Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/388

 374 NEW YORK (CITY) lower part of the island has been considerably widened by filling in the rivers on either side. Several localities in the upper portion are pop- ularly known by different names. Yorkville and Harlem are on the E. side, the former in the vicinity of 86th street, and the latter of 125th street. On the W. side are Blooming- dale and Manhattanville, opposite Yorkville and Harlem respectively. Above Manhattan- ville and in the vicinity of 150th street is Car- mansville, about 1 m. further up Fort Wash- ington or Washington Heights, and at the N. W. extremity of the island Inwood. The mainland portion of the city, formerly consti- tuting the towns of Morrisania, West Farms, and Kingsbridge, Westchester co., was annexed by the act of May 23, 1873, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 1874. The S. portion, com- prising Morrisania and a part of West Farms, forms the 23d ward of the city, the rest of West Farms with Kingsbridge constituting the 24th ward. The 23d ward contains several vil- lages, with various popular designations, among which are Mott Haven and North New York, immediately across Harlem bridge ; Port Mor- ris, on the East river ; and Melrose, Woodstock, Morrisania, Highbridgeville, and Claremont, further N. In the 24th ward are Tremont, Mount Hope, Mount Eden, Fairmount, West Farms, Belmont, Fordham, and Williamsbridge, between the Harlem and Bronx rivers ; Kings- bridgeville and Spuyten Duyvel, separated from the N. extremity of Manhattan island by Spuy- ten Duyvel creek ; Mosholu, N. of these ; and Riverdale and Mount St. Vincent, on the Hud- son. The surface of the new wards is diversi- fied, the greater portion of the land being high and rolling, except in the south, where it is low, and along the shores marshy. The district is traversed by several small sluggish streams, having a S. course, the principal of which are Tibbett's brook, emptying into Spuyten Duyvel creek ; Cromwell's creek, discharging into Har- lem river at Macomb's Dam bridge ; and Mill brook and Leggett's creek, in the southeast. Between the streams the land rises for the most part to from 100 to 280 ft. above tide water, the highest point being on the Riverdale ridge between Tibbett's brook and the Hudson. These ridges are well improved and occupied by country residences. The former town of Morrisania is thickly settled, and is regularly laid out with avenues running N. and S., and streets crossing them at right angles numbered in continuation of those on Manhattan island. It is divided into two nearly equal parts by 3d avenue, continued across Harlem bridge. The rest of the new district is not regularly laid out, though the S. and W. portions of the 24th ward are well provided with streets and ave- nues, each village having its own system. This new part of the city is to be regulated under the direction of the park commissioners, and the work is now in progress (1875). The two por- tions of the city are connected by four wagon and two railroad bridges across Harlem river and Spuyten Duyvel creek. Harlem bridge, at 3d avenue and 130th street, is of iron; Ma- comb's Dam bridge, near 7th avenue and 154th street, and Farmer's and King's bridges, near the N. extremity of the island, are of wood. One of the railroad bridges crosses Spuyten Duyvel creek at its entrance into the Hudson, and is used by one branch of the Hudson River railroad ; the other crosses Harlem river a lit- tle N. of Harlem bridge, and is used by the other railroad lines that enter the city. A sus- pension bridge across the upper part of the Har- lem, and a tunnel under it, at 7th avenue, are proposed. On Manhattan island, the older por- tion of the city below 14th street (2 m. from the Battery) is for the most part somewhat ir- regularly laid out. The plan of the upper portion embraces avenues running N. to the boundary of the island, and streets crossing them at right angles from river to river. The avenues are numbered from the east to 12th avenue; E. of 1st avenue in the widest part of the city are avenues A, B, C, and D. Above 21st street, between 3d and 4th avenues, is Lexington ave- nue, and above 23d street, between 4th and 5th avenues, Madison avenue ; 6th and 7th avenues are intercepted by Central park. The avenues are 100 ft. wide, except A and C, which are 80 ft. ; Lexington and Madison, 75 ft. ; and B and D, 60 ft. Fourth avenue above 34th street is 140 ft. wide, and between 34th and 40th streets (here called Park avenue) it is divided in the centre by a row of beautiful little parks, surrounding the openings of the railroad tunnel. The streets are 60 ft. wide, except 15 of them, which are 100 ft., and are numbered consecu- tively N. to 225th street at Spuyten Duyvel creek (1st street being If m. from the Bat- tery) ; 20 blocks, including the streets, average a mile. The numbers on the avenues run N. ; the street numbers run E. and W. from 5th avenue. Between 5th and 6th avenues they range from 1 toward 100 W. (14th street for in- stance), and between 5th and 4th avenues from 1 toward 100 E. (14th street) ; crossing 6th or 4th avenue, the numbers commence at 100, and as each avenue is crossed toward the east or west a new hundred is commenced, the number of a building thus indicating the block in which it is situated. The city is compactly built to Central park, about 5 m. from the Bat- tery, and on the E. side for the most part to Harlem, 3 m. further. The W. side is sparsely occupied by cottages and shanties, with many market gardens, to Manhattanville, where and at Carmansville are compact villages. At Fort Washington and above it are many country residences. Broadway, the great central thor- oughfare, is 80 ft. wide, and upon it are most of the principal hotels, banks, insurance offices, and great retail stores. It runs N. from the Battery, bending toward the west above 10th street, and, after crossing 5th, 6th, and 7th avenues, terminates at 59th street and 8th ave- nue. On the E. side the principal thorough- fare is the Bowery, a wide street, with its con-