several years subse-
quent to the operation of trains on this
line, the increase in building operation
is, to say the least, significant"
The reorganized Bronx Board OF
Trade, realizing thst the borough Is
about to pass through g period OF vast
expansion, is now cooperating with
the various realty interests and build
ers in every way to make the boon"
a successfully permanent one. AT the
same time the industrial bureau OF the
board is conducting q campaign to get
new manufacturing enterprises IN the
borough.
Continuing, the Bronx Board Of
Trade says:
"The building operations now under
way or being planned range from the
simple cottage TO the mansion, the fiat
building TO the high class elevator
apartment house, the modest factory TO
the large industrial plant, the school
house and hospital, and many other
kinds Of buildings too numerous 20
enumerate The bulk of the operations
is expected to be mainly Of the medlum
price apartment house and industrial
plant-the apartment house to take
care of the large inflow of population
expected soon after the opening or the
new rapid transit lines in the borough:
This increase of residents is expected
to bring the population OF The Bronx
up TO 100000 by 1919.
ALREADY the police census gives the
borough a population of 728,000. The
estimate of population by the Board OF
Health is 100000. These estimates
show that if the borough were sepa-
rate municipality it would be ne
fourth city in the United States, being
larger than Boston or ST. Louis. Ac-
cording to the last United States CEN
sus the population Of the borough was
43O980. so that The Bronx has gained
293,OOO in four years and is growing
faster in proportion than any other
borough in the greater city.
The Bronx Board OF Trade realizes
that a revival of the building industry
means prosperity to the borough, and
il has therefore begun a campaign to
have the borough receive the largest
possible benefit from these building
endeavors.
With regard to its industrial cam
paign. the efforts Of the board are al
ready beginning to bear fruit. Several
prominent cloak and suit manufactur-
ers, realizing the many advantages the
borough has to offer industrialiy. are
contemplating the erection OF hfteen
story loft building in The Bronx. ~
is understood that the plans are TO pc
filed this week. This building. Will De
three stories taller than any building
new loft building. when erected, will be
the tallest building from the Harlem
River TO the central part of the state.
The industrial bureau Of the Bronx
Rosrd of Trade has sent to HUNDREDS
of manufacturers who might possibly
he induced to locate in The Bronx a
latter setting forth the advantages OF
The Bronx as an industrial place. Some
NJ these advantages are:
The larger part of its Waterfront Is
as vet undeveloped apd the manufact-
rrer now locating in the borough can
obtain sites for his plant at mini
Tn. surface Of The Bronx is more
diversified than is that of any other
borough. On the east, along the
Sound. the land is low and nat ana
suitable for business and manufactur-
ing, while toward the centre and west,
ern boundaries it rises 10 substantial
height. .L.o
II is bounded by water on three
sides, giving it unequalied iaciiitieS
for water transportation, whlie lne
fact that the other side IS contlnua
tion of the mainland insures the best
~ rsil connections without the delay
and expense involved in reshIpmen'
which is necessary for freight Tor
warded into any other part OF me
Greater city, except by the New YORK
/ Central lines. This waterfront mas
length Of fifty-nine miles.
With tho completion OF the state
barge canal the borough will add 70
its Shipping facilities two barge cana
,erminais. The value OF these terml-
mails 70 the manufacturer can resoiiy oe
seen. :, Tb.
Rronx than elsewhere within raolus
Of fifty miles from the City Hall.
I An industrial railway running slohg
! tho easterly side of The Bronx mas
bcen planned. so as TO bring the entlre
/ Sound waterfront into more direct ano
/ Convenient connection with the rali-
ways than is enjoyed by any other COM
munity in the country.
With its 100000 population IT rs the
host labor market in the country, as
the workers live near the factory site
area. ,- a. a
at may surprise many 10 learn tha'
The Bronx now employs within IT'S own
hor6ers nearly fifty thousand FACTORY
,,orkers who live in the borough ADDS
The Bronx Board of Trade. This shows
/ ,Lat il has since 1910 become large
;nSustrial centre. and with the comple,
ton Of the barge canal terminals and
! .bc Long Island Connecting Railway
.,;Il he superior in its shipping fseili'
l ties and labor market TO any other DOT
I .hn Greater city,,