Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/324

 318 BROOKLYN Williamsbnrgh, Bushwick, Greenpoint, and the 19th ward (formerly a part of Wallabout), and the Western District, comprising the old city of Brooklyn, including the first 12 wards and the 20th to the 25th ward. Opposite Greenpoint, and separated from it by Newtown creek, is Hunter's Point, now included in the munici- pality of Long Island City. Adjoining the S. E. extremity of the city is the large village of East New York, and on the S. W., bordering on Pros- pect park, is that of Flatbush. For many years after its settlement Brooklyn was merely a hamlet, but since its incorporation as a city its growth has been remarkably rapid. In 1698 the population was 509. In 1706 there were 64 free- holders; 96 years later the number had only in- creased to 86. The progress of population in the present century has been as follows : 1800, 3,298; 1810,4,402; 1820,7,175; 1830,15,292; 1840,36,233; 1845,59,574; 1850,96,850; 1855 (including Williamsburgh and Bushwick, pre- viously separate), 205,230 ; 1860,266,661; 1865, 296,378; 1870,396,099. Of the population in 1870, 144,718 were foreigners and 4,944 were colored. Of the natives, 219,774 were born in the state of New York, 6,009 in New Jersey, 5,711 in Massachusetts, 5,264 in Connecticut, and 3,294 in Pennsylvania. Of the foreigners, 79,985 were natives of Ireland, 36,771 of Ger- many, 18,843 of England, 4,099 of Scotland, 2,806 of British America, 1,894 of France, and 1,105 of Sweden. Brooklyn possesses many ad- vantages as a place of residence. For the most part considerably elevated above tide water, it is open on all sides to the land and sea breezes, while its wide streets, generally at right angles to each other, afford a free circulation of air. Several avenues 100 ft. wide have been formed, connecting distant points. On the Heights arc many fine residences occupied by leading mer- chants of New York. Of the streets, perhaps Clinton avenue is the most attractive ; it is lined with beautiful residences surrounded with ex- tensive ornamental grounds. In the 21st ward many costly dwellings have recently been erect- ed. The principal business thoroughfare is Ful- ton street, extending about 5 m. from Fulton ferry to East New York ; until recently the por- tion above the city hall was designated as Ful- ton avenue. Myrtle avenue, extending E. from Fulton street near the city hall, is also a prom- inent business thoroughfare. Extending from South ferry to East New York, and parallel with Fulton street from near the city hall, is Atlantic avenue, an active business street in its lower part, and in its upper shaded by double rows of trees. Within a few years the business centre has extended from near the foot of Ful- ton street to the vicinity of the city hall, where are now situated most of the monetary and insurance interests, &c. The great commercial interests are along the river front. The public buildings of Brooklyn are not remarkable for their imposing size or architecture. The city hall, at the junction of Fulton, Court, and Jo- ralemou streets, is of white marble in the Ionic style, with six columns supporting the roof of the portico; its dimensions are 162 by 102 ft., and 75 ft. in height, comprising three etories and a basement ; it is surmounted by a tower, the top of which is 153 ft. from the ground ; it was built in 1845-'6, and its entire cost was about 200,000. The county court house, fronting on Fulton street near the city hall, is 140 ft. wide and extends 315 ft. back to Livingston street; it is 64 ft. high, and is surmounted by a cupola composed of ribs and panel work of iron, rising 104 ft. above the street; the main edifice is constructed of Westchester marble in the Corinthian style of architecture ; it was erected in 1862, at a total cost of $543,000. The county jail in Raymond street is a heavy-looking cas- tellated Gothic edifice of red sandstone. The penitentiary is in Nostrand avenue, on the bor- der of the city. The state arsenal is in Port- land avenue near Washington park. The post office is a rented building in Washington street near the city hall ; there are sub-stations in Williamsburgh and Greenpoint. The academy of music in Montague street, near the city hall, was erected in 1860 at a cost of $206,000 ; it is built of the best quality of brick with Dorches- ter stone trimmings, 232 ft. long, 92 ft. wide, and 56 ft. high, and is capable of seating 2,300 persons. Adjoining the academy is the fine edifice of the art association, while opposite is the elegant building of the mercantile library, erected in 1868 at a cost of more than $150,000. The city hospital, on elevated ground in Ray- mond street near De Kalb avenue, is of brick with stone dressing ; it has a front of 200 ft. facing Raymond street, and consists of a main building four stories high, 52 ft. in width and depth, with a rear extension of 30 ft., and two wings, each 74 ft. long, 56 ft. deep, and three stories high. Among other noticeable build- ings may be mentioned the iron structure of the Long Island safe deposit company on the cor- ner of Front and Fulton streets, erected in 1868 at a cost of $150,000 ; the building occu- pied by the young men's Christian association, in Fulton street, corner of Gallatin place ; and the elegant building of the Williamsbnrgh savings bank, corner of Broadway and Fifth street, completed in 1875 at a cost of $500,000. Ground has been purchased on the corner of Clinton and Remsen streets on which to erect a costly building for the Long Island historical society. From the great number of church edifices, Brooklyn is often called the city of churches. Among the more prominent of these is St. Ann's (Episcopal), with its adjoining chap- el, on the corner of Clinton and Livingston streets, erected in 1868 at a cost of about $200,- 000 ; it is constructed of Belleville and Cleve- land stone in the middle pointed Gothic style, 126 ft. long, 75 ft. wide, and 90 ft. high, and ean seat 2,400 persons. The church of the Holy Trinity (Episcopal), a brown stone edifice in the Gothic style, on the corner of Clinton and Montague streets, was erected in 1847 at a cost, including chapel, of about $175,000. The