SEYMOUR DURST When you leave, please leave this book Because it has been said " Ever' thing comes t' him who waits Except a loaned book." Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library PICTURESQUE . . . NEW YORK .... (Photogravures .... The Albertype Co. Brooklyn, N. Y. THE STATUE OF LIBERTY BATTERY. WASHINGTON BUILDING, BOWLING GREEN BUILDING Bowling Greert Building. Standard Oil Building. Chesebrough Building. Washington Buiiding. THE BATTERY. PRODUCE EXCHANGE AND WHITEHALL STREET. Manhattan Life. Am. Surety New Street. Sub Treasury. Mills B'la'g. VIEW NORTH FROM PRODUCE EXCHANGE TOWER. TRIM I Y CHURCH. EMPIRE BUILDING. The ■' Oceanic. " CORTLANDT STREET, FROM WEST STREET. From Photograph Copyright, 1898 By W. H. Rau, Phila. U. S. BATTLESHIP MASSACHUSETTS IN NEW YORK HARBOR. N. Y. Stock Exchange. BROAD STREET, FROM WALL STREET. EAST RIVER VIEW. American Tract Society. Brooklyn Bridge. World City Hall. Tribune Times. Potter Building CITY HALL PARK Shoe and Leather Bank CITY HALL AND COURT HOUSE. Dun Building. LOWER NEW YORK, SEEN FilOM THE BRIDGE. Cotton Exchange. BROOKLYN BRIDGE, FROM PRODUCE EXCHANGE TOWER. •Asior House. Broadway. Park Row. POST OFFICE. St. Paul Building. NEW YORK STAATS ZEITUNG BUILDING Dun Building. Postal Telegraph and Home Life Ins Buildings BROADWAY, NORTH FROM MURRAY STREET. NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE BUILDING— Broadway South of Leonard St PELL STREET, LOOKING TOWARD CHATHAM SQUARE. Grace Church. Wanarinaker's. BROADWAY, BETWEEN NINTH AND TENTH STREETS. WASHINGTON ARCH. FiHh Ave Hotel. Dewey Triumphal Arch and Colonnade. MADISON SQUARE. BALL ROOM OF THE HOTEL WALDORF-ASTORIA. HERALD SQUARE, BROADWAY AND SIXTH AVENUE. METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE. BROADWAY AND 39th STREET. FIFTH AVENUE, NORTH OF 42nd STREET. ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL. I University Club. W. K. Vanderbilt Residence. St. Thomas Church. Presbyterian Church. FIFTH AVENUE, NORTH OF 52d STREET. CORNELIUS VANDERBILT RESIDENCE, FIFTH AVENUE AND FIFTY-SEVENTH STREET. Metropolitan Club. Hotel Netherlands. Hotel Savoy. THE PLAZA-FIFTH AVENUE AND FIFTY-NINTH STREET Colonial Club. Hotel St. Andrews Cnr.st Church. BOULEVARD. NORTH OF 70th STREET. BOAT HOUSE AND LAKE, CENTRAL PARK. The Obelisk. METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART— CENTRAL PARK. BOW BRIDGE AND LAKE — CENTRAL PARK. THE BELVIDERE— CENTRAL PARK. From this Point Gen'l Washington directed the Battle of Harlem. MORNINGSIDE PARK— VIEW SOUTH. St. Luke's Hospital. HIGH CURVE— EIGHTH AVENUE AND MOTH STREET. WASHINGTON AND LAFAYETTE STATUE— MORNINGSIDE PARK. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. LIBRARY OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. RIVERSIDE DRIVE, LOOKING NORTH FROM 96th STREET. GRANT'S TOMB — RIVERSIDE DRIVE. HEINE MONUMENT, 166th STREET AND WILLIS AVENUE. HIGH AND WASHINGTON BRIDGES OVER THE HARLEM RIVER. The Speedway. Washington Bridge. THE SPEEDWAY AND HARLEM RIVER. EW YORK CITY, the great metropolis and emporium of the United States, is second only to Eondon in population and influence, maintaining with its contiguous and dependent municipalities a popula- tion of nearly 3,500,000. It occupies the entire surface of Manhattan Island at the mouth of the Hudson River on New York Bay, Randall's, Ward's and Blackwell's Islands in the East River, and a large portion of the mainland north of Manhattan Island. Manhattan Island, on which the city proper stands, is 13j^ miles long, and varies in breadth from a few hundred yards to 2}{ miles long, having an area of nearly 22 square miles, or 14 000 acres. The proposition for an enlargement of the city by consolidation with it, all of Kings County (Brooklyn), Long Island City and its suburbs — Flushing and Jamaica, — Richmond County (Staten Island) and the south- ern part of the town of Eastchester and Pelham, in Westchester County, was approved by popular vote in 1894. The consolidation went into effect January 1st, 1898. The consolidated city, known simply as New York, is divided into five boroughs : Manhattan (old New York); the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond. It's total area is 818 square miles, it's extreme length 32 miles, and its greatest width 1(5 miles. It had, on the date of consolidation, about 3,400,000 inhabitants; 1 ,300 miles of improved streets; 1,18(5 places of worship; 140,000 dwelling-houses; 166 banks; (5,000 acres of parks; 5,800 policemen and about 2,000 officers and members of the Fire Department, the latter of which is famous for its efficiency. The assessed value of its real estate was $2,221,879,805. The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the corporation and is elected for four years. No one can serve as mayor for two terms in succession. His salary is $15,000 a year. The Mayor appoints the heads of all city departments, the city magistrates, the justices of Special Sessions, the members of the School boards of the several boroughs and of the Board of Assessors, also various commissioners, etc. He can be removed only by the Governor of the State. The legislative department of the city government is called Municipal Assembly, and comprises the Council (upper house), and the Board of Aldermen (lower house). The total amount appropi'iated for the expenses of the administration of Greater New York for the first year of its existence (1898) is $77,551 ,- 222.07. The authentic history of New York proper begins with the visit of Henry Hudson, an Englishman in the service of the Dutch East India Company, who arrived at the site of the present city, Sept. 3, 1609. In 1614 a Dutch colony came over and began a settlement. At the close of that year the future metropolis consisted of a small fort (on the site of the present Bowling Green) and four houses, and was known as New Amsterdam. As late as 1648 it contained but 1000 inhabitants. In 1(564 it was surrendered to the British, and was, in honor of the Duke of York, thenceforward called New York. In 1696 Trinity Church was founded. The American army, under Washington, occupied the city in 1776; but, after the battles of Eong Island and Harlem Heights, it was captured by the British forces, and remained their headquarters for seven years The British troops evacuated the city Nov. 25, 1783. Within ten years alter the War of Independ- ence New York had doubled its population; in 1800 it was 60,489; in 1890 1,800.891. Of the inhabitants, 875,358 were native born and 039,943 were foreign born; 23,601 were colored (of African descent ). Of the foreign born inhabitants 210,723 came from Germany, 190,418 from Ireland, 35,907 from England, 27,193 from Austria, 72.222 from Hungary, 48,790 from Russia, 39,951 from Italy, 10,535 from France, 8,099 from Bohemia, 6,751) from Poland and 2,048 from China. The number of inhabitants of German birth or parent- age make New York the third largest German city in the world. The chief gateway of the Republic for European immigrants, until 1890, was Castle Garden, on Battery Park, where ten million persons made their first landing in America. Castle Garden, the old fortress of Castle Clinton, built in 1807, is now occupied by a large public aquarium, in charge of the Park Department. Immigrants are now received at Ellis Island, in the Bay. The foreigner who visits New York usually approaches it from the lower bay, through the Narrows, a strait lying between Staten Island on the left and Eong Island on the right, and hemmed with heavily armed fortresses. New York Bay forms one of the most beautiful and impressive harbors in the world. Staten Island rises abruptly on one shore, with hills and valleys, green fields and trees, villages and villas; and the other shore are the over extending brick rows of the speculative builder's creations of Fort Hamilton, Bay Ridge and South Brooklyn, overtopped by the two oasis of Greenwood Cemetery and Prospect Park. Within the bay Ellis' Island is near the Jersey shore; Bedloe's Island is not far from its centre, and is the site of the colossal statue of Eiberty which France has presented to New York; while Governor's Island, the largest of the three, lies to the right between New York and Brooklyn. The bay is dotted with the shipping of every nation. The finest steamboats and ferry boats in the world dart hither and thither like water spiders on the surface of a glassy pool. Tugs, oyster boats, and sailing vessels of every size and description, are all represented. It is a moving panorama of water craft As the city is approached, gradually, from the distant haze which broods over it, are evolved the forms of gigantic buildings, towers and spires, and all its varied and picturesque outlines. The city presents a most striking and beautiful view from the bay. It rises gradually from the water's edge, some portions of it to a considerable elevation. A prominent feature are the huge structures, ten to twenty stories high, in the lower part of the city, devoted to offices. A royal visitor who recently saw New York for the first time very pointedly remarked that seeing this gigantic pile from board of an incoming steamer created the impression as if one were nearing a ' ' city of giants. ' ' Approaching the mouth of the East River, the most striking objects are the massive towers of the famous Suspension Bridge, one on either shore, while between them is the bridge, swung upon what seems at a distance like the merest cobweb. The older portion of thz city below 14th street is somewhat irregularly laid out. The plan of the upper part includes avenues running north to the boundary of the island and streets running across them at right angles from river to river, being numbered consecutively. Broadway is beyond comparison the business thoroughfare of the city. From its beginning at the Battery, at the southern end of the island, to its ending at the Harlem River, a distance of eight miles, there is more variety in its architecture, its shops and its throngs of people, than can probably be found in any street of the world. It is pretty sharply divided into sections, each of which has its busy period during the 24 hours, so that while one may be almost deserted the other is full of animation and life. Fifth Avenue, the most splendid avenue in America, is a continuous line of palatial hotels, gorgeous clubhouses, shops, fine mansions and magnificent churches. The other avenues, commencing at First and numbering as high as Eleventh, and supplemented on the eastern side, at the widest part of the island, by avenues A, B, C, and D, are mostly devoted to retail trade, presenting miles of stores. A striking feature of New York are the numerous handsome public squares and parks some of them ornamented with statues to public men. The intelligent stranger will find much interest in a ramble through the avenues and streets studying and comparing the different styles. The architecture of New York is almost infinite in form. The dwellings exhibit many ugly and some very beautiful examples of domestic architecture. Of late years quite an aristocratic quarter has sprung up in the vicinity of Riverside Park, on the upper west side, alongside the Hudson River. Cathedral Heights rise directly above Harlem and Morningside Park, and contain a large variety of stately public buildings and private mansions. It is the monumental and impressive part of the city and differs advantageously from the rather monotonous architecture of the upper town. It reminds one in part of the monumental aspects of some European cities. It may well be said that the sense for beautiful architecture is at last awakening in the American people. General Grant's beautiful tomb is in the upper part of Riverside Park opposite 123d street. Central Park, New York's great breathing place, is one of the most beautiful parks in the world. It contains 843 acres, and embraces an area extending from 5th to 8th avenues, and from 59th to 110th streets. It was within the memory of the present generation, a waste of rock and swamp. The work was taken in hand in 1857, and to-day the completed park stands forth a most striking monument of the skill of engineers and landscape gardeners. Green lawns, shady groves, fine drives and walks, inviting expanses of water, and picturesque bits of scenery have taken the place of the former wilderness. The Park is beautiful all the year round, but is particularly so in the early spring. Every day in the year it has numerous visitors, but on Sunday, one must fairly elbow one's way through the crowds. It is, at all times, the fashionable drive, and every afternoon an unending cavalcade pours in at the Fifth, and Central Park West, avenue entrances, composed mainly of superbly appointed family equipages. Bronx Park contains G53 acres and extends along both sides of the Bronx River. A portion of the park has been set aside for a Botanical Garden, and another portion for a Zoological Garden. A Speedway, or public road for fast driving was completed in 1893. It has been built out at the water's edge, along the foot of the bluff on the western bank of the Harlem River, extending from 155th- to 208th street, a distance of about two miles. It is 100 feet wide, with sidewalks for pedestrians. Among the wonders of the city are the elevated railroads, with their trains of cars continually flying up and down Manhattan Island; the swarms of great steam ferry-boats, traversing the East River and Hudson River; the municipal palaces on City Hall Square; the vast prisons and asylums on Blackwell's, Randall's and Ward's Islands; the summer pleasures of Coney Island, Rockaway, Glen Island, Long Branch and a hundred other salt and fresh water resorts, the palatial club-houses of the Union League. Manhattan, St. Nicholas, University and other clubs; the rich collections of the Geographical, Historical, Ethnological, Numismatic, Microscopical, Horticultural and other societies; the fortress-like armories of the militia regi- ments; and the prodigious buildings of the "World," "Times," ' Tribune." " Staats-Zeitung," and other newspapers on Printing-House Square; the "Mail and Express " and " Evening Post" on Broad way. New York is also the foremost manufacturing city in America, with about 12,000 factories, making upwards of $500,000,000 worth of goods of every description yearly. In trade and commerce New York stands foremost on the Western continent. The bulk of the country's importations arrive in this city, and from this port most of its products are sent abroad. The value of imports here, in a year, exceeds $500,000,000, being about double that of all other ports in the United States, and that of domestic exports is nearly $400,000,000, being a little less than that of all other ports of the countrv. It is unqualifiedly a shop- keepers' town, and in that respect resembles much Paris or Vienna. Thousands of stores and shops, restau- rants, cafes and so-called saloons, are distributed over all parts of the city. The buildings are plain brick edifices, three, four or five stories in height, the upper stories occupied by the families of the merchants, or as tenements. New York is the most cosmopolitan of American cities, with a Parisian vivacitj' and brilliancy, and an astonishing versatility of gifts. In music and art it holds an indisputable pre-eminence. With its great publishing houses, the Harper's, Scribner's, Appleton's and others, its inimitable magazines, and its strong literary societies, New York has also become the American centre of Letters. gBj