Year: 1871

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On Manhattan Island, or what is called
New York city proper, there are hardly less
than million inhabitants. Taking Brooklyn,
Williamsburg, the adjoining populous suburb
in Westchester county, and the other suburbs
just across the rivers and the bay, all Of
which really form q part Of the metropolis,
there is q population Of over fifteen hundred
thousand. Next to that Of London or Paris
this is by far the largest metropolitan popula-
ton in the civilized world. In commerce
New York is inferior to no city, and In some
respects is superior even to the first and
mightiest city of Europe. In foreign trade


and shipping, particularly in the fleets
Of vast ocean steamers trading here,
it eclipses every other. 1t is with
out rival or example In history
in the vigor, enterprise, daring, ambition and
boldness of its undertakings and in tho
magnitude of its works. All the vast projects
of improvement and development throughout
the Continent find the capital and enterprise
here for their accomplishment, and, directly
or indirectly, contribute to the growth, wealth
and progress Of the metropolis. 1t is the
centre Of intelligence, refinement, fashion, art
and amusements, as well as Of capital and
commerce. London or Paris does not equal
1t In the number, variety and excellence of
public amusements; and where can be found
such vigor, enterprise, ability and vast circu-
lation of the public press as in New York? To
this city the people come from all sections Of
the country, as well as from many foreign


countries, as to o modern Mecca, to satisfy


their wants and to worship at the shrine of


commerce, wealth and progress.


To get some idea Of what our grand city is


destined to become, we have only to look back


at the wonderful progress it has made within


few years, and at the mighty and rich Con-


tinent of which it is the emporium. There


are people living now-and people not


of very advanced age either-who remem-


Der seeing green fields and marshes in the
neighborhood Of Canal street, when the Astor


House was the fash ionable hotel farthest up
town and when all the business was below the
City Hall. This, let 1t be borne in mind, was
only a few years ago. Fifty years back the
city had not grown to even that point. Now
what do we see? The centre of population and
movement is miles above the City Hall. Miles
of beautiful streets, closely built up with mag
nificent stores, hotels, churches and resi-
dences, and many of which structures are wor-
thy of being called palaces. Hundreds upon
hundreds of superb dwellings and solid blocks
are now in process of construction up to the
neighborhood of the Central Park, and even
beyond. On the east side there is q cOntinu-
GUS city for eight or nine miles, from the Bat
terry to the Harlem River, and even across and
far beyond that river. Harlem is already
thickly populated. On the west side there is
little more room for building
up to Fifty-ninth street or the Central Park,
while beyond that great improvements
are going on which must soon cover that |
beautiful portion Of the island, right
along through Washington Heights and up to
Spuyten Duyvl Creek, with elegant resi-
Park will be surrounded by suberb mansions
and when, with the completion Of the Grand
Boulevard and fine avenues, the west side will
rival the east in growth and will be far more
beautiful


Let those who remember what New York
been its progress, and then try to imagine
what 1t will be twenty five years hence. There
will be little of the island not built upon or
appropriated to the adornment of residences.
II we have q good city government, and
proper facilities be made for travel in the
c;tr II 4. rooaooo hIo to conclude thoro v;lI ho
by that time population on the isla nd of two
millions, or thereabouts, and that within the
area of what may be pr operly called the me-
tropolis there will be scarcely less than three
millions. But we cannot measure the future
greatness of New York by this increased pop
ulation only, for the city must continue
to grow In wealth, trade, commercial i'm
portance, refinement and intellectual develop
ment and power in even q greater degree,
comparatively. However much other cities
may grow in all these things, their progress,
as well as the progress of the country gener-
ally, will be made tributary more and more to
the business, wealth and growth Of the metrop-
oils. The great and varied products of this
vast Continent, and of the industry of vigor-
ous population. which in quarter of a century |
will be increased probably to near eighty mil |
lions, will centre here. Yes, within short |
time this will become the central mart for the |
trade Of South aud Central America, Mexico,
the West Indies and the British American Pos |
sessions, as well as for that Of our own rich |
country. Then, the development Of California
and the other States on the Pacific side of the
Continent, with those important arteries of
commerce, the Pacific railroads, New York |
will become to o great extent the empo-
rum for the trade with China, Japan and the |
other rich and populous co untries Of Asia.
Nor can it be long before Mexico, Cuba, the