Smyrna times., 1934-05-03
SIDE LIGHTS OF
NEW YORK CITY
Told By L. L. Stevenson in
His Own Immical Way
of DOings i'm City
INTERESTING SKETCHES

Population estimates for Rookie
feller Center indicate that when the
twelve buildings are fully completed
and tenanted, the development, which
occupies about one-fifth of a square
mile in the heart of Manhattan,
will be more than "city within
city," The estimates place the
total daily population at more than
215,0OO, which is greater than the
total population of Sycamore, N. Y,
Hartford, Conn, or Omaha, Neb.
From a population viewpoint, Rock
efeller Center will be larger than
Venice, Damascus, Capetown, Val
paraiso. Geneva and many other
well-known cities. Considered as a
city, it would be thirty-sixth among
all the cities of the United States.
The estimate includes permanent oc-
cupants of the buildings, stores,
shops, restaurants and theaters of
the development and daily visitors.
1t does not include, however, those
who will use the broad walks and
promenades merely to pass from one
point to another.
The resident daily population is
estimated at 34,500 persons, a total
reached, in accordance with common
practice, by figuring one occupant
for every ITO feet Of rentable floor
space. Nearly one-half of the resi-
dent population will occupy the TO
story RCA building, the towering
central structure of the department.
An additional $500 will be housed
in the 31-story RKO building and
600 each in the British and French
buildings. Approximately 700 per-
sons comprise the working staffs Of
the Radio City Music hall and the
RKO Roxy theater. Included in
the estimate of 10000 daily
transients are the patrons of the
two theaters. Over a six-month pc
riod. the daily attendance at the
larger averaged 1880 persons and
6,400 for the smaller.
To make room for the develop
ment, 229 old residences and stores
were raZed on the three blocks be
tween Forty-eighth and Fifty-first
street and Fifth and Sixth avenues.
And those old buildings had a total
population of only about 5000 per-
sons.
Free lunch is back all over the
city. Speakeasies, In competition
with legitimate beer selling places.
are giving away more and more
food. With Bonanza that would
have been for Tom Sharkeyl 1t is
well known that the battler was
thrifty and that when he had
chance to obtain free food, he took
1t. In that connection. there is
the story Of the time when Sharkey,
training for fight, economical on
rations by training on free lunches
Near his quarters was a saloon
where an excellent array was set
forth. Each day, Sharkey would
come in, buy couple of beers and
eat all the free lunch. The propri-
etor, worried over the loss and not
wishing to offend the fighter, pom
dered the problem at length. Finally
he reached what he regarded as a
satisfactory solution. In place of
the wursts, cheese. ETC.. he set out
dog and puppy biscuits.
Sharkey came In at his usual
time, bought his beer and attacked
the free lunch. When he left, there
wasn't single biscuit on the coun-
ter. The next day. he came In and
did the same thing. The saloon
keeper then sat down and figured.
The dog biscuits cost more than the
regular food. So when Sharkey
came the third day, he found the old
selections back. When he had con-
sumed them. he went up to the sa
loonkeeper and remarked. Your
lunch Is all right. But what's be-
come Of those TASTES you had the
last couple of daysY'
1t is said that Sharkey was the
hero Of that old story concerning
the Holsters. He ordered lobster In
Shanley's and got one with only one
claw. Stanley appeared In re-
sponse to his kick. They will fight
in the cars, you know" he said apol-
ogetically. "All right" retorted
Sharkey. Take this one back and
bring me the winner"
g. 1888. Bell Syndfcate.-wNU Service
Illuminated Pencil Ts