New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-29

Memories of twenty years ago are
revived by the building activity along
the block front on Broadway from Bat
terry Place to Morris Street, for there
is being revived on a magnificent scale
New York's "Steamship Row." the sue
cessor to that other "Steamship Row"
from which the great commerce of the
United States was directed for so many
years. In this new heart of the ship
ping center of America there is none
of the romance that made the row of
old dwellings on the south side of
Bowling Green almost hallowcd place
for those who sail the Seven Seas, but
what is lacking in romance is more
than equaizcd by the spirit of activity
of hustle, hustle, get there-that
pervades tho entire shipping district
to-day.
Progress in Last Two Decades
The difference between the old and
the new is the measure of progress Of
New York City during the last two
decades. Then the country was emerg-
ing from a war-almost a local war
which gave 1t it's first step into inter
national affairs. Prior to the Spanish
American War was a period of deca-
dence that had left the American mer-
chant marine a sorry spectacle. But
with Cuba free, the Philippines and
Porto Rico annexed and the United
States for the first time taking her
position as a real world power, a new
incentive made Americans enter the
lists for overseas trade.
Once again the country Is emerging
from war which has opened new ave
nues of foreign trade. But this time
america is equipped for the contest
She has men and ships, and so IN the
new Steamship Row" she will be rep
resented far better than in the old
days. With the establishment of these
splendid headquarters New York's su-
premacy as the country's leading port
is forever established, and to Bowling
Green returns the honor Of being the
spot from which much-yes, perhaps
most-of the commerce of the world
will be directed.
1t is entirely fitting that "Steamship
Row. should be established permanent
ly on its now site, for it was right
colonial New York had it's birth. 1t
was there that the first customs house
stood, and there. too, in the tavern of
Martin Cregier that the shipping bust
ness of the colony was transacted dur
ing the middle part of the 1600s. In
fact, shipping and that block on
Broadway always have been close
friends, but it took the activities of
two of the worlds greatest shipping
companies to give this small block the
distinction Of being the shipping heart
Of the country.
New "Stcamship Row" sta I'd to be
made shortly after the arm tice was
signed, when the great Cunard company
announced the purchase of the old
Stevens House and it's plot as site for
the company's American oifices-a
great structure which would bear tcs-
tmony to the Importance Of the Gu
nard business in America. This struc-
turc is now being reared, its progress
being shown in the view Of the new
row.
international Mercantile Marine Deal
1t was not long after the Cunard
purchase that the International Mcr-
camille Marine closed a deal for the
Washington Building at the beginning
of Broadway. In between the two ship
ping Office buildings stands the Bowl
ing Green Building, for many years
the home Of the North German Lloyd
and now almost wholly occupied by
concerns which are sending American
ships to every part of the world. Upon
obtaining possession of its future home
the international Mercantile Marine
started the alteration now in progress,
which includes putting new FACADE
on the structure and generally i'm