King's Views of New York - IV

Here we go with part IV of "King's Views of New York". Click on the "See LARGE" link beneath each photo to see it in much greater detail.

(Images via: King's Views of New York)




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Battery Park - showing Washington Building, first skyscraper, on site of Kennedy Mansion, once Washington's headquarters; Broadway vista, Bowling Green, in front of Custom House; imposing facade of $7,200,000 Custom House on State St., the early thoroughfare of fashion; Battery Park, 21.2 acres, has a sea-wall commanding unobstructed view of harbor; the "L" skirts inner side of park, hidden by the trees, and Municipal Subway passes underneath to South Ferry, with twin tunnels under East River to Brooklyn; new subway loop being built under park.


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Sailor's Snug Harbor - Richmond Terrace, New Brighton, Staten Island, facing Kill Van Kull; largest and wealthiest charitable institution in the world; founded 1801 by Capt. Robt. Richard Randall, who bequeathed a farm worth $4,600 for the care of the aged and infirm American merchant-marine sailors; which property, along Broadway, below 14th St., has become so valuable that it yields an income of over $700,000 a year. Institution opened 1831; grounds cover 196 acres; 890 inmates; 300 employees. Captain A.J. Newbury, Governor; James Henry, Comptroller.


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The Aquarium - on the Battery sea wall, containing in 122 glass tanks the finest collection of living fishes ever displayed. THe building was erected in 1807 on a small island and was called Fort Clinton; in 1822, joined to the mainland by filling in, it became a piece of amusement known as Castle Garden and Jenny Lind sang there in 1850; from 1855 to 1892 it was the immigration depot, which was moved to Ellis Island, and in 1896 the old fort was converted into an aquarium; visited annualy by 2,400,000 people; 6,000,000 food fish hatched and distributed each year.


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Broadway - from beginning of 15-mile thoroughfare to Trinity Building, viewed from New Custom House; 10 trans-Atlantic steamship lines on left, Hamburg-American on site of first dwelling of white men on island. Petroleum industry of world centers in 17-story Standard Oil Building. Bowling Green Offices, 229 ft. high, largest in city when built by Spencer Trask.


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One Wall Street - S.E. corner Broadway, until 1910 the most expensive plot in New York, costing $598.21 a square foot, ground floor and basement rents for $37,500 a year; 18 stories; 217 ft. high; profitable utilization of costly plot, only 29 ft. 10 in. front on Broadway, and 39 ft. 10 in. on Wall Street, made possible by steel-frame construction and especially compact elevators.


...to be continued.