Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1920-08-25
BEN BEAR WRITES
FROM new YORK
Well Known CIothier Writes Us a
Very Interesting Letter About
Things Going ., in the
Great Met lis
BUSINESS PEOPLE
VERY BUS HERE
Millions of Dollars Being SlS In
New Buildings, and IndicatiGS y
~ of Continued Prosperity are
Seen Everywhere \
Irvington on the Hudson.
Aug. 23, 1920.

My Dear Editor
have been in the city all week
doing my usual work. and by invi-
tation of my cousin visited at his
country estate, Irvington on the
Hudson, known as the home of
Washington Irving. This beautiful
place on the Hudson river is just 22
miles from the city. Washington
Irving's home was known as Sunny
Side and in this place he wrote all
his works and received his many
friends. His sketch book refers to
many legends that actually occurred
in this section. Sleepy Hollow ceme-
terry is in Tarry Town where Irving
was buried, and Andrew Carnegie
the iron master who died within the
last year was also buried there. This
section is the old Dutch settlement
where the "Vons" and early Dutch
settlers built their homes, doing busi-
ness in New York. The wealthy New
Workers settled here in the latter
part Of the last century, and most OF
these estates, all beautifully laid out
Cn the hills of Westchester county,
cover acreage varying from 10 to
$50 acres. am told the value Of the
land on Albany Post Road is valued
from $4,000 to $40 900 an acre, un-
improved. while in the early days
$1,000 per acre was considered a
high price.
Irvington, Tarry Town, Ardsley,
Dobbs Ferry and Hastings in the
Hudson as villages compose the
town of Greenborg. This is an in
corporated town and I am told there
are 20 millionaires living within the
borders of the above town. 1t is con-
sidered the richest township in the
United States. 1t has amongst its
residents, John d. Rockefeller, VIM.
Rockefeller, Adolph Lewisohn, the
copper king, Daniel G. Reed, the tin
plate king, Henry Willard, who built
the Northern Pacific railroad, Henry
Evans, president of the Continental
Insurance Co. Edwin Gould. DR..
Joseph A. Black, the we'll known
surgeon who did great work in
France during the war, David L..
Luke, the president of the Pulp
Manufactures who was recently rob-
bed of $4,000, worth of jewelry by
a colored man, who was caught in
Chicago, Mrs. Finley j. Shepard
formerly Helen Gould, Frank A.
Eanderlip, former president of the
City National Bank of New York,
who represented the government on
financial matters in Europe during
the recent war, Chas. Eddison Of the
old firm of A. T. Stewart & Co., and
Irving l.. DUPONT, who recently pur-
chased General Schuyler's house.
originally the home of Alexander
Hamilton, the first treasurer OF the
United States, and inaugurated the
National Banking System. Major
Andre, as will be remembered, was
caught at Tarry Town during the
revolutionary war and shot as a
traitor. This section of the state of
New York was the battlefield during
the revolution of 1776, and any
number of historic points and places
are OF much interest in this section.
The chauffer who drove me around
the country was a coachman to the
late General Schuyler for 80 years
and the general bequeathed this man
$4,000.
The roads on the whole Hudson
River front from New York City to
Albany, f42 miles. are all concrete
and composite brick, and are main.
tanned at the expense of the counties
and state, and have enhanced the
values of property along this line
enormously. The advantage of good
roads is evidenced by the steady in
crease of real estate homes and
farms in every part of the state OF
New York where good roads have
been built.
The cost of labor and material for
building purposes has increased tC
Il greater proportion, as contracts
which were given for certain city
improvements five years ago, amount
ing TO $3.50 600, the same work to-
day cost more than 7 million. But
regardless of this, great improve
ments are being made in New York
and have particularly noticed thai