The New York herald., 1920-12-05

finance?
II have been away from this part of
town for many years and right now
am heading for the Battery. where I am
to meet some friends. I decided to walk
south from Chambers street so that I
might note the improvements that had
been made since was last in this Sec
tion. Well. sir. have seen plenty.
The Advent of the Skyscraper.
When I left the city following my re-
tirement from the real estate business, "
he continued, ''the Woolworth Building
had not been completed: the new Equit-
able Building had not been thought Of,
and the Adams and American Express
buildings the Whitehall Building and
dozens Of other smaller improvements
were future undertakings"
The "Old Timer" would stop OCCASION
ally to ask the writer particulars con-
cerning some of the more modern office
buildings we passed.
"Have you very clear recollection Of
this part of the city during the early
days Of your business career?" l in
quired.
LAS clear as though 1T were before
me-" he replied.
Continuing, the "Old Timer said: 'It
is something of coincidence that am
now on a mission similar to one l took
part In just forty years ago. The friends
l am to meet are strangers to this city
| and want me to show them the great
landmarks of lower Manhattan. l had
to brush up on my own information, and
as an old time New Yorker hesitated to
ask questions concerning the more mod
ern improvements he admitted rather
apologetically.
'In the spring of 1880 1 conducted a
similar party around lower Manhattan,
and I'll try and recite what were then
the particular points of interest.
Spires lowered Above Buildings.
"At that time we hadn't even a sug-
gestion Of the interesting skyline that
was to bring New York fame twenty
years hence. Lower Broadway buildings
were of almost monotonous regularity in
height. The steeples of Trinity and st.
Paurs churches, which cannot be seen
to-day from the Battery, lowered far
above the tallest building of that time
Those old church landmarks are still my
friends of forty years ago. entirely un-
changed, except for the fact that to-day
they are boxed up by the walls of sur
rounding business skyscrapers.
I'VE started the sightseeing trip in
1880 with a visit to Castle Garden. in
Battery Park, now the Aquarium. From
there we walked to the Emigrant Depot,
few hundred feet to the north, and
later to Governors Island ferry. Cut
ting across Battery Park. we visited one
of New York's largest business struc-
tures-the Produce Exchange Building.
at Whitehall Stone and Beaver streets
thence to the Cotton Exchange in Han
over square, and the three principal hotel
landmarks of the section-the old Wash
ington. at Broadway; the Eastern, fac
ing the Battery ferry, and the Stevens
House, recently razed to make way for
the new Cunard Building.
Horse Car Depot Near Broadway.
'It is interesting to note that just a
few feet off Broadway, on the White
hall street side of the site that is now
occupied by the Custom House, there
stood the old South Ferry horse rail-
way depot, for in those days little old
New York was satisfied to have the
leisurely horse car on the surface OF
it's important thoroughfares. The speed
mania seized II some years later.
I'VE continued up Broadway while
pointed out the great business land
marks Of that day-just ordinary five
and six story buildings that housed
prominent merchants and financiers Of
that period.
"wall street, although the centre of
finance. hadn't single tall structure
that 1 can recall. The buildings were
chiefly of the brownstone front variety
mot a few of which had at an earlier
day been the homes of old New York
families. could name dozens of struc-
lures that occupied the sites OF the
present giant office buildings. but their
names would not mean anything to the
average man OF to-day.
Lower Broadway, In those days. was
not so interesting for its improvements
as for the character of the crowd Il
attracted during business hours. The
congestion of to-day does not seem TO
be any greater than 1t was in the
eighties. but the crowds were of a more
cosmopolitan character. All types and
nationallties were represented. The
housewife, with her market basket on
her arm, rubbed elbows with the banker
and broker. Now we see only business
men and office workers.
The Traffic Jams of Old.
"vehicular traffic seemed even heavier
then than IL does to-day-probably be-
cause II moved so much more slowly.
The tradesman's cart became tangled TIP
with the carriages of bankers and shop
pers and traffic jams often lasted for
a half hour. The scattering of trade
centres in later years relieved this
situation"
BY this time we had reached Battery
Park Glancing at his watch, the ."Old
Timer" said: i've got to leave you
now-my friends probably will be walt
ing. want you to call on me some
time and I'll recount the changes that
have taken place In other sections OF
the city during my time"
Before parting T>arranged an appoint
ment 10 hear from the lips OF the "Old
Timer" how the midtown section de-
veloped into a beehive Of commercial
activity--but that is to be another story.