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diff --git a/42712-0.txt b/42712-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a9a4ef5 --- /dev/null +++ b/42712-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9111 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42712 *** + +Transcriber's note: Volume I of this eBook is available at Project +Gutenberg as eText #41979. + + +[Illustration: VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN IN 1816] + + + + + A HISTORY + OF THE + CITY OF BROOKLYN + AND + KINGS COUNTY + + BY + + STEPHEN M. OSTRANDER, M.A. + + LATE MEMBER OF THE HOLLAND SOCIETY, THE LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL + SOCIETY, AND THE SOCIETY OF OLD BROOKLYNITES + + _EDITED, WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES, BY_ + + ALEXANDER BLACK + + AUTHOR OF "THE STORY OF OHIO," ETC. + + IN TWO VOLUMES + + VOLUME II. + + BROOKLYN + Published by Subscription + 1894 + + + + + Copyright 1894, + BY ANNIE A. OSTRANDER. + + _All rights reserved._ + + + This edition is limited to five hundred + copies, of which this is No. 21 + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER IX + + BROOKLYN AFTER THE REVOLUTION + + 1784-1810 + + Effect of the British Occupation on Life and Business in the + County. Brooklyn particularly disturbed. Town Meetings + resumed. The Prison Ships and their Terrible Legacy. + Tragedies of the Wallabout. Movement to honor the Dead. + Burial of the Remains. The Tammany Enterprise and the + Removal of the Bones. Further Removal to Fort Greene. + Organization of the Brooklyn Fire Department. The Ferry. + The Mail Stage. New Roads. Planning "Olympia." Early + Advertisements. Circulating Library and Schools. The + Rain-water Doctor. Kings County Medical Society. Flatlands. + Gravesend. Flatbush, the County Seat. Mills. Erasmus Hall. + New Utrecht. Bushwick, its Church, Tavern, Graveyard, + and Mills. The Boundary Dispute. The Beginnings of + Williamsburgh. Rival Ferries. "The Father of Williamsburgh" 1 + + + CHAPTER X + + BROOKLYN VILLAGE + + 1811-1833 + + Brooklyn during the "Critical Period" in American History. + The Embargo and the War of 1812. Military Preparations. + Fortifications. Fort Greene and Cobble Hill. Peace. Robert + Fulton. The "Nassau's" First Trip. Progress of Fulton + Ferry. The Village incorporated. First Trustees. The + Sunday-School Union. Long Island Bank. Board of Health. The + Sale of Liquor. Care of the Poor. Real Estate. Village + Expenses. Guy's Picture of Brooklyn in 1820. The Village + of that Period. Characters of the Period. Old Families + and Estates. The County Courts removed to Brooklyn. + Apprentices' Library. Prisoners at the Almshouse. Growth + of the Village. The Brooklyn "Evening Star." Movement for + Incorporation as a City. Opposition of New York. Passage of + the Incorporation Act 47 + + + CHAPTER XI + + THE CITY OF BROOKLYN + + 1834-1860 + + Government of the City. George Hall, first Mayor. Plans + for a City Hall. Contention among the Aldermen. Albert + G. Stevens and the Clerkship. The Jamaica Railroad. Real + Estate. The "Brooklyn Eagle." Walt Whitman. Henry C. + Murphy. Brooklyn City Railroad. The City Court established. + County Institutions. The Penitentiary. Packer Institute + and the Polytechnic. Williamsburgh becomes a City. + Progress of Williamsburgh. Mayor Wall and the Aldermen. + Discussion of Annexation with Brooklyn. The "Brooklyn + Times." Consolidation of the Two Cities. Mayor Hall's + Address. Nassau Water Company and the Introduction of + Ridgewood Water. Plans for New Court House. Proposal + to use Washington Park. County Cares and Expenditures. + Metropolitan Police 80 + + + CHAPTER XII + + THE PERIOD OF THE CIVIL WAR + + 1861-1865 + + Election of Mayor Kalbfleisch. The Call for Troops. The + Militia. Filling the Regiments. Money for Equipment. + Rebuking Disloyalty. War Meeting at Fort Greene. Work of + Women. The County sends 10,000 Men in 1861. Launching of + the Monitor at Greenpoint. The Draft Riots. Colonel Wood + elected Mayor. Return of the "Brooklyn Phalanx." The + Sanitary Fair. Its Features and Successes. The Calico Ball. + Significance of the Fair. The Christian Commission. Action + of the Supervisors of the County. The Oceanus Excursion. + Storrs and Beecher at Sumter. News of Lincoln's Death. + Service of the National Guard. The "Fighting Fourteenth." + The Newspapers. Court House finished 117 + + + CHAPTER XIII + + BROOKLYN AFTER THE WAR + + 1866-1876 + + Administration of Samuel Booth. Metropolitan Sanitary + District created. Cholera. Erie Basin Docks. The County + Institutions and their Work. The Gowanus Canal and the + Wallabout Improvement. The Department of Survey and + Inspection of Buildings. Establishing Fire Limits. Building + Regulations. Prospect Park. The Ocean Parkway. The Fire + Department. The Public Schools. The East River Bridge. + Early Discussion of the Great Enterprise. The Construction + begun. Death of Roebling. The Ferries. Messages of Mayor + Kalbfleisch. Erection of a Brooklyn Department of Police. + Samuel S. Powell again Mayor. A New City Charter. Movement + toward Consolidation with New York. Henry Ward Beecher. + Frederick A. Schroeder elected Mayor 132 + + + CHAPTER XIV + + THE MODERN CITY + + 1877-1893 + + Rapid Transit. James Howell, Jr., elected Mayor. Work on + the Bridge. Passage of "Single Head" Bill. John Fiske + on the "Brooklyn System." Seth Low elected Mayor. His + Interpretation of the "Brooklyn System." Reëlection of Low. + Opening of the Bridge. Bridge Statistics. Ferries and Water + Front. Erie Basin. The Sugar Industry. Navy Yard. Wallabout + Market. Development of the City. Prospect Park. Theatres + and Public Buildings. National Guard. Public Schools. + Brooklyn Institute. Private Educational Institutions. + Libraries. Churches, Religious Societies, Hospitals, and + Benevolent Associations. Clubs. Literature, Art, and Music. + The Academy of Music. "The City of Homes" 167 + + APPENDIX 235 + + INDEX 271 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +VOLUME II + + VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN IN 1816. (From the Village Map + of Jeremiah Lott, 1816, and the Map by Poppleton + and Lott in 1819, showing Pierrepont and + adjacent Estates) _Frontispiece_ + + EARLY FERRY ADVERTISEMENT. (From Historical + Sketch of Fulton Ferry and its Associated + Ferries, 1879) _Facing page_ 28 + + FERRY PASSAGE CERTIFICATE, 1816 40 + + FULTON FERRY BOAT WM. CUTTING, BUILT IN 1827. (From + Historical Sketch of Fulton Ferry) 62 + + GUY'S SNOW SCENE IN BROOKLYN, 1820. (From the Painting + owned by the Brooklyn Institute) 70 + + FAC-SIMILE (same size) OF LETTER BY WALT WHITMAN IN + POSSESSION OF CHARLES M. SKINNER, ESQ., BROOKLYN 90 + + CRUISER BROOKLYN, BUILT IN 1858 122 + + STATUE OF HENRY WARD BEECHER IN FRONT OF CITY HALL. + (From a Drawing by H. D. Eggleston) 140 + + STATUE OF J. S. T. STRANAHAN AT THE ENTRANCE + TO PROSPECT PARK. (From a Drawing by H. D. Eggleston) 180 + + STATUE OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON IN FRONT OF HAMILTON CLUB HOUSE 200 + + + APPENDIX + + CHART SHOWING EAST RIVER SOUNDINGS AND PIER LINES 262 + + + + +HISTORY OF BROOKLYN + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BROOKLYN AFTER THE REVOLUTION + +1784-1810 + + + Effect of the British Occupation on Life and Business in the + County. Brooklyn particularly disturbed. Town Meetings resumed. + The Prison Ships and their Terrible Legacy. Tragedies of the + Wallabout. Movement to honor the Dead. Burial of the Remains. + The Tammany Enterprise and the Removal of the Bones. Further + Removal to Fort Greene. Organization of the Brooklyn Fire + Department. The Ferry. The Mail Stage. New Roads. Planning + "Olympia." Early Advertisements. Circulating Library and + Schools. The Rain-water Doctor. Kings County Medical Society. + Flatlands. Gravesend. Flatbush, the County Seat. Mills. Erasmus + Hall. New Utrecht. Bushwick, its Church, Tavern, Graveyard, and + Mills. The Boundary Dispute. The Beginnings of Williamsburgh. + Rival Ferries. "The Father of Williamsburgh." + + +During the whole period of the Revolution Brooklyn had been peculiarly +disturbed. More than any other of the county towns, it had been +distracted and prostrated. Farms had been pillaged and the property +of exiled Whigs given over to Tory friends of the Governor. Military +occupation naturally resulted in great damage to property. "Farmers +were despoiled of their cattle, horses, swine, poultry, vegetables, +and of almost every necessary article of subsistence, except their +grain, which fortunately had been housed before the invasion. Their +houses were also plundered of every article which the cupidity of a +lawless soldiery deemed worthy of possession, and much furniture was +wantonly destroyed. At the close of this year's campaign, De Heister, +the Hessian general, returned to Europe with a shipload of plundered +property."[1] While the other towns were receiving pay for the board +of prisoners, and thus being justified in maintaining their crops, +Brooklyn remained a garrison town until the end. + +After the evacuation, Brooklyn's farmers and tradesmen at once turned +their attention to the restoration of the orderly conditions existing +before the war. It also became necessary to reorganize the local +government. In April, 1784, was held the first town meeting since +April, 1776. Jacob Sharpe was chosen town clerk, and Leffert Lefferts, +the previous clerk, was called upon to produce the town records. The +result of this demand has already been described in the reference to +the missing records. + +Before proceeding further with the narrative of Brooklyn's growth +after the Revolution, it will be necessary to return for a moment to +certain sad circumstances that followed the battle of Brooklyn and +other successes of the British. The battle of Long Island was fought +August 27, 1776, and Fort Washington was captured in November. These +victories gave the British between 4000 and 5000 prisoners. At that +time there were only two small jails in New York city. One was called +the Bridewell, and was situated in Broadway near Chambers Street, +and the other was known as the New Jail. These prisons could not +accommodate the daily increasing number of prisoners. It was a dark +hour in American history; success seemed to perch upon the banners of +the enemy. Large accessions of prisoners were made, and quarters had +to be provided for them. The churches were taken without ceremony and +converted into receptacles for the captives. The sugar-houses were used +for the same purpose. One of these was situated in Liberty Street, +adjoining the old Middle Dutch Church. That church was also used. +Within its walls thousands of prisoners were placed, regardless of +comfort or sanitary rules. If its walls could speak they would tell a +tale which would make a sad record. + +The old North Dutch Church on the corner of Fair Street and Horse and +Cart Lane (now Fulton and William streets) was also used as a prison +pen, and within its walls a thousand persons were held. Within a few +years this venerable landmark has succumbed to the march of progress. + +The infamous Cunningham was at this time provost marshal of the city. +He possessed the instincts of a brute, and often seemed to own the +spirit of a demon. The sick and dying received no sympathy or care from +him. Healthy men were placed in the same room with those having the +smallpox and other maladies. Prisoners were not allowed sufficient food +or bedding, and their clothes were scanty. The food was not fit to give +to the beasts. The men must have reached the verge of starvation to +induce them to partake of the unwholesome mess of wormy and mouldy food +dealt out to them. The allowance made to the men was a loaf of bread, +one quart of peas, half a pint of rice, and one and a half pounds +of pork for six days. Large numbers died from want, privation, and +exhaustion. So crowded were these prisons that there was no room to lie +down and rest. The impure atmosphere engendered disease. Every morning +the cry was heard, "Rebels, bring out your dead." All who had died +during the night were carelessly thrown into the dead-cart and carried +to the trenches in the neighborhood of Canal Street, and buried without +a vestige of ceremony. + +But the horrors of the city prisons were more than repeated in the +tragedies of the prison ships in the bend of the Wallabout. The first +vessels used were the freight transports which had been employed in +conveying troops to Staten Island in 1776. These transports were for a +short time anchored in Gravesend Bay, and received the prisoners taken +on Long Island. When New York was conquered they were removed to the +city. The Good Hope and Scorpion for a while were anchored off the +Battery, and subsequently were taken to Wallabout Bay, and with other +vessels were used as prisons. Two vessels at a time were kept in this +service. Among the vessels thus used were the Whitley, Falmouth, Prince +of Wales, Scorpion, Bristol, and Old Jersey. + +In 1780 one of the vessels was burned by the unhappy captives, who +hoped thereby to regain their liberty. The effort was unsuccessful, +and the prisoners were removed to the Old Jersey, which continued in +service until the end of the war. + +Wallabout Bay had the shape of a horse-shoe. The Jersey was anchored at +a point which is now represented by the west end of the Cob Dock. If +Cumberland Street were continued in a straight line to a point between +the Navy Yard proper and the Cob Dock, it would pass over the spot +where this vessel was anchored. + +Historians agree in saying that the treatment on all these vessels +was alike, and that the Jersey was not exceptional. The Jersey was +the largest of all, and having remained in service for so long a time +had the most prisoners. On that account she has attracted the most +attention. + +The crew on board each ship consisted of a captain, mates, steward, a +few sailors and marines, and about thirty soldiers. Each prisoner on +his arrival was carefully searched for arms and valuables. His name +and rank were duly registered. He was allowed to retain his clothing +and bedding, and to use these, but during confinement was supplied +with nothing additional. The examination having been completed, he +was conducted to the hold of the vessel, to become the companion of a +thousand other patriots, many of whom were covered with rags and filth, +and pale and emaciated from the constant inhalation of the pestiferous +and noxious atmosphere which impregnated the vessel. Strong men could +not long resist inroads of sickness and disease. Many were taken down +with typhus fever, dysentery, and smallpox. The vessel was filled +continually with the vilest malaria. The guns were removed, portholes +securely fastened, and in their place were two tiers of lights to +admit air. Each of these air holes was about twenty inches square, +and fastened by cross-bars to prevent escape. The steward supplied +each mess with a daily allowance of biscuit, pork or beef, and rancid +butter. The food was of the poorest which could be obtained, and of +itself was sufficient to breed disease. The biscuits were mouldy and +worm-eaten, the flour was sour, and the meat badly tainted. It was +cooked in a common kettle, which was never cleaned, with impure water, +and became a slow but sure poison. The prisoners were kept in the +holds between the two decks, and the lower dungeon was used for the +foreigners who had enlisted in freedom's cause. Here again the morning +salutation was, "Rebels, bring out your dead." The command was obeyed, +and all who had found relief in death were brought upon deck. Prisoners +were allowed to sew a blanket over the remains of their dead companions +before burial. The dead were taken in boats to the shore, put in holes +dug in the sand, and carelessly covered. Frequently they were washed +from their resting place by the incoming tide. Often while walking +along the old Wallabout road, between Cumberland Street and the Navy +Yard, I have seen the remains of the gallant patriots who lost their +lives on the Jersey. In the "'fifties" of the present century it was no +uncommon thing for pieces of bone and human skulls to be dug up on the +borders of the old road. + +The only relief the prisoners had was permission to remain on deck +until sunset. When the golden orb of day sunk beneath the horizon, the +ears of all were saluted with the obnoxious cry, "Down, rebels, down." +When all had retired to the hold, the hatchway was closed, leaving only +a small trap open to admit air. At this trapdoor a sentinel was placed, +with instructions to allow but one man to ascend at a time during the +night. The sentinels possessed the same cruel spirit as their masters. +A prisoner who had been confined on the Jersey for fourteen months +said that, on occasions when the prisoners gathered at the hatchway +to obtain fresh air, the sentinel repeatedly thrust his bayonet among +them and killed several. These acts created a desire for revenge. Many +of the men were enabled to endure their trials by the thought that the +night of darkness would soon pass away, and the day dawn when they +could take vengeance on the scoundrels who had treated them with so +much brutality. + +An instance of this determination to be revenged is narrated in the +life of Silas Talbot. It appears that two brothers belonging to the +same rifle corps were made prisoners and sent on board the Jersey. The +elder was attacked with fever and became delirious. One night, as his +end was fast approaching, reason resumed its sway, and, while lamenting +his sad fate and breathing a prayer for his mother, he begged for a +little water. His brother entreated the guard to give him some, but the +request was brutally refused. The sick boy drew near to death, and his +last struggle came. The brother offered the guard a guinea for an inch +of candle to enable him to behold the last gasping smile of love and +affection. This request was refused. "Now," said he, "if it please God +that I ever regain my liberty, I'll be a most bitter enemy." He soon +after became a free man, and, to show how well he kept his word, it is +only necessary to say that when the war closed "he had 8 large and 127 +small notches in his rifle stock." These notches probably represented 8 +officers and 127 privates. + +On one occasion 130 men were brought to the Jersey by the villain +Sprout, who was commissary of prisoners. As he approached the black +unsightly hulk, he pointed to her sardonically, and told his captives, +"There, rebels, there is the cage for you." + +The same bitter round was the daily portion of the men,--during the day +a little air and sunlight, and being compelled to listen to the curses +and imprecations of their captors, while at night they had to breathe +the stifling air between decks, and listen to the groans of the sick +and dying, without the power to give them any relief. + +Some of the men were assigned to wash and scrub the decks. This of +itself was a great blessing, as it gave them occupation and additional +rations. During the night watches it was as dark as Egypt between +decks, for no sort of light was allowed. Delirious men would wander +about and stumble over their fellows. Sometimes the warning shout would +be heard, that a madman was creeping in the darkness with a knife in +his hand. At times a soldier would wake up to find that the brother at +his side had become a corpse. The soldiers in charge of the prisoners +were mostly Hessians, and were universally hated as mercenaries. + +Yet no amount of cruelty could drive patriotism from the hearts of the +captives. On the 4th of July, 1782, they determined to celebrate the +anniversary in a fitting manner. On the morning of that day, they came +on deck with thirteen national flags, fastened on brooms. The flags +were seized, torn, and trampled under foot by the guards, who looked +upon the act as an insult. Nothing daunted, the men determined to have +their pleasure, and began to sing national melodies. The guards became +enraged, considered themselves insulted, and drove the prisoners below +at an early hour, at the point of the bayonet, and closed the hatches. +The prisoners again commenced to sing. At nine o'clock in the evening +an order was given requiring them to cease. This order not being +instantly complied with, the animosity of the guards was aroused, and +they descended with lanterns and lances. Terror and consternation at +once reigned supreme. The retreating prisoners were sorely pressed by +the guards, who unmercifully cut and slashed away, wounding every one +within their reach, and inflicting in many instances deadly blows. +They then returned to the deck, leaving the wounded to suffer, without +the means to have their wounds properly dressed. In consequence of +this explosion of patriotism, a new torture was devised. The men, as a +punishment, were kept below on the following day until noon, and thus +were prevented from the enjoyment of the sun and air for six long weary +hours. During this time they were also deprived of rations and water. +As a result of the night's diabolism ten dead bodies were brought on +deck in the morning. + +To show the heartlessness of the guards, an incident is narrated of a +man who was supposed to be dead, and had been sewed up in his hammock +and carried on deck preparatory to burial. He was observed to move, +and the attention of the officer in charge was called to the fact that +he was still living. "In with him," said the officer; "if he is not +dead, he soon will be." The sailor took a knife, cut open the hammock, +and discovered that the man was still alive. Doubtless many men who had +swooned away were buried alive. + +At the time of these occurrences, the government did not possess the +ability to make exchanges. The captives on the prison ships were mostly +privateersmen, and, not being in the regular Continental service, +Congress was unwilling to restore healthy soldiers to the ranks of +the enemy, thereby adding to their strength without a full and exact +equivalent. + +The Americans had entered into an agreement to exchange officer for +officer and soldier for soldier. They had but few naval prisoners, and +thus could make no exchange for the unfortunate ones on these ships. +Our authorities were compelled to let their captives on the water go +at large, for want of suitable places to keep them. Washington took +a lively interest in the matter, and entered into a correspondence +with Henry Clinton and Admiral Digby on the subject, threatening +retaliation. He, however, threatened and expostulated in vain. + +The American rebels were urged by the British officers to enter their +service. Some did enlist, with the hope uppermost in their minds that +they would be able to desert. + +The prisoners were released at the close of the war. The old Jersey was +destroyed, and its decaying timbers became buried in the mud. + +The bones of the prison-ship martyrs lay for many years bleaching on +the banks of Wallabout Bay, where they had been rudely buried by the +British. The action of the tide upon the sandy banks gradually washed +away the little earth which had been thrown over them, thereby causing +the sacred relics to become exposed to view. The attention of Congress +was frequently called to the necessity of providing a suitable resting +place for these honored remains. The sight of these bones strewn upon +the banks of the bay was enough to awaken the interest of the nation. +At last the citizens of Brooklyn became aroused, and at a town meeting +held in 1792, a resolution was passed requesting John Jackson, who +had collected a large number of the bones on his farm, which then +included the land now used by the Navy Yard, to allow the relics in his +possession and under his control to be removed to the Reformed Dutch +Church graveyard for burial, and a monument erected over them. General +Jeremiah Johnson was the chairman of the committee. The application +was refused, Jackson having other intentions as to their interment. +Jackson was a blunt man, and a firm believer in the principles of +Democracy as enunciated by Jefferson. He was one of the sachems of the +Tammany Society or Columbian Order. + +He had several hogsheads full of bones which he had collected upon the +beach. To consummate his plan he offered to the Tammany Society a plot +in his farm for land whereon a suitable monument might be erected. + +Tammany accepted the trust, and in February, 1803, entered actively +upon the work. The society at once proposed and caused to be presented +to Congress a stirring and forcible memorial on the subject. Congress, +however, came to no determination in the matter, and the matter +remained quiescent until 1808. Between the time of the acceptance of +the offer by Tammany and the action by Congress in 1808, Benjamin +Aycrigg, a prominent and influential citizen, became greatly interested +in the measure. In the summer of 1805, noticing the exposed condition +of these remains on the beach of the bay, his patriotic heart was +horrified by the sight; his soul was filled with indignation that steps +had not been taken to have them decently interred. He, in the same +year, made a contract with an Irishman living at the Wallabout to +collect all the exposed bones. The remains thus collected formed a part +of those subsequently placed in the vault erected on the Jackson lot by +the Tammany Society. + +In 1808 Tammany again renewed its labors. At a meeting of the society +a committee was appointed, called the Wallabout Committee, consisting +of Jacob Vandervoort, John Jackson, Burdett Stryker, Issachar Cozzens, +Robert Townsend, Jr., Benjamin Watson, and Samuel Coudrey. This +committee was deeply interested in the work, and used every available +means to enlist public sympathy and assistance. Memorials were prepared +and circulated, and appeals made through the press and otherwise, +urging the citizens to come forward and aid the sacred cause. In their +efforts they did not confine themselves to New York, but sought to +create a national interest in the undertaking. The patriotism of the +people was appealed to, and the effort was crowned with success. When +the subject was thus forcibly presented, the citizens of the young +republic realized their obligation to provide a proper burial place +for the dust and bones of her brave sons, through whose death the +nation rose into existence. The measure was presented in a way which +could not be resisted. The inhabitants of all sections became greatly +interested, and nobly responded to the call, and the committee, finding +so many ready to aid, assist, and approve, were enabled to commence +the erection of the structure much sooner than they had at first +anticipated. + +The spot given was situated in Jackson Street (now Hudson Avenue), near +York Street, abutting the Navy Yard wall. The street was named after +the owner of the land. The name was afterward changed to Hudson Avenue. + +The land was formally deeded by Jackson to the Tammany Society in 1803. +When all things were ready the society caused the remains collected by +Jackson, with all the bones found upon the beach, to be committed to +the tomb with appropriate ceremonies. + +The arrangements for laying the corner-stone were completed, and the +13th of April, 1808, fixed for that interesting ceremony. The order of +exercises was as follows: At eleven o'clock the procession formed at +the ferry, foot of Main Street, marched through that street to Sands +Street, thence to Bridge Street, along Bridge to York Street, through +York Street to Jackson, and thence to the ground. + +As Major Aycrigg had ever manifested unabated interest in this labor of +love, he was properly selected as grand marshal of the day. + +The first division of the procession consisted of a company of United +States marines, under command of Lieutenant-Commandant Johnson. The +second division was composed of citizens of New York and Brooklyn. The +third division embraced the committees of the various civic societies. +The fourth division contained the Grand Sachem of the Tammany Society, +Father of the Council, and orator of the day. The fifth division +carried the corner-stone with the following inscription:-- + + IN THE NAME OF + THE SPIRITS OF THE DEPARTED FREE. + Sacred to the memory of that portion of + AMERICAN FREEMEN, SOLDIERS AND CITIZENS, + who perished on board the + PRISON SHIPS OF THE BRITISH + at the Wallabout during the + REVOLUTION. + This corner-stone of the vault erected by the + TAMMANY SOCIETY + OR COLUMBIAN ORDER + + Nassau Island, Season of Blossoms, year of the discovery + the 316th, of the institution the 19th, and of the American + Independence the 22d. + + JACOB VANDERVOORT, } + JOHN JACKSON, } + BURDETT STRYKER, } Wallabout + ISSACHAR COZZENS, } Committee. + ROBERT TOWNSEND, JR., } + BENJAMIN WATSON, } + SAMUEL COUDREY, } + + Daniel and William Campbell, builders, April 6, 1808. + + +The sixth division was composed of a detachment of artillery under +command of Lieutenant Townsend. + +The procession having reached the ground, the artillery were stationed +upon a neighboring hill, and the various divisions took the positions +assigned them. + +The oration, which was a brilliant effort, was delivered by Joseph +D. Foy. The stone was then lowered to its place and duly laid by +Benjamin Romaine, Grand Sachem of the Tammany Society, assisted by +the committee, after which a grand salute was fired, and the band +discoursed sweet and solemn notes. + +The vault was completed in May, 1808. Arrangements were made for an +imposing display, and no pains were spared in preparation. The various +societies and public bodies were ready and anxious to do all in their +power to render the occasion impressive and memorable. The citizens +turned out _en masse_ on the 26th of May, 1808, to bear testimony to +the worth of these brave men whose obsequies were to be celebrated. +They assembled at ten o'clock in the park in front of the City Hall, +New York, under command of Brigadier Generals Morton and Steddiford, +Garret Sickels, Grand Marshal, assisted by twelve aides. + +The inscription on the pedestal was as follows:-- + + [Front.] + AMERICANS REMEMBER THE BRITISH. + [Right side.] + YOUTH OF MY COUNTRY + MARTYRDOM PREFERRED TO SLAVERY. + [Left side.] + SIRES OF COLUMBIA + transmit to posterity the cruelties practiced on board the + "BRITISH PRISON SHIPS." + [Rear.] + "Tyrants dread the gathering storm + While Freemen, Freemen's Obsequies perform." + +The orator of the day was Dr. Benjamin DeWitt, who delivered an able +and patriotic address to the assembled multitude. He feelingly depicted +the sufferings endured in British dungeons, and drew tears to many eyes +by his eloquent and touching remarks, referring to the tyranny of the +oppressors and the patience of the patriots. The oration concluded, in +painful silence the coffins were committed to their resting place. Rev. +Mr. Williston then pronounced the benediction, "To the King, Immortal, +Invisible, the All-wise God, be glory everlasting, amen." The occasion +was one long remembered in both cities. + +During many years these relics remained forgotten in their sepulchre. +The grade of Jackson Street was altered so as to take a part of the +sacred ground. Jackson, when he gave the land, was not far-sighted +enough to have secured the passage of an act to preserve its precincts +intact, free from invasion by streets, and exempt from taxation. The +land at one time was sold for taxes. It seemed as if the past had been +forgotten. Then it was that Benjamin Romaine came forward and purchased +the lot. In order to preserve it from desecration, he adopted it as +his family burial plot. He resolved to be buried there himself, and +placed within the vault a coffin designed for his mortal remains. He +constructed the ante-chamber over the tomb. Upon the property he placed +the following inscription:-- + + First--The portal to the tomb of 11,500 patriot prisoners of + war who died in dungeons and pestilential prison ships in and + about the City of New York during the war of our Revolution. + The top is capped with two large urns in black, and a white + globe in the centre. + + Second--The interior of the tomb contains thirteen coffins + assigned in the order as observed in the Declaration of + Independence, and inserted thus--New Hampshire, Massachusetts, + Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, + Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, + and Georgia. + + Third--Thirteen beautifully turned posts, painted white, and + capped with a small urn in black, and between the posts the + above-named States are fully lettered. + + Fourth--In 1778, the Colonial Congress promulgated the Federal + League compact, though it was not finally ratified until 1781, + only two years before the peace of 1783. + + Fifth--In 1789, our General National Convention, to form a more + perfect unison, did ordain the present Constitution of the + United States of America, to be one entire Sovereignty, and in + strict adhesion to the equally necessary State rights. Such a + republic must endure forever. + +In 1842, a large number of citizens applied to the Legislature for +permission to remove the remains to a more private place. Romaine +vigorously and eloquently objected to the proposed change, and the +matter was permitted to rest quietly until after his death in 1844. +During the following year attention was again called to the forlorn +and neglected condition of the sepulchre. Henry C. Murphy was then +in Congress, representing Kings and Richmond counties. The abject +condition of the vault was brought to the notice of Congress, and +action taken. The military committee recommended an appropriation of +$20,000 to secure a permanent tomb and monument. The report was drawn +by Henry C. Murphy, whose exertions in this behalf were untiring. The +effort, however, was not successful. + +Samuel Boughton, John T. Hildreth, John H. Baker, and other +public-spirited men, holding diverse political views, started +subscription papers, and published articles in the papers urging the +importance of immediate action to accomplish the praiseworthy object. + +In 1855, a meeting was held and a Martyrs' Monument Association formed. +This association intended to have representatives from each State and +Territory. The committee started with commendable energy. They early +took the ground that Fort Greene was the proper site. Plans were +proposed and subscriptions solicited. For a long time nothing more was +done. The Common Council agreed to permit the use of Fort Greene. It +was not until June, 1873, that the remains of the prison-ship martyrs +were carried to the vault on the face of Fort Greene.[2] + +The narrative here concluded has passed far beyond the limits +of the period to which this chapter is devoted. Turning to the +post-Revolutionary period, we find the county towns resuming a normal +course of life. The Dutchmen who gathered at the Brooklyn church +ceased to talk of war. The Episcopalians, who worshiped in John +Middagh's barn, at the corner of Henry and Poplar streets, turned from +politics to denominational questions, and the "Independents" built +a meeting-house on the Fulton Street ground afterwards taken by St. +Anne's Buildings. + +We learn from the "Corporation Manual" (1869) that the first step +toward a fire department within the limits of the present city was +taken in April, 1785, by the organization of a fire-company. At a +meeting of the freeholders of the town, held at the house of Widow +Moser, in Fulton Street, near the ferry, it was agreed that the company +should be composed of seven members, who should be commissioned as +firemen for one year. They selected the following persons as the +members of the company: Henry Stanton, captain; Abraham Stoothoof, +John Doughty, Jr., Thomas Havens, J. Van Cott, and Martin Woodward. +They also voted to raise by tax the sum of £150 for the purchase of a +fire-engine. Among the regulations agreed upon for the government of +the new company was a requirement that the members should meet on the +first Saturday of each month, to play, clean, and work their engine, +and that in case of their non-attendance, upon notification from their +captain, a fine of eight shillings should be imposed upon them, and +that upon the captain, in the event of his neglecting properly to +notify the members, a fine of sixteen shillings should be imposed. The +engine was in due time procured. It was constructed by Jacob Boome, +of New York city, who had just then commenced business as the first +engine-builder ever located in that city. Previous to his time, the +fire-engines had generally been imported from England. The company +adopted the name of "Washington Engine Company No. 1," and was, up to +the time of dissolution of the Volunteer Department, still in active +existence. Their engine-house was situated in a lane, now called Front +Street, near its junction with Fulton Street. + +The firemen continued to be chosen annually in town meeting, and the +appointment was much sought after as conferring respectability of +position in the community. On the 30th of April, 1787, the number of +firemen was increased to eleven, and it was resolved that each fireman +should take out a license, for which he should pay a fee of four +shillings, the sums thus accruing being appropriated to the ordinary +expenses of the company. + +On the 15th of March, 1788, came the first state legislation relative +to the firemen of Brooklyn. In 1794 there were about fifty families +residing within the limits of the fire district; the entire population, +including some 100 slaves, numbering 350 souls. There were about +seventy-five buildings in the district, mainly located between what +is now called Henry Street and the ferry. Those devoted to business +purposes were generally near the ferry, where a supply of water from +the river could readily and easily be obtained. Although fires were +of exceedingly rare occurrence, and trivial in their character, yet +nine years of use, or rather disuse and decay and rust, had rendered +the engine unserviceable. In view of this fact, on the first Tuesday +of April, 1794, it was resolved in town meeting that a subscription +should be authorized to raise the funds necessary for the purchase of a +new engine. The sum of £188 19s. was speedily collected, and a new and +more powerful engine was procured. In 1795 the Legislature extended +the limits of the fire district, and increased the volunteer force to +thirty men. In town meeting it was resolved that each house should be +provided with two fire-buckets, under a penalty of two shillings for +every neglect so to provide after due notification. In 1796 a fire-bell +was purchased by popular subscription, and set up in the storehouse of +Jacob Remsen, at Fulton and Front streets, in sight of the ferry. + +In the awarding of the ferry lease in 1789, it was ordered "that +the boats, together with their masts and sails, be of such form and +dimensions as the wardens of the port of New York should approve; that +each boat be constantly worked and managed by two sober, discreet, and +able-bodied experienced watermen; that each boat be always furnished +with four good oars and two boat-hooks."[3] A new ferry at Catherine +Street was established in 1795. + +Although the ferry was in active operation, traveling by land was by +exceedingly primitive stages. As late as 1793, according to Furman, +there was no post-office on any part of Long Island, and no mail +carried on it. It was not until about the opening of the present +century that the first post-route was started. As late as 1835 "the +regular mail stage left Brooklyn once a week, on Thursday, having +arrived from Easthampton and Sag Harbor the afternoon of the previous +day; and this was the only conveyance travelers could then have through +this Island, unless they took a private carriage." The practice was to +leave Brooklyn about nine in the morning, to dine at Hempstead, and +then "jog on to Babylon, where they put up for the night."[4] + +By the enterprise of the Flushing Bridge and Road Company, incorporated +in 1802, the distance between Flushing and Brooklyn was shortened about +four miles. Three years later the Wallabout and Brooklyn Toll Bridge +Company laid out a road extending from the Cripplebush road to the +easterly side of the Wallabout mill pond, over which a bridge connected +with Sands Street. + +[Illustration: New-York and Brooklyn Ferry. + +Such persons as are inclined to compound, agreeable to law, in the +Steam Ferry-Boat, Barges, or common Horse Boats, will be pleased to +apply to the subscribers, who are authorized to settle the same. + + GEORGE HICKS, Brooklyn. + JOHN PINTARD, 52 Wall st. + + Commutation for a single person not + transferable, for 12 months, $10 00 + Do. do. 8 months, 6 67 + May 3, 1814 6m. + +EARLY FERRY ADVERTISEMENT] + +Within the limits of the town[5] the spirit of real estate enterprise +appeared in various quarters, but perhaps the most ambitious +undertaking was that of the holders of the Sands and Jackson tract, +surveyed in 1787, and lying on the East River between the Wallabout +and the Brooklyn ferry. To the prospective village planned for this +region was given the name of Olympia, after the habit of bestowing +classical names which began to appear in post-Revolutionary days. In +1801 John Jackson sold forty acres of Wallabout lands to the United +States for $40,000. + +The columns of the "Long Island Weekly Intelligencer," published by +Roberson & Little, booksellers and stationers, at the corner of Old +Ferry and Front streets, give interesting glimpses of this period. In +1806 Henry Hewlet dealt in "general merchandise" near the Old Ferry; +John Cole was coach-maker; Dr. Lowe's office was "at the Rev. Mr. +Lowe's, corner of Red Hook Road." There was demand for five apprentices +at Amos Cheney's shipyard. Benjamin Hilton sold china, glass, and +earthenware, "at New York prices," in Old Ferry Street. Postmaster +Bunce had fifty-three letters that had not been called for. + +In a later issue of the "Intelligencer" the editor remarks that he has +been "requested to suggest the propriety of each family placing lights +in front of their houses, not having the advantage of lamps, as great +inconvenience and loss of time arises from the neglect, particularly on +dark nights." + +In 1808 the town appropriated $1500 for the erection of a new "poor +house." The county court house of this period was at Flatbush, then the +county seat. The old court house had been burned in 1758. The money +required to build the new court house was raised by an assessment +upon the inhabitants of the county. This building continued in use +thirty-four years, when, by reason of its dilapidated condition, a new +court house and jail were built in 1792. The court house cost $2944.71. +The contractor was Thomas Fardon, and the plans for the building were +furnished by Messrs. Stanton, Newton, and James Robertson. In referring +to the court house, Furman says that "in 1800 the court house was let +to James Simson for one year at £3 in money." In this agreement "the +justices reserved for themselves the chamber in the said house called +the court chamber, at the time of their publique sessions, courts of +common pleas, and private meetings; as also the room called the prison, +for the use of the sheriff if he had occasion for it." The building +stood for forty years, when it was destroyed by fire. + +Meanwhile the hamlet of Brooklyn took on many of the characteristics +of a maturing village. Joseph B. Pierson removed from New York to +Brooklyn in 1809, and opened a circulating library on Main Street, +two doors from Sands Street. In the "Long Island Star" of June, 1809, +George Hamilton advertised a select school where "students were taught +to make their own pens." Hamilton was succeeded by John Gibbons, who in +September announced the opening of an academy for both sexes, where the +various educational branches are "taught on unerring principles." Mrs. +Gibbons was to "instruct little girls in Spelling, Reading, Sewing, and +Marking." To the notice of an evening school for young men is appended: +"N. B. Good pronunciation." + +Two years later there was a private school opposite the post office; +John Mabon taught the Brooklyn Select Academy; and at the inn of +Benjamin Smith, on Christmas-eve, an exhibition was given by the pupils +of Platt Kennedy. At this time the town had a floor-cloth factory, +eight or ten looms were at work in Crichton's cotton goods manufactory, +and over one hundred people worked in rope-walks. Abraham Remsen kept +the one dry goods store at Fulton and Front streets. + +Over the Black Horse tavern lived for a time the "Rain-water Doctor," +who was consulted by people coming great distances. This strange man +dealt mostly in herbs and simples, but his specialty was rain water, +which he praised as containing power to cure all manner of ills. He +often signed himself, "Sylvan, Enemy of Human Diseases." Sylvan was +evidently the first of a long list of "rain-water" quacks, against whom +the regular practitioners of this and later periods had occasion to +contend.[6] + +At the time when the census of Long Island (in 1811) estimated the +population of Brooklyn at 4402, rapid progress had also been made by +other towns in the county. Flatlands, which does not seem to have been +particularly disturbed by the British occupation,--the church and +schools continuing their regular sessions throughout the period,--built +a new church in 1794, which was painted red and sanded, and had +Lombardy poplars in front and rear. Church-going was a cold experience +in those days, the new church, like its predecessors, being without +means of heating, save the foot-stoves carried by women. It was not +until 1825 that a large wood-stove was introduced. The schoolhouse +stood within the original lines of the graveyard. + +Gravesend, which had passed through an active early period, had in 1810 +a population of 520. The hamlet was conservative in its habits of life +and slow in numerical growth. To reach Coney Island from Gravesend +at this time, it was necessary to ford the creek at low tide. The +Coney Island Bridge and Road Company was organized in 1823. To get +their letters the Gravesend people were obliged to go to Flatbush.[7] +The old schoolhouse, after being in service for sixty years, was in +1788 succeeded by a larger building, which was in service for half +a century. The Reformed Church records were still kept in the Dutch +language. The church was a long low building with a gallery, under +which, on the west side, were the negro quarters. + +Flatbush had had a taste of the Revolutionary fighting, and suffered +considerably during the British occupation.[8] + +The mill finished in 1804, on John C. Vanderveer's farm, is described +as the first mill on the island. The mills became a prominent feature +of Flatbush scenery. Clustered near them were some of the quaintest +examples of Dutch and colonial architecture that were to be found in +this country. The examples surviving to-day give a distinctive charm to +this village. In due time the stocks which had stood in front of the +court house, the near-by whipping-post,[9] and the public brew-house +all disappeared. + +On the 2d of July, 1791, public notice was given of the plan for +building a county court house and jail at Flatbush. The notice stated +that the conditions would be made known by application to Charles +Doughty, Brooklyn Ferry, and that propositions in writing would be +received until July 15 by him and Johannes E. Lott, of Flatbush, and +Rutgert Van Brunt of Gravesend. + +Cruger, while mayor of New York city, had his residence within the +village. Generals Howe, Clinton, and other leading Tories had their +headquarters within its limits subsequent to the battle of Brooklyn. + +Erasmus Hall, at Flatbush, was erected in 1786, its charter bearing +the same date as that of the Easthampton Academy. The first public +exhibition of Erasmus Hall was held September 27, 1787, "and the +scene," says Stiles, "was graced by the presence of the Governor of +the State, several members of the Assembly, and a large concourse of +prominent gentlemen of the vicinity." The subject of public instruction +continued to be agitated in the public prints and the pulpit, and the +attention of the Legislature was repeatedly called by the Governor's +messages to the paramount need of having a regular school system +throughout the State. Finally, in 1795, that body passed "an act for +the encouragement of schools," and made an appropriation of $50,000 per +annum for five years "for the purpose of encouraging and maintaining +schools in the several cities and towns in this State in which children +of the inhabitants residing in the State shall be instructed in the +English language or be taught English grammar, arithmetic, mathematics, +and such other branches of knowledge as are most useful and necessary +to complete a good English education." + +The Rev. Dr. John H. Livingston, who, with Senator John Vanderbilt, +brought about, the establishment of the academy, was succeeded as +principal by Dr. Wilson, who also held a professorship at Columbia +College. The records of the academy reveal an interesting list of +names, and the institution has held an important relation to the +educational interests of Flatbush. + +New Utrecht, where the first resistance to the British forces had been +offered, and whose church had been used as a hospital and also as a +riding-school by the British officers, was quick to assume its wonted +ways after the departure of the troops when peace with England had been +declared. During the period between 1787 and 1818 the Rev. Petrus Lowe +was the pastor.[10] + +The progress of Bushwick after the Revolution was noteworthy. The old +Dutch church had been built early in the last century. The dominies +from Brooklyn and Flatbush had previously ministered to the people +when occasion called. The old octagonal church received a new roof in +1790, a front gallery five years later, and so it remained until 1840. +Stiles[11] mentions Messrs. Freeman and Antonides as the earliest +pastors, and Peter Lowe as serving here until 1808. A regiment of +Hessians had their winter quarters here in 1776, barracks being put +up on the land of Abraham Luqueer, and free use being made of wood +from the Wallabout swamp. The case of Hendrick Suydam was typical. +Suydam had to give quarters in his house,[12] and the filthy habits +of these unsavory mercenaries were shockingly characteristic of this +unhappy period. Stiles mentions, among the "patriots of Bushwick," John +Provost, John A. Meserole, John I. Meserole, Jacob Van Cott, David +Miller, William Conselyea, Nicholas Wyckoff, and Alexander Whaley, +but no such list gives due honor to the service of all the Bushwick +patriots. + +After the Revolution Bushwick had "three distinct settlements or +centres of population." These were "Het Dorp," the original town plot +at the junction of North Second Street and Bushwick Avenue; "Het Kivis +Padt," on the cross-roads at the junction of Bushwick Avenue and the +Flushing Road; and "Het Strand," along the East River shore. The first +mentioned was the centre of village activity, with the old church for +chief landmark. + +Of the town house with its tall liberty pole, Field[13] writes: "Long +after the Revolution the old town house continued to be the high seat +of justice, and to resound with the republican roar of vociferous +electors on town meeting days. The first Tuesday in April and the +fourth of July, in each succeeding year, found Het Dorp suddenly +metamorphosed from a sleepy Dutch hamlet into a brawling, swaggering +country town, with very debauched habits. Our Dutch youth had a most +enthusiastic tendency, and ready facility in adopting the convivial +customs and uproarious festivity of the loud-voiced and arrogant +Anglo-American youngers.[14] One day the close-fisted electors of +Bushwick devised a plan for easing the public burdens by making the +town house pay part of the annual taxes, and accordingly it was +rented to a Dutch publican, who afforded shelter to the justices and +constables, and by his potent liquors contributed to furnish them with +employment. + +"In this mild partnership, so quietly aiding to fill each others' +pockets, our old friend Chas. Zimmerman had a share, until he was +ousted, because he was a better customer than landlord. The services +of the church were conducted in the Dutch language until about the +year 1830. The clergyman had the care of five churches, each of which +received his spiritual services in turn. The homely but pious men who +performed these duties were sometimes learned and dignified gentlemen, +always a little aristocratic in their ways, for the dominie of a Dutch +colony was an important functionary, whom the Governor-General himself +could not snub with impunity. One of their self-indulgent customs would +strike a modern community with horror. On arriving at the church, +just before the time for Sunday service, the good dominie was wont to +refresh himself from the fatigue of his long ride with a glass of some +of the potent liquors of the time at the bar of the town house. + +"At last the electors of Bushwick got tired of keeping a hotel, and +unanimously quit-claimed their title to the church. Some time after the +venerable structure [the town house] was sold to an infidel Yankee, +at whose bar the good dominie could no longer feel free to take an +inspiriting cup before entering the pulpit, and the glory of the town +house of Bushwick departed." + +[Illustration: FERRY PASSAGE CERTIFICATE, 1816] + +The graveyard of the original Dutch settlement lay in sight of the +church, and the last remains within its borders were not disturbed +until 1879, when the bones were removed in boxes and placed under +the Bushwick Church. Not far distant were the De Voe, De Bevoise, +and Wyckoff houses, the last named built by Theodorus Polhemus, of +Flatbush.[15] + +On the river front was the famous tavern of "Charlum" Titus. Toward +Bushwick Creek was the Wartman homestead. On Division Avenue was the +Boerum house; the Remsen house was on Clymer Street. Peter Miller, +Frederic De Voe, and William Van Cott were prominent residents. + +On Newtown Creek stood Luqueer's mill, built in 1664, by Abraham +Jansen, and the second to be erected within the limits of the present +city of Brooklyn. Freekes' mill at Gowanus was the oldest, a pond being +formed by damming the head of Gowanus Kill. Remsen's mill was at the +Wallabout. It was built in 1710, and it was from the vantage ground of +his residence here that Rem Remsen witnessed so many of the prison-ship +horrors. Remsen performed many humane acts toward the unfortunates of +the floating dungeons. + +The boundary dispute between Newtown and Bushwick--a wrangle beginning +in Stuyvesant's day and lasting until 1769--forms one of the most +picturesque features of political life in the history of the two +towns. "Arbitration Rock," as a famous landmark in the survey was +called, having been destroyed, a new rock was placed in position by +Nicholas Wyckoff, with the permission of the Commissioners appointed to +resurvey the line in 1880, and still remains. + +We have seen that one section of the town of Bushwick, or rather an +outlying group of farms and houses, lay on the river front. Traffic to +and from New York naturally passed through this river section of the +settlement. At the beginning of the century Richard M. Woodhull, a New +York merchant, established a horse-ferry from Corlaer's Hook, close to +the foot of the present Grand Street, New York, to the foot of the Long +Island road, now bearing the name of North Second Street. + +The New York landing-place of the ferry was then considerably above the +settled part of the town. In New York at this period the tendency of +development still was along the eastern side of the island. "The seat +of the foreign trade," says Mr. Janvier, "was the East River front; of +the wholesale domestic trade, in Pearl and Broad streets, and about +Hanover Square; of the retail trade, in William, between Fulton and +Wall. Nassau Street and upper Pearl Street were places of fashionable +residence; as were also lower Broadway and the Battery. Upper Broadway, +paved as far as Warren Street, no longer was looked upon as remote and +inaccessible; and people with exceptionally long heads were beginning, +even, to talk of it as a street with a future; being thereto moved, +no doubt, by consideration of its magnificent appearance as the great +central thoroughfare of the city upon Mangin's prophetic map." + +Notwithstanding the development of New York on the East River side, +there were two miles of travel between Woodhull's ferry and the +business part of the city. Woodhull bought and "boomed" property in +the vicinity of the ferry road on the Long Island side, then known +as Bushwick Street, and to the settlement in this region he gave the +name of Williamsburgh, "in compliment to his friend, Colonel Williams, +U. S. engineer, by whom it was surveyed." A ferry-house, a tavern, a +hay-press, appeared on the scene. + +"An auction was held," writes John M. Stearns,[16] "at which a few +building lots were disposed of. But the amount realized came far short +of restoring to Woodhull the money he had thus prematurely invested. +His project was fully a quarter of a century too soon. It required half +a million of people in the city of New York, before settlers could be +induced to move across the East River away from the attractions of a +commercial city. Woodhull found that notes matured long before he could +realize from the property; and barely six years had passed before he +was a bankrupt, and the site of his new city became subject to sale by +the sheriff. By divers shifts the calamity was deferred until September +11, 1811, when the right, title, and interest of Richard M. Woodhull +in the original purchase, and in five acres of the Francis J. Titus +estate, purchased by him in 1805, near Fifth Street, was sold by the +sheriff in favor of one Roosevelt. James H. Maxwell, the son-in-law +of Woodhull, became the purchaser of Williamsburgh; but not having +the means to continue his title thereto, it again passed under the +sheriff's hammer, although a sufficient number of lots had by this time +been sold to prevent its re-appropriation to farm and garden purposes." + +Then came Thomas Morrell, of Newtown, who bought the Titus homestead +farm of twenty-eight acres, prepared a map, and set down Grand Street +as a dividing line. In 1812, Morrell obtained from New York city a +grant for a ferry from Grand Street, Bushwick, to Grand Street, New +York. + +This new town site, extending between North Second Street as far over +as the present South First Street, received the name of Yorkton. +The rivalry between the Morrell and the Woodhull ferry became very +heated. "While Morrell succeeded as to the ferry," writes Mr. Stearns, +"Woodhull managed to preserve the name Williamsburgh; which applied +at first to the thirteen acres originally purchased, and had extended +itself to adjoining lands so as to embrace about thirty acres, as seen +in Poppleton's map in 1814, and another in 1815, of property of J. +Homer Maxwell. But the first ferry had landed at Williamsburgh, and +the turnpike went through Williamsburgh out into the island. Hence, +both the country people and the people coming from the city, when +coming to the ferry, spoke of coming to Williamsburgh. Thus Yorkton was +soon unknown save on Loss's map, and in the transactions of certain +land-jobbers. Similarly the designations of old farm locations, being +obsolete to the idea of a city or a village, grew into disuse; and the +whole territory between Wallabout Bay and Bushwick Creek became known +as Williamsburgh." + +At this time the owners of shore property refused to have a road opened +through their property or along the shore. The two ferries were not +connected by shore road, nor with the Wallabout region, and neither +ferry prospered during the lifetime of either Woodhull or Morrell. +General Johnson, in going from his Wallabout farm to Williamsburgh, +"had to open and shut no less than seventeen barred gates within a +distance of a mile and a half along the shore." The owners opposed +Johnson's movement for a road, but with the aid of the Legislature the +road was opened, business at the ferries immediately improved, and +Williamsburgh began to grow. A Methodist congregation built a church +in 1808; a hotel appeared at about the same time, and in 1814 there +were 759 persons in the town. Noah Waterbury, by the building of a +distillery at the foot of North Second Street and other enterprises, +earned the title of "The Father of Williamsburgh." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +BROOKLYN VILLAGE + +1811-1833 + + Brooklyn during the "Critical Period" in American History. + The Embargo and the War of 1812. Military Preparations. + Fortifications. Fort Greene and Cobble Hill. Peace. Robert + Fulton. The "Nassau's" First Trip. Progress of Fulton Ferry. + The Village Incorporated. First Trustees. The Sunday-School + Union. Long Island Bank. Board of Health. The Sale of Liquor. + Care of the Poor. Real Estate. Village Expenses. Guy's Picture + of Brooklyn in 1820. The Village of that Period. Characters of + the Period. Old Families and Estates. The County Courts removed + to Brooklyn. Apprentices' Library. Prisoners at the Almshouse. + Growth of the Village. The Brooklyn "Evening Star." Movement + for Incorporation as a City. Opposition of New York. Passage of + the Incorporation Act. + + +As the hamlet of Brooklyn waxed in size and took on the characteristics +of an organized community, with a formulated political plan, a fire +department, a commercial nucleus that justified a petition[17] to the +Legislature for the establishment of a local bank, and a population +of nearly 5000 people, it began to feel more directly and inevitably +than it ever had theretofore the effect of political and commercial +movements in the State, and in the nation as a whole. + +The early years of the present century, during which Napoleon was +terrorizing Europe, were years of formative uncertainties to the +young United States. John Fiske has called this time "the critical +period" of American history. Speaking of the extraordinary commercial +manifestations of the post-Revolutionary period, Mr. Fiske says: +"Meanwhile, the different States, with their different tariff and +tonnage acts, began to make commercial war upon one another. No sooner +had the other three New England States virtually closed their ports to +British shipping than Connecticut threw hers wide open, an act which +she followed up by laying duties upon imports from Massachusetts. +Pennsylvania discriminated against Delaware, and New Jersey, pillaged +at once by both her greater neighbors, was compared to a cask tapped at +both ends. + +"The conduct of New York became especially selfish and blameworthy. +That rapid growth, which was so soon to carry the city and the State +to a position of primacy in the Union, had already begun. After the +departure of the British the revival of business went on with leaps +and bounds. The feeling of local patriotism waxed strong, and in no +one was it more completely manifested than in George Clinton, the +Revolutionary general, whom the people elected Governor for nine +successive terms. From a humble origin, by dint of shrewdness and +untiring push, Clinton had come to be for the moment the most powerful +man in the State of New York. He had come to look upon the State +almost as if it were his own private manor, and his life was devoted +to furthering its interests as he understood them. It was his first +article of faith that New York must be the greatest State in the +Union. But his conceptions of statesmanship were extremely narrow. +In his mind, the welfare of New York meant the pulling down and +thrusting aside of all her neighbors and rivals. He was the vigorous +and steadfast advocate of every illiberal and exclusive measure, and +the most uncompromising enemy to a closer union of the States. His +great popular strength and the commercial importance of the community +in which he held sway made him at this time the most dangerous man in +America." + +The relations of the States became more amicable in the early years +of the century, the rival commonwealths being drawn together by a +general obligation of self-defense as against England. In 1808 had come +Jefferson's Embargo Act, of whose influence in New York John Lambert +writes: "Everything wore a dismal aspect at New York. The embargo had +now continued upwards of three months, and the salutary check which +Congress imagined it would have upon the conduct of the belligerent +powers was extremely doubtful, while the ruination of the commerce of +the United States appeared certain if such destructive measures were +persisted in. Already had 120 failures taken place among the merchants +and traders, to the amount of more than 5,000,000 dollars; and there +were above 500 vessels in the harbor which were lying up useless, +and rotting for want of employment. Thousands of sailors were either +destitute of bread, wandering about the country, or had entered the +British service. The merchants had shut up their counting-houses and +discharged their clerks; and the farmers refrained from cultivating +their land; for if they brought their produce to market they could not +sell it at all, or were obliged to dispose of it for only a fourth of +its value." + +Elsewhere in his journal, Lambert writes: "The amount of tonnage +belonging to the port of New York in 1806 was 183,671 tons, and the +number of vessels in the harbor on the 25th of December, 1807, when the +embargo took place, was 537. The moneys collected in New York for the +national treasury, on the imports and tonnage, have for several years +amounted to one fourth of the public revenue. In 1806 the sum collected +was 6,500,000 dollars, which, after deducting the drawbacks, left a net +revenue of 4,500,000 dollars, which was paid into the treasury of the +United States as the proceeds of one year. In the year 1808 the whole +of this immense sum had vanished!" + +In June, 1812, came the declaration of war with Great Britain. The news +occasioned considerable excitement in Brooklyn, whose middle-aged men +retained a lively recollection of the British occupation. In the "Star" +of July 8 appeared this announcement: "A new company of Horse or Flying +Artillery is lately raised in this vicinity, under the command of +Captain John Wilson. This company promises, under the able management +of Captain Wilson, to equal, if not excel, any company in the State. +The Artillerists of Captain Barbarin are fast progressing in a system +of discipline and improvement, which can alone in the hour of trial +render courage effectual. We understand this company have volunteered +their services to Government, and are accepted. The Riflemen of Captain +Stryker and the Fusileers of Captain Herbert are respectable in number +and discipline. The county of Kings is in no respect behind her +neighbors in military patriotism." + +The Fusileers wore green "coatees" and Roman leather caps. The green +frocks of the Rifles were trimmed with yellow fringe, a feature of the +costume which is reputed to have originated the appellation "Katydids." +In August the Artillery practiced at a target, and John S. King won a +medal. + +Two years elapsed before Brooklyn was actually threatened with war. In +1814 the fear that the British fleet might, as in the Revolutionary +descent, land at Gravesend, was naturally entertained. The committee of +defense decided to build two fortified camps on Brooklyn Heights and +on the heights of Harlem. Volunteers for labor on local and suburban +defenses were called for, and there was a patriotic response. A company +of students from Columbia Academy, Bergen, N. J., performed work on +the Brooklyn Heights fortifications.[18] The Long Island defenses +extended from the Wallabout to Fort Greene, to Bergen's Heights (on +Jacob Bergen's property), and to Fort Lawrence. + +On the 9th of August, 1814, General Mapes, of New York, with a body +of volunteers, broke ground for the intrenchments at Fort Greene. The +work was carried on day by day by a different corps of volunteers. One +day the labor would be performed by the tanners and curriers and the +veteran corps of artillery; on another day, in happy unison, would +be seen working, side by side, a brigade of infantry, a military +association of young men, the Hamilton Society, and students of +medicine; on another, a delegation from Flatbush would be seen engaged +earnestly on the work; on another, the people of Flatlands would +be armed with pick and shovel; then Gravesend dug in the trenches. +Irishmen were not to be outdone; they proved their patriotism and +love of liberty by volunteering, 1200 strong, to labor in the cause. +Then the burghers from New Utrecht gave a helping hand. The free +colored people gladly gave their aid. Jamaica came, headed by Dominie +Schoonmaker, and with them came the principal of the academy, with +his pupils. Workmen came from New York, Newark, Paulus Hook, and +Morris County, N. J. A company came from Hanover Township, headed +by their pastor, Rev. Dr. Phelps, and labored for a day upon these +fortifications. So, too, the members of the Baptist Church in New York +came, with their pastor, Rev. Dr. Archibald Macloy, and did a day's +work. Rev. Dr. Macloy was the father of Congressman Macloy, who ably +represented the seventh ward of New York and a part of Kings County +before the late civil war. + +The erection of the defenses of Brooklyn was thus not a local affair. +It was one in which the neighboring cities, towns, and States took +part. The people were enthusiastic. The Grand Lodge of Masons enlisted +in the service, and the watchword of the day was: "The Master expects +every Mason to do his duty." Old Fortitude Lodge, which still exists, +rendered a day's service. A company of ladies came from New York, +forming a procession, with music, marched to Fort Greene, and used +the shovel and the spade for several hours. The people had one mind +and were actuated by one purpose. The work advanced rapidly, for, as +in the days of Nehemiah, the "people had a mind to work," and their +efforts were crowned with success. These were the times when the +people willingly gave their money for the good of the country, without +expecting to receive it again with compound interest. + +Early in September the works were completed. The Twenty-second Brigade +of Infantry, composed of 1750 men, was stationed within the lines. +Heavy artillery was mounted. Brigadier General Jeremiah Johnson was +in command. He was a natural soldier, and possessed every element +of character necessary to lead a brigade. Stern and unflinching in +the performance of duty, he yet had a warm and generous heart, which +led him to take an active interest in the welfare of the men in his +command. The soldiers loved him, and rendered willing obedience to his +orders. Being a resident of Brooklyn, he knew or was known by most of +his men personally. + +At the fort on Cobble Hill worked military companies under command of +Captains Stryker, Cowenhoven, and Herbert, the "exempts" of Bedford +and the Wallabout, Fire Company No. 2 of Brooklyn, and a company of +Bushwick people headed by Pastor Bassett. "Next to the duties which +we owe to Heaven," said the Bushwick people at their meeting, "those +which belong to our country demand our chief attention." + +The volunteers worked with the utmost zeal, laboring by moonlight when +sunset still left work to do. The Sixty-fourth Regiment, of Kings +County, was commanded by Francis Titus, with Albert C. Van Brunt as +second major, and Daniel Barre as adjutant. New Utrecht's company was +headed by Captain William Dewyre; Brooklyn's company was headed by +Captain Joseph Dean; the Wallabout and Bushwick company, by Captain +Francis Stillman; the Gowanus company, by Captain Peter Cowenhoven, and +later by Captain John T. Bergen; the Gravesend and Flatbush companies, +by Captain Jeremiah Lott. + +Brooklyn was, indeed, ready, but fortunately the crisis for which it +prepared did not appear. On the evening of February 11, 1815, came +the news of peace with Great Britain. On the evening of the 21st +Brooklyn was illuminated in a spirit of rejoicing, and the band of the +Forty-first Regiment, then stationed in the village, voiced the delight +of the people. + +Meanwhile, various important advances had been made by Brooklyn and her +neighbors. In 1812, Robert Fulton having made a successful experiment +with his first steamboat, the Clermont, a steam ferry was opened +between New York City and Paulus Hook, Jersey City. In that year Fulton +and his "backer," Robert R. Livingston, offered to the corporation of +the city of New York a proposition to establish a steam ferry from Fly +Market Slip to Brooklyn.[19] The proposition was accepted, and it was +decided to run the boats from Burling Slip. "As, however, the slip was +not then filled in, and the cost of filling was estimated at $30,000, +it was finally concluded to establish the ferry at Beekman Slip +(present Fulton Street, New York), which was accordingly purchased for +that purpose by the corporation from Mr. Peter Schermerhorn. Beekman +Slip at that time extended only to Pearl Street. Fair Street, which +then ran from Broadway to Cliff Street, was extended through the block +between Cliff and Pearl streets to join Beekman Slip. To this newly +extended Fair Street, from the East River to Broadway, and to Partition +Street, which then extended from Broadway to the Hudson River, was +given the name of Fulton Street, in honor of the distinguished +inventor, in consequence of the establishing of whose steam ferry this +street was about to become a great highroad of travel and traffic. The +ferry from Fly Market Slip was discontinued. + +"The lease of the ferry was granted to Robert Fulton and William +Cutting (his brother-in-law), for twenty-five years,--from the 1st +of May, 1814, to May, 1839,--at an annual rental of $4000 for the +first eighteen years, and $4500 for the last seven years. The lessees +were to put on the ferry one steamboat similar to the Paulus Hook +ferry-boat; to run once an hour from each side of the ferry, from +half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; to furnish +in addition such barges, etc., as were required by previous acts of +the Legislature; and on or before the 1st of May, 1819, they were to +provide another steamboat in all respects equal to the first, and when +that was done a boat should start from each side of the river every +half hour. As a compensation to the lessees for the increase of expense +which would be incurred in conducting the ferry upon such an enlarged +scale, the corporation covenanted to apply to the Legislature for a +modification and increase in the rates of ferriage; and in case the +bill passed before May 1, 1819, Messrs. Fulton and Cutting agreed to +put on their second boat at the earliest possible date thereafter. In +case of its failing to pass, they were to be permitted to receive four +cents for each and every passenger who might choose to cross the river +in the steamboat, but the fare in barges was to remain as it had been, +viz., two cents."[20] + +The proposed bill successfully passed the Legislature, and Fulton +and Cutting formed a stock company, called the New York and Brooklyn +Steamboat Ferry Association, with a capital of $68,000. The first +steam ferry-boat, called the Nassau, began running on Sunday, May 10, +1814. "This noble boat," said the Long Island "Star," "surpassed the +expectations of the public in the rapidity of her movements. Her trips +varied from five to twelve minutes, according to tide and weather.... +Carriages and wagons, however crowded, pass on and off the boat with +the same facility as in passing a bridge. There is a spacious room +below the deck where the passengers may be secure from the weather, +etc." On one of the first day's trips an engineer was fatally hurt. + +The Nassau made forty trips on the following Sunday, and became a +useful and popular institution. She was used after business hours for +pleasure excursions on the river. The plan of construction was that of +a double boat, with the wheel in the centre, the engine-house on deck +and the passenger cabin in one of the hulls. Peter Coffee, the first +pilot, died in 1876, aged ninety-nine years. One end of the deckhouse +of the Nassau was occupied by a pensioner of Fulton's, who sold candies +and cakes. + +While the Nassau was in operation the horse ferry-boats were also used +on the Fulton Ferry. These horse ferry-boats were peculiar craft. The +first horse-boats were single-enders, and were compelled to turn around +in crossing the river. Subsequently double-enders were used. All these +boats had two hulls, about twenty feet apart and covered over by a +single deck. Between these hulls were placed the paddle-wheels, working +upon the shafting propelled by horses. + +"By an invention of Mr. John G. Murphy, father of ex-Senator Henry +C. Murphy, the managers of these boats were enabled to reverse their +machinery without changing the position of the horses. The steamboat +was very popular with the public. Owing to its success there was soon +a very marked desire in both cities for the addition of the second +steamboat, in accordance with the terms of the contract made by the +lessees with the city of New York. Objection was made by the lessees +on the ground of additional expense, and boats run by horse power were +substituted. In 1815 Robert Fulton died. Mr. Cutting, who had lived +in New York, removed to Brooklyn, and died at his residence on the +Heights in 1821. The winter of 1821-22 was one of the most severe in +the history of the country. The ferries were obstructed by enormous +quantities of floating ice. Great cakes became jammed between the +double hulls, and travel was practically suspended. Brooklyn had grown +rapidly, and an uproar arose in which the ferry management was roundly +assailed. Who can tell but it was here that the original idea of the +East River Bridge was first born? In 1827 a steamboat similar to the +Nassau, and called the William Cutting, was put on the ferry, but even +this did not satisfy the public, who were eagerly seeking more extended +accommodations. In 1833 Messrs. David Leavitt and Silas Butler secured +a controlling interest in the stock of the company, and sought to meet +the anticipations of the people by adding two new steamboats, the +Relief and the Olive Branch. Unlike their predecessors, these boats had +single hulls and side wheels. Subsequently agitation in the southern +part of Brooklyn led to the establishment of the South Ferry." + +In 1817, the Loisian Academy, which had been started four years before, +received a salaried teacher, and was removed to the small frame house +on Concord and Adams streets, where Public School No. 1 was afterward +built. + +Brooklyn began soon after the Revolution to think seriously of the +matter of incorporation as a village. On January 8, 1816, a public +meeting was held at the public house of Lawrence Brown, "to take +into consideration the proposed application for an incorporation of +Brooklyn. A committee, consisting of Thomas Everit, Alden Spooner, +Joshua Sands, the Reverend John Ireland, and John Doughty, met the +following day at the house of H. B. Pierrepont. On April 12th the act +incorporating the village passed the Legislature." + +[Illustration: FULTON FERRY-BOAT, WM. CUTTING + +_Built in 1827_] + +The section of the town of Brooklyn, commonly known by the name +of the Fire District, and contained within the following bounds, +namely: "Beginning at the public landing, south of Pierrepont's +distillery, formerly the property of Philip Livingston, deceased, on +the East River, thence running along the public road leading from said +landing to its intersection with Red Hook Lane, thence along said Red +Hook Lane to where it intersects the Jamaica Turnpike Road, thence +a northeast course to the head of the Walleboght mill pond, thence +through the centre of said mill pond to the East River, and thence +down the East River to the place of beginning,"--was incorporated as +a village, by the name of the Village of Brooklyn; and by the act the +village was constituted a road district, and declared exempt from +the superintendence of the commissioners of highways of the town of +Brooklyn, and the Trustees of the village were invested with all the +powers over the road district, and subjected to all the duties in +relation thereto which by law were given to or enjoined upon the said +commissioners, etc.[21] + +The Trustees were required to make a survey and map of the village, +to be kept by the clerk, subject to the inspection of the people, "in +order that no resident might plead ignorance of the permanent plan +to be adopted for opening, laying out, leveling, and regulating the +streets of said village." In pursuance of the requirements of this +law, the Trustees caused to be made a survey and map of the village, +which was adopted by them on the 8th of April, 1819. By a law passed +in 1824, the Trustees were authorized to "widen and alter all public +roads, streets, and highways, already laid out ... to such convenient +breadth, not exceeding sixty feet, as they should judge fit;" also to +lay out new roads and streets. In 1827 the village was divided into +five districts. + +The first Trustees of the village were Andrew Mercein, John Garrison, +John Doughty, John Seaman, and John Dean. + +The first named of these Trustees appears as one of the principal +founders of a Sunday School which was "in operation in the village of +Brooklyn" in 1816. This school seems to have been designed and operated +on broad grounds. While combining "moral and religious instruction with +ordinary school learning," parents or guardians were privileged to say +"what catechism" they wished the children to study. As a result of this +school movement the Brooklyn Sunday School Union Society was afterward +organized. The school met for a time in Thomas Kirk's printing-office +on Adams Street, but found the schoolhouse quarters on the same street +to be more desirable. + +Previous to 1814 there were two markets in Brooklyn: one at the foot of +the old Ferry Street (which began to acquire the name Fulton Street, +after the steamboats began running and Fulton Street had been named on +the New York side); the other at the foot of Main Street. Both were +taken down in 1814. + +The Long Island Bank was incorporated in 1824, with a capital of +$300,000, divided into 6000 shares. In the same year the Brooklyn Fire +Insurance Company came into existence. + +On the village map adopted April 8, 1819, sixty-seven streets appear, +besides a number of alleys. Several of the streets were sixty feet +wide. Doughty Street was the narrowest, being only twenty feet wide. + +In 1820 the population of the town had increased to 7175. The village +population was 5210. + +In 1822 there were four distilleries in the town, which at that time +contained but little over 7000 inhabitants. This was a distillery to +every 1750 inhabitants. All the grocers appear to have sold liquors. + +In 1826 the population of the village was about 9000. The sum of the +excise fees paid over to the overseers of the poor in that year was +$3627, the significance of which large amount need not be pointed out. + +In 1824 a bill was introduced into the Senate, by John Lefferts, +to organize a board of health in the village of Brooklyn. The act +constituted the Trustees a board of health. By its provisions the +president and clerk of the village became the officers of the board. +The president's salary was fixed at $150 per annum, and the physician +appointed by the board received $200 yearly. + +The introduction of swill milk into the city appears to belong to +a later period. It became the practice for milk-dealers to send to +the various distilleries and purchase swill, which they fed to their +cows. The stables were generally long, low buildings divided into +narrow stalls, and afforded accommodation for forty or fifty cows. +The swill cost one shilling a hogshead, and was fed hot to the cows. +The principal distilleries were Cunningham's on Front and Washington +streets; Manley's, corner of Tillary and Gold streets; Birdsall's, John +A. Cross's, and Wilson's. The two latter were at the Wallabout. + +In 1824 the real estate of Brooklyn was assessed at $2,111,390, and the +personal property at $438,690; making a total of $2,550,080. + +On the 14th of January, 1830, the Supervisors of the county purchased +the poor-house farm at Flatbush. On the 9th of July, 1831, the +corner-stone of the building was laid, on which occasion an address was +delivered by General Jeremiah Johnson, who afterwards became Mayor. He +served as Supervisor continuously from 1800 to 1822, and distinguished +himself in the War of 1812, a part of the time being in command of the +fortifications on Fort Greene. + +The expense of supporting the poor of the town of Brooklyn during the +year 1830 was $7233.13. The taxes for all expenses amounted to only +sixty cents on every hundred dollars of valuation of real and personal +property. + +The items of village expense as estimated August 18, 1830, were as +follows:-- + + Village watch $3,000 + Fire department 1,400 + Public cisterns 300 + Interest on village stocks 600 + Repairs of wells and pumps 900 + Salaries of officers 1,200 + Contingent expenses 2,600 + ------- + $10,000 + +On the 2d of September, 1830, the Kings County Temperance Society was +formed at Flatbush. The Hon. Leffert Lefferts was elected president. + +The population of the town as ascertained by the census of 1830 was +15,292. The village contained about two thirds of the town population. + +Furman, the indefatigable collector of statistics, says that in 1832 +Brooklyn (the village) was divided into five districts, which together +contained 12,302 inhabitants. In the village there were 110 licensed +and 68 unlicensed taverns. This was at the rate of one tavern to every +69 persons. The second district appears to have enjoyed the privilege +of having the most taverns. It contained 79 in a population of 2801, or +one to every 36 inhabitants. In view of the fact that the proportion of +saloons to population to-day is one to every 225 persons, those rash +debaters who persist in finding a movement toward ruin in modern life +may find the figures significant. + +An interesting glimpse of Brooklyn as it appeared in 1820 is furnished +by Guy's well-known picture, painted from a Front Street window, and +showing a cluster of houses in the heart of the village. The scene +is of winter, and the figures in the foreground snow are in most +instances likenesses of people of the day. The Brooklyn Institute is +in possession of the picture. At the time of the fire which, in 1890, +destroyed the Institute building, then on Washington Street, and since +completely obliterated to make way for the Bridge approach, it was +slightly damaged; but it remains one of the most interesting memorials +of an interesting period. According to the key published in Stiles, the +picture represents stores and dwellings of Thomas W. Birdsall, Abiel +Titus, Edward Coope, Geo. Fricke, Diana Rapalje, Mrs. Middagh, Benjamin +Meeker, Mrs. Chester, Robert Cunningham, Jacob Hicks, Joshua Sands, +Augustus Graham, Burdett Stryker, Selah Smith, and Dr. Ball, as well +as the figures of Mrs. Harmer, Mrs. Guy, Jacob Patchen, and Judge John +Garrison. + +Diana Rapalje, a daughter of Garrett Rapalje, was one of the prominent +figures in the village, formerly a "favorite in Presidential circles at +Washington, and latterly an eccentric of haughty bearing." Her house +was bought by Colonel Alden Spooner, who printed the "Star" under its +roof. Near the ferry stairs was the house of William Furman, overseer +of the poor, who was one of the founders of the Catherine Street Ferry, +and served as the first judge of the county between 1808 and 1823. He +served in the state Legislature, and filled other important commercial +and political offices. His son, Gabriel Furman, was the author of the +"Notes" on the antiquities of Long Island, which have been so useful to +later writers. At Birdsall tavern, on the Fulton Road, people bought +the New York papers, and Quakers made it a stopping-place. Near at hand +was the house of Henry Dawson, who ran the "sixpenny boats." In a low +stone house lived "the gentlemen Hicks," and in the same region to the +south were "Milk" Hicks and "Spetler" Hicks, other prominent members +of a family whose name is closely associated with the early history +of the Heights. Here also were the Middagh and Pierrepont properties, +which were greatly improved by a street plan originated by Hezekiah +Pierrepont. On the Middagh estate was a house built by Thomas Kirk for +a home and printing-office, and afterward occupied by George L. Bird, +the editor of the "Patriot." To this house, too, came James Harper, the +grandfather of the distinguished publishers, Harper and Brothers. + +[Illustration: GUY'S SNOW SCENE IN BROOKLYN, 1820] + +John Doughty occupied the house formerly owned by Diana Rapalje. +Doughty was intimately connected with Brooklyn's village life, as +fireman, assessor, town clerk, overseer of highways, president of the +fire department, school-committee-man, and collector of the village. +A picturesque figure was Jacob Patchen, a pungent, unmanageable man, +conspicuous in the village life by his obstinacy and determination. + +Over the wheelwright shop of George Smith, opposite the lower corner +of Hicks Street, was the court-room of Judge Garrison. Garrison was +born at Gravesend in 1764. He served as fireman, trustee, school +commissioner, and justice. Joralemon's Lane was a rough country road, +at the foot of which had been Pierrepont's Anchor gin distillery, +which was converted about 1819 into a candle-factory, and again became +a distillery. The road had been laid out by Peter Remsen and Philip +Livingston. The site of the present City Hall was then an open field, +while the site of the county court house was occupied by a famous +resort known as the Military Garden. + +The Pierrepont mansion stood at the foot of Montague Street. It +was built by John Cornell, and became Pierrepont property in +1802. Hezekiah Pierrepont was a dignified and influential member +of a community in which his exertions were always for broad and +public-spirited plans. Teunis Joralemon, who had been a harness-maker +in Flatbush, bought part of the Livingston estate, on which he +practiced market gardening. He filled the offices of justice of +the peace and Trustee, and other offices, but was of a temperament +antipodal to that of Pierrepont, hotly opposing new streets, especially +through his own property, and scorning the distinction of having +Joralemon Street named after him. Another prominent estate was that +of the Fleets. The name of Bergen is prominently associated with +the progress of the village. At Bedford Corners were the Meseroles, +Ryersons, Lefferts, Vandervoorts, Suydams, Tiebouts, Cowenhovens, and +other old families. + +In December, 1821, the subject of removing the court house from +Flatbush to Brooklyn was agitated in the papers, and on the 21st of +January, 1825, a meeting was held at Duflons, whereat a committee +was appointed to obtain the removal of the court house and jail from +Flatbush to Brooklyn. In 1826 the subject was brought to the attention +of the Legislature, and that body passed an act that the court of +common pleas and general sessions should alternate between Flatbush +and the Apprentices' Library Building in Cranberry Street, then just +finished. The court of common pleas in those days corresponded to the +county court of our time. The county clerk's office was removed to +Brooklyn in March, 1819. The county court began to hold sessions in +Brooklyn in January, 1827. + +The Trustees of the village of Brooklyn deemed a debtors' prison a +very important addition to the city. On the 19th of February, 1829, +Joseph Sprague, president of the Board of Trustees, made a report on +the subject of fitting up under the market a prison-room for debtors. +In accordance therewith a lockup was provided and cells built under the +market. These cells were oftentimes crowded, and but little provision +was made for the comfort of the occupants. The Bridge approach now +passes over the old lockup. + +During those early days prisoners were also confined in cells in the +almshouse, then situated on the south side of Nassau Street, between +Bridge and Jay streets. The building is still standing, and has been +converted into dwellings. + +The agitation relative to the removal of the court house still +continued. The Supervisors took the matter in hand. They were empowered +in 1829 to raise by tax a sum of money for the purchase of lots, and +the erection of a suitable building in Brooklyn to accommodate the +courts and jail when completed. It may well be supposed that Flatbush +did not relish the idea of the removal, and, being anxious to retain +her precedence among the towns, her representatives strenuously opposed +the change, and their votes for a short time delayed the inevitable. +The elements, however, aided those who urged the removal, by the +burning of the jail and court house, as heretofore stated, and the way +was opened for a new building. The next year an act was passed by the +Legislature providing for the building of a jail and court house in +Brooklyn. + +Under the provisions of this law three commissioners were chosen to +purchase a suitable site for the buildings. The act also provided +that when the court house was finished and ready for occupancy, a +certificate to that effect should be obtained from the first judge of +the county, and that thereafter all terms of the court of common pleas +and general sessions of the peace should be held in the new building, +and that all processes and writs should be made returnable thereat. It +might be stated that subsequent to the fire at Flatbush, and prior to +the occupation of the new building, the courts were temporarily held at +the Apprentices' Library, and were removed to Hall's Exchange Building. +Baily, writing in 1840, says: "The Kings County courts are held in +the large building called the Exchange, situated on the corner of +Cranberry and Fulton streets. It is a plain brick building without any +extraordinary architectural beauty." The court-room was on the second +floor. On the first floor of the building was Bokee & Clem's hardware +store. David A. Bokee was an influential politician of the Whig school. +His store for a time was the headquarters of the Whigs, who would +assemble almost daily for consultation. Bokee ran for Mayor in 1843 +against Joseph Sprague, the latter being elected by 311 majority. The +Whigs elected him an Alderman, and he served during the years 1840-43, +1845-48. He was state senator in 1848 and 1849, congressman from 1849 +to 1851, and naval officer from 1851 to 1853. Mr. Bokee was one of the +leading members of the First Baptist Church. + +The Apprentices' Library Building, where the courts were held, was a +notable structure. One of the principal sources of its fame arose from +the fact that its corner-stone was laid on the 4th of July, 1825, by +that earnest and zealous friend of American institutions, Lafayette. +It was taken down in 1858 to make room for the Armory, which was +afterward sold. Previous to the erection of the City Hall it served as +the municipal building. The Common Council and Board of Education met +there. The municipal court also held its sessions in the building, and +it afforded room for the post office and county clerk's office. On the +1st of May, 1828, an act was passed by the Legislature providing for +the erection of a fire-proof county clerk's office in Brooklyn. The +Legislature, on the 25th of April, 1833, passed an act for the erection +of a court house and jail in Kings County. By this act Losee Van +Nostrand, Joseph Moser, and Peter Canaver were appointed commissioners +to purchase a suitable site or sites in the village of Brooklyn for the +same. To defray the expenses to be incurred in erecting the buildings, +the supervisors were authorized to create a public stock to the amount +of $25,000. A building committee of five persons was directed to be +appointed by the Supervisors of the county, and the president and +Trustees of the village, within sixty days after the passage of the +act. The act also provided that when the court house and jail, or +either of them, should be so far completed as to permit either of them +being used for the purpose intended, that the first judge of the county +should sign a declaration to that effect, and file the same in the +office of the clerk of said county. The clerk thereupon was to publish +the notice in the papers printed in the county, and from and after this +publication the terms of the court of common pleas and general sessions +should be held in the court-room, and from and after such declaration +relating to the jail it should become the common jail of the county. +This act was amended February 17, 1834, so as to declare that the +second section of the act of 1833 authorized the Supervisors to create +stock, not only for the purchase of a site, but also for erecting +buildings. + +Meanwhile the village had been flourishing in other directions. Its +general growth was marked not only by the increase in population, but +by the increase in the number of commercial institutions, churches, and +schools. A second bank was chartered. A "night boat" began running on +the ferry. There was an effort to establish a theatre; and a building +for this purpose, subsequently abandoned, was erected, in 1828, on +Fulton Street, between Nassau and Concord. The Brooklyn "Evening +Star" began daily publication, and continued to be a daily paper for +six months, when insufficient patronage made it necessary to suspend +daily issue. Stone walks were laid. The movement resulting in the +formation of the Brooklyn Gaslight Company was begun. A second bank was +chartered. A temperance society, a dispensary, a tract society, and a +literary association (the Hamilton) were organized. There began to be +talk of water-works and of railroads. Fulton Street was widened, boats +appeared on the South Ferry, and the boom in real estate indicated the +growing popularity of the village. + +The movement for the incorporation of Brooklyn as a city met the +determined opposition of a large proportion of New York's inhabitants, +who maintained that the propriety of natural growth demanded that +Brooklyn and New York should become one city. From the earliest days +of their common existence New York had grudged Brooklyn an independent +life. The "water-rights" quarrels occupy much space in the early +records. Under the early charter New York claimed ownership in the +East River, and of Brooklyn land to low-water mark, and afterward to +high-water mark. This brought many disputes in the matter of ferry +rights,[22] and the spirit of this early dispute survived in the later +attitude of New York. In the year 1824 the town on Manhattan Island +received an income of over eight thousand dollars from the East River +ferries. The legislative provision for Brooklyn's harbor-master had +been declared to be an encroachment on the rights of New York.[23] + +Despite strong opposition, Brooklyn triumphed at Albany, and in April, +1834, became a full-fledged city. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE CITY OF BROOKLYN + +1834-1860 + + Government of the City. George Hall, first Mayor. Plans for a + City Hall. Contention among the Aldermen. Albert G. Stevens + and the Clerkship. The Jamaica Railroad. Real Estate. The + "Brooklyn Eagle." Walt Whitman. Henry C. Murphy. Brooklyn City + Railroad. The City Court established. County Institutions. + The Penitentiary. Packer Institute and the Polytechnic. + Williamsburgh becomes a City. Progress of Williamsburgh. Mayor + Wall and the Aldermen. Discussion of Annexation with Brooklyn. + The "Brooklyn Times." Consolidation of the Two Cities. Mayor + Hall's Address. Nassau Water Company and the Introduction of + Ridgewood Water. Plans for New Court House. Proposal to use + Washington Park. County Cares and Expenditures. Metropolitan + Police. + + +The act of incorporation erected the city of Brooklyn from the village +and town of Brooklyn, dividing the city into nine wards. By Section +50 of this act, provision is made against closing or altering streets +"within the first seven wards, or fire and watch district, set apart +as such by the owners thereof, etc., and graded, leveled, paved, or +macadamized, and against closing or altering streets in said city laid +out and opened and used as such for ten years from the passage of this +act, without the consent of the Common Council." The act was otherwise +conservative in adjusting the new plans to existing conditions. + +The government of the city was vested in a mayor and a board of +aldermen, the latter, to the number of two from each ward, to be +elected annually. The selection of a mayor was conferred upon the +Aldermen, whose first choice was George Hall. + +Hall was born in New York, in 1795, in the year preceding his father's +purchase of the Valley Grove Farm at Flatbush. He was educated at +Erasmus Hall, and chose to follow his father's trade of painter and +glazier. He made friends, and established a good business position. +In 1826 he became a Trustee in the third district of the city. He +became president of the village, and in 1833 was reëlected after a hot +contest, the bitterness of which resulted from Hall's support of the +movement to exclude hogs from the public streets, and to prevent the +unlicensed selling of liquor in groceries and elsewhere. The defeat +of what was called the "Whig-Hog-Rum" party was announced amid much +excitement. + +In the July following the choice of Hall as Mayor of the new city, it +was resolved to raise $50,000 for the purchase of ground for a city +hall. General agreement fixed upon the junction of Fulton and Joralemon +streets as sufficiently central. In January of the following year +(1835) a committee of the corporation reported favorably on low lands +of the Wallabout for a city park, and before the close of the year +ground was selling for $1000 an acre. + +In May the Aldermen chose Jonathan Trotter for Mayor. Trotter was an +Englishman who had been in this country since 1818, and who in 1828 had +opened a leather-dressing factory in Brooklyn. He became an Alderman, +representing the fourth ward, in 1834. + +In 1834 the total valuation was $15,642,290; in 1835 it was +$26,390,151; in 1836 it was $32,428,942; and in 1837, $26,895,074. +Previous to 1838, the assessments were made by wards, and it is +impossible to give the aggregates. The valuation and total taxation for +subsequent years, up to 1860, are as follows:-- + + YEAR. VALUATION. TAXATION. + 1838 $25,198,956 $112,817.94 + 1839 26,440,634 145,331.39 + 1840 25,447,146 134,139.66 + 1841 25,596,862 151,038.24 + 1842 24,715,380 159,205.84 + 1843 21,812,941 159,189.64 + 1844 23,260,385 176,271.21 + 1845 24,788,886 163,726.24 + 1846 26,918,613 227,433.94 + 1847 29,927,029 250,244.13 + 1848 31,246,305 306,138.16 + 1849 32,446,330 404,332.90 + 1850 36,665,399 411,044.78 + 1851 45,005,518 572,776.63 + 1852 58,058,485 617,855.64 + 1853 68,328,546 772,915.81 + 1854 72,849,503 959,209.18 + 1855 94,791,215 1,532,692.68 + 1856 95,859,735 1,381,114.39 + 1857 99,016,598 1,783,834.19 + 1858 104,475,275 1,567,948.39 + 1859 101,052,666 1,256,820.94 + 1860 103,680,566 1,969,794.00 + +In 1835 there were thirteen churches in Brooklyn, as follows: St. +Ann's, St. John's, and Christ Church, Episcopalian; Sands Street, York +Street, and Washington Street, Methodist, and the African Methodist; +First, Second, and Third Presbyterian; St. James', Roman Catholic; +Nassau Street, Baptist; and Joralemon Street, Dutch Reformed. St. +Luke's (then Trinity) Church, in Clinton Avenue, was organized in +this year. The population was 24,310, making a church for each 1807 +persons. In 1847 there were fifty-two churches in the city, or one to +each 1442 inhabitants. + +On the 10th of September, the plan of the City Hall was submitted +to the Common Council and approved. The corner-stone, as originally +planned, was laid April 28, 1836, by the Mayor. The building, if it +had been completed in accordance with first intentions, would have +rendered unnecessary the building of the new Court House and municipal +buildings. It was started during the inflation times of 1836. The era +of wild speculation came to an end. The bubble burst, and work upon +the city building was suspended on August 7, 1837. The walls, which +had risen above the basement, stood for many years, when the work was +resumed and carried to completion on a much smaller scale. The City +Hall, as originally planned, was intended to cover the entire square in +front of the present edifice. + +On the 4th of August, 1836, the Apprentices' Library, having been +purchased by the corporation of the city for $11,000, was officially +named the City Buildings. + +During the time the Common Council met in the City Buildings, Whigs and +Democrats were very belligerent. The cause of the trouble grew out of +the election for Alderman of the seventh ward. That ward then embraced +the area of the present seventh, eleventh, nineteenth, and twentieth +wards. The charter election was held in the public schoolhouse on +Classen Avenue, between Flushing and Park avenues, on the 11th of +March, 1843, and resulted in a tie between John A. Cross and Zebulon +Chadbourne, the former being a Whig and the latter a Democrat. A +protracted lawsuit followed. Albert H. Osborn, whose seat was to +be filled, held over, and ever after the people declared that his +initials, A. H. O., stood for Alderman Hold Over. + +The contention ran high, and bitterness and rancor marked the +deliberations of the Aldermen. At a regular meeting of the Board, +held at the City Buildings May 8, a separation took place between the +Whig and Democratic members, occasioned by the fight between Cross +and Chadbourne for the seat from the seventh ward. The Whig members +retired to Hull's Exchange Buildings, whilst the Democrats remained +in possession of the City Buildings, and made their appointments. The +Whigs did the same. + +On the 15th of May a writ of mandamus was served on Alfred G. Stevens, +who had been appointed clerk of the Common Council by the Democrats May +8. His election was secured by the vote of A. H. Osborne, without whose +holding over the Board would have been a tie. + +On the 23d of May the mandamus which had been obtained by Worthington +Hodgkinson, the clerk appointed by the Whigs, was argued before the +Supreme Court. On the 9th of July, 1843, the motion to displace Stevens +and substitute Hodgkinson was decided and denied by the Supreme Court, +Chief Justice Nelson and Greene C. Bronson presiding. The decision did +not suit the Whigs, and was carried to the Supreme Court at Albany, and +argued October 21, 1843. Abraham Crist appeared for the relator, and +John Greenwood for the defendant. Shortly afterwards the court decided +in favor of the defendant. + +The matter was again argued November 24 before Judge Kent in New York, +on a motion to obtain the books and papers of the Common Council in the +hands of Mr. Stevens. On the 27th Judge Kent again decided in favor of +Mr. Stevens. + +On the 1st of December the Whig Aldermen were arrested for misdemeanor +in neglecting to perform their duty. The complaint was abandoned. On +the 5th of December the grand jury found bills of indictment against +the several Whig Aldermen for neglecting to serve as members of the +Common Council. At this time Seth Low (grandfather of the president of +Columbia College) represented the fourth ward in the Common Council. +The indictment against the Whig Aldermen grew out of an effort on their +part to indict Mayor Sprague. It was a case of the biter being bitten. +The grand jury refused to indict the Mayor, and indicted his accusers. +The indictment was, however, not pressed to trial. + +Meanwhile the Jamaica Railroad had obtained permission to occupy +Atlantic Street, and other projects matured. The population of the city +had, in 1835, reached 24,310, showing a gain of 9013 in fifteen years. + +Trotter was reëlected Mayor, and was succeeded by Jeremiah Johnson, a +man whose contemporaries revered him, and whose name occupies, and must +always occupy, a high place in the annals of the city. General Johnson +was reëlected, and was succeeded by Cyrus P. Smith, who was elected by +vote of the people, and who also was reëlected. + +The fluster in the real-estate market was paralleled by the financial +excitement, which resulted in the suspension of specie payments by the +three banks of the city. The year of General Johnson's reëlection was +one of general business depression, but the community rallied quickly +from the blow inflicted by disordered markets. + +In 1841 the Democrats of the county received representation in a new +newspaper, the "Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat." The movement +for the establishment of the "Eagle" was led by Henry C. Murphy, with +whom Richard Adams Locke was associated in the editorship. The first +number appeared in October, and the Democrats were not loth to give the +lusty young journal full credit for the success of the campaign, in +which its voice gave no uncertain sound. + +Directing the helm of the "Eagle" enterprise was the clear-sighted, +practical genius of Isaac Van Anden, who soon came into complete +control of the paper, and remained sole proprietor until the year 1872. +The "Eagle" had its days of adversity; but it had a field, and it had +vitality, and its growth was sure and steady. Following Murphy in its +early editorship were William B. Marsh, Walt Whitman,[24] S. G. Arnold +(under whose editorial leadership the name of the paper was abbreviated +to "Brooklyn Daily Eagle"), and Henry McCloskey. In 1861 McCloskey was +succeeded by Thomas Kinsella, who gave force and distinction to the +editorial page of the flourishing paper. Kinsella died in 1884, after +having made himself a power in the community. He was succeeded by his +first lieutenant on the "Eagle" staff, that graceful writer and orator, +Andrew McLean, who afterward took the editorship of the Brooklyn +"Citizen." That the "Eagle" was destined to be lucky with its editors, +received further indication in the appearance of St. Clair McKelway at +the post of command. Mr. McKelway's brilliant gifts as a speaker and as +a writer have given to him peculiar prominence in the social, artistic, +and political life of the city and the State. + +The policy of the "Eagle" has been independently Democratic from the +outset, a policy which has fostered, as it has been favored by, a +singularly representative constituency. The paper is now controlled +by the Eagle Association, of which Colonel William Hester is the +president, William Van Anden Hester is secretary, and Harry S. +Kingsley is treasurer. Its business management, like its editorial +management,--if these may consistently be separated,--has been +aggressive and liberal, and goes far toward explaining the present +national reputation of the paper. + +[Illustration: FACSIMILE (same size) OF LETTER BY WALT WHITMAN IN +POSSESSION OF CHARLES M. SKINNER, ESQ., BROOKLYN + +(Transcriber's note: Text of letter is in Footnote 24.)] + +Henry C. Murphy, who had, as we have seen, taken so important a part +in the starting of the "Eagle," was a young Democrat of prominence in +the county. Born in the village of Brooklyn, Murphy had been educated +at Columbia College, where he distinguished himself as a writer as well +as in general scholarship, and was admitted to the bar in 1833. During +his student years, he had taken part in debates in the Young Men's +Literary Association, which afterward became the Hamilton Literary +Association, with Murphy as president. To this association belongs +the honor of popularizing the lyceum lecture system, which afterward +became so potent a factor in American civilization, and which in this +city represented the beginning of the Brooklyn Lyceum and the Brooklyn +Institute. In 1834 he was appointed assistant corporation counsel of +the city, and in the following year he formed a legal partnership with +the leading lawyer of the city, John A. Lott. This firm, which Judge +Vanderbilt afterward joined, won great influence in the city, with +whose early politics it was so closely connected. + +In 1842 Murphy was chosen Mayor of Brooklyn. He was then but thirty +years of age. His administration was forcible throughout, and +consistently resulted in his election to Congress, of which he was one +of the youngest members. He was a candidate for reëlection, but was +defeated by Henry L. Seaman. In the State Constitutional Convention of +1846, he was a delegate from Kings County, with Tunis G. Bergen and +Conrad Schwackhammer, and in the autumn of the same year he was again +elected to Congress by a large vote. + +Upon the election of Buchanan, Murphy was appointed Minister to the +Hague. On his return to this country he was elected to the state Senate +as an avowed champion of the Union cause. In the later political life +of Brooklyn, Murphy took an active interest; and local enterprises, +such as the bridge and various railroads, claimed his attention and +support. He made important historical collections, wrote valuable +contributions to local history, edited the "Journal" of Dankers and +Sluyter, and was a leader in the establishment of the Long Island +Historical Society. + +Murphy was succeeded as Mayor of Brooklyn by Joseph Sprague. The city +had now 30,000 population, and thirty-five miles of paved and lighted +streets. The Atlantic Dock Company had been incorporated. Thirty-five +churches opened their doors on Sunday. A line of stages ran from the +ferry to East Brooklyn, and soon afterward a line was established +between Fulton and South ferries. In the year of Sprague's election 570 +new buildings were finished or in course of erection. During Sprague's +second term the Brooklyn City Hospital was incorporated. + +Sprague was succeeded by Thomas G. Talmadge, who was followed by +Francis Burdett Stryker. In March, 1848, gaslight came into use. + +It was in the same year that Augustus Graham indelibly wrote his name +in the annals of Brooklyn, by his munificent gifts to the Brooklyn City +Hospital, and to the establishment of the Brooklyn Institute in the +building on Washington Street built for the Brooklyn Lyceum. + +A fire which took place in September destroyed three churches, the +post-office, two newspaper offices, and other property to the value of +a million and a half of dollars, and might have been more disastrous +had not the flames been checked by the destruction of buildings in +their path. + +Edward Copeland was elected Mayor in 1849. Cypress Hills Cemetery had +been established in 1848. In the following year the Cemetery of the +Evergreens was incorporated. The ground for Greenwood Cemetery had +already been secured. + +The idea of a bridge to connect New York and Brooklyn, which had +occasionally been discussed at earlier times, was now seriously taken +up. The water front assumed a constantly increasing activity. + +Copeland was followed in the mayoralty by Samuel Smith, Conklin Brush, +and Edward C. Lambert. The latter was able to congratulate the city on +a population of 120,000, and the position of seventh city in the Union. + +The Brooklyn City Railroad, incorporated in 1853, began in July of the +following year the running of street cars on Myrtle Avenue, Fulton +Street, and Fulton Avenue. In August cars were running to Greenwood. + +The act of May 9, 1846 (Session Laws 1846, chapter 166), authorized +the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city of Brooklyn to create +a temporary loan, in addition to the loans already authorized, not +exceeding the sum of $100,000, for the purpose of erecting a city hall, +and provision was made for the issuance of bonds for the purpose. + +The Legislature at their session on the 12th of April, 1848, amended +the 4th section of the act of April 21, 1846, authorizing the +Supervisors to create a loan, and provide further accommodations for +the confinement of prisoners, so as to read as follows:-- + + SEC. 4. The Board of Supervisors of said county, if land should + be purchased, are authorized to remove as many prisoners + sentenced to hard labor in the County Jail, as they may deem + necessary, to the lands so purchased; to place them under such + keeper or keepers as they may appoint for that purpose, and + to employ them in erecting said penitentiary and workhouse, + or such other labor as may be deemed expedient; and they may + also authorize and direct the superintendents of the poor of + said county to take charge of the establishment (subject to + the directions of said Board), and provide the necessary food + and clothing for said prisoners, and for those committed as + herein next provided. And it shall be lawful for the several + magistrates and justices of the peace in said county to commit + all offenders convicted before them of petty causes, offenses + or misdemeanors, who are in their judgment proper subjects for + the penitentiary and workhouse in their discretion. + +The city court of Brooklyn was established by an act of the +Legislature, March 24, 1849. It had but one judge until 1870, when it +was reorganized with three. + +On the 10th of March, 1849, an act was passed authorizing the Mayor and +Common Council to create a loan, in addition to the loans which had +already been authorized by law, not exceeding $50,000, to complete and +finish the City Hall. + +By virtue of the laws of 1850, chapter 23, the Mayor, Aldermen, and +Commonalty were authorized to create an additional loan of $15,000, +for the purpose of completing the City Hall of Brooklyn, paying for +the fences, ornamenting the grounds belonging thereto, and all other +necessary expenses for the full completion and protection of the same. + +The subject of building a new court house was again agitated in 1852. +On the 17th of September in that year a special committee was appointed +by the Board of Supervisors to consider the matter. On the 18th of +January, 1853, they reported in favor of applying to the Legislature to +carry out the work. + +On the 29th of June, 1846, Charles G. Taylor offered a resolution in +the Board of Supervisors declaring that it was expedient to purchase +lands for the purpose of erecting a workhouse and penitentiary thereon, +in accordance with the act of the Legislature passed April 21, 1846. +Charles G. Taylor, Barnet Johnson, and James Debevoise, the committee +having the matter in charge, reported that 18 acres could be purchased +at $200 per acre, and 29 acres for $180 per acre. On the 4th of August, +1846, a resolution was adopted that the same should be purchased, if +the titles proved good. On the 4th of December, 1846, Seth Low, John +Skillman, and Tunis G. Bergen were appointed a committee to present +plans and details. + +In April, 1846, the county treasurer issued $2000 of bonds for the +erection of the Penitentiary. In 1849 $10,000 more were issued. The +total amount of bonds issued up to March 2, 1854, was $155,000. On the +5th of June, 1855, the committee reported that the cost thus far of the +easterly and main wing was $111,433.49. + +The new Penitentiary was occupied as early as January, 1854, although +it was not completed until August, 1856. The total amount of bonds +issued for the Penitentiary was $205,000. + +It was not until May 3, 1855, that steps were taken to build the female +wing of the new Penitentiary. + +On the 5th of April, 1853, an act was passed by the Legislature +requiring that whenever the Penitentiary should be ready for the +reception of prisoners, the Board of Supervisors should file a +certificate thereof in the office of the clerk of the county, and +publish a notice thereof for three weeks in one or more newspapers, +and that thereafter all persons who, on conviction, are liable to +imprisonment for not less than thirty days, should be sent there by the +magistrates. The Penitentiary is situated on a spot familiarly called +Crow Hill, and is bounded by Nostrand, Rogers, President, and Carroll +streets. It faces on Carroll Street. Prisoners have been sent here from +all parts of the State, and, through the efficient management of its +wardens, it has been rendered nearly, if not wholly, self-supporting. + +The increase of business and the unsuitableness of location rendered it +necessary to change the place for holding the courts. The Legislature +was again appealed to, and in 1853 an act was passed authorizing the +county to borrow a sum not to exceed $100,000, to purchase a site, and +erect buildings for such county offices as the Board of Supervisors +might designate. Many sites were offered, and various and diverse +propositions and suggestions were made. Some were anxious to have +the Court House built on Fort Greene, holding that it would, from +its elevation, give character to the building. The matter slumbered +until October 10, 1855, when it was again brought up and postponed +indefinitely. The difficulty of securing a suitable site now presented +itself. Seventeen lots on Vanderbilt Avenue near Baltic Street +were proposed, and the Board resolved to purchase them. Soon after +the purchase the people, realizing that it was not a proper place, +instituted opposition. + +When the City Hall was opened the courts were transferred to that +building. The room long occupied by Justice Courtney was used by the +Supreme and county courts. A small room opposite, now occupied by +the Bureau of Elections, was appropriated for the purpose of holding +special terms. The county clerk's office occupied a part of the +apartments of the present comptroller. The surrogate's court occupied +the Court Street portion of the comptroller's present rooms, whilst the +register's office was opposite, in the rooms of the present auditor. +The city court was held in the room now used by the city clerk. Hall's +Exchange Building, in which the courts had been held, was destroyed in +the great fire of 1848, and the courts were, thereupon, transferred to +the City Hall. + +In those days the sheriff lived with his family in the jail on Raymond +Street. + +If the city was forced to look to the building of its penal +institutions and courts of justice, institutions of another kind were +springing into being. In 1854 the Brooklyn Female Academy became the +Packer Collegiate Institute for Girls; and in the same year a boy's +academy was established, with the title of the Brooklyn Collegiate and +Polytechnic Institute. The development of these important educational +institutions has been one of the most gratifying incidents in the life +of the city. + +As early as 1848 there had been serious talk of the civic union of +Williamsburgh and Brooklyn. + +The village of Williamsburgh was incorporated in 1827. Its boundaries +then were: "Beginning at the bay, or river, opposite to the town of +Brooklyn, and running thence easterly along the division line between +the towns of Bushwick and Brooklyn, to the lands of Abraham A. Remsen; +thence northerly by the same to a road or highway, at a place called +Sweed's Fly; thence by the said highway to the dwelling-house, late +of John Vandervoort, deceased; thence in a straight line northerly, to +a small ditch or creek, against the meadow of John Skillman; thence by +said creek to Norman's Hill; thence by the middle or centre of Norman's +Hill to the East River; thence by the same to the place of beginning." + +The first officers of the Board of Trustees were Noah Waterbury, +president; Abraham Meserole, secretary; and Lewis Sanford, treasurer. +In 1829 Williamsburgh had a population of 1007. In 1835 Williamsburgh +and Bushwick together had a population of 3314. It was in this year +that the "Williamsburgh Gazette" was started. Within a few years came +the Williamsburgh Lyceum, the Houston Street Ferry, the "Williamsburgh +Democrat," and a Bible Society. + +By chapter 144 of Laws of 1850 (p. 242), passed April 4, 1850, so much +of the territory of the city of Brooklyn as lay east of the centre of +Division Avenue, between the intersection of South Sixth Street, in the +village of Williamsburgh, and Flushing Avenue, in the city of Brooklyn, +was annexed to the village of Williamsburgh; the city of Brooklyn was +divided into eleven wards (therein described), and the Common Council +of the city was authorized, under certain restrictions and limitations, +to cause streets and avenues to be opened and widened, and to be +regulated, graded, and paved, public squares and parks to be opened, +regulated, and ornamented, etc., and to close up and discontinue roads, +streets, lanes, and avenues, etc.[25] + +By chapter 102 of Laws of 1835 (p. 88), passed April 18, 1835, a +portion of the town of Bushwick--"beginning at the southeast corner +of the present village of Williamsburgh, running thence southeasterly +along the line that divides the town of Bushwick and the city of +Brooklyn, to a turnpike road leading from Brooklyn to Newtown and +Flushing, at a point near, and southwesterly of, the house of +Charles DeBevoise, thence running along said road northeasterly to +the crossroads, thence northerly along the road leading to Bushwick +Church to the Williamsburgh and Jamaica turnpike, thence northerly +along the road, passing the church, and leading to Newtown Bridge, +about twelve hundred feet, to an abrupt angle in said road turning +to the east, thence westerly about eighteen hundred feet until it +intersects the head of navigation of a branch of Bushwick Creek, +thence westerly along said branch creek, according to its meanderings, +to the main creek, which is the present boundary of the said village of +Williamsburgh, thence southerly along the eastern boundary line of the +said village of Williamsburgh to the place of beginning"--was annexed +to Williamsburgh, and Nicholas Wyckoff, David Johnson, Peter Stagg, +Robert Ainslie, and John Leonard were appointed commissioners to lay +out streets. + +In 1840 the town of Williamsburgh was created, and eleven years later +the city of Williamsburgh was incorporated, comprising the village of +Williamsburgh. The city was divided into three wards, and the Common +Council was authorized, under certain restrictions and limitations, to +cause streets and avenues to be opened and widened, and public squares +and parks to be opened. + +The city charter was drawn by S. M. Meeker, counselor of the village, +a lawyer, whose name was prominent in the annals of this section of +Brooklyn for many years. Mr. Meeker was counsel of the Williamsburgh +Savings Bank when chosen its president in 1881. He was a prime mover in +the establishment of the First National Bank. + +Abraham J. Berry was the first Mayor of the city of Williamsburgh, +William H. Butler being city clerk, George Thompson, attorney and +counsel, and Jas. F. Kenny, comptroller. In the first year of the +new city's life the Farmers' and Citizens' Bank, the Williamsburgh +City Bank, the Williamsburgh City Fire Insurance Company, and the +Williamsburgh Medical Society were incorporated. The population was +estimated at over 40,000. Over 9000 children attended school, and +there were fifteen private schools. A year later the Mechanics' (now +the Manufacturers') National Bank was established, and a number of new +churches appeared. There were twenty-five Sunday-schools of different +denominations. The Young Men's Christian Association of Williamsburgh +began its career under favorable auspices.[26] + +William Wall, elected Mayor on the Whig ticket in 1854, was soon at +swords' points with the Aldermen, whose resolutions he vetoed with +remarkable frequency. His antagonism toward the Aldermen led him to +take an active part with those who were urging the consolidation of the +cities of Brooklyn and Williamsburgh. + +The movement toward annexation was accompanied by all of the conflict +of opinion that inevitably characterizes such movements. The Brooklyn +"Star," in March, remarked editorially: "We know there are some +amongst us who prate of greater taxation and inequalities in favor +of Williamsburgh. There are those in Williamsburgh who argue that +Brooklyn has greatly the advantage. We are rather disposed to argue +that it is like a well-assorted union between man and wife, where, with +kindred feelings and objects, both have the advantage. No matter how +the property relations may seem to be, we are convinced that time will +vindicate the advantage of the union. + +"We hope our members of the Legislature will not be persuaded by +individual efforts and desires to thwart the will of three committees +clearly expressed, with Brooklyn at their head, lifting up the loudest +voice. We have taken some pains to ascertain the public sentiment, and +it is at this day more clearly in favor of the union than when the vote +was taken." + +The Williamsburgh "Times" warmly supported the consolidation movement. +When the bill prepared by the Consolidation Commission was before +the Legislature for action, the "Times" said (March 24): "With the +exception of the amendment relative to the office-holders, the bill is +nearly in all respects as it passed from the hands of the commissions. +Thus the hopes of the friends of consolidation seem in a fair way of +being realized, and after a world of pain and trouble the parturition +of the new city is at hand. Let us trust that the friends of this +measure will not meet with an entire disappointment. There are two +grounds for hope in this connection. Brooklyn has been at least a +little better governed than ourselves, and a large city can be more +cheaply managed than a small one." + +The publication of the Williamsburgh "Times" was begun in 1848 by +Aaron Smith and George C. Bennett. Bennett, who previously had been +associated with Levi Darbee and Isaac A. Smith in printing the +Williamsburgh "Morning Post,"[27] acquired control of the "Times," +and made it a pronounced Whig organ. In 1859 an interest in the paper +was secured by Bernard Peters, and under this favoring partnership +the paper rapidly advanced in circulation and influence. Bernard +Peters, who subsequently became sole proprietor of the paper, had made +an important journalistic record at Hartford, Conn., and was already +well known in Brooklyn as a Universalist clergyman, whose ringing +Union sermons and addresses had aroused public interest during the +war period. The later history of the "Times," under Peters' energetic +editorship, has been one of consistent progress in public confidence. +In politics the "Times" has been Republican, while its policy, to avoid +any partisanship that might impair its value as a newspaper, has been +strongly worked out with the notable business management of William C. +Bryant. + +By the act of the Legislature passed in April, 1854, all that part of +the county of Kings known as the cities of Brooklyn and Williamsburgh +and the town of Bushwick, and bounded easterly by the town of Newtown, +Queens County, south by the towns of New Lots, Flatbush, and New +Utrecht, west by the town of New Utrecht and the Bay of New York, +and north by the East River, was consolidated into one municipal +corporation called the city of Brooklyn, and divided into eighteen +wards, therein described, and into the eastern and western districts. + +A year later all local distinctions in relation to the eastern and +western districts were abolished, except as to the Fire Department. + +George Hall, who had been first Mayor of Brooklyn upon its +incorporation as a city, became the first Mayor of the consolidated +cities of Brooklyn and Williamsburgh. In his inaugural address the +Mayor said:-- + + "It is now twenty-one years since I was called by the Common + Council to preside over the affairs of the late city of + Brooklyn, then first ushered into existence. The population + of the city at that time consisted of about 20,000 persons, + residing for the most part within the distance of about three + quarters of a mile from Fulton Ferry. Beyond this limit no + streets of any consequence were laid out, and the ground + was chiefly occupied for agricultural purposes. The shores, + throughout nearly their whole extent, were in their natural + condition, washed by the East River and the bay. There were + two ferries, by which communication was had with the city + of New York, ceasing at twelve o'clock at night. There were + within the city two banks, two insurance companies, one savings + bank, fifteen churches, three public schools, and two weekly + newspapers. Of commerce and manufactures it can scarcely be + said to have had any, its business consisting chiefly of that + which was required for supplying the wants of its inhabitants. + Sixteen of its streets were lighted with public lamps, of + which thirteen had been supplied within the previous year. The + assessed value of the taxable property was $7,829,684, of which + $6,457,084 consisted of real estate and $1,372,600 of personal + property. + + "Williamsburgh was incorporated as a village in 1827. Its + growth was comparatively slow until after the year 1840. At the + taking of the census in that year it was found to contain 5094 + inhabitants, and since that time it has advanced with almost + unparalleled rapidity, having attained a population of 30,780 + in 1850. It was chartered as a city in 1851. + + "Within the comparatively short period of twenty-one years what + vast changes have taken place! Bushwick, from a thinly settled + township, has advanced with rapid strides, and yesterday + contained within its limits two large villages, together + numbering a population of about 7000 persons. Williamsburgh, + from a hamlet, became a city with about 50,000 inhabitants. + Brooklyn, judging from its past increase, yesterday contained + a population of about 145,000, and on this day--the three + places consolidated into one municipal corporation--takes its + stand as the third city in the Empire State, with an aggregate + population of about 200,000 inhabitants."[28] + +Under the new charter the Board of Aldermen consisted of one alderman +elected from each ward. A new board of education came into existence +and held its first meeting in February. Other incorporations were those +of the Fire Department, the Nassau Water Company, and the Brooklyn +Sunday School Union. + +The Williamsburgh Ferry Company had been authorized in 1853 to build +and maintain docks, wharves, bulkheads, and piers on the land under +water in the East River, in front of their lands in the city of +Williamsburgh between the foot of South Sixth Street and the foot of +South Eighth Street, and extending into the river to a line not more +than sixty-five feet from the front of the largest pier on the property. + +The Common Council voted a subscription of $1,000,000 to the stock of +the Nassau Water Company, on condition that the company show $2,000,000 +paid capital stock, and the Aldermen afterward added $300,000 to the +subscription. In July of the following year (1856), work on the Nassau +Water Works was begun at Reservoir Hill, Flatbush Avenue. The occasion +of breaking ground was signalized by imposing ceremonies. + +In his January address Mayor Hall announced the opening of fourteen +miles of new streets, and the erection of 1034 new buildings. + +The business of the city was rapidly increasing, and with the +annexation of Williamsburgh the municipality needed all the +accommodations afforded in the City Hall for the transaction of its +business. The judges were complaining of the cramped condition of their +rooms, and the need of further accommodations. The question of a new +court house was publicly discussed. It was not, however, until July 6, +1859, that anything definite was done. The Board of Supervisors awoke +to the necessity of the hour, and decided to renew their efforts to +accomplish the desired result. On the 18th of July, 1860, they resolved +to make a new application to the Legislature for authority to purchase +land and erect the necessary buildings thereon. + +On the 17th of April an act was passed authorizing the Board of +Supervisors of Kings County to build a court house for the county. +The county treasurer was authorized by the act, under the direction +of the Board of Supervisors, to borrow on the credit of the county a +sum not exceeding $100,000, and to give his official bonds, in such +form as the Board might prescribe, for the payment of the same, with +interest payable annually or semi-annually as the Board might direct. +The money so collected was to be expended, under the direction of the +Supervisors, in the purchase of lands and the erection of a building +for the proper accommodation of the courts and county officials. The +act also provided for a levy of tax to pay the principal and interest. +The Board of Supervisors was authorized to select and determine the +location; and when completed, and ready for occupancy, and notice +thereof filed, by the Board with the clerk of said county, the same +should become for all purposes the court house of the county. + +On the 23d of May, 1860, a special committee was appointed to select a +proper site for the building, and to report to the Board. Every owner +of lots was anxious to dispose of them to the county. Washington Park +had its advocates. So favorably did the Supervisors look upon that +location, that a committee was appointed to confer with the Board of +Aldermen on the subject. When it began to look as if a portion of +that famous old hill would be chosen, the abutting owners sent in a +remonstrance, claiming that as the park had been paid for in part by +assessment on the surrounding property, the city had no right to grant +any such privilege. The city fathers, adopting this view of the case, +gave the Board no satisfaction, and the scheme was abandoned. + +A circular was prepared, and invitations extended to architects to +submit plans. The plans were to be deposited with Albert H. Osborn, +clerk of the Board of Supervisors, on or before June 3, 1861. A large +number were submitted, some coming from St. Louis. The plan of King and +Tackritz of Brooklyn was finally accepted. + +In March, 1861, the special committee appointed by the Supervisors +purchased the land on which the present building stands for $70,000. +The land having cost $70,000, only $30,000 was left of the sum directed +to be raised to purchase the land and erect the building. As that was +insufficient for the purpose, the aid of the Legislature was again +invoked, and the passage of an additional act obtained, authorizing +the Supervisors to borrow, on the credit of the county, an additional +sum of $100,000 to be expended under their direction for the erection +of a building or buildings, for the use of the courts and county +offices. + +In 1858 the expense of supporting the almshouse, and the several +institutions connected therewith, was $158,604.66. Including +expenditures for out-door relief, the aggregate cost of supporting +the poor of the county was $192,079.77. The average number of inmates +during the year ending August 1, 1858, was 1495. The cost for the +support of each of them was $106.09, or $2.04 per week. This was a +decrease on each as compared with the previous year. + +The expenses of the several departments were as follows: Almshouse, +$36,530.15; hospital, $51,755.19; lunatic asylum, $33,068.26; nursery, +$20,571.31; store, $605; miscellaneous, not including temporary relief, +$16,074.07. + +The total number remaining July 31, 1857, was 1274; number admitted +during year, 8570; number of infants boarded out during year, 123; +number temporarily relieved, in Brooklyn, Western District, 20,793; +Eastern District, 11,661; Flatlands, Flatbush, and New Lots, 378; New +Utrecht, 108; making a total of 32,940; and the total number relieved +and supported wholly or in part during the year ending July 31, 1858, +was 41,623. The population of the county was at this time about +254,000. The number relieved was 16-1/3 per cent. of the population. + +It may be interesting to state the number of persons remaining in these +institutions at the termination of previous fiscal years. The official +statement is as follows: 1849, 494; 1850, 592; 1851, 662; 1852, 873; +1853, 969; 1854, 1156; 1855, 1533; 1856, 1347; 1857, 1274; 1858, 1239. + +The number admitted to the hospital during the year 1858 was 2299, of +whom 148 were born in the hospital. + +During the seven years from August 1, 1850, to August 1, 1857, there +were 235 cases of small-pox, of which only 35 died. Of those admitted +into the hospital during 1857 and 1858, 565 were born in the United +States, 1261 in Ireland, and 369 in Germany. On the 31st of July, 1858, +there were 268 patients in the lunatic asylum. In 1850 the number in +the asylum was only 91. The nursery had, in 1858, 111 boys and 103 +girls; total, 214. + +On the 31st of July, 1862, there were in the almshouse, 373; in the +nursery, 260; in the lunatic asylum, 366. In 1863 there were 404 in +the almshouse; in the nursery, 217; and in the lunatic asylum, 396. + +The total number relieved and supported, in whole or in part, for the +year ending July 31, 1863, was 22,879. The population of the city at +the time was 295,000. The net cost was $141,640.52. + +Mayor Hall was succeeded by Samuel S. Powell, who served for three +terms. During his occupancy of the Mayor's chair many significant +advances were made in the growth of the city. In April, 1857, the +Metropolitan Police law went into effect. By this enactment the +counties of New York, Kings, Westchester, and Richmond, and the towns +of Newtown, Flushing, and Jamaica were placed under a single system of +police. The first commissioners from Brooklyn were J. S. T. Stranahan, +James W. Nye, and James Bowen. + +Ridgewood water was supplied to the city through mains which were +opened on December 4, 1858. In April of the following year the event +was marked by a public demonstration. The Brooklyn Academy of Music was +incorporated in 1859, and the collegiate department of the Long Island +College Hospital was opened. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE PERIOD OF THE CIVIL WAR + +1861-1865 + + Election of Mayor Kalbfleisch. The Call for Troops. The + Militia. Filling the Regiments. Money for Equipment. Rebuking + Disloyalty. War Meeting at Fort Greene. Work of Women. The + County sends 10,000 Men in 1861. Launching of the Monitor at + Greenpoint. The Draft Riots. Colonel Wood elected Mayor. Return + of the "Brooklyn Phalanx." The Sanitary Fair. Its Features + and Successes. The Calico Ball. Significance of the Fair. The + Christian Commission. Action of the Supervisors of the County. + The Oceanus Excursion. Storrs and Beecher at Sumter. News of + Lincoln's Death. Service of the National Guard. The "Fighting + Fourteenth." The Newspapers. Court House finished. + + +The sense of impending and imminent danger, which made itself felt +throughout the country in the winter of 1860-61, was strongly apparent +in Brooklyn, and when the crash came the city was not unprepared in any +sense. + +It was only a few days after the election of Martin Kalbfleisch as +Mayor[29] that Brooklyn was startled by the news that Fort Sumter had +surrendered. + +The announcement occasioned intense excitement throughout the city. In +a remarkably short space of time the strength of the city's loyalty +to the Union cause made itself felt. Those who sympathized with the +South, or who were wavering in their allegiance, were made to feel +the necessity for modifying their views, or for avoiding any sign of +disloyalty. The national flag appeared in every quarter of the city. +Its absence was noted wherever that absence could be construed into a +sign of unpatriotic feeling. Crowds threatened violence to Southern +sympathizers. The Mayor urged moderation, and the early excesses of +patriotism soon passed. + +Meanwhile, volunteers flocked to the flag. The four militia regiments +in the Fifth Brigade were the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Twenty-eighth, +and Seventieth. At the time of the alarm the regiments were not +numerically strong. Less than 300 men were in the Thirteenth; less than +200 in the Fourteenth; the Twenty-eighth and Seventieth were somewhat +stronger. + +At the call of the President the regiments rapidly filled. Captain W. +H. Hogan organized an artillery company. In the Eastern District, the +Forty-seventh Regiment was organized, with Colonel J. V. Meserole in +command. Amid enthusiastic demonstrations the Fourteenth left for the +front in May, 1861. + +The scenes during the first hours of the war period were those +characteristic of every community in which the Union sentiment was +strong and unquestionable. Every class in the community made response. +Plymouth Church, from whose pulpit had come the loyal and stirring +oratory of Henry Ward Beecher, subscribed $1000 toward the equipment of +the local regiments. A sum equally generous came from the Pierrepont +Street Baptist Church. The Union Ferry Company offered to continue the +salaries of any of its employees who might volunteer, thus assuring +the safety of their families. Local business men and corporations gave +similar demonstrations of patriotism. The appropriations of the Common +Council began with a provision for the disbursement of $75,000 for the +relief of the families of those who should volunteer. The Kings County +Medical Society resolved that its members should attend gratuitously +the families of volunteers. + +There were signs of lukewarmness in certain quarters, and definite +manifestations of sympathy with the South; but these met with decisive +rebuke whenever they appeared. The Navy Yard was threatened, or was +supposed to be threatened, by incendiary rebel sympathizers, but prompt +action prevented the possibility of any form of attack. + +A war meeting at Fort Greene drew out 50,000 people, and elicited +demonstrations of hearty patriotism. A corps of Brooklyn women +volunteered as nurses, and lint societies were organized by energetic +women who undertook to supply equipment for the nurses. Women in the +Clinton Avenue Congregational Church supplied over fifteen hundred +yards of bandaging to the Twenty-eighth Regiment, which, amid great +enthusiasm, followed the Thirteenth to the front. Brooklyn was largely +represented in the organizing of the Twenty-first New York Volunteers. +The organization of the Forty-eighth New York, under Colonel Perry, the +First Long Island Regiment, the Nineteenth New York Volunteers (East +New York), and the Fifth Independent Battery followed. + +In 1861 the city and county sent out 10,000 men. The draft of 1862 +rather staggered the city at its first coming, but the rally was +enthusiastic, and the patriotic work proceeded. The armories of the +city became centres of loyal activity. + +The new fighting engine, the Monitor, was launched at Greenpoint in +January, 1862. In March the novel iron craft had her struggle with the +rebel Merrimac in Hampton Roads. + +Greenpoint sent over a company to the Thirty-first New York Volunteers. + +In 1863 the local militia, or National Guard, included the Thirteenth +Regiment, under Colonel Woodward; the Twenty-third, Colonel Everdell; +the Twenty-eighth, Colonel Bennett; the Forty-seventh, Colonel +Meserole; the Fifty-second, Colonel Cole; the Fifty-sixth, Colonel +Adams. In the Southern trips, such as those made by the Twenty-third +and the Forty-seventh regiments, the National Guard performed excellent +service aside from the heavier duty in action. + +The New York draft riots of 1863 naturally affected Brooklyn very +closely, not only in such instances of mob violence as the firing of +the grain elevators in the Atlantic Basin, but in the menacing and +really dangerous movements incident to the reign of terror. Brooklyn +volunteers lent important aid in the defense of the State Arsenal in +New York. + +To facilitate recruiting in the county, the Supervisors, in November, +1863, resolved upon acquiring a loan of $250,000, and $300 bounty was +afterward paid to each recruit. + +Mayor Kalbfleisch was succeeded as Mayor in 1864 by Colonel Wood, who +had organized the Fourteenth Regiment, was wounded and captured at the +first Bull Run, and was released by exchange in 1862. + +The return of the "Brooklyn Phalanx," the First Long Island Regiment, +under Colonel Cross, in January, 1864, was the occasion for an immense +demonstration. The regiment had taken part in fourteen battles, and +came home with 234 men out of 1000. + +An event of the war period that is to be regarded as of the highest +significance, not only for the relation it bore to the necessities of +the war, but to the progress of the city, was what is known as the +great Sanitary fair. + +[Illustration: CRUISER BROOKLYN, BUILT IN 1858] + +This Brooklyn and Long Island fair was instituted by the War Fund +Committee of Brooklyn and Kings County, and the Woman's Relief +Association of Brooklyn, which was known as the Brooklyn Auxiliary of +the United States Sanitary Commission. The fair committee was organized +with A. A. Low as president. Arrangements for coöperation between all +the churches and private and public societies in the city were +efficiently perfected, and a public meeting was held at the Academy of +Music in January, 1864. Meetings to promote the same object were held +at Flatbush, Greenpoint, and elsewhere. Buildings were erected adjacent +to the Academy to give shelter to the Museum of Arts, a restaurant, a +department of relics and curiosities, and quarters for the "Drum Beat," +a journal published during the fair, under the editorship of the Rev. +Dr. Storrs and Francis Williams. + +The fair opened on Washington's Birthday with a great military parade. +The Academy presented a brilliant spectacle. The art display in the +Assembly rooms was a triumph in the art annals of the city; the New +England Kitchen ingeniously duplicated the features of a colonial New +England domestic scene. + +On March 11 the fair closed with a memorable calico ball. In the hall +of manufactures was a huge broom, sent from Cincinnati, and bearing +this inscription: "Sent by the managers of the Cincinnati Fair, +Greeting: We have swept up $240,000; Brooklyn, beat this if you can." +Brooklyn's reply, in the words of an individual respondent, was: +"Brooklyn sees the $240,000, and goes $150,000 better." Such, indeed, +were the superb figures of profit from this remarkable enterprise. + +The fair has been much extolled for its influence on the city itself. +"The first great act of self-assertion ever made by the city of +Brooklyn," is a typical comment on the event. However the fair may +be regarded in this light, it was a brilliantly successful effort. +The service of the Women's Relief Association, of which Mrs. J. S. +T. Stranahan was the distinguished leader, was in the highest degree +admirable. + +The Christian Commission for Brooklyn and Long Island, to act in +concert with the United States Christian Commission, was organized in +March. Before the close of the war this commission had sent out 1210 +Bibles and parts of the Scriptures; 4033 psalm books and hymn books; +50,544 magazines and pamphlets; 177,520 newspapers and periodicals, and +other printing, making up a total of 1,078,304. + +The Supervisors of the county repeatedly took measures to stimulate +volunteers. In July (1864) the Board directed its bounty committee +"to pay to any person furnishing an accepted volunteer or recruit for +three years' United States service, the sum not exceeding $300, the +same as paid to any drafted man furnishing a substitute, and to be paid +upon the like certificate of the United States officer, and without +regard to the person furnishing such recruit being liable to be drafted +into the United States service." + +In July, shortly after the laying of the corner-stone of an armory in +the Eastern District, the committee began paying "hand-money" prizes +of $175 and upward to persons bringing recruits. In September the +news that Kings County was "out of the draft" was hailed with great +satisfaction. + +Early in 1865 the evidences that the war was drawing to a close clearly +appeared. A party of excursionists which left Brooklyn, in April, on +the steamer Oceanus, learned at Charleston of Lee's surrender, and +witnessed the restoration of the flag on Sumter. The Rev. Dr. Storrs +and Henry Ward Beecher were present and spoke. The party heard of +Lincoln's assassination before reaching home. + +The tragedy of Ford's Theatre, by which the strong hand of Lincoln +was taken from the government of the nation, threw the city into +profound gloom. The War Fund Committee opened subscriptions, which were +limited to one dollar from each person, and the result of this prompt, +patriotic, and well-managed movement was the statue of Lincoln by Henry +K. Brown, which occupies a commanding place in Prospect Park Plaza.[30] + +The record of Brooklyn's National Guard organizations is an honorable +one. The Thirteenth Regiment (National Guard), the first company of +which, known as the Brooklyn Light Guard, was organized as long ago +as 1827, had for its first colonel Abel Smith. The call of President +Lincoln in 1861 elicited a unanimous offer of service from the +Thirteenth, which went farther south than any other New York regiment, +save the Eleventh. It formed a part of the left wing of McClellan's +army. When the regiment was called into active service for the third +time, John B. Woodward was in command.[31] + +The Fourteenth Regiment has the distinction of being the only one of +the National Guard regiments that served throughout the war. It left +for the front under command of Colonel Alfred M. Wood. At Bull Run, at +Gettysburg, in the Wilderness, and elsewhere, it performed heavy and +prolonged service. In twenty-one battles its mettle was tested, and the +record made by the "red-legged devils" is a brilliant and honorable one. + +The Twenty-third Regiment was the outgrowth of one of the Home Guard +companies of the war period. It was summoned to Harrisburgh, Penn., +in 1863, being then in command of Colonel Everdell. The subsequent +history of the regiment has been one of steady rise in efficiency and +distinction. + +The Forty-seventh Regiment, organized, as already stated, under the +leadership of J. V. Meserole,[32] was called to Washington, and was +recalled after thirty days' service in consequence of the draft riots, +in which, with the Forty-third, it performed valuable service. + +The Third Battery was organized in 1864, by Major E. O. Hotchkiss. + +Brooklyn is estimated to have contributed 30,000 men to the guards +and armies of the Union during the war; but this estimate would not +represent the highly creditable extent of the city's support to the +great cause which saw its triumph in 1865. + +During the years of the war the voice of the Brooklyn press gave no +uncertain sound. The "Eagle" had become a lusty leader of public +opinion. The "Times" on the other side of the city was making for +itself a creditable name. The "Daily Union," established in 1863, +voiced the ardor of the Union cause with energetic patriotism. German +readers found in the "Long Island Anzeiger,"[33] started in 1864, +cordial support to every good Northern principle in a strain worthy of +the young journal's editor, Colonel Henry E. Roehr, who had been one +of the earliest volunteers, and won many honors at the front. In 1872 +Colonel Roehr began the publication of a German daily paper, the "Freie +Presse." + +On the 7th of April, 1863, the Legislature passed another act +authorizing the Supervisors to raise a sum not exceeding $125,000, to +be used in the erection and furnishing of the Court House building. + +The ground on which the Court House stands is 140 feet on Fulton and +Joralemon streets, by 351 feet deep. No better location could have +been selected. The building was constructed under the direction of +the Board of Supervisors, of which body the late General Crook was +chairman. The building committee were Samuel Booth, Charles C. Talbot, +William H. Hazzard, Charles A. Carnaville, Gilliam Schenck, and George +G. Herman. The architects were Gamaliel King and Henry Teckritz. + +The ground was broken October, 1861, and the corner-stone was laid May +20, 1862, by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of New York, +Daniel T. Walden of Brooklyn officiating as Grand Master. Addresses +were made on the occasion by Mayor Kalbfleisch, representing the city; +General Crook, president of the Board of Supervisors, representing the +county; Judge John A. Lott, for the judiciary; and Dr. Storrs delivered +an eloquent address. + +Owing to the unsettled condition of the country, during the Rebellion, +the work did not advance rapidly. The price of materials increased, +and labor commanded war prices. Many of the contractors declined to +proceed, and new and less advantageous contracts had to be made. The +price of the carpenters' work alone was increased $5000, and the +feverish state of the times added more than $100,000 to the expense. +The total cost of the building, land, and furniture was $551,757.28. + +The building is erected on the site of the old Military Garden. When +the land was purchased and the building erected, there were some old +buildings between it and Boerum Place. The Court House was placed on +a line with the street, in order that it might not be hidden by the +adjoining structures. It is a great pity that the Supervisors did not +see that in the process of time the adjoining land would be owned +by the county. Had they thought of this, they could have placed the +edifice twenty feet further back from the street, and thereby greatly +improved its appearance. + +It is to be noted that the Court House was constructed within the sum +appropriated. Its manner of construction is in striking contrast to +the methods pursued in New York. It stands to-day a monument to the +integrity and capacity of the Board of Supervisors, and all in any wise +concerned in its construction. + +The building was finished in February, 1865, and thrown open to public +inspection on the evenings of February 28 and March 1, 1865.[34] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +BROOKLYN AFTER THE WAR + +1866-1876 + + Administration of Samuel Booth. Metropolitan Sanitary District + created. Cholera. Erie Basin Docks. The County Institutions and + their Work. The Gowanus Canal and the Wallabout Improvement. + The Department of Survey and Inspection of Buildings. + Establishing Fire Limits. Building Regulations. Prospect + Park. The Ocean Parkway. The Fire Department. The Public + Schools. The East River Bridge. Early Discussion of the Great + Enterprise. The Construction begun. Death of Roebling. The + Ferries. Messages of Mayor Kalbfleisch. Erection of a Brooklyn + Department of Police. Samuel S. Powell again Mayor. A New City + Charter. Movement toward Consolidation with New York. Henry + Ward Beecher. Frederick A. Schroeder elected Mayor. + + +When Samuel Booth entered the office of Mayor in 1866, the city of +Brooklyn, in common with other communities throughout the country, +was suffering from the results of the strain imposed by the war and +its resulting incidents; and the fact that his own party was in the +minority in the Board of Aldermen did not lighten the burden of the +Mayor. Notwithstanding these political conditions no veto by Booth was +overridden by the Board. + +In February of this year the Legislature created a metropolitan +sanitary district corresponding to the metropolitan police district, +and a board of health composed of the police commissioners, four +sanitary commissioners, and the health officer of the port of New York. +Brooklyn was represented in this board by Dr. James Crane, as sanitary +commissioner, and T. G. Bergen as police commissioner. Dr. John T. +Conkling was made assistant sanitary superintendent, and Dr. R. Cresson +Stiles was made deputy registrar of vital statistics for Brooklyn. To +this force six sanitary inspectors were added. + +This movement represented the practical beginnings of that interesting +modern system of sanitary inspection and regulation by which the cities +of New York and Brooklyn have in recent years attained such improved +conditions. The movement had been urged by the prevalence of cholera +in Europe, and the new board found occasion to make great exertions +to prevent the entrance of the disease here. The disease appeared in +New York in April, and Brooklyn's first case was reported on July 8. +In spite of the precautions the disease gained considerable headway +in sections of the city where the sanitary conditions were worst, and +the total number of cases in Brooklyn reached 816. More than a quarter +of the total number of cases occurred in the twelfth ward. The number +of deaths in the city reached 573. The cholera hospital, opened at +Hamilton Avenue and Van Brunt Street in July, was closed on October 1. + +In October the completion of the large Erie Basin dry docks was the +occasion of a celebration. These great docks, built by a Boston +syndicate, have since been used by most of the large iron ships that +are docked at the port of New York. The chamber of Dock No. 1 is 510 +feet long, and 112 feet wide at the top. Dock No. 2 is 610 feet long +and 124 feet wide at the top. + +In this month occurred also the interesting occasion marked by the +presentation of the medals ordered by the Common Council for each +honorably discharged, or still serving, Brooklyn soldier who had done +his share toward the saving of the Union. + +Among the legacies of the war was a great deal of poverty that public +provision had not obliterated. An exceptional degree of distress +appeared during the decade following the war. + +There were admitted into the almshouse during the year ending July 31, +1868, 5500 persons, and at the close of the year there remained 1995. +The total number relieved by the commissioners during the year was +44,734. The amount expended was $464,800.61, being an average of $10.40 +to each person relieved. Of the number relieved, 7273 were in the +institutions. The population of the county at this time was 375,000. It +will be seen that 11.9 per cent, of the population received aid from +the public institutions. In addition to this, many others received +assistance from the churches and benevolent societies. + +Formerly the county was divided into districts, to which the poor would +come to receive assistance. During the year ending July 31, 1870, +38,270 persons applied for and received aid. This was about ten per +cent, of the population. The amount expended was $128,602.83. + +This system has been discontinued, and the work is done by other +agencies, notably by the Society for Improving the Condition of the +Poor. This society, officered by public-spirited and efficient men, +has made a highly creditable record. Connected with the society is an +effective advisory committee, selected from each ward. Every case is +carefully investigated, and imposition is rendered almost impossible. +In 1880 the number of cases investigated was 2755; of these 214, or +about eight per cent., were rejected. The number relieved who were +found worthy was about one fourteenth of the number receiving aid in +1870, while the disbursements were only $23,009.68, or 18.5 per cent. +of the former expense. + +During the year ending July 31, 1869, there were remaining in the +lunatic asylum of the county, 557. The whole number under treatment +during the year was 818. Of those remaining, 225 were males and 322 +females. There were admitted, during the year, 286. The whole number +admitted into the almshouse in 1869 was 2090. + +The number treated in the hospital in 1863 was 2023; in 1864, 2601; in +1866, 3505; in 1867, 2828; in 1868, 2613. In the hospital there were +treated, in 1876, 4270 persons. + +By an act of the Legislature in May, 1867, the Inebriates' Home for +Kings County was incorporated. A movement led by A. E. Mudie resulted +in the establishment of a Brooklyn branch of the American Society for +the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. + +The Legislature provided at this session for the dredging and docking +of Gowanus Canal, and for the "Wallabout Improvement," under the +direction of a commissioner. Another provision of the Legislature was +for a department for the survey and inspection of buildings in the +Western District of the city. A section of this law provided that the +chief officer of this department should be called the "Superintendent +of Buildings." He was to be appointed by the board of trustees of the +fire department, and confirmed by the Board of Aldermen. He was to have +been an "exempt fireman" for five years, a fire underwriter for ten +years, and was to be, ex officio, a member of the board of trustees of +the fire department. + +Concerning the duties of inspectors the law said:-- + + "It shall be the duty of the inspectors to examine all + buildings whereon violations are reported, and all buildings + reported dangerous or damaged by fire, and make a written + report of such examinations to the superintendent, with their + opinion relative thereto; to reëxamine all buildings under + applications to raise, enlarge, alter, or build upon, and + report to the superintendent the condition of the same, with + their opinion relative thereto; and in the absence of the + superintendent they shall be empowered to act with all the + powers enjoyed and possessed by said superintendent. And + the said inspectors shall perform such other duties as the + superintendent of buildings may from time to time require of + them. + + "The inspectors of buildings shall be under the direction of + the superintendent, and shall attend all fires occurring in + their respective districts, and report to the chief engineer + or assistant engineer present, all information they may have + relative to the construction and condition of the buildings + or premises on fire, and the adjoining buildings, whether the + same be dangerous or otherwise, and report in writing to said + department, all such buildings damaged by fire or otherwise, + with a statement of the nature and amount of such damages, + as near as they can ascertain, together with the street and + number of such building, the name of the owners, lessees, and + occupants, and for what purpose occupied; and said inspectors + shall examine all buildings in course of erection, alteration, + and repair throughout their respective districts, at least once + every day (Sundays and holidays excepted), and shall report + in writing, forthwith, to the superintendent, all violations + of any of the several divisions of this act, together with + the street and number of the building or premises upon which + violations are found, and the names of the owners, agents, + lessees, occupants, builders, masons, carpenters, roofers, + furnace builders, and architects, and all other matters + relative thereto, and shall report in the same manner all + new buildings in their respective districts, and the clerk + shall perform such duties as may be assigned him by the + superintendent. All the officers appointed under this act + shall, so far as may be necessary for the performance of their + respective duties, have the right to enter any building or + premises in said city." + +The fire limits of the city were then fixed to "comprise all that +portion of said city beginning at the East River at the northwest +corner of the United States Navy Yard, and running thence southwesterly +and southeasterly along said Navy Yard to the centre of Navy Street; +thence southerly along the centre of Navy Street to the northerly +side of Flushing Avenue; thence easterly along the northerly side of +Flushing Avenue to the centre of Washington Avenue; thence southerly +along the centre of Washington Avenue to the southerly side of Warren +Street; thence westerly along the southerly side of Warren Street to +the easterly side of Vanderbilt Avenue; thence southerly along the +easterly side of Vanderbilt Avenue, and across Flatbush Avenue in a +straight line, to the southeasterly corner of Union Street and Ninth +Avenue; thence southerly along the easterly side of Ninth Avenue to +the northerly side of Fifteenth Street; thence easterly along the +northerly side of Fifteenth Street to the centre of Tenth Avenue; +thence southerly along the centre of Tenth Avenue to the centre of +Twenty-first Street; thence westerly along the centre of Twenty-first +Street to a point distant one hundred feet west of the westerly side +of Third Avenue; thence northerly and parallel with Third Avenue, and +one hundred feet westerly therefrom, to a point distant one hundred +feet southerly from the southerly side of Hamilton Avenue; thence +northwesterly and parallel with Hamilton Avenue, and one hundred feet +southerly therefrom, to a point distant one hundred feet easterly from +the easterly side of Columbia Street; thence southerly and parallel +with Columbia Street, and one hundred feet easterly therefrom, to a +point distant one hundred feet southerly from the southerly side of +Nelson Street; thence westerly and parallel with Nelson Street, and +one hundred feet southerly therefrom, in a straight line, to a point +distant one hundred feet easterly from the easterly side of Richard +Street; thence southerly and parallel with Richard Street, and one +hundred feet easterly therefrom, to a point distant one hundred feet +southerly from the southerly side of King Street; thence westerly and +parallel with King Street, and one hundred feet southerly therefrom, +to the East River, and thence along the easterly shore of the East +River to the point or place of beginning at the said northwest corner +of the United States Navy Yard; and also extending from the centre of +Washington Avenue along both sides of Fulton Avenue, one hundred feet +on each side, to the easterly side of Bedford Avenue, and such further +portion of the Western District of said city as the Common Council of +the city of Brooklyn by ordinance may from time to time, as hereinafter +provided, include therein." + +[Illustration: STATUE OF HENRY WARD BEECHER IN FRONT OF CITY HALL] + +The act provided in detail rules for building within the fire limits, +and regulations appertaining to building in general. Thus it was +provided that "no timber shall be used in the front or rear walls of +any dwelling, store, or storehouse, or other building hereafter built +or erected within the Western District of said city, where stone, +brick, or iron is commonly used; each lintel on the inside of the front +or rear wall or side walls shall have a secure brick arch over it, +and no wall strips in any wall thereof shall exceed in thickness one +half of one inch, and in width two and one half inches; and no bond +timber in any wall thereof shall in width and thickness exceed the +width and thickness of a course of brick; and no bond timber shall be +more than six feet in length; and such bond timbers shall be laid at +least eighteen inches apart from each other, longitudinally, on either +side of any wall, and the continuous line thereof shall be broken every +six feet by inserting a brick of eight inches; and no front, rear, or +other wall of any such dwelling, store, storehouse, or other building +now erected, or hereafter to be erected, as aforesaid, within the fire +limits, or as they may hereafter be extended as aforesaid, or any brick +or stone building or buildings in the Western District of the city of +Brooklyn, shall be cut off or altered below, to be supported in any +manner, in whole or in part, by wood, but shall be wholly supported by +brick, stone, or iron; and no wood or timber shall be used between such +wall and such supporters; but it shall be lawful to insert a lintel of +wood over the doors and windows of the first story of stores, of oak or +Georgia pine, of such length and size as shall be first approved and +determined by the superintendent of buildings." + +An important movement, begun before the war, culminating in 1860, +and bearing fruit soon after the close of the war, resulted in the +establishment of one of Brooklyn's chief objects of pride,--Prospect +Park. The actual construction of the park began in 1866, and was +steadily continued until 1874. + +The laying out and adornment of the park was placed in the hands of +a commission, of which J. S. T. Stranahan, always a leading figure +in the park movement, was the president. This commission, originally +constituted under an act of the Legislature for the laying out, +adornment, and management of the park, had its powers and duties +increased by succeeding laws, until it had under its control Washington +Park, City Park, Carroll Park, the Parade Ground, and all the public +grounds appertaining to the city. + +In their report for 1868 the commissioners said: "The propriety, if not +the absolute necessity, of an extension of Prospect Park at its western +angle, so as to allow the principal drive in that direction to be +carried out according to the original design, has been repeatedly urged +in former reports of the board, and the Legislature was on more than +one occasion applied to for permission to make the desired acquisition; +but without success. The commissioners have now, however, the pleasure +of stating that an act was passed at the last session, authorizing this +extension, and directing the board to apply to the Supreme Court for +the appointment of commissioners to estimate the value of the land so +taken." + +The ground under treatment during the year covered by this report +represented over two hundred acres. "The finished drives," says this +report, "now amount to nearly three miles and a quarter, being a little +more than two miles in excess of that which we were able to report +last year. Of bridle paths, we have nearly a mile and a half finished +or well progressed; and of walks three miles and three quarters are +completed, and nearly five additional miles in progress. The very +large and continually increasing number of delighted visitors show +how thoroughly these walks and drives are appreciated by them. A fine +specimen of rustic work has been erected near the main entrance to the +park for a summer house; and a vine-covered trellis-work, with seats +overlooking the children's play-ground, commands a beautiful sea and +island view, and, when covered with the foliage and flowers of climbing +plants, will afford grateful shelter to all such as may be disposed to +linger in its shade." + +The arrangement of the park steadily advanced until it has become one +of the most beautiful in the world. Covering 525 acres, its meadows, +woodland, lakes, and drives combine to create a picture of remarkable +beauty. The lakes cover 50 acres; the woodland, 110 acres; the meadows, +70 acres; the gardens and shrubbery, 200 acres; and there are over 60 +acres of water-way. Five and a half miles of main drives were laid out, +and minor drives and walks covering a distance of thirteen miles. + +The later creation of the Ocean Parkway was a desirable movement, +resulting as it did in a driveway running southward from the park to +the sea,--a distance of five and a half miles. This magnificent drive +is 210 feet wide for its entire length, being subdivided into a main +and two minor roadways, with lines of shade-trees to mark the receding +lines. + +The Parade Ground, adjoining the park on the east, was a popular +device. The broad field has contributed an important factor in the +summer life of the city, its acres being in constant demand during the +out-door season for all manner of sports. + +These improvements and others associated with the minor parks of the +city have placed heavy obligations on the park commissioners. + +A permanent board of water and sewerage commissioners was created by +an act of April 2, 1869. The board received exclusive power to cause +streets to be repaved, regraded, and repaired; to cause cross-walks +to be relaid and sidewalks to be reflagged; and generally to have +such other improvements, in and about such streets so to be repaved, +regraded, or repaired, to be made, as in their judgment the public +wants and convenience shall require. The board held other authority, +afterward vested in the board of city works. + +The charter of the Nassau Water Company was obtained in 1855. In 1857 +the city had acquired all the contracts, property, and rights of the +Nassau Company. The thirty-six inch main laid from Ridgewood in 1858 +was followed by an additional forty-eight inch main laid in 1867. Three +mains have since been added, giving the city water from a drainage area +of seventy-four square miles. + +The act of 1869, by which the fire department of the city was +reorganized, called upon the Mayor, the street commissioners, the +president of the Board of Aldermen, the city treasurer, and the +comptroller, to appoint four citizens as fire commissioners: "Said +commissioners, on being qualified, shall meet and reorganize the +fire department of the city of Brooklyn, by electing one of said +commissioners to be president, and appointing a person to be secretary; +whereupon they shall possess and have all the power and authority +conferred upon or possessed by any and all officers of the present fire +departments of the city of Brooklyn, and of each division thereof, +except such power and authority as is now vested by law in the trustees +of the fire departments of the Eastern and Western districts of the +city of Brooklyn, which said divisions shall continue distinct from +each other, so far as relates to the Widows' and Orphans' Fund of each +district, but for no other purpose; and the persons elected and now +acting as the trustees of the Widows' and Orphans' Fund of the Eastern +District, and those elected and acting as trustees of the Widows' and +Orphans' Fund of the Western District, shall remain and continue to +have and exercise, each division respectively, all such powers and +duties as are now vested by law in said boards, with regard to the +Widows' and Orphans' Fund of each district" (sec. 2). + +By the report of School Superintendent Buckley, issued in July (1869), +it appeared that the whole number of pupils attending the public +day schools numbered 70,000. In the evening schools 10,000 more were +taught, while the private schools received 22,142 scholars. At this +time the value of the schoolhouse sites in the city was placed at +$276,386; that of the buildings at $709,727. + +Building throughout the city became very active. The widening of +Broadway in the Eastern District materially affected the prosperity +of that section of the city, to which Broadway became the leading +business artery. Grand Street developed into a busy thoroughfare, and +Fourth Street, now northern Bedford Avenue, became the third important +street of this section. For a site for a new building on Broadway at +Fifth (now Driggs Street), the Williamsburgh Savings Bank paid the then +enormous sum of $210,000. The superb structure afterward erected on +this ground is one of the most imposing in the city, its classic dome +rearing itself among those objects in the city which command first +attention from Bridge spectators. + +In 1869 it was estimated that Brooklyn had 500 miles of streets, and +150 miles of sewer. Mayor Kalbfleisch's message reported a total of +3307 buildings erected in 1868. The assessed value of real and personal +property in the county was $199,840,551. + +But most momentous of the movements of this period was that looking +to the building of the first East River bridge. The possibility of a +bridge over the East River had been discussed early in the history +of the two cities. General Johnson[35] had discussed the feasibility +of the suggestion, and had argued that the plan was quite within +the possibilities of engineering science. Thomas Pope, in a volume +published in 1811, by Alexander Niven, 120 Duane Street, New York, +describes his idea of a "flying pendent lever bridge," which was +intensely original as well as impossible. + +In 1836 General Swift proposed the erection of a dike over the river. +The dike was to have a central drawbridge, and was to give foundation +to a broad boulevard, running between the two cities. At a later day +Colonel Julius A. Adams of Brooklyn, while engaged upon the bridge +of the Lexington and Danville Railroad, over the Kentucky River, +conceived the idea of an East River bridge, to extend from Fulton +Ferry on the Brooklyn side to a point near Chatham Square, on the +New York side. The intention was to have the main body of the bridge +built of two elliptic tubes, placed side by side, and supported by +ribbons of steel. There were to be three platforms for travelers, +and it is claimed by its projector that the capacity would have been +greater than that of the present structure. Colonel Adams communicated +his plan to Mr. William C. Kingsley, who was largely engaged in the +contracting business in this city. Mr. Kingsley entered heartily into +the spirit of the enterprise, and carefully examined the diagrams +submitted by the engineer. He spent several months in a thorough and +exhaustive examination of the entire question, studied the needs of +the two cities, and finally became thoroughly impressed with the +practicability and feasibility of the scheme. In connection with the +project he consulted with some of the eminent and public-spirited +citizens of Brooklyn, among them James S. T. Stranahan, Henry C. +Murphy, Judge Alexander McCue, Isaac Van Anden, Seymour L. Husted, +and Thomas Kinsella.[36] The more these gentlemen talked and thought +about the matter, the deeper interest they felt in it. Mr. Kingsley +in particular continued undisturbed in the belief that the time for +bridging the river had come, and he persisted in this view until the +enterprise was carried beyond the region of remote speculation into +the clear atmosphere of intelligently directed and practical effort. +The Hon. Henry C. Murphy at the time represented Kings County in the +state Senate, where he wielded a vast influence, and was regarded as +one of the leaders of his party in the State. Upon the basis of Colonel +Adams's plans a bill was prepared providing for the construction of +a bridge across the East River. Copies of the original drawings were +taken to Albany and exhibited in the Senate and Assembly Chamber. The +project received Senator Murphy's unflagging support, and through his +endeavors and the energetic and untiring aid of its projectors, it +became a law. + +The act incorporating the New York Bridge Company was passed by the +Legislature on April 16, 1867. It named as incorporators the following +citizens of New York and Brooklyn:-- + + John T. Hoffman + Edward Ruggles + Samuel Booth + Alexander McCue + Martin Kalbfleisch + Charles A. Townsend + Charles E. Bill + T. Bailey Myers + William A. Fowler + Simeon B. Chittenden + Smith Ely, Jr. + Grenville T. Jenks + Henry E. Pierrepont + John Roach + Henry G. Stebbins + C. L. Mitchell + Seymour L. Husted + William W. W. Wood + Andrew H. Green + William C. Rushmore + Alfred W. Craven + T. B. Cornell + Isaac Van Anden + Alfred M. Wood + William Marshall + John W. Coombs + John H. Prentice + John P. Atkinson + Edmund W. Corlies + Ethelbert S. Mills + Arthur W. Benson + John W. Hayward + P. P. Dickinson + J. Carson Brevoort + Samuel McLean + William Hunter, Jr. + Edmund Driggs + John Morton + +By this act power was given these incorporators and their associates +to acquire real estate for the site of the bridge and approaches; to +borrow money up to the limit of the capital, and to establish laws and +ordinances for the government of the structure upon its completion. The +capital stock was fixed at $5,000,000, in shares of $100 each, and the +directors were given power to increase the capital with the consent +of the stockholders. It was further provided that the incorporators +already named should constitute the first board of directors, holding +their places until June 1, 1868, and that after that the board should +have not less than thirteen nor more than twenty-one members. The +officers were to consist of a president, secretary, and treasurer. The +cities of New York and Brooklyn, or either of them, were empowered +at any time to take the bridge by payment to the corporation of the +cost and 33.33 per cent. additional, provided the bridge be made +free. An additional provision was made that the structure should have +an elevation of at least 130 feet above high tide in the middle of +the river, and that it should in no respect prove an obstruction to +navigation. In conclusion, the law authorized the cities of New York +and Brooklyn, or either of them, to subscribe to the capital stock +of said company such amounts as two thirds of their Common Councils +respectively should determine, to issue bonds in payment of these +subscriptions, and to provide for the payment of interest. It was +subsequently determined that the city of New York might subscribe +$1,500,000 of the total capital; the city of Brooklyn, $3,000,000, and +$500,000 to be paid by the private stockholders. + +An enterprise of such magnitude was not carried forward without +extraordinary struggles. To keep the work, so far as possible, out of +politics required much ingenuity and persistence on the part of those +who were actuated by the most public-spirited motives. It was not +possible to wholly eliminate politics and self-seeking. An act of the +Legislature in 1859 provided that New York city should be represented +by its Mayor, comptroller, and president of the Board of Aldermen, +and Brooklyn by the commissioners of the sinking fund. The company was +authorized to occupy land under water on each shore to the distance of +250 feet. + +Meanwhile, operations were begun in the direction of an effort to +raise the required $5,000,000 by private subscription, but they were +not successful, and it was determined to apply to the cities for +aid. Application was made to Brooklyn, through the Common Council, +for $3,000,000. After many months the incorporators were successful, +and later, in 1868, the city of New York subscribed the $1,500,000 +required, and the stockholders made up the additional $500,000. + +The shares, as has been shown, were fixed at $100 each. The list of the +original subscribers, as revealed by the original minute-book still in +the possession of the trustees, is very interesting. It is as follows:-- + + SUBSCRIBERS SHARES. + + Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty + of the City of New York 15,000 + The City of Brooklyn 30,000 + Henry C. Murphy 100 + Isaac Van Anden 200 + William Marshall 50 + Seymour L. Husted 200 + Samuel McLean 50 + Arthur W. Benson 20 + Martin Kalbfleisch 200 + Alexander McCue 100 + William M. Tweed 560 + Peter B. Sweeny 560 + Hugh Smith 560 + Henry W. Slocum 500 + J. S. T. Stranahan 100 + Grenville T. Jenks 50 + Kingsley & Keeney 1,600 + John H. Prentice 50 + William Hunter, Jr. 50 + John W. Lewis 50 + ------ + Total 50,000 + +After the subscriptions were all made, several of the subscribers +withdrew or failed to make good their promises, whereupon Mr. Kingsley +took up their stock and advanced the amount necessary to cover their +deficiencies. In fact, he and the firm he represented took in all over +$300,000 of the entire $500,000 subscribed by the New York Bridge +Company. + +John A. Roebling, who had made a brilliant record as a bridge engineer, +was chosen for the responsible post of chief engineer. His son, Colonel +Washington A. Roebling, was made first assistant engineer. The plans +of Roebling having been duly approved by the War Department engineers, +the United States government commission,[37] the Secretary of War, +and lastly of Congress itself, the company was formally organized in +the summer of 1869, with the following directors: Henry C. Murphy, J. +S. T. Stranahan, Henry W. Slocum, John W. Lewis, Seymour L. Husted, +Demas Barnes, Hugh Smith, William Hunter, Jr., Isaac Van Anden, J. H. +Prentice, Alexander McCue, William M. Tweed, Peter B. Sweeny, R. B. +Connolly, Grenville T. Jenks. + +At this juncture a distressing accident darkened the opening days of +the great work. "One morning in June, 1869, Mr. Roebling, in company +with Colonel Paine and his other engineering associates, was engaged in +running a line across the East River, making the first survey of the +site for the Brooklyn foundation. Colonel Paine crossed to the New York +side and made the necessary signals, while the chief engineer stood on +the Brooklyn side. Just as the operations were approaching completion +Mr. Roebling was standing on the rack of one of the ferry slips taking +a final observation. At the moment a ferryboat entered the slip and +bumped heavily against the timbers, pressing them back to the point +where the chief engineer was standing. His foot was caught between the +piling and the rack. Colonel Paine, who was on the boat, noticed that +his chief started suddenly, and, while he made no outcry, an expression +of agony overspread his countenance. The first person to reach the side +of the injured man was his son, Colonel Washington A. Roebling, and +Colonel Paine quickly followed him. The chief engineer was assisted to +a carriage, remarking, as he went, 'Oh, what a folly.' He was quickly +driven to his residence on the Heights, and a surgeon was summoned. The +surgeon found that the toes of the right foot were terribly crushed. +It was at once decided that amputation was necessary. Mr. Roebling +rejected the suggestion of an anæsthetic, and personally directed the +operations of the surgeon. Nearly all of his toes were taken off at +the joints, but he maintained his composure throughout, and endeavored +to soothe the apprehensions of his family and friends. During his +subsequent illness he preserved intact the use of his mental faculties, +exhibiting indomitable will power. Eight days elapsed before fears were +entertained of a fatal result. Then the patient complained of a chill, +and it was soon discovered that lockjaw had set in. He lived eight days +longer, and toward the close suffered the most excruciating agonies, +but without complaint, and steadily insisted upon directing the method +of his treatment. Even after the muscular contraction precluded the +possibility of utterance he wrote with a pencil directions for his +attendants. He died of lockjaw just sixteen days after receiving his +injuries." + +For a time work on the bridge was paralyzed. As soon as possible the +directors chose Colonel Roebling to succeed his father, and the great +undertaking proceeded. + +The mechanical difficulties of the work were enormous. The history of +the labors, by which one difficulty after another was overcome, is one +of the most absorbing in the annals of engineering enterprise. Huge +wooden caissons were sunken on the diving-bell principle to a depth +sufficient to assure firm foundations for the piers, which were built +over them. The Brooklyn caisson was launched on March 19, 1870; the +New York caisson, in September, 1871. The greater difficulties existed +on the New York side, where an area of quicksand made it problematical +whether bed-rock could ever be reached. The foundation on the New York +side was required to be begun at a depth of seventy-eight feet. On the +Brooklyn side brick was used under the caisson. On the New York side +the space remaining after the lowest point had been reached was filled +with concrete. + +The most perplexing problem having been solved by the sinking of the +foundations, the work advanced steadily. Difficulties with anchorages, +materials, contracts, expenditures, and appropriations made the work +necessarily slow, and there was a proportionate degree of public +impatience. The distant possibility of a completed bridge was the +permanent theme of newspaper jest and popular song. But the Brooklyn +tower, containing 38,214 yards of masonry, and rising 278 feet above +high water, was completed in the spring of 1875, and by the summer of +1876 the New York tower had also been finished. + +During this period the pressure on the various city ferries was +demonstrating the necessity for some relief to the strain of travel +between the two cities. During the year 1869 the Union Ferry Company +carried 42,720,000 passengers; the Roosevelt, Grand, and James Slip +ferries, 7,028,000 passengers; the Greenpoint, 1,622,250; and the +Thirty-fourth Street, 2,250,550. The terms of the new lease of the +Union Ferry Company included a provision that the fare between five and +half-past seven o'clock, morning and evening, be one cent. It was a few +months later that the Brooklyn City Railroad Company reduced its rate +of fare to five cents. + +Mayor Kalbfleisch was reëlected Mayor. In his message of January +3, 1871, he places the population of the city in 1870 at 400,000; +the taxes levied during the year at $8,000,000; the city debt at +$36,000,000. The period was active in building operations. The +foundations of the still unfinished Roman Catholic Cathedral were laid +in 1868. The Twenty-eighth Regiment armory was completed in 1870. The +Brooklyn Theatre was begun early in the following year, shortly before +the finishing of the new wing of the Long Island College Hospital, and +the laying of the corner-stone of the Church Charity foundation at +Albany Avenue and Herkimer Street. + +Brooklyn acquired a police department distinct from that of New York +in 1870. The management and control of this new department was vested +in a board of commissioners, known as the Board of Police of the City +of Brooklyn, composed of the Mayor and two other persons nominated by +him, and appointed by the Aldermen. The first two commissioners thus +chosen were Daniel D. Driggs and Isaac Van Anden. Patrick Campbell +was appointed chief clerk. Henry W. Van Wagner was placed at the +head of the detective squad. The following provisions were embraced +in the law establishing the department. "The commissioners shall +divide said city into precincts, not exceeding one precinct to each +thirty-six of the patrolmen authorized to be appointed. They may also +establish sub-precincts and assign two sergeants, two doormen, and as +many patrolmen as they may deem sufficient to each sub-precinct, and +shall appoint a telegraph operator who shall be assigned to duty by +the chief of police. They shall appoint as many captains of police as +there may be precincts, and assign one captain and as many sergeants +and patrolmen as they shall deem sufficient to each precinct. The +police force shall consist of a chief of police, captains, sergeants, +and patrolmen, who shall be appointed by the commissioners. The number +of sergeants shall not exceed four for each precinct, and one for +each special squad; and the number of patrolmen shall not exceed the +present number now doing duty in said city, unless the Common Council +of the city of Brooklyn shall, by resolution, authorize a greater +number, in which case they shall not exceed the number fixed in such +resolutions; and such resolutions may be passed by the Common Council +from time to time as that body may deem expedient. The commissioners +shall fill all vacancies in the police force as often as they occur." + +By the message of Mayor Powell[38] in January, 1872, it appears +that there were 450 men on the police force, supported at an annual +expense of $500,000. The total liabilities of the city were then over +$30,000,000, and the total county debt nearly $4,000,000. During 1871 +twenty miles of streets were graded and paved, and 2,596 buildings +erected. In his second message, a year later, the Mayor reported that +the water department was self-sustaining. + +The pressure of opinion in favor of a new charter for the city resulted +in the appointment of a committee of one hundred, whose report appeared +in 1872, shortly before the death of ex-Mayor Kalbfleisch. In May the +charter was passed by the State Assembly. By this charter the offices +of Mayor, auditor, and comptroller were made elective; the excise +and police departments were consolidated; the appointment of heads +of departments was placed in the hands of the Mayor and Aldermen, +the departments being as follows: Police and excise, finance, audit, +treasury, collections, arrears, law, assessment, health, fire and +buildings, city works, parks, public instruction. + +In November, 1873, John W. Hunter, who had represented the third +district in Congress, was chosen Mayor. The Mayor's message in the +following January shows that the city debt rose from $30,669,768.50 in +1872, and $32,012,884 in 1873, to $37,431,944. + +It was in February of this year that a largely attended meeting of the +Municipal Union Society urged the consolidation of Brooklyn and New +York. Meanwhile the town of New Lots, known as East New York, had voted +for annexation to Brooklyn. The city's growth continued at a remarkable +rate. In the decade between 1864 and 1874, 19,660 buildings had been +erected. Of this number 1786 had been built during the year ending 1874. + +Perhaps the most sensational incident of the year 1874 was the +announcement of Theodore Tilton's action against the Rev. Henry Ward +Beecher, Brooklyn's foremost preacher and orator. The news that the +pastor of Plymouth Church was to be sued by his former friend upon +charges assailing the integrity of Mr. Beecher's relations with Mrs. +Tilton, created intense excitement in the city, and throughout the +country. + +The action was opened in the City Court before Judge Neilson, and the +trial began on January 5, 1875. The public interest aroused by this +extraordinary trial has no parallel in the history of the county. +During the months of the progress it remained the chief topic of public +and private talk in the city. The court room on trial days presented +an historic spectacle, and excitement reached a great height when, at +the end of June, the case was at last closed, and the fate of the great +preacher was placed in the jury's hands. It was on July 2 that the jury +reported its inability to agree. The case was never retried, and the +painful drama thus came to an end. + +That such an incident should cast a cloud over Henry Ward Beecher's +life was inevitable. But the cloud passed away. Mr. Beecher remained +at his post, his fame and influence growing; and the celebration of +his seventy-fifth birthday drew to the Academy of Music one of the +most remarkable gatherings ever witnessed in that place. Mr. Beecher's +sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," +occupied a seat in one of the boxes.[39] + +In 1875 the population of the city was estimated at 483,252; that of +the county at 494,570. In November of this year Frederick A. Schroeder +was elected Mayor. Schroeder represented the staunch German element, +which had begun long before this period to form an important proportion +of the city's population. He was the founder of the Germania Savings +Bank. In 1871 he was elected comptroller. His opponent in a heated +mayoralty contest was Edward Rowe. + +The most extraordinary incident of the year 1876 was the burning of the +Brooklyn Theatre in December, and the loss of 295 lives. This tragedy +caused intense excitement throughout the city. The temporary morgue on +Adams Street presented the most ghastly spectacle the city had ever +witnessed. After all possible identification had taken place, 100 +unclaimed bodies were publicly buried at Greenwood. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE MODERN CITY + +1877-1890 + + Rapid Transit. James Howell, Jr., elected Mayor. Work on the + Bridge. Passage of "Single Head" Bill. John Fiske on the + "Brooklyn System." Seth Low elected Mayor. His Interpretation + of the "Brooklyn System." Reëlection of Low. Opening of the + Bridge. Bridge Statistics. Ferries and Water Front. Erie Basin. + The Sugar Industry. Navy Yard. Wallabout Market. Development + of the City. Prospect Park. Theatres and Public Buildings. + National Guard. Public Schools. Brooklyn Institute. Private + Educational Institutions. Libraries. Churches, Religious + Societies, Hospitals, and Benevolent Associations. Clubs. + Literature, Art, and Music. The Academy of Music. "The City of + Homes." + + +Brooklyn had now fairly entered upon what may be called its modern +period. The first wires had been stretched for the great Bridge, and +soon afterward the six years' labor at Hell Gate culminated in the +long-anticipated blast. Ground had been broken for the new Municipal +Building, the Ocean Parkway had been opened for travel, work had begun +on the Brooklyn elevated road, rapid transit trains had begun running +on Atlantic Avenue, the Manhattan Beach and Sea Beach railroads +were opened to Coney Island, which had started upon its career as a +great popular watering-place and pleasure resort, and a line of Annex +ferryboats was opened between Jewell's Wharf and Jersey City. + +In the mayoralty contest of 1877 James Howell, Jr., was elected on the +Democratic ticket. The bill which had passed the Legislature at the +previous session reduced the Mayor's salary from $10,000 to $6000. +Mayor Howell took a strong interest in the progress of the Bridge, and +succeeded Henry C. Murphy as a trustee. + +Work on the Bridge advanced steadily during the years 1877 and 1878. +The breaking of a strand of the cable at the New York anchorage in +June, 1878, resulted in the death of several workmen. In April, 1880, +farewell services were held in St. Ann's Church, at Washington and +Prospect streets, preparatory to the removal of the building, to make +way for the Bridge approach. The prospective area of the approach +necessitated the removal of much property, and the slow work of +demolition and advance still continues, after fifteen years, to present +unsightly pictures at the threshold of the city. + +Mayor Howell's message in January, 1880, revealed the fact that the +taxable value of property in the city had reached $232,925,699, which +was an increase of nearly $3,000,000 over the figures for the previous +year. + +An important event for the city was the passage in May, by the +Legislature, of the "Single Head" bill, by the provisions of which +the system of triple heads of departments was abolished, and complete +appointive power and responsibility vested in the Mayor. This radical +step toward municipal reform and good government was one which could +not fail to attract the attention of the country, since Brooklyn was +the first great city to take it, and the experiment was watched with +the liveliest interest by all students of municipal government. + +John Fiske, in his admirable work on "Civil Government," thus +succinctly describes the new system of city government: "Besides the +council of [nineteen] Aldermen, the people elect only three city +officers,--the Mayor, comptroller, and auditor. The comptroller is +the principal finance officer and book-keeper of the city; and the +auditor must approve bills against the city, whether great or small, +before they can be paid. The Mayor appoints, without confirmation by +the council, all executive heads of departments; and these executive +heads are individuals, not boards. Thus there is a single police +commissioner, a single fire commissioner, a single health commissioner, +and so on; and each of these heads appoints his own subordinates; +'so that the principle of defined responsibility permeates the city +government from top to bottom.'[40] In a few cases where the work to +be done is rather discretionary than executive in character, it is +intrusted to a board; thus, there is a board of assessors, a board of +education, and a board of elections. These are all appointed by the +Mayor, but for terms not coincident with his own; 'so that, in most +cases, no Mayor would appoint the whole of any such board unless he +were to be twice elected by the people.' But the executive officers are +appointed by the Mayor for terms coincident with his own, that is, for +two years. 'The Mayor is elected at the general election in November; +he takes office on the first of January following, and for one month +the great departments of the city are carried on for him by the +appointees of his predecessor. On the first of January it becomes his +duty to appoint his own heads of departments,' and thus 'each incoming +Mayor has the opportunity to make an administration in all its parts in +sympathy with himself.' + +"With all these immense executive powers intrusted to the Mayor, +however, he does not hold the purse-strings. He is a member of a board +of estimates, of which the other four members are the comptroller +and auditor, with the county treasurer and supervisor. This board +recommends the amount to be raised by taxation for the ensuing year. +These estimates are then laid before the council of Aldermen, who +may cut down single items as they see fit, but have not the power to +increase any item. The Mayor must see to it that the administrative +work of the year does not use up more money than is thus allowed to +him."[41] + +The first Mayor to act under this charter amendment was Seth Low, who +was elected, in 1881, over Howell by a vote of 45,434 to 40,937.[42] +Low, who was born in Brooklyn, where his family had occupied a +distinguished position, and had graduated from Columbia College in +1870, afterward entering the business house of his father, was in his +thirty-second year when elected to office, a circumstance which, added +to the novelty of the conditions under which his administration must +work, did not fail to attract special attention throughout the country. + +In his first message (January, 1882) Low touched upon the important +question of the appointing power:-- + + "The manifest purpose of the act is to make the Mayor the + responsible head of the city government, and to secure a + homogeneous government by laying upon each Mayor the necessity + of making his appointments at the beginning of his term. To + accomplish this purpose the act does some things by direct + provision and some things by implication. It provides, in + section I, that the terms of office of certain specified + officers shall expire on the first of February, 1882. It then + provides, in section 6, that 'after the first day of January, + 1882, the Mayor of the city of Brooklyn shall have sole and + exclusive power to appoint the successor of any commissioner + or other head of department (except the department of finance + and the department of audit), or of any assessor or member of + the board of education of said city, when the terms of such + officers shall respectively expire, or as by law may then or + thereafter be required to be appointed.' + + "There are certain officers in the city whose terms of office + expired some time in the year 1881, to wit: The corporation + counsel, the city treasurer, the collector of taxes, and + the registrar of arrears, and to these officers the charter + amendment makes no distinct reference. The reason that the + present incumbents hold over is that, by section 5 of that + amendment, all power to appoint during 1881 was taken away + from the Mayor and Common Council, where it formerly resided, + without being lodged anywhere else, except that the sole power + of filling vacancies during 1881 was lodged with the Mayor. The + evident purpose of this provision was to place the appointment + of the successors to the present incumbents of these offices in + the hands of the Mayor to be elected by the people in 1881. So + much is clear; but it leaves two points uncertain: First, when + are the successors to the present incumbents to be appointed? + Second, when appointed, is it for the balance of an unexpired + term, or for two years? + + "I shall be governed by what I believe to be the clear and + intelligent purpose of the law. I shall appoint the four + officers alluded to so that their terms shall begin practically + on the first of February, or at the same time with the officers + distinctly mentioned in the act, and I shall appoint them for + two years." + +Speaking further of appointments and removals, Low said:-- + + "It is a matter of grave public concern for the people to + know in what spirit an officer intrusted for the first time + in the history of our city with such powers purposes to use + them. The whole theory of the law is that the Mayor shall be + responsible for the administration of the city's affairs, + and for the policy which animates the different departments. + It makes the relation of the different commissioners and + heads of departments to the Mayor practically that of the + cabinet officer to his chief. I feel it to be a matter + of no less importance to my successors than to myself to + emphasize this thought. It is no reproach to Mr. Evarts that + President Garfield placed Mr. Blaine at the head of the State + Department. It is no reproach to Mr. Blaine that President + Arthur has called Senator Frelinghuysen to succeed him; and + what is true of the State Department is equally true of a + purely administrative department like the post-office. It + will, therefore, be a great injustice to any official who may + be retired through my action to interpret it into reproach + upon him, just as it would be equal injustice to me to assume + that I meant it as such; or to my successor, to hamper him + with any obligations toward my appointees. The Mayor being + responsible to the people must be left free from such personal + embarrassments. I claim this right, as I believe, in the + interest of good government, for my successors and for myself. + + "The law does not give the Mayor the absolute power of removal. + I presume it was not thought to be necessary. But the whole + purpose of the law will be defeated unless the Mayor knows at + all times and under all circumstances that he is responsible + because his appointees represent him. If any of them get out of + harmony with him he must ask for their resignations, and he is + entitled to receive them on demand. I hazard nothing in saying + that the people of Brooklyn elected me Mayor with the full + purpose of placing precisely this responsibility upon me. As + there is no precedent to govern in this case, I wish to state + distinctly that the acceptance of an appointment at my hands + will be evidence to the community that the gentleman accepting + it has personally given me his assurance that he will without + delay give me his resignation whenever I ask for it." + +The remainder of the message was in the same spirit, and left the +people of Brooklyn in no doubt that the new Mayor meant to interpret +the movement represented by the charter amendments in its most radical +and reformatory light. + +Low was renominated in 1883. The Democrats nominated Joseph C. +Hendrix,[43] who led a brilliant campaign. In a hotly contested +election that drew out an extraordinary vote, Low was elected by a vote +of 49,554 against Hendrix's 48,006. + +The two administrations of Low demonstrated beyond question the +availability of the "Brooklyn system." In his message for 1884 the +Mayor offered a strong plea in behalf of the public schools, in which +free books had just been introduced. + +The president of the board of education made the following urgent +presentation of the case:-- + + "Notwithstanding the number of new buildings erected and + occupied during the year, I am unable to report any relief + from the general crowded condition that existed at the time + of my last report. The children come faster than we can make + room for them, and in some localities for nearly every seat + provided there are two applicants. As evidence of the demand + made upon our new schools, at their opening, by primary pupils, + I cite the following: The new primary building to relieve No. + 24 was opened on the 4th inst., this being the last of the new + buildings. The crowd of children with their parents seeking + admission was so great and the excitement so intense that for + two days two policemen were required to preserve order at the + doors. In a building seating 676 pupils 899 were registered, + the average age being 8 years. Only the fifth and sixth primary + grades are admitted to this building. It is not pleasant for me + to state that many of these children, 9 and 10 years old, have + never before had a day's schooling, because there was no public + school into which they could gain admittance. From the first + day the class-rooms have been devoted to half-day classes. + + "The registry of attendance in October of this year numbered + 67,314 pupils. Our regular seating capacity is but 64,200, or + 3,114 less than the actual attendance. We have 76 classes, + numbering over 90 pupils each, and of this number 16 classes + have over 140 each, the largest class having 218 pupils. A + large proportion of these crowded classes are from necessity + divided into half-day sessions. + + "This is our condition after redistricting the city and + reorganizing several schools, thereby decreasing the number of + grammar classes, and increasing the number of primary classes + by eighteen, and after building eight new school buildings,--we + have been compelled to crowd and pack our school rooms + without due regard to the convenience, comfort, and health of + the pupils and to the proper facilities and conditions for + imparting instruction.... + + "We have exhausted every means at our disposal to utilize space + save one. It is now the purpose of the Committee on Studies to + so revise the course of study that all grammar class-rooms will + be full. When this has been done we shall have no resource left + by which to gain space but to build new buildings." + +Possibly the most important achievement in Low's administration was the +framing and passage of the Arrears Bill, which had an immediate and +salutary effect in the management of the city's finances. + +An historic event during the period of Low's mayoralty was the opening +of the Bridge on Thursday, May 24, 1883. The two cities were greatly +aroused by the event, and much enthusiasm prevailed. + +The ceremonies were held at the Brooklyn Approach, and the formal +programme of ceremonies was as follows:-- + + MUSIC: + 23d Regiment Band. + + PRAYER: + Rt. Rev. Bishop Littlejohn. + + PRESENTATION ADDRESS: + On behalf of Trustees, + William C. Kingsley, Vice-President. + + ACCEPTANCE ADDRESS: + On behalf of the City of Brooklyn, + Hon. Seth Low, Mayor. + + ACCEPTANCE ADDRESS: + On behalf of the City of New York, + Hon. Franklin Edson, Mayor. + + ORATION: + Hon. Abram S. Hewitt. + + ORATION: + Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D. D. + + MUSIC: + 7th Regiment Band. + +The ceremonies over which James S. T. Stranahan, who had won the +distinction of being called "Brooklyn's first citizen," presided, drew +a large and memorable company. The military marshal of the day was +Maj.-Gen. James Jourdan, commanding the Second Division of the National +Guard, and the arrangements were as follows:-- + + "The President of the United States and Cabinet, the Governor + of the State of New York and Staff, with other distinguished + Guests, will be escorted from the Fifth Avenue Hotel to the New + York Anchorage by the 7th Regiment of the 1st Division, N. G., + S. N. Y., Emmons Clark, Colonel Commanding, and there received + by the Trustees and escorted to the Brooklyn Anchorage, from + which point the 23d Regiment, 2d Division, N. G., S. N. Y., + Rodney C. Ward, Colonel Commanding, will act as escort to the + Brooklyn Approach. + + "To avoid confusion, it is requested that holders of BLUE + TICKETS will enter Gates marked A at the Roadways on either + side of the Bridge. Holders of WHITE TICKETS will enter at + either Gates A or B. + + "Officers of the Army and Navy and the National Guard are + requested to appear in Uniform. Officials of New York and + Brooklyn are requested to display their badges of office." + +[Illustration: STATUE OF J. S. T. STRANAHAN AT THE ENTRANCE TO PROSPECT +PARK] + +In the course of his address Mayor Low said:-- + + "As the water of the lakes found the salt sea when the Erie + Canal was opened, so surely will quick communication seek and + find this noble bridge; and as the ships have carried hither + and thither the products of the mighty West, so shall diverging + railroads transport the people swiftly to their homes in the + hospitable city of Brooklyn. The Erie Canal is a waterway + through the land connecting the great West with the older East. + This bridge is a landway over the water, connecting two cities + bearing to each other relations in some respects similar. It is + the function of such works to bless 'both him that gives and + him that takes.' The development of the West has not belittled, + but has enlarged New York, and Brooklyn will grow by reason of + this bridge, not at New York's expense, but to her permanent + advantage. The Brooklyn of 1900 can hardly be guessed at from + the city of to-day. The hand of Time is a mighty hand. To those + who are privileged to live in sight of this noble structure + every line of it should be eloquent with inspiration. Courage, + enterprise, skill, faith, endurance,--these are the qualities + which have made the great bridge, and these are the qualities + which will make our city great and our people great. God grant + they never may be lacking in our midst. Gentlemen of the + Trustees, in accepting the bridge at your hands, I thank you + warmly in Brooklyn's name for your manifold and arduous labors." + +Speaking of a glance forward for twenty-five years, Mayor Edson said:-- + + "No one dares accept the possibilities that are forced upon the + mind in the course of its contemplation. Will these two cities, + ere then, have been consolidated into one great municipality, + numbering within its limits more than five millions of + people? Will the right of self-government have been accorded + to the great city, thus united, and will her people have + learned how best to exercise that right? Will the progress of + improvement and the preparation for commerce, manufactures, + and trade, and for the comforts of home for poor and rich, + have kept pace with the demand in the great and growing city? + Will the establishment of life-giving parks, embellished with + appropriate fountains and statues and with the numberless + graces of art, which at once gladden the eye, and raise the + standard of civilization, have kept abreast with its growth + in wealth and numbers? These are but few of the pertinent + questions which must be answered by the zealous and honest + acts of the generation of men already in active life. Here are + the possibilities; all the elements and conditions are here; + but the results must depend upon the wisdom and patriotism and + energy of those who shall lead in public affairs. May they be + clothed in a spirit of wisdom and knowledge akin to that which + inspired those who conceived and executed the great work which + we receive at your hands and dedicate to-day." + +The address of Abram S. Hewitt contained these significant words:-- + + "I am here by your favor to speak for the city of New York, and + I should be the last person to throw any discredit on its fair + fame; but I think I only give voice to the general feeling, + when I say that the citizens of New York are satisfied neither + with the structure of its government, nor with its actual + administration, even when it is in the hands of intelligent + and honest officials. Dissatisfied as we are, no man has been + able to devise a system which commends itself to the general + approval, and it may be asserted that the remedy is not to + be found in devices for any special machinery of government. + Experiments without number have been tried, and suggestions + in infinite variety have been offered, but to-day no man can + say that we have approached any nearer to the idea of good + government which is demanded by the intelligence and the wants + of the community. + + "If, therefore, New York has not yet learned to govern itself, + how can it be expected to be better governed by adding half a + million to its population, and a great territory to its area, + unless it be with the idea that a 'little leaven leaveneth + the whole lump'? Is Brooklyn that leaven? And if not, and if + possibly 'the salt has lost its savor, wherewith shall it be + salted?' Brooklyn is now struggling with this problem, it + remains to be seen with what success; but meanwhile it is + idle to consider the idea of getting rid of our common evils + by adding them together. Beside, it is a fundamental axiom in + politics, approved by the experience of older countries as + well as our own, that the sources of power should never be + far removed from those who are to feel its exercise. It is the + violation of this principle which produces chronic revolution + in France, and makes the British rule so obnoxious to the Irish + people. This evil is happily avoided when a natural boundary + circumscribes administration within narrow limits. While, + therefore, we rejoice together at the new bond between New York + and Brooklyn, we ought to rejoice the more that it destroys + none of the conditions which permit each city to govern itself, + but rather urges them to a generous rivalry in perfecting each + its own government, recognizing the truth that there is no + true liberty without law, and that eternal vigilance, which is + the only safeguard of liberty, can best be exercised within + limited areas. It would be a most fortunate conclusion if the + completion of this bridge should arouse public attention to the + absolute necessity of good municipal government, and recall the + only principle upon which it can ever be successfully founded. + There is reason to hope that this result will follow, because + the erection of this structure shows how a problem, analogous + to that which confronts us in regard to the city government, + has been met and solved in the domain of physical science." + +The brilliant oration of Dr. Storrs closed with the following glowing +passage:-- + + "Local and particular as is the work, therefore, it represents + that fellowship of the nations which is more and more + prominently a fact of our times, and which gives to these + cities incessant augmentation. When by and by on yonder + island the majestic French statue of 'Liberty' shall stand, + holding in its hand the radiant crown of electric flames, and + answering by them to those as brilliant along this causeway, + our beautiful bay will have taken what specially illuminates + and adorns it from Central and from Western Europe. The + distant lands from which oceans divide us, though we touch + them each moment with the fingers of the telegraph, will have + set their conspicuous double crown on the head of our harbor. + The alliances of nations, the peace of the world, will seem to + find illustrious prediction in such superb and novel regalia. + Friends and fellow-citizens, let us not forget that in the + growth of these cities, henceforth united and destined ere + long to be formally one, lies either a threat or one of the + most conspicuous promises of the time. Cities have always been + powers in history. Athens educated Greece as well as adorned + it, while Corinth filled the throbbing and thirsty Hellenic + veins with poisoned blood. The weight of Constantinople broke + the Roman Empire asunder. The capture of the same magnificent + city gave to the Turks their establishment in Europe for the + following centuries. Even where they have not had such a + commanding preëminence of location, the social, political, + moral force proceeding from cities has been vigorous, in + impression, immense in extent. The passion in Paris, for a + hundred years, has created or directed the sentiment of France. + Berlin is more than the legislative or administrative centre + of the German Empire, and even a government as autocratic as + that of the Czar, in a country as undeveloped as Russia, has + to consult the popular feeling of St. Petersburg or of Moscow. + In our nation, political power is widely distributed, and + the largest or wealthiest commercial centre can have but its + share. Great as is the weight of the aggregate vote in these + henceforth compacted cities, the vote of the State will always + overbear it. Amid the suffrages of the nation at large it can + only be reckoned as one of many consenting or conflicting + factors. But the influence which constantly proceeds from + these cities--on their journalism not only, or on the issues + of their book presses, or on the multitudes going forth from + them--but on the example presented in them, of educational, + social, religious life--this, for shadow and check, or for fine + inspiration, is already of unlimited extent, of incalculable + force. It must increase as they expand, and are lifted before + the country to a new elevation. A larger and a smaller sun + are sometimes associated, astronomers tell us, to form a + binary centre in the heavens, for what is doubtless an unseen + system receiving from them impulse and light. On a scale not + utterly insignificant a parallel may be hereafter suggested + in the relation of these combined cities to a part, at least, + of our national system. Their attitude and action during the + war--successfully closed under the gallant military leadership + of men whom we gladly welcome and honor--were of vast advantage + to the national cause. The moral, political, intellectual + temper which dominates in them as years go on, will touch + with beauty or scar with scorching and baleful heats extended + regions. Their religious life, as it glows in intensity, or + with a faint and failing lustre, will be repeated in answering + image from the widening frontier. The beneficence which gives + them grace and consecration, and which, as lately, they follow + to the grave with universal benediction; or, on the other + hand, the selfish ambitions which crowd and crush along their + streets, intent only on accumulated wealth and its sumptuous + display, or the glittering vices which they accept and set on + high--these will make impressions on those who never cross the + continent to our homes, to whom our journals are but names. + Surely we should not go from this hour, which marks a new era + in the history of these cities, and which points to their + future indefinite expansion, without the purpose in each of + us that so far forth as in us lies, with their increase in + numbers, wealth, equipment, shall also proceed, with equal + step, their progress in whatever is noblest and best in private + and in public life; that all which sets humanity forward shall + come in them to ampler endowment, more renowned exhibition; so + that, linked together, as hereafter they must be, and seeing + 'the purple deepening in their robes of power,' they may be + always increasingly conscious of fulfilled obligation to the + nation and to God; may make the land, at whose magnificent + gateway they stand, their constant debtor, and may contribute + their mighty part toward that ultimate perfect human society + for which the seer could find no image so meet or majestic as + that of a city, coming down from above, its stones laid with + fair colors, its foundations with sapphires, its windows of + agate, its gates of carbuncles, and all its borders of pleasant + stones, with the sovereign promise resplendent above it-- + + 'And great shall be the peace of thy children.'" + +The newspapers tendered homage to the leaders of the Bridge movement, +and to the guiding minds of the vast mechanical triumph--to John +A. Roebling, Washington A. Roebling, Henry C. Murphy, William C. +Kingsley, J. S. T. Stranahan, and others who had been prominent in the +labors of organization and of execution. + +The original cost of construction amounted to $15,000,000. The total +number of passengers on promenade, roadway, and railroad during 1883 +was 5,332,500. The total number in 1892, the year after the promenade +toll was removed, was 41,772,808. The statistics for 1893 show that the +traffic was highest in December and lowest in August. The earnings of +the Bridge are thus shown:-- + + From May 23, 1883, to Dec. 1, 1884 $682,755.42 + " Dec. 1, 1884, " Dec. 1, 1885 622,680.31 + " " 1885, " " 1886 870,207.43 + " " 1886, " " 1887 938,281.21 + " " 1887, " " 1888 1,012,254.82 + " " 1888, " " 1889 1,120,024.16 + " " 1889, " " 1890 1,239,493.90 + " " 1890, " " 1891 1,176,447.95 + " " 1891, " " 1892 1,801,661.48 + " " 1892, " " 1893 1,590,140.03 + -------------- + Total $11,053,946.71 + +The receipts from all sources for the year ending December 1, 1893, +were as follows: City of Brooklyn construction account, $150,000; +city of New York construction account, $75,000; receipts from tolls, +$1,252,908.04; material sold, labor, etc., $559.91; interest, +$2,426.03; rent, real estate, and telegraph wires, $109,246.05. Total, +$1,590,140.03. + +The management of the Bridge was formed under control of a board of +twenty trustees, eight being appointed by the Mayor, comptroller, +and auditor of Brooklyn, and eight by the Mayor, comptroller, and +president of the Board of Aldermen of New York city. Under an act of +the Legislature, passed April 4, 1893, on April 12 following, this +board was replaced by the present board of trustees, consisting of two +persons appointed by the Mayor of the city of Brooklyn, two persons +appointed by the Mayor of the city of New York, at a salary of $3000 +each, and the mayors and comptrollers of the two cities, members _ex +officio_, the appointed trustees to hold office for five years. + +Supplementing the work of the Bridge are the elevated railroads and the +electric or "trolley" system. Six steam railroads run into the city, +four running to Coney Island, one to Rockaway Beach, and one, the Long +Island Railroad, connecting with the railroad system of Long Island. +Sixteen ferries connect the bay and river front with New York. The New +York and Brooklyn Ferry Company carried about 16,000,000 passengers in +1893. + +The boundaries of the city, measuring about thirty-two miles, include +an extended water front that is one of the most picturesque in the +country. The Erie basin and Atlantic docks on the southern extremity +of the line represent an immense industry in grain shipments. +Grain-elevators, coaling-stations, store-houses, the chief naval +station in the United States, and the big establishments of the +greatest sugar-refining district in the world, combine to give the +river front an unusual interest. + +The great docks on the southwestern water front represent important +industries in which Brooklyn occupies a foremost place. The Atlantic +basin covers forty acres, and is surrounded by brick and granite +warehouses on three sides. These are 100 feet in depth, and three to +five stories high. The basin contains four piers, three of which are +covered, and are 700, 800, and 900 feet in length, by 80 feet in width. +South central pier, 900 feet long, is the largest in the port. In the +basin are seven elevators, six of which are controlled by the New York +Grain Warehousing Company, the seventh being owned by Pinto Brothers. +Atlantic basin is the largest grain-depot in the world. Its frontage +line of basin and piers measures three miles. South central pier is +leased by the Union Hamburg and the Nicaragua and Central American +lines of steamships. Barber & Co. and T. Hogan & Sons control the east +central pier; Funch & Edye's steamships dock at the south central pier, +as do the lines to Bordeaux and Oporto. At the west central pier many +goods from the Indies are unloaded, especially plumbago and cocoa-nut +oil. The entrance to the basin is 200 feet in width. The north pier is +much used by Italian barks. The basin has a uniformed police force of +its own. + +In this region also are finely appointed shipyards and dry docks, the +Anglo-American docks, opened in 1866, being the largest in the United +States. The chamber of Dock No. 1 is 510 feet in length, and that of +Dock No. 2,610 feet. Most of the large iron ships that are docked at +the port of New York are hauled up here. On the old Williamsburgh water +front are the vast sugar-refineries, the greatest group of the kind in +the world, and representing Brooklyn's greatest manufacturing interest. +The output of most of these great hives of industry is now controlled +by the American Sugar Refining Company. The largest of the refineries +melts 2000 tons of raw sugar per day, producing over 12,000 barrels of +refined sugar. Vessels from the West Indies and other points as remote +as Java line the piers at this part of the water front, loading with +barreled sugar. + +Large cooperages and extensive oil refineries occupy the water front +to the north, the great Standard Oil Company having its plant in this +region. + +The United States reservation, known as the Navy Yard, occupies about +112 acres in the bend of the river to which the Dutch gave the name +that still clings, the Wallabout. This is the chief naval station of +the United States. It contains trophies of the three great wars, and +the 6000 feet of water front is always made interesting by the presence +of one or more ships of war. + +In 1884 Brooklyn obtained from the United States Government a lease +of the 422,525 square feet of land on the east of the Navy Yard, and +adjoining the Wallabout canal. On this plot a large market has grown up +and supplied the city with a marketing centre of which it long stood +in need. In July, 1890, an act of Congress authorized the sale of the +fee-simple of the land to Brooklyn; the city authorities completing +the purchase in November, 1891, at the valuation of $700,000. Later, +an additional purchase of adjoining land from the federal government +extended the market property to the Wallabout canal, and enabled the +increase of the number of lots for stands to 120. The present area of +the market lands is bounded as follows: On the north by the Wallabout +canal; on the east by the lands of the United States Naval Hospital; on +the south by Flushing Avenue, and on the west by Washington Avenue. + +In December, 1892, the national government authorized the sale to +Brooklyn of additional lands of the Navy Yard reservation, abutting +upon the west side of Washington Avenue, and embraced between that +avenue and a line on a continuation of Clinton Avenue, Flushing Avenue, +and the East River,--a tract which would more than double in extent the +area of the market possessions. + +Brooklyn's boundaries on the east and south touch a number of large +cemeteries, most noted of which is Greenwood, which holds many +distinguished dead, and many notable monuments. In 1893 there were 5519 +interments at the cemetery of the Evergeens, and during the same year +3000 at Cypress Hills, and 18,000 at Calvary Cemetery. There are not +less than thirty cemeteries within the county, a fact that presents a +serious problem in the extension of the city's lines. + +The development of Prospect Park has been a matter of great pride and +gratification to the city. In recent years the park has been adorned +by a number of statues. J. S. T. Stranahan has received the unique +honor of a public statue in his lifetime. In the plaza is the statue of +Lincoln already mentioned. Within the park are busts of Thomas Moore, +Washington Irving, and of John Howard Payne, one of Long Island's sons. + +The Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch in the Park Plaza was +proposed by Seth Low in a speech at Greenwood, on Decoration Day. The +Legislature voted $250,000, subscriptions were raised, the competition +for a suitable design was won by John H. Duncan, the corner-stone was +laid in 1889, and the monument was finished in 1892. + +The Municipal Building was finished in 1878, at a cost of $200,000, +and the Hall of Records adjoining the county Court House in 1886, at +a cost of $275,000. The most imposing public building in the city +is the Federal Building, bounded by Washington, Johnson, and Adams +streets. This massive structure of Maine granite contains the central +post-office quarters, and the federal courts and offices. The site cost +$413,594.12, and the building $1,258,057.06. + +Some of the most important building operations in recent years have +expressed the enterprises of the great bazaars, gathered most thickly +on Fulton Street, but appearing also on other leading thoroughfares. + +A glance at the buildings of the city quickly suggests the remarkable +increase in the number of theatres. + +According to Gabriel Harrison's "History of the Drama in Brooklyn" the +first dramatic performance in the city took place in a stone building +on the north side of "the old road" (Fulton Street), near the corner +of Front Street. This building had been known for thirty years or +more as Corporation House, belonging to the corporation of the city +of New York. It contained a tavern and a ferry room on its ground +floor and a hall on the second. When the British gained possession of +Brooklyn the house changed hands, and was known while they remained as +the King's Head. It was fitted as a resort for officers and men, and +all sorts of amusements were offered, from bull-baiting to games of +chance. George III.'s birthday was celebrated by illuminations and +fish dinners, to which the Tories of New York came over in rowboats. At +the first dramatic performances here an original farce was acted, of +which General John Burgoyne was the alleged author. It was called "The +Battle of Brooklyn." The title-page reads: "The Battle of Brooklyn; a +farce in two acts, as it was performed in Long Island on Tuesday, 27th +day of August, 1776, by the representatives of the Tyrants of America, +assembled in Philadelphia." + +There were also dramatic performances in Greene's Military Garden in +1810, and later. An amphitheatre was built on Fulton Street in 1828. +The assembly rooms of Military Garden were converted into a theatre +in 1848. Chanfrau and Burke opened the Brooklyn Museum in 1850. The +Odeon was built on the site of the present Novelty or Proctor's Theatre +on Driggs Street, in 1852. It was afterward known as Apollo Hall. +Washington Hall, afterward called the Comique, was built at the corner +of Broadway and Fourth Street (now Bedford Avenue); Hooley's Opera +House, at Court and Remsen streets, in 1862, and the Park Theatre was +built a year later. The Brooklyn Theatre was opened in 1871, and +rebuilt after the fire.[44] Hyde & Behman's Theatre was built in 1877, +the Grand Opera House in 1881, the Criterion in 1885, the Amphion in +1888. The completion of the fine Columbia Theatre on Washington Street +was due to the enterprise of Edwin Knowles, who had been a successful +manager of the Grand Opera House, and subsequently of the Amphion. + +The newer city armories are further important additions to the city +architecture. + +On the first day of January, 1894, the military organizations of +Brooklyn, comprising, with the Seventeenth Separate Company of +Flushing, the entire Second Brigade of the New York National Guard, +numbered about 3000 men. The strength of the brigade in 1892, as shown +at inspection, was 3084. In this number were included the 403 officers +and men of the Thirty-second Regiment, shortly afterward disbanded. +Very few members of that organization are now in the service. In 1893, +inspections of the several commands were held, as follows: Seventeenth +Separate Company, April 3; Signal Corps, October 10; Third Battery, +October 11; Forty-seventh Regiment, October 18; Fourteenth Regiment, +October 19; Thirteenth Regiment, October 21; Twenty-third Regiment, +October 26. The Thirteenth and Fourteenth regiments, which did not +go to the state camp last year, were inspected in the afternoon at +Prospect Park. Below is shown the attendance of each organization:-- + +MUSTER ROLL FOR 1893. + + ----------------------+----------+---------+--------+----------- + Organization. | Present. | Absent. | Total. | Percentage + | | | | Present. + ----------------------+----------+---------+--------+----------- + Brigade Commander and | | | | + Staff | 11 | -- | 11 | -- + Thirteenth Regt | 529 | 118 | 647 | 81.61 + Fourteenth Regt | 532 | 149 | 681 | 78.11 + Twenty-third Regt | 770 | 35 | 805 | 95.65 + Forty-seventh Regt | 521 | 48 | 569 | 91.56 + Third Battery. | 68 | 8 | 76 | 89.47 + Seventeenth Sep. Co. | 51 | 9 | 60 | 85.00 + Signal Corps | 40 | 1 | 41 | 97.56 + +----------+---------+--------+----------- + Total | 2,522 | 368 | 2,890 | + ----------------------+----------+---------+--------+----------- + + +The difficulties arising from inadequate school accommodations, to meet +which Mayor Low and other mayors had urged broad and sufficient action, +continued to hamper the action of the department of public instruction. +The development of the department under the superintendency of William +H. Maxwell has been along thoroughly modern lines. Recent reforms have +had a tendency to improve the quality of teachers by placing obstacles +in the path of the incompetent. To a considerable extent these reforms +have diminished the chances of political interference in the working of +the school system. + +The successful establishment, in 1878, of a Central Grammar School, +admitting graduates from the public schools, was followed by the +organization of separate high schools for boys and girls, and afterward +by a manual training school, and a movement for the establishment of +kindergarten classes and definite means of physical culture. On October +31, 1893, there were on register in the public schools of the city +102,468 pupils,--more than 2000 in excess of the sittings. For many +years preceding this date a large number of classes had provided a half +day's schooling only for the registered pupils, forcing the teachers +of these classes to assume responsibility for two large classes of +children on each school day. + +[Illustration: STATUE OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON IN FRONT OF THE HAMILTON +CLUB HOUSE] + +In his report for the year ending December 31, 1892, Superintendent +Maxwell said:-- + + "The child that begins the school course at six ought to + complete it easily, and be ready to enter the high school, + at the age of fourteen. In every grade, however, the average + age is about one year higher than it ought to be. There is + now a well ascertained consensus of opinion among educational + authorities that this delay in reaching the high school--in + getting at such disciplinary studies as languages, geometry, + and natural science--is detrimental not only to the individual + child but to the public welfare. In some cases this delay is + doubtless caused by protracted illness or general physical + weakness; in some, by the mania--I can call it by no other + name--which some principals and teachers have for holding + back pupils from promotion; in some, by positive dullness or + slowness of wit; but in the majority of cases it arises from + the crowded condition of the lower primary classes. Instead + of accommodating more children by swelling the registers of + these classes, we are accommodating fewer. The teachers in + these classes, work as hard as they may, are able to prepare + but a small proportion of their classes for promotion; while + by reason of lack of proper teaching in the introductory + classes--a lack which is not chargeable to the teachers--the + pupils are less able than they otherwise would be to do the + work of the higher grades as they advance. The consequence + is that pupils are put through our schools more slowly and + in smaller numbers than they ought to be. If in a piece of + machinery or in a living organism a greater strain is put + on any one part than it is able to bear, the strength and + efficiency of the whole are proportionately diminished. Just so + it is with our school system. The strain put upon the seventh + primary teachers by choking up their classes impairs the + efficiency of the entire system. The only rational conclusion + is that _the number of pupils to a class must be limited_." + +The movement toward centralizing responsibility in the school +principals began at this time to gather force. It was warmly supported +by the superintendent. + +In the Girls' High School, in 1893, the number of registered pupils +was 1626; in the Boys' High School, 692. The annual appropriation for +schools in 1893 was $2,449,735.33; from the city, $1,996,500.00; from +the State, $394,414.82; other sources, $58,820.51. + +A training school for teachers was established in 1885. From this +admirable institution the graduates increased in number from 48 in 1886 +to 70 in 1892. + +With the educational interests of Brooklyn the Brooklyn Institute of +Arts and Sciences is closely associated. In the summer of 1823 several +gentlemen, among whom was Augustus Graham, met at Stevenson's Tavern +for the purpose of establishing for the apprentices of Brooklyn a free +library.[45] They adopted a constitution, and issued to the citizens +of Brooklyn a circular, in which they solicited donations of books +and money with which to effect their purpose. On November 20, 1824, +they were incorporated by the Legislature of the State under the name +of "The Brooklyn Apprentices' Library Association," and on July 4, +1825, the corner-stone of the first building owned by the association +was laid by General Lafayette, at the junction of Henry and Cranberry +streets. As early as 1835 the association had outgrown its original +quarters, and the property having been sold to the city the institution +was removed to a new building in Washington Street, then the centre of +the wealth and culture of our young city. The first lecture delivered +in the newly completed structure was by Prof. James D. Dana. + +In order to broaden the scope of the association, an amended charter +was granted by the Legislature in 1843, and the name therein changed +to "The Brooklyn Institute." For many years thereafter the Institute +was a most important factor in the social, literary, scientific, and +educational life of Brooklyn. Its library had a large circulation; in +its public hall took place many social and historic gatherings, and +from its platform were heard such eminent scientific men as Agassiz, +Dana, Gray, Henry, Morse, Mitchell, Torrey, Guyot, and Cooke; such +learned divines as Drs. McCosh, Hitchcock, Storrs, and Buddington, and +such defenders of the liberties of the people as Phillips, Sumner, +Garrison, Emerson, Everett, Curtis, King, Bellows, Chapin, and Beecher. + +During this brilliant period of its history (1843-1867), the Institute +received from Mr. Graham two very important donations. On July 4, 1848, +the building, which had been heavily mortgaged, he presented to the +trustees free from all incumbrance, and through his will, made known to +the board of directors on November 28, 1851, shortly after his decease, +he bequeathed to the Institute the sum of $27,000, as a permanent +endowment fund. The will directs that the interest of $10,000 of this +sum shall be used in the support of lectures on scientific subjects +and in the purchase of apparatus and collections illustrating the +sciences; that the interest of $12,000 shall be used in the support of +Sunday evening lectures on "The Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God as +manifested in His Works," and that the balance of $5,000 shall be used +in the support of a school of design and in forming a gallery of fine +arts. + +For several years, however, prior to 1867, owing to the erection of the +Academy of Music and other public buildings, the Institute building was +regarded as behind the times. The income from rental of portions of +the building was dwindling to a low figure, and the financial support +of the free library was becoming inadequate. Under these circumstances +the directors remodeled the building in 1867, at an expense of about +$3,000, a part of which was raised by life-membership subscriptions of +$50 and $100, and the balance by a mortgage on the building. For twenty +years (1867-87) this indebtedness necessitated the application of a +portion of the income from the rent of the building and from the Graham +endowment fund to the payment of the interest and the principal of the +debt. Final payment on the mortgage was made early in 1887. + +The causes of the partial inactivity of the Institute during the twenty +years (1867-87) are therefore apparent. The most that it was able to +do was to circulate its library, keep up its classes in drawing, and +provide for the annual addresses on the 22d of February. Freed from +debt in 1887, the Institute was enabled once more to use the whole +income from its funds and building for educational purposes, and again +to become an important agent in the work of education in the city. + +The property of the Institute in 1887 consisted of the Institute +building and land, valued at $90,000, a library of 12,000 volumes, +a collection of paintings valued at $10,000, and endowment funds of +$46,000. These last comprise the $27,000 bequeathed by Mr. Graham, the +William H. Cary fund of $10,000 for the support of the library, and an +increment of $9,000 realized through premiums on the sale of bonds. + +During the year 1887-88 a new era in the history of the Institute was +inaugurated. The board of trustees determined to make the property of +the Institute the nucleus of a broad and comprehensive institution +for the advancement of science and art, and its membership a large +and active association, laboring not only for the advancement of +knowledge, but also for the education of the people, through lectures +and collections, in art and science. It was observed that while Boston +had the Lowell Institute, a society of natural history, and an art +museum; while Philadelphia had the Franklin Institute, an academy +of sciences, and a gallery of fine arts; and while New York had the +Metropolitan Museum and the American Museum, yet that Brooklyn had +nothing corresponding to these institutions. It was felt that Brooklyn +should have an institute of arts and sciences worthy of her wealth, her +position, her culture, and her people; that it was her duty to do more +than she was then doing for the education and enjoyment of her people, +and that some step should be taken looking towards the future growth +and needs of the city in matters of art and science. + +Accordingly, a form of organization was adopted which contemplated the +formation of a large association of members, and a continual increase +of the endowment funds and the collections of the Institute. Provision +was made for a subdivision of the membership into departments, +representing various branches of art and science, each department +forming a society by itself and yet enjoying all the privileges of the +general association. A general invitation was extended to citizens +specially interested in science and art to become members of the +Institute. Courses of lectures on science and art were provided. +The directors' room of the Institute was enlarged to accommodate +the meetings of some of the departments contemplated, and a large +lecture-room on the third floor of the Institute building was fitted +up at an expense of $2600 for the occupancy of those departments that +would make use of apparatus and collections at their meetings. + +During the first fifteen months after the reorganization of the +Institute a membership of three hundred and fifty persons was recorded. +The Brooklyn Microscopical Society joined the Institute in a body, +with sixty-four members, and became the Department of Microscopy. The +American Astronomical Society, whose members resided mostly in New +York and Brooklyn, became the Department of Astronomy, with thirty-two +members. The Brooklyn Entomological Society united with the Institute, +and became the Entomological Department, with forty-one members. The +Linden Camera Club of Brooklyn became the Department of Photography, +with twenty-six members. Departments of physics, chemistry, botany, +mineralogy, geology, zoölogy, and archæology were successively formed. +Each of the above twelve departments began to hold monthly meetings. +The permanent funds and property of the Institute were increased +$3000. Additions were made to the library, and its circulation +increased from 12,000 to 36,000 volumes per year. The lecture courses +were fully attended. The classes in drawing were enlarged, and a +general citizens' movement to secure a museum of arts and sciences for +Brooklyn was inaugurated. + +The subsequent growth of the Institute has been remarkable. The old +building on Washington Street was burned in 1890, and the work was +continued in temporary quarters, chiefly in the building of the Young +Men's Christian Association on Fulton Street. During the fourth year +of active work after the reorganization 632 new members were recorded. +The real estate belonging to the old Brooklyn Institute on Washington +Street was sold to the trustees of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, +and the old Institute was formally consolidated with the new Brooklyn +Institute of Arts and Sciences. By an act of the Legislature the +city was authorized to expend $300,000 in the erection of a Museum +of Arts and Sciences on Prospect Hill, on a favorable site bounded +by the Eastern Parkway, Washington Avenue, old President Street, and +the Prospect Hill reservoir. In the year 1892, 940 new members were +added, bringing the total up to 2622; the number of lectures and class +exercises open to members and others, by the payment of a moderate fee, +was 1397, as against 1134 the previous year; the number of concerts was +increased from eight to fifteen; the average daily attendance on all +the exercises of the Institute for the eight months of active work was +936, and the total attendance for the year, 190,900; the annual income +was increased from $18,934.20 in the previous year to $31,641.58; +special courses of lectures were delivered on American history from the +time of Columbus to the beginning of this century, and a special course +of addresses was given by college presidents on educational problems; +Institute extension courses of lectures were given in the eastern +section of the city; the school of political science was established, +with four classes and ninety-six pupils; the Brooklyn art school was +transferred to new and larger quarters in the Ovington Studio Building, +and the number of pupils was increased from ninety-four to one hundred +and twenty-eight; the department of architecture, acting through its +advisory board, devised a scheme of competition for the best plan +and design for the proposed Museum of Arts and Sciences, which was +accepted by the board of trustees, and adopted by the Mayor and park +commissioner, and the competition so arranged resulted in the award to +the distinguished New York architects, McKim, Mead & White. + +Foremost among those who have brought the Institute to its present +influential position in the city have been Gen. John B. Woodward and +Prof. Franklin W. Hooper. Professor Hooper, who had been elected +curator of the Institute in 1889, became director of the new Institute +of Arts and Sciences in 1891. + +Mention has already been made of the establishment of Packer Institute +and the Polytechnic Institute. The handsome gift of Mrs. Wm. S. Packer +resulted in the opening of an academy for the education of young +women. Since the time of the opening in 1854, under the presidency of +Dr. Alonzo Crittenden, the Packer Collegiate Institute has enjoyed a +peculiar prominence in the educational work of the city, and has won +a high, if not a foremost, place among academies of the kind in the +United States. Dr. Crittenden was succeeded in 1883 by Dr. Truman +G. Backus, who had filled the professorship of English language and +literature at Vassar, and whose brilliant attainments as a scholar and +director have given new distinction to the institute. + +A commanding position likewise has been gained by the Polytechnic +Institute, whose establishment as an academy for young men resulted +from the successful movement, aided by the gift of Mrs. Packer, for +the establishment of a young women's school. A building on Livingston +Street was completed and opened in 1855, Dr. John H. Raymond then being +president of the faculty. Dr. Raymond was succeeded by Dr. David Henry +Cochran, who had for ten years been principal of the State Normal +School at Albany. Under a new charter, secured in 1890, the Brooklyn +Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute received "all the rights, powers, +and dignities given by the law and the ordinances of the regents[46] +to a college, including membership in the University of the State of +New York." Dr. Henry Sanger Snow, an alumnus and a trustee of the +institute, took a leading part in the negotiations which resulted in +the significant change. The new building adjoining the old was first +occupied in September, 1891. + +The Adelphi Academy began its life in 1869 as a private school for +both sexes. In 1886 Charles Pratt, then president of the board of +trustees, made gifts to the Institute, by means of which it secured +a new building that was opened in 1888. The since extended buildings +now occupy a large part of the block bounded by Lafayette Avenue, +St. James Place, Clifton Place, and Grand Avenue. The preparatory, +academic, and collegiate departments are supplemented by a kindergarten +and a physical-training school. Art education has always occupied an +important place in the Adelphi Academy. Many well-known artists have +graduated from the art school superintended by Prof. J. B. Whittaker. +The principals of the Adelphi since its establishment have been John +Lockwood, Homer B. Sprague, Stephen G. Taylor, Albert C. Perkins, John +S. Crombie, and Charles H. Levermore. + +It is to Charles Pratt, who took so important a part in bringing +Adelphi Academy to its present position, that Brooklyn is indebted for +the school which, more than any other educational institution within +its borders, is distinctively original and of a national fame. Pratt +Institute is frequently compared with Cooper Institute in New York. The +comparison between the wise beneficence of Cooper and that of Pratt +is, indeed, interestingly close; but the likeness between the two great +schools is less perfect. Pratt Institute's remarkable characteristics +are the result of a wise idea logically worked out. The buildings +on Ryerson Street and Grand Avenue contain a unique combination of +departments under a form of management that has proved to be eminently +practical and progressive. Its educational plan illustrates manual and +industrial training, as well as education in high-school and artistic +branches. The methods of teaching domestic art, as well as political, +economic, and natural science, have excited the admiration of students +of education throughout the country. The large free library is one of +many features of the institution. + +The kindergarten idea in Brooklyn has had its leading exponent in +Froebel Academy on Tompkins Square. Among other private educational +institutions are St. John's College, the most prominent of the Roman +Catholic schools, situated on Lewis Avenue, between Willoughby Avenue +and Hart Street; St. Francis College, Bedford Academy, St. Joseph's +Institute, Brooklyn Heights Seminary, Long Island Business College, +Brooklyn Latin School, Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Miss +Rounds's School for Girls, Kissick's Business College, and Browne's +Business College. + +In special education the Long Island College Hospital and the Brooklyn +College of Pharmacy occupy an important place. The Long Island College +Hospital and Training School for Nurses was chartered in 1858. Its +history as a hospital and as a college has been notable. The graduates +in 1893 numbered 60, bringing the total list of graduates nearly to +1500. + +It frequently has been lamented that Brooklyn has no great free +library, and the deficiency is one for which the city deserves a mark +of discredit. But it is due to Brooklyn to observe that she is by no +means without excellent opportunities for those who wish to read. + +The Brooklyn Library, which succeeded the old Mercantile Library, +is not free to the public, but the subscription rate is so low in +comparison with the privileges that the institution is in many respects +to be regarded as a great public library. The building on Montague +Street was finished in 1868 at a cost of $227,000, and its beautiful +Gothic front forms one of the genuine ornaments of the city. + +The library contains nearly 200,000 volumes, admirably selected. The +catalogue compiled by Stephen B. Noyes was of a character to bring +honor alike to library and librarian. Upon the death of Mr. Noyes +the management of the library came into the competent hands of W. A. +Bardwell, who became librarian in 1888. The reading-rooms are furnished +with 300 periodicals and newspapers. In the reference departments there +were 75,000 readers in 1893, and in the reading-rooms 100,000 readers. +The Brooklyn Library has, indeed, performed an immensely important +service in the development of the city. + +The Brooklyn Institute Free Library, formerly in the old Institute +Building on Washington Street, and now at 502 Fulton Street, contains +16,000 well-selected volumes, and is efficiently managed. Pratt +Institute Free Library is a notable instance of a great public service +through a private agency. The library of 42,000 volumes includes 2000 +German and 2000 French books. There are an Astral Branch at Franklin +Avenue and Java Street, and delivery stations at Froebel Academy and +754 Driggs Avenue. Reading-room and library are free to the use of all +residents of Brooklyn. The Long Island Free Library, at 571 Atlantic +Avenue, is the result of a well-directed movement. There are but +15,000 volumes, but method of selection and distribution have assured +the usefulness of the work. To this must be added the free public +school libraries, and the substantial free library of the Union for +Christian Work on Schermerhorn Street. + +The free library of the Long Island Historical Society naturally +occupies an important place. The reference department of 48,000 volumes +includes the noteworthy publications of the society itself. The Law +Library in the Court House contains 15,000 volumes, and there are 7000 +volumes in the library of the Kings County Medical Society. + +In addition to the libraries of the Young Men's and the Young Women's +Christian associations,[47] there are over twenty-five special free +reading-rooms throughout the city, most of them connected with +churches. + +The large number of churches, and the emphasis laid upon church +interests, once gave to Brooklyn the title of the City of Churches. +The proportion between the number of churches and the population no +longer is so exceptional as to justify such a title, but church life +in Brooklyn is, in many respects, of unique prominence. The greatest +preacher the United States has produced, Henry Ward Beecher,[48] +occupied the pulpit of Plymouth Church during a great formative period +in the city's history. The Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D. D., pastor of the +Congregational Church of the Pilgrims since 1846, the descendant of a +distinguished family of preachers and orators, who has been called the +"Chrysostom of Brooklyn," occupies a place among the most scholarly +of American orators. The popularity of the Rev. T. De Witt Talmage, +pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle since 1869, has been unexampled in +the church history of the country. The thirty years' pastorate of the +Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, +constituted a notable force in the advancement of the community. The +enlightened leadership of the Catholic Church by the Right Reverend +John Loughlin, first bishop of Brooklyn, who was succeeded in 1892 +by the Right Reverend Charles E. McDonnell, has been a matter for +congratulation in the Catholic Church; and the Episcopal Church has +been under no less obligation to the first bishop of the Protestant +Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, the Right Reverend A. N. Littlejohn, +D. D. When Dr. Littlejohn was elected bishop in 1869, he was succeeded +as rector of Holy Trinity Church by the Rev. Charles Henry Hall, D. D., +who has been one of Brooklyn's strongest preachers. + +St. James' Church, at Jay and Chapel streets, has been the cathedral +church of the Catholic diocese for nearly half a century. The +corner-stone of a great cathedral, to occupy the block bounded by +Lafayette, Clermont, Greene, and Vanderbilt avenues, was laid in 1868, +but only a part of the structure has been completed. + +In 1893 the following were the numbers of churches of different +denominations in Brooklyn: Baptist, 40; Congregational, 26; German +Evangelical Association, 5; Jewish, 10; Lutheran, 27; Methodist +Episcopal, 53; Primitive Methodist, 4; Methodist Free, 1; Methodist +Protestant, 1; Presbyterian, 33; Roman Catholic, 63; Reformed +Presbyterian, 1; United Presbyterian, 3; Protestant Episcopal, 45; +Reformed Episcopal, 2; Dutch Reformed, 19; Unitarian, 4; Universalist, +5; miscellaneous, 23. + +In the county towns the churches are numbered as follows: Baptist, 1; +Hebrew, 1; Lutheran, 5; Methodist Episcopal, 9; Protestant Episcopal, +8; Methodist Protestant, 1; Reformed, 8; Roman Catholic, 12. In 1893 +there were ten so-called Chinese Sunday-schools in Brooklyn, most +of them connected with Protestant churches, and said to enroll 200 +members.[49] + +Religious societies in Brooklyn include a large list of prosperous and +efficient bodies. Among these may be mentioned the Catholic Historical +Society, the Union Missionary Training Institute, the Baptist Church +Extension Society, Baptist Social Union, City Bible Society, Church +Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, City Mission and Tract +Society, Brooklyn Sunday School Union, Eastern District Sabbath School +Association, Brooklyn Theosophical Society, Brotherhood of Christian +Unity, Church Charity Foundation, Congregational Church Extension +Society, Congregational Club, Foreign Sunday School Association, +German Young Men's Christian Association, Greenpoint Sunday School +Association, Greenpoint Young Men's Christian Association, Kings County +Sunday School Association, Long Island Baptist Association, Order of +Deaconesses of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Women's Auxiliary, +Unitarian Club, Universalist Club, and the Young People's Baptist Union. + +Brooklyn's churches occupy a particularly intimate relation with the +intellectual and social life of the city. The circumstances under +which the Rev. John W. Chadwick, D. D., became a leader in that highly +significant intellectual movement, the Brooklyn Ethical Association, +which has held meetings during a number of seasons at the Second +Unitarian Church, and under which the Rev. John Coleman Adams, D. D., +instituted the free historical lectures to public school children at +All Souls Universalist Church, have been typical of a wholesome and +progressive tendency in the community. + +The work of the churches is supplemented by many and admirable +organizations devoted to the relief of the weak, destitute, and +incompetent. An important position is occupied by the Association for +Improving the Condition of the Poor. The Brooklyn Bureau of Charities, +with central offices on Schermerhorn Street, has "the general purpose +of promoting the welfare of the poor, the suffering, and the friendless +in the city of Brooklyn. The specific objects and methods include: +The promotion of cordial coöperation between benevolent societies, +churches, and individuals; the maintenance of a body of friendly +visitors to the poor; the encouragement of thrift, self-dependence, +and industry; the provision of temporary employment and industrial +instruction." + +The Society of St. Vincent de Paul undertakes the general relief of +the poor, without regard to color or creed, the work being done by a +conference in each church (Catholic). The society is governed by a +council composed of the president and vice-president of each conference. + +A number of industrial agencies have been devised for the purpose of +supplying temporary work for men and women. A bureau of relief for +needy veterans of the Rebellion was established in Grand Army quarters +at the City Hall. In recent years the number of free dispensaries +throughout the city has greatly increased. + +The Brooklyn Hospital, incorporated in 1845, received valuable aid from +Augustus Graham, the founder of the Brooklyn Institute. The present +hospital at Raymond Street and De Kalb Avenue has been in operation +since 1852. St. Catherine's Hospital was established in 1869. The +Memorial Hospital for women and children was founded in 1881; the +Methodist Episcopal Hospital in the same year; St. Mary's Hospital +in 1878; St. John's Hospital in 1871; the German Hospital in 1889; +the Lutheran Hospital in 1881; the Brooklyn Hospital for Contagious +Diseases in 1891; St. Peter's Hospital in 1864; the Brooklyn Home for +Consumptives in 1864; the Eastern District Dispensary and Hospital in +1851; the Long Island Throat and Lung Hospital in 1889; the Brooklyn +Throat Hospital in 1889; the Brooklyn Homoeopathic Hospital in 1852; +the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hospital in 1868; the Kings County Hospital (a +county institution) in 1837; the Brooklyn Maternity in 1870; the Faith +Home for Incurables in 1878; the Inebriates' Home for Kings County in +1867. + +For the protection and relief of children, the city has the Society for +the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Children's Aid Society, +the Industrial School Association, with six branches, the Nursery and +Infants' Hospital, the Howard Colored Orphan Asylum, the Hebrew Orphan +Asylum, the Orphan Asylum Society, the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum +Society, with three branches; the Eastern District Industrial School, +the Sheltering Arms Nursery, St. Giles's Home, St. Vincent's Home for +Boys, St. Christopher's Day Nursery, and St. Malachi's Home. + +Brooklyn's right to the title of the City of Homes, rather than to +that of the City of Churches, is excellently supported by a study of +its social life; and in no phase is this peculiarity more apparent +than in the club life of the city, which is distinctly in harmony with +the general social life of the city. Several of the city clubs have +"ladies' nights," or special receptions to which ladies are invited, +and to some of the clubs ladies are admitted at certain hours of the +day. "The Union League, with its Romanesque front of cinnamon brick +and brownstone on a semi-square, is near the south end of Bedford +Avenue. Its location is fine, and during the political campaigns it is +an important centre. Medallions of Grant and Lincoln adorn the front, +an eagle with outstretched wings holds up a 'bay,' and a carved bear +stands on the roof, a symbol of the 'grip' that clubdom has on the +modern man. The great hall in this house is one of the finest in the +country. Across the city, a square below the Park plaza, stands the +Montauk, a fine structure, ornate, in light tones of brick, and with a +Greek frieze above the third story, which is unique in architectural +decoration and is a replica of old bas-reliefs. Near by is the mammoth +building of the Riding and Driving Club, the largest and best arranged +structure of the kind in this country. The Hamilton, one of the older +clubs, has a tall building on the corner of Clinton and Remsen streets, +showing an expanse of red brick and brownstone. It has no distinctive +architectural style. Architecturally, a most elaborate club-house is +the Germania on Schermerhorn Street. Its style is a rich but modified +Florentine. The material is pale brown brick. A feature of it is the +great arched doorway. The Bush wick Democratic club-house on Bushwick +Avenue is, architecturally, on the same lines, a reduced version in +stone and terra cotta. The club has but recently taken possession of +this new house. Out in Flatbush, on the avenue, is the Midwood, an old +colonial manse, unaltered, with wide-spreading grounds, its façade +marked by great white columns, such as are almost unknown elsewhere in +the county of Kings to-day. The Hanover, on Bedford Avenue, is a fine +modern double house, with extensions and remodelings. The Brooklyn and +the Oxford clubs have recently enlarged their rather unpretentious +buildings without special reference to architectural beauty. The +Excelsior is a plain city house. The Lincoln has the appearance of +several buildings joined together, but is ornate and striking. Out of +town the Crescent and the Field and Marine clubs have charming country +homes, turreted and porticoed, and surrounded with trees and lawns."[50] + +In literary, artistic, musical, dramatic, and social clubs, the city +has become populous. The Academy of Music had its origin in the success +of the Brooklyn Philharmonic Society, the leading organization for +the patronage of music, which was incorporated in 1857. It had been +remarked that the audiences which patronized the concerts of the New +York Philharmonic Society were, in a great part, made up of Brooklyn +people. In 1856 or 1857 it occurred to the heads of several families, +who were the best and most appreciative patrons of the New York +society, that Brooklyn might and ought to have a Philharmonic Society +of its own. The project was inaugurated, and was attended with success. +The subscription list doubled the second season. There were, the second +year, over seven hundred subscribers, and numerous patrons besides. The +Athenæum was entirely inadequate for the purposes of the society. In +1858, the leading members of the Philharmonic Society, by circulars, +called the attention of several leading citizens to the relative change +that was going on between the two cities, and pointed to the success of +their society as the best evidence that the time had come when a large +lyric hall was demanded by the necessities of our city. About fifty +gentlemen responded to this call, and a preliminary meeting was held +at the Polytechnic Institute, in October, 1858.[51] A public meeting +followed, a popular stock company was formed, and the Academy was +incorporated in 1859. Land in Montague Street was bought for $41,000. +The total expenditure reached $200,000. The Academy became and has +remained the city's leading opera house, and largest place of public +meeting. Most of the greatest musical artists, actors, and orators in +the country have been heard under its roof. + +Among the leading musical associations of the city are the Apollo Club, +the Seidl Society, the Brooklyn Choral Society, the Arion Society, the +Brooklyn Maennerchor, the Zoellner Maennerchor, the Amphion Musical +Society, the Cæcilia Ladies' Vocal Society, the Concordia Maennerchor, +the Euterpe Chorus and Orchestra, the Deutscher Liederkranz, the +Saengerbund, and the Prospect Heights Choral Society. In recent years +there has appeared a disposition to regard Brooklyn as a musical city. +The increase in the number of musical societies and the patronage of +opera and concert have unquestionably been great. Among the musical +composers, resident in the city, who have made national reputations, +Dudley Buck has been of first prominence. + +The Brooklyn Art Association, a development of the Sketch Club, formed +by Brooklyn artists in 1857, erected a handsome building adjoining +the Academy of Music in 1872. The exhibitions held in the association +galleries have been the chief displays of pictures seen within the +city. In recent years the Brooklyn Art Club, a society composed of +artists solely, has attained a large membership, and has exhibited +annually in the Art Association galleries. The Art Association +maintains a free art school. The leading society of art connoisseurs is +the Rembrandt Club. + +The Society of Old Brooklynites, the Franklin Literary Society, and +the Bryant Literary Society have won prominence, and a position of +influence has been assumed by the Brooklyn Woman's Club. + +In private libraries and art collections Brooklyn has grown rich +within the past twenty-five years. The development of certain valuable +picture collections has induced the wish that the city had a great +museum similar to the Metropolitan in New York, which might receive +contributions by bequest. The advancement of the Brooklyn Institute +promises to supply this need. + +The newspapers of Brooklyn have acquired an increasingly influential +position in the life of the city. We have seen how the "Eagle," the +"Times," and the "Freie Presse" attained their established positions. +The "Standard-Union" represents some interesting newspaper history. The +"Union" was started in the midst of the war period, its first editor +being Edward Cary. The paper was purchased in 1870 by Henry C. Bowen, +and Gen. Stewart L. Woodford became editor-in-chief, and H. E. Bowen +(son of Henry C.), the publisher. When General Woodford retired a few +months later, he was succeeded by Theodore Tilton, whose skillful pen +was in the service of the paper until January, 1872, when Henry C. +Bowen assumed the editorship. In the following year the control of the +paper passed to Benjamin F. Tracy, F. A. Schroeder, John F. Henry, and +others associated with them, and Robert Burch, who afterward became +managing editor of the "Eagle," took the post of editor-in-chief. Later +the property came into the hands of Lorin Palmer, and in 1877 the +purchase of the name and good-will of the Brooklyn "Argus," which had +been established as a weekly in 1866 and as a daily in 1873, resulted +in the change of title to "Union-Argus." When the Union Publishing +Company was formed, the name "Argus" was dropped, and the paper was +again known as the "Union" during the aggressive editorship of John +Foord, formerly of the New York "Times," and afterward editor of +"Harper's Weekly." In 1887 the "Standard," which had been established +in 1884, was consolidated with the "Union," and John A. Hatton assumed +the editorship of the "Standard-Union." Soon afterward William Berri +became principal owner of the paper, and in 1890 Murat Halstead, +long the master spirit of Ohio journalism, was called to the chair +of editor-in-chief. The qualities which gave Halstead a national +reputation while editor of the Cincinnati "Commercial Gazette" have not +failed to make his pen a power in Brooklyn and throughout the State. + +The "Citizen," established in 1886 by leading Democrats of the city, +since has been a forceful and consistent organ of the local Democracy. +The editorship of Andrew McLean has been one of eloquence and energy, +uniting a consummate knowledge of Brooklyn with a rare sagacity in +estimating men and affairs. + +The establishment of "Brooklyn Life" by Frederick Mitchell Munroe and +John Angus McKay was a felicitous stroke in Brooklyn journalism. "Life" +has enjoyed a unique popularity as a weekly review of Brooklyn social, +artistic, and literary affairs. + +Brooklyn journalism has been quick to reflect the life and sentiment +of the city. It has been energetic, original, and clean. The fact that +only two of the newspapers, the "Eagle" and the "Citizen," publish +Sunday editions, is one which of itself indicates the presence of a +conservative element in the city. The establishment of Travelers' +Bureaus by the "Eagle," under the direction of the assistant business +manager, Herbert F. Gunnison, was a piece of characteristic enterprise. + +The political complexion of Brooklyn and Kings County during the +past two or three decades has become increasingly Democratic, with +periodical Republican relapses. In the incumbency of the sheriff's +office, for example, there has been an interesting alternation in +parties since 1875. During the same period the two parties have been +represented with approximate evenness in the Mayor's office. In +leadership of the Democratic party Henry C. Murphy was succeeded by his +energetic lieutenant, Hugh McLaughlin, who has retained the position +at the head of the party since before the Rebellion. The period and +completeness of this local leadership probably finds no parallel in +American political history. No analogous situation has ever existed +in the Republican party, which has never had a generally recognized +leader, and whose successes at the polls have been those of a party +or a public feeling in opposition to the dominant organized party. +Both independent Democratic and independent Republican movements and +leaderships have played an important part in the later activities of +political life. + +Of the commercial development of Brooklyn since 1876, it is to be said +that it has advanced more remarkably on the water front than elsewhere. +The traffic in grain, sugar, and oil, with the extensive cooperage +and ship-building and repairing operations, constitutes an important +element in any estimate of the city's prominence in manufactures. + +In the value of products[52] the sugar industry stands first, the +foundry and machine-shop interests coming second, and slaughtering +and meat-packing third. Fourth and fifth positions are to be given +respectively to chemical industries and the grinding of coffee and +spices. Cordage and twine making has for a long time occupied a +prominent place in Brooklyn. Other prominent industries are in boots +and shoes, furnishing goods, and paper hangings. The National Meter +Company plant in South Brooklyn is the largest in the world. + +One of the most striking illustrations of Brooklyn's advancement in +commercial affairs has been the increase in the number and importance +of its financial institutions. The city's first banks were the Long +Island Bank,[53] incorporated in 1824; the Brooklyn Savings Bank, +incorporated in 1827; the Atlantic Bank, incorporated in 1836; the Bank +of Williamsburgh, incorporated in 1839; the South Brooklyn Savings +Bank, incorporated in 1850; and the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, +incorporated in 1851. The first fire insurance company (the Brooklyn) +was contemporaneous with the first bank. The Long Island Insurance +Company was organized in 1833. In 1893 four insurance companies had +their home offices in Brooklyn; there were twenty-three banks of +deposit, fourteen savings banks, four safe deposit companies, seven +trust companies, four title guarantee companies, and four savings +institutions. In the same year there were about one hundred and ten +strictly local securities. + + + + +APPENDIX + + +I + +FRANCIS LEWIS[54] + +One of the names ever to be remembered in the history of Brooklyn, and +of the State and country, is that of Francis Lewis, who was an ardent +patriot, and sacrificed his all to secure the independence of the +colonies. As he resided for more than twenty years on Long Island, he +can justly be claimed as one of her sons, and as such richly deserves +a place in her history. Few men displayed so much zeal in the cause of +liberty, or evinced such readiness to endure the hardships which the +struggle necessarily entailed. + +His career covered a period of fourscore years and ten. He spent +sixty-eight of these years in the New Netherlands,--forty-one of them +under the rule of England; seven years in the cause of the Revolution; +and twenty years as a citizen of the Republic of the United States, +upon whose banner he ever looked with pleasure and delight. + +Born amidst the wilds of rocky Wales, in the town of Llandaff, in +1713, he possessed the sturdy endurance and perseverance for which the +ancient Britons, from whom he was descended, were proverbial. In such a +clime, and under such circumstances, he early learned to bear patiently +the privations of life, and thus was fitted and prepared for the great +work which characterized his eventful career. + +His father, the Rev. William Lewis, was a worthy minister of the +Established Church of England, and his mother was the daughter of the +Rev. Dr. Pettingill, a clergyman of the same faith, whose parish was +in the north of Wales. Young Lewis did not long enjoy a parent's care, +being left an orphan at the early age of four or five. His education +and training were now committed to a maternal aunt, who ever manifested +a deep interest in his welfare. This relative and adopted mother took +particular pains to have him thoroughly instructed in his native +language, and instilled into him those deep religious principles, which +formed a marked and striking phase of his character. Not satisfied +with the means of education to be obtained in his mountain home, she +sent her ward to Scotland to visit some relatives in the Highlands, +amongst whom he soon acquired a perfect familiarity with the Gaelic +tongue. Remaining in Scotland a short time, he was transferred to +the care of an uncle, who held the position of Dean of St. Paul's in +London. The Dean at once gave him the advantages of the celebrated +school at Westminster. The opportunities thus afforded were embraced +and appreciated. By his assiduity and proficiency he soon won a +distinguished place as a scholar. His progress was rapid, and when he +left the school he had obtained a complete classical education. + +On leaving school the natural bent of his mind appeared to be for +commercial pursuits. In order to prepare him for the path he had +chosen, he was apprenticed to a merchant in London. + +When Lewis reached manhood he came into possession of the little +fortune left by his father, and thereupon resolved to engage in +ventures on his own account. Perceiving that the old world did not +present a suitable field of operation for a young man with a small +capital, he anticipated the advice of the Sage of Chappaqua, and +determined to seek his fortune in the new and promising western world. +Collecting his effects together, he converted them into money, which +he invested in such articles of merchandise as he thought marketable, +and, with his stock in trade, sailed for New York, where he arrived in +the spring of 1735. He was disappointed in finding that his stock of +goods could not be sold in New York, by reason of the limited demand. +A man of his energy was ready to overcome all difficulties. In the +emergency he entered into a partnership with Edward Annesly, with whom +he left a portion of his goods for sale, shipping the remainder to +Philadelphia, whither he himself went to superintend their disposal. +In the latter city he remained two years, and then returned to New +York. Once more in New Amsterdam, he entered into business, becoming +extensively engaged in foreign trade. While thus employed, and on June +15, 1745, realizing the truth of Scripture "that it is not good for +man to be alone," he entered the holy and sacred relation of marriage +with Miss Elizabeth Annesly, his partner's sister. The issue of this +marriage was seven children, three only of whom survived infancy. One +of his sons, Morgan Lewis, greatly distinguished himself, subsequently +becoming governor of the State of New York. + +During the remarkably severe winter of 1741 Lewis drove his horse and +sleigh from New York to Barnstable, the entire length of Long Island +Sound, on the ice. This must have been an interesting episode in his +life. Referring to the intensity of the cold season, the "Boston +Post" of January 12, 1741, says: "For these three weeks we have had +a continued series of extreme cold weather, so that our harbors and +rivers are continually frozen up. On Charles River a tent is erected +for the entertainment of travellers. From Point Alderton, along the +South Shore, the ice is continued for the space of above 20 miles." + +The Boston "News Letter" of March 5, 1741, contains the statement that +"people ride every day from Stratford, Conn., to Long Island, which is +three leagues across, which was never known before." + +It appears that the temperature did not moderate with the appearance of +spring, as the same paper, on April 2, again alludes to the subject, +saying, "that people from Thompson Island, Squantum, and the adjacent +neighborhood have come fifteen Sabbaths successively upon the ice to +our meeting." + +Francis Lewis being an active and industrious man, his business often +required his presence abroad, and led him to travel extensively in +Europe. At various times he visited Russia, the Orkney and Shetland +Islands, and on two occasions endured the terror and discomfort of +shipwreck on the coast of Ireland. + +On his return from the old world he found the affairs of the colony in +a very unsettled condition. The French war was engaging the attention +of the people. During a short period he was employed as agent to supply +the wants of the British troops. The romance of his life was now about +to commence. In the performance of his duties, he was present in +August, 1756, when Fort Oswego was reduced, and compelled to surrender +to the French General de Montcalm. The fort at this time was commanded +by Colonel Mersey, one of his warm personal friends. In the emergency +attending the bombardment, Lewis, to serve his friend, acted as his +aid. Montcalm on the 10th of August approached the fort at the head +of a mixed array of 5000 men, consisting of Europeans, Canadians, and +Indians. The garrison having used up all their ammunition, Mersey +spiked the cannon, and crossed the river to Little Oswego, without the +loss of a single man. Montcalm at once took possession of the deserted +fort, and immediately began a heavy fire, which was kept up without +intermission. The next day Mersey was killed by a shot while standing +by the side of Lewis. The commander having fallen, the garrison at once +capitulated, surrendering themselves prisoners of war. It consisted +of 1400 men, composing three regiments, one of which was the Jersey +Blues, under Col. Peter Schuyler. By the terms of the surrender they +were to be exempted from plunder, taken to Montreal, and treated with +humanity. The French, however, did not regard the promise which they +had made. When the surrender was effected, Montcalm soon forgot his +pledge, and shamefully allowed one of the Indian warriors to select +thirty of the prisoners to treat as he pleased. Lewis was one of the +number chosen, and naturally expected a speedy and cruel death. He was, +however, saved in a most unexpected manner. The family tradition on +the subject, handed down by his son, and communicated to the writer by +a gentleman of this city, who received it from Governor Morgan Lewis +himself, is that Francis Lewis soon ascertained that he understood +their dialect, and could freely converse with them, so that they +comprehended what he said. His ability to communicate with the Indians +in their own tongue pleased the chieftain, who extended to him the +utmost kindness, and on his arrival at Montreal sought by every means +within his power to induce the French commander to allow him to return +to his family, without being compelled to pay any ransom. The request +so urgently made was refused. Lewis was sent as a prisoner of war to +France, and upon being exchanged was permitted to return to America. + +The British government, in consideration of the services he had +rendered, gave him a grant of 5000 acres of land, but as the fees +amounted to more than the land was worth he never took out the +necessary patent, the warrant for which was left in the Secretary of +State's office. + +Many have looked upon this tradition concerning Francis Lewis as +mythical. Had it been false, a man of his sterling qualities would have +contradicted the statements published during his lifetime. Some have +supposed that he gathered more or less knowledge of the Indian dialect +through business intercourse. It presents a very interesting feature +in American history, opening up as it does a wide field for research. +As it deserves more than a passing notice, it will not be out of place +to turn aside for a moment, and consider how it was that Francis Lewis +understood the Indian warrior. + +It frequently has been claimed that Madoc, a Welshman, made voyages to +America, long before Columbus was born. It has been conceded by many +authorities that Prince Madoc, a Welsh navigator, upon the death of +his father resolved to seek a new home, and thereby avoid contention +with his brothers and relatives as to the succession. This was about +the year 1170. He prepared his ships and munitions of war, and sailing +westward came to a country theretofore unknown. Upon his return to his +native land he gave a glowing account of the richness and beauty of +the land he had visited. Restless in spirit, he could not long remain +satisfied with the crags of Cambria, and prepared a fleet of ten sails, +once more bent his course westward, and was never heard of again. +There are many curious evidences that in early times Welsh tribes of +Indians, or Indians speaking the Welsh language, were to be found on +the continent of America. + +Dr. John Williams published in London, in 1791, a very interesting +inquiry into the truth concerning the discovery of America by Prince +Madoc. In his treatise much valuable information is to be found, and +many strong arguments in favor of the claim that the Welsh settled +America more than 300 years anterior to the discovery by Columbus. Dr. +Williams refers to the Lewis incident, and published his book twelve +years before the death of Francis Lewis. + +To return from our digression, Francis Lewis could not be idle. On his +return from his enforced trip to France, we find him once again engaged +in business. He was a man in advance of his time, and well knew the +value of newspaper advertisements. The following is a copy of one of +his announcements, published in the "New York Gazette and Weekly Post +Boy," the leading journal of the day:-- + + "Just imported and to be sold by Francis Lewis in the Fly, + Alamodes, Lutestrings, Ducapes, Damasks, Mantua Silks, + Grazettes, Padajoy's Velvets, India Taffities, Groganes, Sewing + Silks, etc." + +The commercial trips taken by Lewis gave him an enlarged view of men +and things. In Europe he had witnessed the aggressions of the rich +landed proprietors upon the poorer classes, and the untold wrongs +perpetrated upon the white slaves of the mines and manufacturing towns. +His natural, inherent sense of right led him to endorse and freely +proclaim the doctrine, "that all men are born free and equal." Wherever +he went he beheld the outrages which the assumed leaders imposed upon +the common people. He saw how utterly powerless they were to remove the +burdens and restrictions which stood in the way of their advancement. +Everywhere he found power trampling upon human rights. In him the +downtrodden and oppressed ever found a faithful friend and helper. As +he always kept his eyes and ears open, he was prepared with force and +vigor to oppose the encroachments of the British Crown upon the rights +of the people. Looking upon America as the home of the oppressed, with +whom he always sympathized, he at once became greatly attached to his +adopted country. + +Watching with close scrutiny every act of the mother country, he early +foresaw that the demands of Great Britain would eventually result in a +rupture. + +George II. died October 25, 1760, and was succeeded by his grandson, +George III., a young man of twenty-two years of age. Shortly after +his accession, and on the 18th of November, 1761, Lieutenant-Governor +Cadwallader Colden assumed control of affairs in the colony of New +York, during the temporary absence of Governor Monckton. Governor +Monckton returned after capturing the island of Martinique in June, +1762, and remained in office until June, 1763, when he returned to his +native land, again leaving the management of affairs in the hands of +Lieutenant-Governor Colden. + +During Monckton's career, it may be said that the principles of liberty +were first invaded by an assault upon the independence of the judiciary +by the board of trade. Justice Pratt was appointed chief justice in the +place of De Lancey. The board of trade declared that he should hold +office during the pleasure of the King, and not during good behavior, +as had always been the rule. Such a declaration and assumption gave +the King power to remove for political reasons any judge in the land, +thus making the judge but a tool of the King, and depriving him of +that independence which could alone render his decisions entitled to +respect. The people naturally looked upon this action as an invasion +of their civil rights, and calculated to destroy the confidence of the +community in the expounders of the law. To their credit be it said that +both Monckton and Colden boldly opposed the measure. + +The Provincial Assembly looked upon the conditions imposed relative to +the appointment of the chief justice with detestation. They opposed +it bitterly, manifesting their opposition by absolutely refusing to +make any provision for the payment of his salary until he received +a commission, which would place him above and beyond legislative +political control. The board of trade refused to surrender, or in any +wise alter the conditions they had adopted. As the Assembly would make +no provision for his salary, it was suggested that the royal quit-rents +should be applied to the object. The plan was adopted, and thus the +judiciary passed under the control of the sovereign, and the death +knell of its independence was sounded. + +Colden was destined to wield the reins of government during an +important and trying time. The storm cloud could be seen gradually +rising. At first appearing no larger than a man's hand, it slowly +increased until at last the black and heavy clouds seemed ready to +break forth at any moment with devastating fury. Everything looked +dark and gloomy, and betokened the approaching storm. The mutterings +of the people grew louder and more threatening. The government did +not heed them, but made their demands more arrogant, seeming to take +the Egyptian taskmasters as their guide. Parliament acted as if they +considered the colonies fit subjects for plunder. + +In 1763 the subject of taxing the colonies was brought up in +Parliament, and a measure introduced for its imposition. This was +antagonized by the Provincial Assembly of New York, and denounced as +arrogant and illegal. + +Lord Grenville was the chancellor of the English exchequer. To him +belongs the credit of suggesting the proposition of raising a revenue +by a direct tax upon the colonies. He, then, was the initiator of the +abuses which led to the independence of the people. + +Lord Grenville understood human nature, and therefore resolved to +accomplish his purpose by degrees. He sought to gradually obtain entire +control over the finances and resources of the colonies, take from the +people their liberties, and render them merely subservient vassals +of the Crown. He proposed as an entering wedge that a tax should be +imposed upon foreign productions, and that stamp duties should be +created. As such measures were always unpopular, he saw at once that +men and means would have to be provided for the collection of the +duties. He well knew that the people would not tamely submit to the +enforcement of such burdens. In order to carry the law into effect, he +proposed the creation of an army of 10,000 men, believing that such +a force would act upon the fears of the subjects, and compel them to +submit quietly to the great wrong. + +The thunderings of discontent grew louder and louder; and the murmurs +resounded on every side. Grenville became prime minister in 1764, and +by reason of his elevation exerted a great and controlling influence +over Parliament. He was now in a position to successfully carry out +the schemes he had proposed the year before. Upon assuming his new +position, next to the Crown itself, he forcibly urged upon Parliament +his peculiar methods to raise revenue. He contended that the home +government had the right to impose such duties and taxes as they +thought proper, without consulting the wishes of the colonists. An act +was passed in accordance with his views, providing a tax upon various +articles, which formerly had been admitted free of duty. + +The Provincial Assembly of the colony of New York protested against +these tyrannical acts, and forwarded a strong and forcible memorial +to the ministry. The manliness manifested by the Assembly in thus +declaring its rights brought down upon them the animosity of the Crown; +led to the suspension of their legislative prerogatives, thereby +depriving the people of representation in the affairs of the colony. +New York was not the only province that sent protests. While the +Assembly of New York spoke boldly and fearlessly, the sister colonies +were more suppliant. If the other colonies had displayed the same +determination to oppose the inroads upon their rights as New York +evinced, it would have resulted at the outset in a repeal of the odious +measures. + +The Stamp Act was passed on the 22d of March, 1765, to take effect on +the 1st of November ensuing. The colonial Governor Colden declared that +he would enforce the law. This enunciation did not terrify the people, +as a fixed resolve permeated the masses to oppose its enforcement +at all hazards. Citizens obtained copies of the act, and in broad +daylight hawked them about the street with a death's head bearing the +inscription, "The Folly of England and the Ruin of America." Meetings, +public and private, were held throughout the city, and in the outlying +sections of the colony. The subject was earnestly discussed on the +streets and in all places of public resort. Lewis was amongst the first +to refuse submission to or acquiescence in the royal demands. Love of +liberty and justice induced him to enlist in the cause of the patriots +against the enactments of Parliament. This was the grand principle +which induced him to unite with the devoted band which sprang into +existence, and was known as the "Sons of Liberty." The avowed object +of this noble company was to concert and adopt measures whereby the +exercise of an undue power by the mother country might be defeated. + +When the Provincial Assembly of New York, apprehending danger, and +realizing the necessity of united action on the part of all the +colonies, deemed it wise and prudent to recommend a congress of +delegates to assemble in New York on the 7th of October, 1765, to +consider what action should be taken to oppose the repulsive Stamp Act, +Mr. Lewis was elected to represent New York as a delegate, and when +they met took his seat in the convention. His head, heart, and soul +were enlisted in the cause, and he earnestly advocated the adoption of +the Bill of Rights. + +He was one of the men selected to circulate the principles of the Sons +of Liberty, and seek the formation of similar societies throughout +the colonies. In this grand work he was associated with Isaac Sears, +Marrinus Willett, Gershom Mott, Hugh Hughes, William Wiley, Thomas +Robinson, Flores Bancker, and Edward Laight, all of whom were tried +patriots, whose deeds of daring and earnest labors will live in the +memory of a grateful people while time shall last. Truly have they +"left behind them footprints on the sands of time," and "their actions +smell sweet and blossom in their dust." + +At this time Francis Lewis resided at Whitestone, L. I., having removed +with his family to his country home early in 1765. His residence in +Queens County did not prevent his acting with the Sons of Liberty. In +those days many of the prominent officials lived in Brooklyn and on the +Island. + +The appointment of this committee resulted in the selection of a +correspondent in London, who kept the patriots informed as to the +projected movements of the British authorities, by which means they +were enabled to adopt measures to thwart the purposes of the Crown. The +information received from time to time led to a desire for a closer +union of the colonies. The old Dutch maxim, which has been preserved +and adopted as part of the seal of our good city of Brooklyn, "In union +is strength," was uppermost in their minds, and induced them to invite +the respective colonies to send delegates to a congress to assemble in +New York on the 7th of October, 1765. + +Some New England writers have given the credit of the formation of this +congress to Massachusetts. This is an unhistorical assumption. Whilst +New England men did yeoman service in the cause, they did not enlist in +it until they had been spurred on by the "Sons of Liberty" of New York. +This congress of delegates owed its existence to the persistency of New +Yorkers, and was by them first called together. + +The congress was organized by the election of Timothy Ruggles, of +Massachusetts, as president. The session lasted for three weeks. The +measures introduced and the work accomplished were mainly initiated +by the delegates from New York. A declaration of rights, prepared +and submitted by John Cruger, Mayor of New York, was adopted; and a +memorial and statement of grievances for presentation to Parliament +was prepared and introduced by Robert R. Livingston, also of New York. +Livingston subsequently was a member of the Continental Congress, and +associated with Jefferson on the committee appointed to draft the +Declaration of Independence. Livingston's address to Parliament was +signed by nearly all the members. The declaration of rights was a +vigorous and forcible document. It announced the grand principle that +"taxation without representation is tyranny," and declared that as the +colonies were so remote as to preclude representation in Parliament, +the right of taxation only vested in the legislative authorities. It +boldly denounced the Stamp Act as tyrannical, and demanded its repeal. + +Prior to the assembling of this congress a committee waited upon +Governor Colden to solicit his aid and encouragement. As Colden had +in former times advocated the rights of the people, it was but natural +to expect encouragement and support from him in this trying hour. The +committee was disappointed. To their infinite surprise and disgust +he declared the congress to be "unconstitutional, unprecedented, and +unlawful," and announced that he should give it no countenance. + +It is within the bounds of reason to say that Jefferson, in the +production of his inimitable paper, caught his inspiration from these +noble documents emanating from the Dutchmen of New York, and so readily +endorsed by their associates in this congress. The doctrine brought +over in the Mayflower led for a time to proscription, whilst the +lesson taught by the Dutch settlers was freedom and toleration. The +forefathers of New England who sought the New World to enjoy religious +liberty refused to grant the same privilege to others. The Dutch, on +the other hand, extended a welcome to the Pilgrims, gave them a home +at Delft Haven for eleven years, afforded an asylum to the persecuted +Quakers who fled from New England, and always exercised the precept +enunciated at a later day by the martyr Lincoln, "with malice toward +none, with charity for all." + +The acts and enunciations of the congress were approved by the people, +and adopted by the Colonial Assembly which met in November. Shortly +after the ratification of the petitions by the Colonial Assembly, +Governor Colden wrote to the home government that "whatever happens in +this place has the greatest influence on the other colonies. They have +their eyes perpetually on it, and they govern themselves accordingly." + +The Stamp Act was to take effect on the 1st of November, 1765. The +merchants on the eve of the 1st were greatly excited. With one accord, +they congregated at Burns's Coffee House, near the Battery, and with +united voice passed the following resolution: "To import no goods +from England until the Stamp Act be repealed; to countermand all +orders already sent for spring goods; to sell no goods from England +on commission; to abide by these resolutions until they should be +rescinded by a general meeting called for that purpose." + +The Sons of Liberty, in order to carry on their work so well +commenced, appointed from their number a committee of five, which +was termed the non-importation committee, whose duty it was to enter +into correspondence with the other colonies, and, by enlisting their +sympathy, induce them to coöperate in the work, and adopt a similar +policy. + +The stamps reached New York October 29, 1765. In order to protect them +from the rage of the people, they were placed on board of a British +man-of-war, in the harbor. Governor Colden declared that he could not +be intimidated; that the stamps should be delivered in due time. The +Governor was in a dilemma, as neither threats nor persuasion could +induce the people to aid or assist in the removal. + +The 1st of November came. Business was entirely suspended. Every +heart was burdened with anxiety. The flags on the shipping were +placed at half-mast, and the church bells tolled mournfully. Many +private residences displayed the insignia of mourning. On every side +it appeared as if a great and dire calamity had visited the colony. +Handbills denouncing the administration appeared in public places as +if by magic, and the people were warned not to give in their adhesion +to the Crown by purchasing the condemned stamps. Activity marked the +rank and file of the Sons of Liberty. During the day they bent their +energies in making preparations for an evening display. Shortly after +dark they assembled and proceeded to the Commons, in the neighborhood +of the present City Hall, where a gallows was quickly erected, and an +effigy of Governor Colden suspended therefrom. A piece of stamped paper +was placed in his hand, a drum at his back, and a placard on his breast +with the inscription, "To the Rebel Drummer of 1745." Another company +carried a life-sized figure of Colden, seated in a chair, through the +streets to the Fort. When they reached Colden's residence they broke +open his stable, took therefrom his coach of state, placed the image +in the coach, and with it returned and joined their companions in the +park. With them they formed into line, and once again proceeded to +the Fort and demanded admission. At this time the Fort was under the +command of General Gage, who wisely withheld his fire, well knowing +that the first shot would madden and infuriate the populace. As +admission to the Fort was refused, the citizens repaired to the Bowling +Green, kindled a fire, and placed thereon the Governor's coach, image, +and the effigy which had been suspended on the gallows. The Sons of +Liberty could not hold the people in check. The residence of James, one +of the Crown officers, was visited, and because he had advocated the +Stamp Act his house was reduced to ashes. + +The excitement did not abate. Colden well knew that his successor was +expected daily, and he was anxious to lift the responsibility from his +own shoulders, and place it on those of his successor. This proffer on +the part of Colden did not satisfy the people; they wanted the entire +control of the stamps themselves. Again the Sons of Liberty assembled, +fully equipped, resolved to obtain the stamps at all hazards, and, +if needs be, storm the Fort itself. The Governor became alarmed, and +agreed to deliver them to the Mayor and Corporation. The stamps were +thereupon transferred to John Cruger, the Mayor, who gave a receipt on +behalf of the city, "to take charge, and care of, and be accountable +in case they shall be destroyed or carried out of the province." The +Sons of Liberty, satisfied with the results of their labors, quietly +dispersed. This was the 5th of November. Peace and quietude once again +reigned. + +Sir Henry Moore, the new Governor, arrived November 13, 1765, and +wisely declared at the outset that he would have nothing to do with the +detested stamps, and directed that those he had brought with him should +be deposited with the others in the City Hall. + +The spirit of hatred to the Stamp Act, manifested in the province +of New York, proved contagious. The colony of Maryland caught the +infection, and drove from her midst a stamp agent, who sought a refuge +on Long Island. Hither the Sons of Liberty followed him, and compelled +him to resign his office, under the solemnity of an oath. This act +on the part of the Sons of Liberty was greatly appreciated by the +inhabitants of Maryland. + +The spirit displayed by the inhabitants of New York continued to +spread, until at last the different colonies became one in spirit. +Parliament saw it would be useless to attempt the enforcement of the +Stamp Act, and repealed it February 20, 1766. The news reached New York +March 20, 1766, filling the community with untold joy. A dinner was +given, and a liberty pole erected, bearing the inscription, "The King, +Pitt, and Liberty." This pole was destined to become the rallying-spot +of the Sons of Liberty. + +Peace did not last long. In 1767, the chancellor of the exchequer +introduced and secured the passage of a bill, imposing duties on all +tea, glass, paper, painters' colors, and lead, imported into the +colony. This measure was looked upon as a fresh invasion of their +rights by the inhabitants, and a new burst of feeling appeared. + +In 1768 a new Assembly was convened. Kings County was represented by +Simon Boerum, John Rapalje, and Abraham Schenck. At the opening of the +session in October, a correspondence was entered into with the colony +of Massachusetts, responsive to a circular sent by that colony, asking +their aid, sympathy, and coöperation in securing a removal of common +grievances. In unmistakable terms the Assembly denounced the outrages. +The public prints were equally emphatic. The boldness of the Assembly +led to its dissolution, and a new one in the interest of the Crown +was convened in 1769. The new body catered to the Royalists, passing +resolutions in the interest of the Crown, thereby exciting the Sons +of Liberty to renewed efforts. In December, 1769, the patriots again +circulated handbills, denouncing the Assembly as base betrayers of the +sacred trust reposed in them. The Assembly received no consideration at +the hands of the malcontents. + +In January, 1770, the Royalist soldiers, to show contempt for the +citizens of the city, attempted to destroy the liberty pole. They +even, in their fury at the failure of the effort, broke into the +building occupied by the Sons of Liberty, and destroyed its windows +and furniture. During several nights in succession the soldiers +renewed their endeavors to destroy the emblem of liberty. At last they +succeeded, manifesting their spite by cutting it in small pieces, which +they placed in front of the headquarters of the patriots. The insult +was understood, and fresh conflicts arose, the soldiers and the people +finally coming into violent collision in the so-called battle of Golden +Hill. + +Early in 1770 Parliament repealed all the duties except that on tea. + +In 1771 Francis Lewis removed his family to New York, and entered into +business with his son. This connection did not last long. The political +atmosphere was surcharged with dissatisfaction. The storm cloud of +dissension still hung threateningly, and the future looked black and +dismal. In such a state of affairs his course was not doubtful. + +The English authorities resolved to enforce the duty on tea. The +vessels containing it sailed from England October 26, 1773. The events +that followed are familiar in American history. + +The New York "tea party" was a greater success than the one in +Boston, as the New Yorkers not only threw the tea overboard, but also +confiscated one of the vessels, and sent the captains of both back in +the other craft, disheartened and crestfallen. + +On the 22d of April, 1775, Lewis, having relinquished business, was +elected by a convention of delegates from Kings, Queens, New York, +and the other counties, to represent the province in the Continental +Congress to assemble in Philadelphia. At this time Lewis lived on Long +Island. The colony had two governors. Tryon represented the Crown and +the Royalists, and General Nathaniel Woodhull, of Suffolk County, was +president pro tem. of the Provincial Council, possessing the functions +of a governor. Antagonism existed between the two. The Provincial +Council directed the guns to be removed from the Battery. This was +opposed by Tryon. On the 23d of August, 1775, the committee proceeded +to discharge the duty assigned them. The British ship Asia was in the +harbor, having just arrived from Boston, and by direction of Tryon at +once opened her broadside. Morgan Lewis, son of Francis Lewis, during +his lifetime stated that at this time the first ball shot from an +English ship, during the war, struck his father's house on the Long +Island shore, shattering the beam under his mother's foot. The family +were greatly terrified, and hastily sought a refuge in the neighboring +hills. + +The Provincial Congress met in New York in December, 1775. Francis +Lewis was continued a delegate to the Continental Congress for 1776. +His appears as one of the immortal fifty-six names appended to the +Declaration of Independence. On that occasion, in the impetuosity of +his enthusiasm, he exclaimed: "Now we must hang together or we shall +hang separately." + +The convention of representatives of the State of New York, which met +at White Plains, July 9, 1776, unanimously ratified the acts of their +delegates. Two of the signers of the Declaration from New York, to wit, +Francis Lewis and William Floyd, were residents of Long Island. It will +thus be seen that our island sent one half of the State delegation. + +Lewis was now kept busy in political matters. During several subsequent +years he was appointed to represent the State in national affairs. +Whilst in Congress his advice was often sought, and his prudence +and business tact made him a valuable member. Always maintaining a +spotless reputation, he secured and retained the confidence of his +associates. Matters which required caution and discretion were referred +to him. Valuable service was rendered by him in purchasing clothing for +the army, and in importing arms and ammunition. Besides all this he +was frequently employed on committees and in the secret service of the +government. + +At the time the Tories occupied New York, and terror and consternation +filled the hearts of all, he, with Messrs. Sherman and Gerry, was +appointed a committee by Congress to repair to New York, ascertain the +condition of the army, and devise means to supply its wants. + +In 1775 Lewis removed his family to his country residence at +Whitestone, L. I. It did not prove wise on his part, as it was stepping +into the hornet's nest. Shortly after the occupation of the island by +General Howe, and on August 23, 1776, a party of British light horse, +under Colonel Burch, plundered his home, destroyed his library and +valuable papers, and removed such articles as they could conveniently +carry away, leaving him barely sufficient means with which to pay his +debts. At this time he was sixty-three years old, and by this wanton +act was placed in a truly pitiable condition. They were not satisfied +with the destruction of his property, but thirsted for vengeance on the +man who dared to proclaim himself a friend of liberty by signing the +Declaration of Independence, which was an indictment by the grand jury +of the people against the tyranny of Great Britain. The vandal invaders +took Mrs. Lewis a prisoner, and retained her in close confinement +several months, without allowing her either a bed to rest upon or a +change of clothing. + +The attention of Congress was directed to her situation in November, +1776. A resolution was passed to exchange Mrs. Grace Kempe, wife of +John Tabor Kempe, the Tory attorney-general of New York, whom the +Americans held as a prisoner, for Mrs. Lewis. In the effort they were +unsuccessful. Washington became greatly interested in her behalf, and +through his instrumentality she was at last released. She had endured +intense suffering, which impaired her constitution, and resulted in her +death within two years thereafter. She was buried in the graveyard of +Christ Church, Philadelphia. + +About this time Lewis's son Francis was married to a Miss Ludlow. The +Ludlow family strenuously opposed the match, saying that his father was +a notorious rebel and would certainly be hanged, and they did not want +to be allied to a family whose head was destined to meet such a fate. + +By the terms of the resolution passed by Congress, October 14, 1777, +each State was entitled to a representation of seven members, and +unless two members were in attendance, the State would have no vote. +The cabal took advantage of the fact that New York had but two members +in town, and, as one of them was sick and unable to attend, the State +would thereby have no vote in the deliberations of Congress. They +determined to raise the issue in Congress by appointing a committee to +arrest Washington at Valley Forge. Francis Lewis was the only member +from New York capable of taking his seat. The other member, Col. Wm. +Duer, was very sick; but, loving his country more than his life, +immediately upon learning the necessity of his presence sent for his +physician, and demanded to know whether he could be removed and taken +to the halls of Congress. The doctor replied, "Yes; but at the expense +of your life!" "Do you mean that I would expire before reaching the +place?" "No; but I would not answer for your life twenty-four hours +afterwards." "Very well, sir," the noble Roman replied; "you have +done your duty, prepare a litter for me; if you refuse, some one else +shall do it; but I prefer your care in this case." The litter was +prepared, and the patient made ready to sacrifice his life, to defeat +the machinations of the misguided men who sought to degrade Washington. +Fortunately the sacrifice was prevented by the opportune arrival of +Gouverneur Morris, another delegate, who, on reaching the headquarters +of the New York delegation, found Colonel Duer on the litter, covered +with blankets, attended by his physician and carriers, ready to go to +the Court House, where Congress was to meet. Lewis and Morris being +present gave New York a vote, and forced the evil-minded members to see +that their scheme could not be safely advocated, and the effort was +abandoned. + +When Lewis retired from Congress, that body, in consideration of +his services, and remembering his many sacrifices, appointed him +commissioner of the board of admiralty, which position he accepted. In +April, 1784, Lewis was an earnest worker in the reorganization of the +Chamber of Commerce, which he had been instrumental in founding, and +assisted in procuring its charter, which passed the Legislature April +13, 1784. + +Lewis lived to see the accomplishment of his heart's desire, and was +permitted to live in the infant republic for which he had spent his +time and fortune for a period of twenty-seven years. + +His children followed in his footsteps. One of them, Francis Lewis, +Jr., represented Queens County in the Assembly of 1788. The other son, +Morgan, was born October 16, 1754, graduated at Princeton College in +1773, studied law with John Jay, and joined the army under Washington +in 1775. At first he was captain of a rifle company, but rose rapidly, +becoming, in 1776, colonel and chief-of-staff under General Gates. He +was at the battle of Saratoga, and distinguished himself under General +Clinton in the Mohawk Valley. After the war, he continued his legal +studies, and was admitted to the bar. Soon after he was appointed judge +of the court of common pleas. In 1791 he was elected attorney-general, +as the successor of Aaron Burr, holding the position until December 24, +1792, when he became a justice of the Supreme Court. On the 28th of +October, 1801, he took his seat as chief justice of the Supreme Court +of the State of New York. Other honors awaited him. He was Governor +of the State from 1804 to 1807, succeeding Governor Clinton as the +third Governor of the Commonwealth. At the election, party spirit and +feeling were manifested to a great degree. Aaron Burr was his opponent, +and displayed great anxiety to secure the election. Although Lewis was +a Jeffersonian, he received the warm support of Alexander Hamilton. +It was mainly through the efforts of Hamilton that his success in the +contest was secured. Hamilton's labors in behalf of Lewis embittered +Burr, and formed one of the main causes which a few months later led to +his untimely end at the hands of the miscreant intriguer Burr. Burr was +a student with Lewis at Princeton, and graduated in 1772, one year in +advance of the Governor. + +On several subsequent occasions, Morgan Lewis was elected state +senator, and also chancellor of the University. In 1812 he was +appointed quartermaster, and became a major-general in 1813. During +that year he was engaged in operations on the Niagara River, and +commanded the defenses in New York city in 1814. In 1828, when +seventy-four years of age, he was elected a presidential elector for +the fifth district of New York. + +Lewis Avenue, Brooklyn, was named in his honor. + +Morgan Lewis was a man of great scholastic attainments. The New York +Historical Society elected him their president in 1835. In 1839 he +was chosen president of the Society of the Cincinnati, holding the +office until his death, April 7, 1844. He was the last but one of the +Revolutionary soldiers who filled that position. He was grand master of +the Free Masons at the time of his death, and was buried by the craft +with their impressive ceremonies. He was married at Clermont on the +Hudson in May, 1779, to Gertrude, the sister of Chancellor Livingston. + +On the 6th of August, 1784, Morgan Lewis purchased eighty acres of land +in Brooklyn, bounded by the Gowanus Road, and the road leading from +Brooklyn to Flatbush. It was a portion of the estate belonging to John +Rapelje, which became forfeited by his allegiance to the Tories, and +was sold by the commissioners appointed to sell the property of all who +adhered to the Crown. + +Francis Lewis, the hero and patriot, spent his last days in comparative +poverty; but his heart was cheered by the fact that he had given his +fortune to his country, and spent his life in her service. + +On the 30th of December, 1803, at the ripe age of ninety years, having +witnessed the inauguration of three Presidents, all of whom were his +warm and personal friends, his life-work closed. + + +II + +DUTCH NOMENCLATURE + +In a letter written from Holland to the Brooklyn "Eagle," Henry C. +Murphy gave an interesting explanation of the chief characteristics of +Dutch nomenclature. In the course of this letter Mr. Murphy said:-- + +"In order to show what difficulties the peculiar system adopted in this +country (Holland), and continued by the settlers in our own home, throw +in the way of tracing genealogies, it is to be observed that the first +of these, in point of time, was the patronymic, as it is called, by +which a child took, besides his own baptismal name, that of his father, +with the addition of _zoon_, or _sen_, meaning son. To illustrate +this: if a child were baptized Hendrick, and the baptismal name of his +father were Jan, the child would be called Hendrick Jansen. His son, +if baptized Tunis, would be called Tunis Hendricksen; and the son of +the latter might be Willem, and would have the name Willem Tunisen. +And so we might have the succeeding generations called successively +Garret Willemsen, Marten Garretsen, Adrien Martensen, and so on, +through the whole of the calendar of Christian names; or, as more +frequently happened, there would be repetition, in the second, third, +or fourth generation, of the name of the first; and thus, as these +names were common to the whole people, there were in every community +different lineages of identically the same name. This custom, which +had prevailed in Holland for centuries, was in full vogue at the time +of the settlement of New Netherland. In writing the termination _sen_, +it was frequently contracted into _se_, or _z_, or _s_. Thus the name +of William Barretsen, who commanded in the first three Arctic voyages +of exploration, in 1594, 1595, and 1596, is given in the old accounts +of those voyages, Barretsen, Barentse, Barentz, Barents; sometimes in +one way, sometimes in another, indifferently. Or, to give an example +nearer home, both of the patronymic custom and of the contraction of +the name, the father of Garret Martense, the founder of a family of +that name in Flatbush, was Martin Adriense, and his father was Adriæ +Ryerse, who came from Amsterdam. The inconveniences of this practice, +the confusion to which it gave rise, and the difficulty of tracing +families, led ultimately to its abandonment, both in Holland and in our +own country. In doing so, the patronymic, which the person originating +the name bore, was adopted as the surname. Most of the family names +thus formed and originating amongst us may be said to be of American +origin, as they were first fixed in America, though the same names were +adopted by others in Holland. Hence we have the names of such families +of Dutch descent amongst us as Jansen (_anglice_, Johnson), Garretsen, +Cornelisen, Williamsen or Williamson, Hendricksen or Hendrickson, +Clasen, Simonsen or Simonson, Tysen (son of Mathias), Arendsen (son +of Arend), Hansen, Lambertsen or Lambertson, Paulisen, Remsen,[55] +Ryersen, Martense, Adrience, Rutgers, Everts, Phillips, Lefferts, and +others. To trace connection between these families and persons in this +country, it is evident, would be impossible, for the reason stated, +without a regular record. + +"Another mode of nomenclature, intended to obviate the difficulty +of an identity of names for the time being, but which rendered +the confusion worse confounded for the future genealogist, was to +add to the patronymic name the occupation or some other personal +characteristic of the individual. Thus, Laurens Jansen, the inventor +of the art of printing, as the Dutch claim, had affixed to his name +that of Coster--that is to say, _sexton_--an office of which he was +in the possession of the emoluments. But the same addition was not +transmitted to his son; and thus the son of Hendrick Jansen Coster +might be called Tunis Hendrickson Brouwer (brewer), and his grandson +might be William Tunissen Bleecker (bleacher).... + +"A third practice, evidently designed, like that referred to, to +obviate the confusions of the first, was to append the name of the +place where the person resided, not often of a large city, but of a +particular, limited locality, and frequently of a particular form or +natural object. This custom is denoted in all the family names which +have the prefix of _Van_, _Vander_, _Ver_ (which is a contraction of +_Vander_), and _Ten_, meaning, respectively, _of_, _of the_ and _at +the_.... The prefixes _Vander_ or _Ver_ and _Ten_ were adopted where +the name was derived from a particular spot, thus: Vanderveer (of the +ferry); Vanderburg, of the hill; Vanderbilt (of the bildt, that is, +certain elevations of ground in Guederhoff and New Utrecht); Vanderbeck +(of the brook); Vanderhoff (of the court); Verplanck (of the plank); +Verhultz (of the holly); Verkerk (of the church); Ten Eyck (at the +oak); Tenbroeck (at the marsh)." + + +III + +NEW YORK AND BROOKLYN FERRY RIGHTS + +New York City's exclusive claims to the ferry rights are almost as old +as Brooklyn itself. Brooklyn was settled in 1636, and in less than +twenty years, and while there was but a handful of people on this +side of the river, the ferry from Peck Slip to Nassau Island, at a +point corresponding to the present foot of Fulton Street, had become a +public question. In the natural course of things, New York had first +started the ferry. When the English conquered New Netherland, and Peter +Stuyvesant stepped down (with his wooden leg) from the governorship of +New Amsterdam, the conquered province was patented by Charles II. of +England to the Duke of York, who afterwards became James II., and in +whose honor New Amsterdam was re-named New York. The Dutch Governor was +succeeded by an English Governor, the Duke's representative, Nicolls; +and Dutch traditions and codes were succeeded by the famous "Duke's +Laws." The new Governor granted to the little hamlet of Brooklyn a +patent confirmatory of that received from the Dutch Governor, a measure +that was in conformity with the general policy of the conquerors. + +This patent, after naming the patentees, and describing the bounds of +the town, and bounding by the river, and not by high or low water mark, +proceeded to say: "Together with all havens, harbors, creeks, marshes, +waters, rivers, lakes, and fisheries." The charter adds: "Moreover, I +do hereby give, ratify, and confirm unto the said patentees and their +associates, and their heirs, successors, and assigns, all the rights +and privileges belonging to a town within their government." Under +this patent the town of Brooklyn first claimed the ownership of land +between high and low water mark on the Brooklyn side, and an equal +right with New York to erect and maintain ferries. + +We find no adverse claim on the part of New York until nineteen years +afterward, in 1686, when the Corporation of New York obtained from +Governor Dongan a charter by which the ferries were granted to New +York. But this charter says nothing about water rights, and expressly +reserves the rights of all other persons and bodies corporate or +politic. Moreover, Brooklyn in the same year secured from Dongan a +patent fully confirming that of Nicolls. A similar confirmation was +secured in 1691. But New York was still running the ferry, and to +fortify its claims bought land on the Brooklyn side in 1694. + +[Illustration: CHART SHOWING EAST RIVER SOUNDINGS AND PIER LINES] + +In the reign of Queen Anne the Corporation of New York induced that +infamous trickster and reprobate, Governor Cornbury, to give New +York a charter, by which it was to be entitled to all "vacant and +unappropriated land" below high water mark from the Wallabout to Red +Hook. The charter was really void, for there was no unappropriated +land in the region named, previous patents and charters having given +them to Brooklyn as a town. In 1721 the colonial legislature confirmed +Brooklyn's rights, but New York's politicians bought for a specific +sum ($5000) a new charter from Governor Montgomerie confirming the +pretended right of New York to ownership in land to high-water mark on +the Brooklyn shore. New York secured a charter ownership in 400 feet +of land under water around the whole lower part of the city, and step +by step, with money and unfaltering political trickery, the city set +itself against the development and independence of Brooklyn. By Section +37 of the Montgomerie charter, the ferry franchise was confirmed +"forever," with a provision that no other person or persons whomsoever +should have the right to establish a ferry or ferries in the premises. +Legislative acts and legal decisions have been piled up around a +pretense, the fallacy and injustice of which appear upon examination of +the early records. + +New York was not satisfied with the crafty legislation by which it +sought to overawe the village across the river. It began to question +the right of Brooklyn people to cross to New York in their own boats. +The result was that a Brooklyn man, Hendrick Remsen, sued the New York +Corporation. He won his case; the Corporation appealed to the King, +and the matter remained undecided in consequence of the Revolution. +Although the Constitution of the State confirms all grants of land +within the State made by authority of the King of Great Britain or his +predecessors, prior to August 14, 1775, New York afterward adhered to +its false claims to the river rights. However, by State rulings within +the present century, Brooklyn was permitted to exercise jurisdiction +to low-water mark. A Supreme Court decision in 1821 declares that +the City and County of New York includes the whole of the rivers and +harbor adjoining to actual low-water mark on the opposite shores. It +was only in 1824 that Brooklyn was able to secure from the Legislature +concurrent jurisdiction with New York in the service of process, in +actions civil and criminal, on board of vessels attached to its own +wharves. + +When Brooklyn sought to erect itself into a city, New York met the +proposition with the same spirit of unwillingness to recognize in the +sister town any right to individual existence. Every step that Brooklyn +took toward securing municipal rights was hampered by the opposition of +New York politicians. Brooklyn became a city in 1834, in spite of New +York's opposition. New York retired from the fight with its fraudulent +ownership of the river and the "ferry rights," by which it was and +still is able to levy a continuous tax upon Brooklyn. + + +IV + +_STATISTICS FROM THE FEDERAL CENSUS OF 1890_ + +BROOKLYN MANUFACTURES[56] + +FEDERAL CENSUS OF 1890 + +The tabulated statements presented herewith include only establishments +which reported a product of $500 or more in value during the census +year, and, so far as practicable, only those establishments operating +works located within the corporate limits of the city. + + +COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF TOTALS + + ================================================================ + Industries | Industries | Establishments | Capital[57] + | Reported | Reporting | + ---------------------+------------+----------------+------------ + All Industries {1880 | 180 | 5,201 | $61,646,749 + {1890 | 229 | 10,561 | 125,849,052 + ---------------------+------------+----------------+------------ + + ============================================================ + Industries | Hands | Wages Paid | Cost of + | Employed | | Materials + | | | Used + ---------------------+----------+-------------+------------- + All Industries {1880 | 47,587 | $22,487,457 | $129,085,091 + {1890 | 103,683 | 61,975,702 | 137,325,749 + ---------------------+----------+-------------+------------- + + + ==================================================================== + Industries | Miscellaneous | Value of Product | Population + | Expenses[58] | | + ---------------------+---------------+------------------+----------- + All Industries {1880 | | $177,223,142 | 566,663 + {1890 | $14,824,466 | 248,750,184 | 806,343 + ---------------------+---------------+------------------+----------- + + ========================================================= + Industries | City Assessed | Municipal Debt[59] + | Valuation | + ---------------------+---------------+------------------- + All Industries {1880 | $232,925,699 | $38,040,000 + {1890 | 445,038,201 | 34,639,542 + ---------------------+---------------+------------------- + + +DETAILED STATEMENT FOR 1890 BY IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES IN BROOKLYN +ELEVENTH CENSUS + + ================================================================= + CLASSIFICATION OF | Boots and | | Coffee and + INQUIRIES[60] | shoes-- | Chemicals | spice-- + | factory | | roasting and + | products | | grinding + _Establishments_:-- | (65) | (36) | (13) + ------------------------+------------+-------------+------------- + CAPITAL EMPLOYED-- | | | + Aggregate | $1,327,119 | $8,483,835 | $2,963,392 + |============|=============|============= + HIRED PROPERTY-- | | | + Total | 366,230 | 275,000 | 306,300 + +------------+-------------+------------- + PLANT--Total | 385,934 | 4,888,250 | 546,696 + +------------+-------------+------------- + Land | 56,700 | 1,196,800 | 198,400 + Buildings | 113,400 | 1,532,821 | 194,350 + Machinery, tools, | | | + and implements | 215,834 | 2,158,629 | 153,946 + LIVE ASSETS--Total | 574,955 | 3,320,585 | 2,110,396 + +------------+-------------+------------- + Raw materials | 137,612 | 1,365,535 | 721,678 + Stock in process and | | | + finished product | 154,802 | 878,468 | 930,671 + Cash, bills, and | | | + accounts | | | + receivable, and | | | + all sundries not | | | + elsewhere reported | 282,541 | 1,076,582 | 458,047 + | | | + WAGES PAID--Aggregate | $1,032,547 | $1,140,475 | $479,036 + |============|=============|============= + Average number of | | | + hands employed | 2,050 | 1,848 | 794 + +------------+-------------+------------- + Males above 16 years | 840 | 1,295 | 477 + Females above 15 years | 326 | 289 | 10 + Children | 24 | 31 | + Pieceworkers | 860 | 233 | 307 + MATERIALS USED-- | | | + Aggregate cost | $1,432,934 | $7,329,134 | $11,047,538 + +============+=============+============= + Principal materials | 1,381,752 | 7,050,313 | 10,711,647 + Fuel | 3,888 | 195,545 | 14,752 + Mill supplies | | 9,206 | 20,656 + All other materials | 47,294 | 74,070 | 300,483 + EXPENSES, MISCELLANEOUS | | | + --Ag'gate | $73,249 | $612,809 | $84,334 + +============+=============+============= + Paid for contract work | 1,450 | | + Rent | 25,636 | 22,110 | 21,445 + Power and heat | 3,720 | 900 | 3,800 + Taxes | 4,494 | 48,950 | 11,439 + Insurance | 4,420 | 29,190 | 11,382 + Repairs, ordinary, of | | | + b'ld'gs and mach'y | 5,842 | 149,644 | 6,635 + Interest on cash used | | | + in the business | 1,549 | 43,651 | + All sundries not | | | + elsewhere reported | 26,138 | 318,364 | 29,633 + GOODS MANUFACTURED | | | + --Aggregate | $2,813,209 | $10,467,109 | $12,247,162 + +============+=============+============= + Principal product | 2,770,689 | 10,425,949 | 12,044,967 + All other products, | | | + including custom | | | + work and repairing | 42,520 | 41,160 | 202,195 + ------------------------+------------+-------------+------------- + + =============================================================== + CLASSIFICATION OF | | | Foundry and + INQUIRIES[60] | Confec- | Cordage | machine + | tionery | and twine | shop + | | | products + _Establishments_:-- | (197) | (3) | (169) + ------------------------+------------+------------+------------ + CAPITAL EMPLOYED-- | | | + Aggregate | $2,923,509 | $2,256,400 | $13,725,518 + |============|============|============ + HIRED PROPERTY-- | | | + Total | 1,047,500 | | 1,473,750 + +------------+------------+------------ + PLANT--Total | 1,028,053 | 1,854,300 | 6,046,228 + +------------+------------+------------ + Land | 251,085 | 303,000 | 1,617,500 + Buildings | 311,225 | 701,000 | 1,362,670 + Machinery, tools, | | | + and implements | 465,743 | 850,300 | 3,066,058 + LIVE ASSETS--Total | 847,956 | 402,100 | 6,205,540 + +------------+------------+------------ + Raw materials | 207,660 | 175,600 | 1,182,099 + Stock in process and | | | + finished product | 269,041 | 60,500 | 1,525,807 + Cash, bills, and | | | + accounts | | | + receivable, and | | | + all sundries not | | | + elsewhere reported | 371,255 | 166,000 | 3,497,634 + | | | + WAGES PAID--Aggregate | $1,096,252 | $650,256 | $5,641,132 + |============|============|============ + Average number of | | | + hands employed | 2,237 | 1,612 | 7,753 + +------------+------------+------------ + Males above 16 years | 1,387 | 1,012 | 6,868 + Females above 15 years | 552 | 600 | 42 + Children | 22 | | 2 + Pieceworkers | 276 | | 841 + MATERIALS USED-- | | | + Aggregate cost | $1,833,791 | $4,352,63 | $5,125,183 + +============+============+============ + Principal materials | 1,738,998 | 4,206,13 | 4,626,489 + Fuel | 25,621 | 105,00 | 210,767 + Mill supplies | 3,835 | 6,00 | 47,386 + All other materials | 65,337 | 35,50 | 240,541 + EXPENSES, MISCELLANEOUS | | | + --Ag'gate | $194,993 | $63,18 | $799,912 + +============+============+============ + Paid for contract work | | | 12,000 + Rent | 73,320 | | 117,888 + Power and heat | 120 | | 14,664 + Taxes | 9,981 | 10,14 | 60,267 + Insurance | 5,050 | 7,54 | 36,223 + Repairs, ordinary, of | | | + b'ld'gs and mach'y | 5,730 | 25,00 | 74,565 + Interest on cash used | | | + in the business | 13,462 | | 22,009 + All sundries not | | | + elsewhere reported | 87,330 | 20,50 | 462,296 + GOODS MANUFACTURED | | | + --Aggregate | $3,731,202 | $5,625,79 | $15,350,776 + +============+============+============ + Principal product | 3,721,071 | 5,622,91 | 14,222,090 + All other products, | | | + including custom | | | + work and repairing | 10,131 | 2,88 | 1,128,686 + ------------------------+------------+------------+------------ + + ================================================================ + CLASSIFICATION OF | | | Slaughtering + INQUIRIES[60] | Furnishing | Paper | and meat + | goods | hangings | packing + | | | + _Establishments_:-- | (67) | (5) | (63) + ------------------------+------------+------------+------------- + CAPITAL EMPLOYED-- | | | + Aggregate | $1,507,853 | $1,790,121 | $2,120,822 + |============|============|============= + HIRED PROPERTY-- | | | + Total | 377,650 | 303,482 | 380,560 + +------------+------------+------------- + PLANT--Total | 427,420 | 401,946 | 918,400 + +------------+------------+------------- + Land | 110,100 | 31,500 | 317,550 + Buildings | 142,550 | 121,584 | 346,752 + Machinery, tools, | | | + and implements | 174,770 | 248,862 | 254,098 + LIVE ASSETS--Total | 702,783 | 1,084,693 | 821,862 + +------------+------------+------------- + Raw materials | 312,438 | 61,890 | 114,907 + Stock in process and | | | + finished product | 142,902 | 186,974 | 197,490 + Cash, bills, and | | | + accounts | | | + receivable, and | | | + all sundries not | | | + elsewhere reported | 247,443 | 835,829 | 509,465 + | | | + WAGES PAID--Aggregate | $1,203,461 | $445,510 | $532,120 + |============|============|============= + Average number of | | | + hands employed | 2,218 | 852 | 623 + +------------+------------+------------- + Males above 16 years | 868 | 660 | 607 + Females above 15 years | 485 | 146 | 3 + Children | 10 | 20 | + Pieceworkers | 855 | 26 | 13 + MATERIALS USED-- | | | + Aggregate cost | $1,443,218 | $1,067,697 | $11,769,741 + +============+============+============= + Principal materials | 1,389,325 | 1,042,362 | 11,637,737 + Fuel | 27,893 | 18,045 | 32,256 + Mill supplies | 10,308 | 290 | + All other materials | 15,692 | 7,000 | 99,748 + EXPENSES, MISCELLANEOUS | | | + --Ag'gate | $84,811 | $300,754 | $130,096 + +============+============+============= + Paid for contract work | | | + Rent | 26,441 | 22,000 | 34,252 + Power and heat | 600 | | + Taxes | 4,429 | 15,863 | 13,902 + Insurance | 10,573 | 7,343 | 9,490 + Repairs, ordinary, of | | | + b'ld'gs and mach'y | 9,502 | 1,700 | 8,387 + Interest on cash used | | | + in the business | 1,895 | 61,833 | 3,691 + All sundries not | | | + elsewhere reported | 31,371 | 192,015 | 60,374 + GOODS MANUFACTURED | | | + --Aggregate | $3,315,691 | $2,143,023 | $13,317,789 + +============+============+============= + Principal product | 3,268,994 | 2,143,023 | 13,118,381 + All other products, | | | + including custom | | | + work and repairing | 46,697 | | 199,408 + ------------------------+------------+------------+------------- + + ====================================== + CLASSIFICATION OF | Sugar and + INQUIRIES[60] | molasses + | refining + | + _Establishments_:-- | (8) + ------------------------+------------- + CAPITAL EMPLOYED-- | + Aggregate | $3,999,510 + |============= + HIRED PROPERTY-- | + Total | 255,622 + +------------- + PLANT--Total | 1,821,000 + +------------- + Land | 399,000 + Buildings | 527,500 + Machinery, tools, | + and implements | 894,500 + LIVE ASSETS--Total | 1,922,888 + +------------- + Raw materials | 186,214 + Stock in process and | + finished product | 335,016 + Cash, bills, and | + accounts | + receivable, and | + all sundries not | + elsewhere reported | 1,401,658 + | + WAGES PAID--Aggregate | $330,558 + |============= + Average number of | + hands employed | 596 + +------------- + Males above 16 years | 583 + Females above 15 years | 2 + Children | + Pieceworkers | 11 + MATERIALS USED-- | + Aggregate cost | $14,816,112 + +============== + Principal materials | 14,412,045 + Fuel | 100,342 + Mill supplies | 15,986 + All other materials | 287,739 + EXPENSES, MISCELLANEOUS | + --Ag'gate | $227,760 + +============== + Paid for contract work | + Rent | 20,450 + Power and heat | 900 + Taxes | 21,877 + Insurance | 21,397 + Repairs, ordinary, of | + b'ld'gs and mach'y | 29,171 + Interest on cash used | + in the business | 65,449 + All sundries not | + elsewhere reported | 68,516 + GOODS MANUFACTURED | + --Aggregate | $16,629,982 + +============== + Principal product | 16,623,134 + All other products, | + including custom | + work and repairing | 6,848 + ------------------------+-------------- + + +STATEMENT OF CITY DEBT, DECEMBER 31, 1893 + + ======================================================================= + Title of Loan | Amount | Amount + | Dec. 31, 1892 | Dec. 31, 1893 + --------------------------------------+----------------+--------------- + PERMANENT DEBT PAYABLE FROM TAXATION: | | + Prospect Park | $8,697,000.00 | $8,697,000.00 + New York Bridge | 10,013,000.00 | 10,013,000.00 + Soldiers' Aid Fund | 112,000.00 | 60,000.00 + Arrearage Fund | 2,350,000.00 | 2,350,000.00 + Local Improvement | 200,000.00 | + Certificates of Indebtedness | 505,160.93 | 434,160.93 + City Bonds (Arrearage of County | | + Taxes) | 549,000.00 | 549,000.00 + Main Sewer Relief and Extension | | + Fund | 1,250,000.00 | 1,250,000.00 + Local Improvement (Laws of 1888) | 1,300,000.00 | 1,300,000.00 + Local Improvement (Laws of 1889) | 900,000.00 | 900,000.00 + Local Improvement (Laws of 1892) | 300,000.00 | 445,000.00 + School Improvement (Laws of 1888) | 400,000.00 | 400,000.00 + School Improvement (Laws of 1889) | 800,000.00 | 800,000.00 + Public Site, Purchase and | | + Construction | 500,000.00 | 500,000.00 + Municipal Site | 265,000.00 | 265,000.00 + Fourth Precinct Station House | 50,000.00 | 50,000.00 + Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument | 220,000.00 | 205,000.00 + Park Purchase | 650,000.00 | 650,000.00 + New York and Brooklyn Bridge, § 4, | | + Laws of 1891 | 1,000,000.00 | 1,000,000.00 + New York and Brooklyn Bridge, § 5, | | + Laws of 1891 | 1,400,000.00 | 1,450,000.00 + Public Market | 750,000.00 | 750,000.00 + School Building Fund | 304,000.00 | 606,000.00 + Certificate of Indebtedness, | | + ch. 48, Laws of 1892 | 162,844.92 | 54,830.18 + Certificate of Indebtedness, | | + ch. 50, Laws of 1892 | 125,000.00 | 148,852.55 + Certificate of Indebtedness, | | + ch. 45, Laws of 1891 | 15,000.00 | + Asphalt Repavement Fund | | 37,000.00 + Museums of Art and Science | | 8,000.00 + +----------------+--------------- + Total | $32,818,005.85 | $32,932,843.66 + |================|=============== + WATER DEBT | $14,566,000.00 | $15,316,000.00 + +================+=============== + TEMPORARY DEBT PAYABLE FROM TAXATION, | | + ETC.: | | + Fourth Avenue Improvement | 51,000.00 | 34,000.00 + Eighth Ward Improvement | 650,000.00 | 650,000.00 + Twenty-sixth and adjacent Ward | | + Sewers | 315,000.00 | 499,000.00 + Sewerage Fund(1892) | 50,000.00 | 119,000.00 + North Second Street Improvement | | 15,000.00 + Tax Certificate (Contagious | | + Disease Hospital) | | 7,000.00 + +----------------+--------------- + Total | $1,066,000.00 | $1,324,000.00 + +================+=============== + TAX CERTIFICATES | $2,700,000.00 | $3,400,000.00 + --------------------------------------+----------------+--------------- + + ================================================================ + Title of Loan | Increase | Decrease + | | + --------------------------------------+--------------+---------- + PERMANENT DEBT PAYABLE FROM TAXATION: | | + Prospect Park | | + New York Bridge | | + Soldiers' Aid Fund | | $52,000 + Arrearage Fund | | + Local Improvement | | 200,000 + Certificates of Indebtedness | | 71,000 + City Bonds (Arrearage of County | | + Taxes) | | + Main Sewer Relief and Extension | | + Fund | | + Local Improvement (Laws of 1888) | | + Local Improvement (Laws of 1889) | | + Local Improvement (Laws of 1892) | $155,000.00 | + School Improvement (Laws of 1888) | | + School Improvement (Laws of 1889) | | + Public Site, Purchase and | | + Construction | | + Municipal Site | | + Fourth Precinct Station House | | + Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument | | 15,000 + Park Purchase | | + New York and Brooklyn Bridge, § 4, | | + Laws of 1891 | | + New York and Brooklyn Bridge, § 5, | | + Laws of 1891 | 50,000.00 | + Public Market | | + School Building Fund | 302,000.00 | + Certificate of Indebtedness, | | + ch. 48, Laws of 1892 | | 108,014 + Certificate of Indebtedness, | | + ch. 50, Laws of 1892 | 3,852.55 | + Certificate of Indebtedness, | | + ch. 45, Laws of 1891 | | 15,000 + Asphalt Repavement Fund | 37,000.00 | + Museums of Art and Science | 8,000.00 | + +--------------+---------- + Total | $575,852.55 | $461,014 + |==============|========== + WATER DEBT | $750,000.00 | + +==============+========== + TEMPORARY DEBT PAYABLE FROM TAXATION, | | + ETC.: | | + Fourth Avenue Improvement | | $17,000 + Eighth Ward Improvement | | + Twenty-sixth and adjacent Ward | | + Sewers | 184,000.00 | + Sewerage Fund(1892) | 69,000.00 | + North Second Street Improvement | 15,000.00 | + Tax Certificate (Contagious | | + Disease Hospital) | 7,000.00 | + +--------------+---------- + Total | $275,000.00 | $17,000 + +==============+========== + TAX CERTIFICATES | $700,000.00 | + --------------------------------------+--------------+---------- + + + RECAPITULATION + + ======================================================================= + Title of Loan | Amount | Amount + | Dec. 31, 1892 | Dec. 31, 1893 + --------------------------------------+----------------+--------------- + Permanent Debt | $32,818,005.85 | $32,932,843.66 + Water Debt | 14,566,000.00 | 15,316,000.00 + Temporary Debt | 1,066,000.00 | 1,324,000.00 + Tax Certificates | 2,700,000.00 | 3,400,000.00 + +----------------+--------------- + Gross Debt | 51,150,005.85 | 52,972,843.66 + Sinking Fund | 4,636,893.90 | 4,935,344.55 + +----------------+--------------- + | $46,513,111.95 | $48,037,499.11 + Less 3 and 8 months' Tax | | + Certificates | | 700,000.00 + +----------------+--------------- + Net City Debt | $46,513,111.95 | $47,337,499.11 + --------------------------------------+----------------+--------------- + + ================================================================ + Title of Loan | Increase | Decrease + | | + --------------------------------------+--------------+---------- + Permanent Debt | $114,837.81 | + Water Debt | 750,000.00 | + Temporary Debt | 258,000.00 | + Tax Certificates | 700,000.00 | + +--------------+---------- + Gross Debt | 1,822,837.81 | + Sinking Fund | 298,450.65 | + +--------------+---------- + |$1,524,387.16 | + Less 3 and 8 months' Tax | | + Certificates | | + +--------------+---------- + Net City Debt |$1,524,387.16 | + --------------------------------------+--------------+---------- + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + + +[1] Stiles, i. p. 326. + +[2] In 1888 the State Legislature, at the request of the Society of Old +Brooklynites, passed a resolution urging Congress to provide for the +erection of a monument. A petition containing 25,000 names was sent to +Washington, and the matter was favorably reported from committee, but +no act was passed. + +[3] _Historical Sketch of Fulton Ferry_, 1879. + +[4] Furman, p. 243. + +[5] The state recognition of Brooklyn as a town took place in 1788. + +[6] In 1806, the Legislature of New York enacted a law allowing the +incorporation of a State and of County Medical Societies. Under this +act the State Medical Society was organized at once. The medical men +of this county did not act in the matter, however, for several years, +and it was not till March, 1822, that the Kings County Medical Society +was organized. From the organization of the society to the present +time the following gentlemen have been its presidents: Cornelius Low, +1822-1825; J. G. T. Hunt, 1825, till his death in 1830; Thomas W. +Henry, 1831-1833; Charles Ball, 1833-1835; Isaac I. Rapelye, 1835; +Matthew Wendell, 1836; Adrian Vanderveer, 1837-1839; John B. Zabriskie, +1839; Purcell Cooke, 1840-1842; Theodore L. Mason, 1842-1844; Bradley +Parker, 1844; Purcell Cooke, 1845; J. Sullivan Thorne, 1846; Lucius +Hyde, 1847; Chauncey L. Mitchell, 1848; Henry J. Cullen, 1849; James +H. Henry, 1850; Samuel J. Osborne, 1851; George Marvin, 1852; Andrew +Otterson, 1853-1855; George I. Bennet, 1855; T. Anderson Wade, 1856; +Samuel Boyd, 1857; Chauncey L. Mitchell, 1858-1860; Daniel Brooks, +1860; C. R. McClellan, 1861; Samuel Hart, 1862; DeWitt C. Enos, 1863; +Joseph C. Hutchinson, 1864; John T. Conkling, 1865; Andrew Otterson, +1866; William W. Reese, 1867; R. Cresson Stiles, 1868-1870; J. H. +Hobart Burge, 1870-1872; William Henry Thayer, 1872-1874; A. J. C. +Skene, 1874-1876; A. Hutchins, 1876-1879; J. S. Prout, 1879; Charles +Jewett, 1880-1883; G. G. Hopkins, 1883. In 1829 there were thirty-six +active members belonging to the society. In 1836 the Code of Ethics +of the state society was adopted, and in 1848 the Code of Ethics of +the American Medical Association. From its foundation in 1822, till +the repeal of that power by the Legislature in 1881, the Kings County +Society conferred sixteen licenses to practice medicine.--S. M. O. + +[7] The first post-office at Gravesend was established in 1843. + +[8] J. C. Vanderbilt's _Social History of Flatbush_ gives some +exceedingly interesting glimpses of life in this region during and +after the Revolutionary period. + +[9] The "public whipper" received a salary of $15 a year. + +[10] Tunis G. Bergen was born at New Utrecht in 1806. The Cropsey +family, prominent at New Utrecht, is descended from Geerte Jans +Kasparse, who came from Holland, with her two sons, Joost and Johannis, +in 1652. Joost, third son of this Joost, had one son, Casper, who held +office in New Utrecht, and died in 1806, leaving six sons and several +daughters. Other descendants were Jerome Ryersen Cropsey, Andrew G. +Cropsey, and William Cropsey. The last named was for several terms +supervisor of New Utrecht. + +[11] _History of Kings County_, p. 279. + +[12] This fine specimen of old Dutch architecture is still standing on +Evergreen Avenue. + +[13] _Historic and Antiquarian Scenes in Brooklyn and its Vicinity_, p. +47. + +[14] The assumption that the Dutch youth required to be taught +"convivial customs" by the "arrogant Anglo-American youngers" is +scarcely supported by definite testimony. + +[15] The ancestral farm and home of the Wyckoffs is on the boundary +line between Brooklyn and Newtown, beyond Metropolitan Avenue. + +[16] "History of Williamsburgh," in Stiles's _History of Kings County_. + +[17] Printed in the _Long Island Star_, February 14, 1811. + +[18] Furman's MS. + +[19] Fulton and Livingston had obtained from the Legislature the +monopoly of steam navigation on all the waters of New York for thirty +years from 1808. + +[20] _Historical Sketch of Fulton Ferry._ + +[21] _Corporation Manual_, 1870. + +[22] The Corporation of New York at one time even questioned the right +of Brooklyn's inhabitants to cross the river, ferriage free, in their +own boats. + +[23] See Appendix III. + +[24] Walt Whitman was born at West Hills, Long Island, in 1819. During +the time of his residence in Brooklyn he did editorial writing for both +the _Times_ and the _Eagle_. In the following letter to Mr. Charles M. +Skinner, of Brooklyn, he describes his newspaper work in this city:-- + + 328 MICKLE STREET, CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, + _January 19, '85_. + + DEAR SIR,--In hasty answer to your request asking me to specify + over my own signature what year I worked as an editorial + writer in the Brooklyn _Times_ office, I would say that if + I remember right it was along in 1856, or just before. I + recollect (doubtless I am now going to be egotistical about it) + the question of the new Water Works (magnificently outlined + by McAlpine, and duly carried out and improved by Kirkwood, + first-class engineers both) was still pending, and the works, + though well under way, continued to be strongly opposed by + many. With the consent of the proprietor, I bent the whole + weight of the paper steadily in favor of the McAlpine plan, as + against a flimsy, cheap, and temporary series of works that + would have long since broken down, and disgraced the city. + + This, with my course on another matter,--the securing to public + use of Washington Park (old Fort Greene), stoutly championed by + me some thirty-five years ago, against heavy odds, during an + editorship of the Brooklyn _Eagle_,--are "feathers in my wings" + that I would wish to preserve. + + I heard lately with genuine sorrow of the death of George C. + Bennett. I remember him well as a good, generous, honorable man. + + I send best greetings to your staff, and, indeed, to all the + Brooklyn journalists. + + WALT WHITMAN. + +Whitman's poem "Crossing the Williamsburgh Ferry" is familiar to +readers of his _Leaves of Grass_. + +[25] _Brooklyn Compendium._ + +[26] The Young Men's Christian Association of Brooklyn was organized +during the same year. + +[27] Up to the time of present writing morning journalism has never +been successful in Brooklyn, the metropolitan newspapers of New York +having from the outset filled the field, and prevented a financial +success for any but the evening papers. + +[28] "Yet, although Brooklyn had thus, at a single bound, jumped from +the seventh to the third position among the cities of the American +Union, it could by no means claim the same relative position in point +of wealth, business, or commercial importance, being outranked in these +respects by several cities of less population. Nor had it risen to its +eminence by virtue of its own inherent vigor and enterprise. Candor +certainly compels the acknowledgment that it was chiefly attributable +to the overflowing prosperity and greatness of its giant neighbor, New +York."--Stiles's _History of Kings County_, vol. i. p. 485. + +[29] Martin Kalbfleisch was elected Mayor on the Democratic ticket, +receiving a majority of 5136, in a total vote of 28,280, over his +opponent, Frederick Scholes. + +[30] The statue was unveiled in October, 1869. A. A. Low presided, and +the presentation address was made by James P. Wallace, on behalf of the +War Fund Committee. The oration was by Dr. Storrs. + +[31] Mr. Beecher was appointed chaplain of the Thirteenth Regiment in +1878. Dr. Storrs had already occupied this post. + +[32] Colonel Meserole was made brigadier-general in 1868. + +[33] The same name had been chosen by Colonel Roehr's father, Edward +Franz Roehr, for a newspaper first issued in 1854, and running for one +year. Edward Roehr's Williamsburgh printing office and bookstore also +sent forth a Masonic journal called _Der Triangel_, which flourished +for twenty-five years. + +[34] In connection with the cupola of the City Hall, a very interesting +incident occurred in 1852. It was noticed that this feature of the +building swayed, and needed to be strengthened. The necessary steps +were taken to render it firm and secure. At the time the men were +engaged in the work the court of oyer and terminer was holding a +session in the room known and distinguished as the Governor's room, +Judge N. B. Morse presiding. One day while the court was engaged in a +criminal trial, a beam which was being raised slipped from the rope, +and fell upon the roof above the court-room, causing the plaster and +ceiling to give way. At once the court officers, jurors, and spectators +became alarmed; some ran for the door, some for the windows, and others +sought refuge under the tables. Judge Morse took a position by one of +the windows, and, shaking his fist at the audience, exclaimed, "The +wicked flee when no man pursueth." A few of the frightened ones got on +their knees and fervently prayed. The prisoner at the bar was the only +one unmoved.--S. M. O. + +[35] Manuscript history. + +[36] _Brooklyn Eagle_, May 24, 1884. + +[37] The single exception to Roebling's plan offered by the commission +was that they demanded a central height of 135 feet, instead of 130 +feet, in the central span. + +[38] Samuel T. Powell had occupied the Mayor's chair for two terms, +closing in 1861. He again entered the office in 1872. + +[39] Mr. Beecher came to Brooklyn in 1847, and died at his post forty +years later, on March 8, 1887. His relations to the city of Brooklyn +were exceptional, and in many respects marvelous. No other single +personality in this city ever won a prominence so significant, so +salutary, so momentous. One of Brooklyn's most brilliant thinkers, +writers, and speakers, the Rev. John W. Chadwick, D.D., has spoken +of Mr. Beecher as 'the most unique and splendid personality of our +civic history; one of the most unique and splendid in the history +of the United States and their colonial beginnings.' The homage to +Beecher's genius as a teacher and leader of men has come from thinking +men wherever the English language is spoken. The homage which belongs +to him as a citizen, as a pastor, as a humanitarian, as a patriot, +has been enthusiastically offered by his fellow-countrymen, and +particularly by his neighbors in the city of Brooklyn. The bronze +monument to Mr. Beecher, designed by John Q. A. Ward, was placed in +front of the City Hall in 1891. + +[40] Seth Low on "Municipal Government," in Bryce's _American +Commonwealth_, vol. i. p. 626. + +[41] Commenting on the Brooklyn system, Fiske says: "It insures unity +of administration, it encourages promptness and economy, it locates +and defines responsibility, and it is so simple that everybody can +understand it. The people, having but few officers to elect, are +more likely to know something about them. Especially since everybody +understands that the success of the government depends upon the +character of the Mayor, extraordinary pains are taken to secure good +mayors; and the increased interest in city politics is shown by the +fact that in Brooklyn more people vote for Mayor than for Governor or +for President." + +[42] The increase in the bulk of the city vote since 1877 is shown by +the fact that the vote for Howell had been 36,343, as against 33,538 +for John F. Henry. + +[43] Joseph C. Hendrix was appointed postmaster of Brooklyn in 1886, +and made a record in that office unequaled by any postmaster the +city ever had. Indeed, his reforms and innovations made for him a +conspicuous reputation at Washington. In 1892, Hendrix was elected to +Congress. He has rendered highly important service to the city in the +board of education. + +[44] See p. 166. + +[45] The history of the Institute is taken from the fifth _Year Book_, +1893. + +[46] The Regents of the University of the State of New York, who had +granted a provisional charter in 1889. + +[47] The present building of the Young Men's Christian Association, +at Fulton and Bond streets, has been occupied since 1885. It has +a circulating library of over 13,000 volumes, a finely equipped +gymnasium, running-track, bowling-alleys, and swimming-tank, two large +lecture-halls, and evening classes registering 700 men. The fine +building of the Young Women's Christian Association, at the junction of +Schermerhorn Street and Flatbush Avenue, has been occupied since 1888. +It has eighteen class-rooms for educational work, a library with about +6000 volumes, a lecture-hall seating 650, assembly-rooms seating 400, +an excellent gymnasium and running-track, and medical department. + +[48] See p. 165 of this volume. + +[49] The practice of establishing classes for Chinamen in connection +with Sunday-schools has occasioned many and prolonged discussions +in Brooklyn, and has been strongly assailed, particularly in those +instances where the teaching of mature Chinamen was intrusted to young +unmarried women. + +[50] _Eagle Almanac_, 1894. + +[51] _Corporation Manual_, for 1863, compiled by Henry McCloskey, City +Clerk. + +[52] See Appendix. + +[53] Leffert Lefferts was the first president of the Long Island Bank. + +[54] Read by Mr. Ostrander before the Long Island Historical Society, +February 1, 1881. + +[55] Understood to have originated in the shortening of Rembrandt into +Rem. + +[56] From compilation in _Eagle Almanac_, 1892. + +[57] The value of hired property is not included for 1890, because it +was not reported in 1880. + +[58] No inquiry in 1880 relating to "Miscellaneous expenses." + +[59] The amount stated represents the "net debt," or the total amount +of municipal debt less sinking fund. + +[60] To avoid disclosure of operations of individual establishments, +only such industries as have 3 or more establishments engaged therein +are included. + + + + +INDEX + +Simple page numbers refer to Vol. I.; page numbers preceded by "ii." +refer to Vol. II. + + + Academy of Music, ii. 116, 226. + + Adams, John, 229. + + ---- Julius A., ii. 149. + + ---- Rev. John Coleman, ii. 221. + + Adelphi Academy, ii. 212. + + Aertsen, Huyck, 59, 63. + + ---- Ryniere, 126. + + Ainslie, Robert, ii. 103. + + American Astronomical Society, ii. 208. + + Amersfoort (Flatlands), 55. + + Amphion Musical Society, ii. 228. + + Amphion Theatre, ii. 198. + + Andros, Maj. Ed., 116, 133. + + Apollo Club, ii. 228. + + Apprentices' Library, ii. 73, 75. + + "Arbitration Rock," ii. 42. + + Arion Society, ii. 228. + + Arnold, S. G., ii. 89. + + Assembly, State, meets in Brooklyn, 188; + patriotic resolutions, 200; + and Colonial Congress, 208. + + Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, ii. 221. + + Atkinson, John P., ii. 152. + + Atlantic Bank, ii. 234. + + Atlantic Basin, ii. 191. + + Atlantic Dock Company, ii. 92. + + Aycrigg, Benjamin, ii. 15, 17. + + + Backhouse, E. T., 237. + + Backus, Dr. Truman G., ii. 211. + + Baker, John H., ii. 23. + + Ball, Charles, ii. 32. + + Bank of Williamsburgh, ii. 234. + + Barbarin, Captain, ii. 51. + + Bardwell, W. A., ii. 216. + + Barnes, Demas, ii. 156. + + Barnet, Wm., 179. + + Barnum, Ed. B., 190. + + Barre, Daniel, ii. 56. + + Battle of Brooklyn, 247-274. + + Bayard, Nich., 136, 167. + + Bayles, Rich. M., 7. + + Bedford, settled, 101; + schoolhouse, 102, 161. + + Bedford Academy, ii. 214. + + Bedford Corners, ii. 72. + + Bedford Road, 237. + + Beecher, Henry Ward, ii. 119, 125, 126, 164, 218. + + Bellomont, Governor, 147, 152, 153. + + Bennett, George C, ii. 89, 106. + + ---- George I., ii. 32. + + ---- Wm. Adriaense, 29. + + Benson, A. W., ii. 152, 154. + + Bentyn, Jacques, 29. + + Bergen, Hans Hansen, 39, 67. + + ---- Jacob, ii. 53. + + ---- Jan Hans, 101. + + ---- Johannes, 285. + + ---- John T., 214; ii. 56. + + ---- Michael Hans, 101. + + ---- Tunis G., 102; ii. 92, 97. + + Bergen Hill, 239. + + Berri, Wm., ii. 231. + + Berrian, Cornelius, 126. + + Berry, Abraham J., ii. 104. + + Bibaut, John, 155. + + Bill, Charles E., ii. 151. + + Billing, Th., 235. + + Bird, George L., ii. 70. + + ---- Major, 249. + + Birdsall, T. W., ii. 69. + + Blanco, Jn., 235. + + Bloom, Jacob, 235. + + Board of Health, first, ii. 66. + + Boerum, Isaac, 235. + + ---- Simon, 201, 204, 207. + + ---- William, 220, 300. + + Boerum house, ii. 41. + + Bogert (Bogaert), Nich., 208. + + ---- Teunis Gysbert, 101. + + Bokee & Clem, ii. 75. + + Boome, Jacob, ii. 25. + + Booth, Samuel, ii. 129, 132, 151. + + Boughton, Samuel, ii. 23. + + Bout, Jan Evertsen, 59, 63, 108. + + Bowen, Henry C., ii. 230. + + ---- H. E., ii. 230. + + ---- James, ii. 116. + + Boyd, Samuel, ii. 32. + + Boys' High School, ii. 202. + + Bradford, Wm., 145. + + Breuckelen, of Holland, 59. + + Brevoort, J. Carson, ii. 152. + + Broadhead, Henry, 190. + + Brodhead (quot.), 24. + + Bronson, Greene C., ii. 86. + + Brooklyn, name, 59; + first sale ofland in region of, 29-30; + early days, 53-68; + beginning of official existence, 66; + first houses, 73; + first preacher, 93; + first schoolmaster, 97; + leads Long Island towns, 167; + State Assembly meets in, 188; + battle of Brooklyn, 247-274; + first school, 99; + during Revolution, 211-304; + after the Revolution, ii. 1-46; + recognized as a town, 28; + during war of 1812, 51-56; + incorporated as a village, 62; + markets, 65; + incorporated as a city, 79-81; + property valuations before 1860, 83; + receives Bushwick and Williamsburgh, 107; + during Civil War, 117-131; + bridge, 149-159; + "Brooklyn System," ii. 169-171. + + Brooklyn Academy of Music, ii. 116, 226. + + Brooklyn and Long Island Fair, ii. 122-124. + + Brooklyn Art Association, ii. 228. + + Brooklyn Art Club, ii. 228. + + Brooklyn Auxiliary of the U. S. Sanitary Commission, ii. 122. + + Brooklyn Bridge, ii. 94, 149-159, 168, 178-190. + + Brooklyn Choral Society, ii. 228. + + Brooklyn City Hospital, ii. 93. + + Brooklyn City Railroad, ii. 94. + + Brooklyn Club, ii. 226. + + Brooklyn College of Pharmacy, ii. 215. + + Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Inst., ii. 100, 212. + + "Brooklyn Daily Argus," ii. 230. + + "Brooklyn Daily Citizen," ii. 231. + + "Brooklyn Daily Eagle," ii. 88-91, 128, 229. + + "Brooklyn Daily Standard," ii. 230. + + "Brooklyn Daily Times," ii. 89, 128, 229. + + "Brooklyn Daily Union," ii. 128, 229. + + Brooklyn Entomological Society, ii. 208. + + Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hospital, ii. 223. + + Brooklyn Female Academy, ii. 100. + + Brooklyn Fire Insurance Co., ii. 234. + + "Brooklyn Freie Presse," ii. 128, 229. + + Brooklyn Gaslight Company, ii. 78. + + Brooklyn Heights Seminary, ii. 214. + + Brooklyn Home for Consumptives, ii. 223. + + Brooklyn Homoeopathic Hospital, ii. 223. + + Brooklyn Hospital, ii. 223. + + Brooklyn Hospital for Contagious Diseases, ii. 223. + + Brooklyn Institute, ii. 69, 91, 93, 202-211, 216, 229. + + Brooklyn Latin School, ii. 214. + + Brooklyn Library, ii. 215. + + "Brooklyn Life," ii. 231. + + Brooklyn Lyceum, ii. 91, 93. + + Brooklyn Maennerchor, ii. 228. + + Brooklyn Maternity, ii. 223. + + Brooklyn Microscopical Society, ii. 208. + + Brooklyn Museum, ii. 197. + + "Brooklyn Phalanx," ii. 122. + + Brooklyn Philharmonic Society, ii. 226. + + Brooklyn Saengerbund, ii. 228. + + Brooklyn Select Academy, ii. 31. + + Brooklyn Sunday School Union Society, ii. 64, 110. + + "Brooklyn System," ii. 169-176. + + Brooklyn Theatre, ii. 166, 197. + + Brooklyn Throat Hospital, ii. 223. + + Brooks, Daniel, ii. 32. + + ---- Elbridge S., 142. + + Brower, Abraham, 183. + + ---- Nich., 183. + + ---- Wm., 214. + + Brown, Henry K., ii. 126. + + ---- Laurence, ii. 62. + + Brown's Business College, ii. 214. + + Brush, Conklin, ii. 94. + + Bryant, William C., ii. 107. + + Bryant Literary Society, ii. 229. + + Bryant & Stratton's Business College, ii. 214. + + Buck, Dudley, ii. 228. + + Building Department, ii. 137. + + Bunce, Postmaster, ii. 29. + + Burch, Robert, ii. 230. + + Burge, J. H. Hobart, ii. 32. + + Burnet, Wm., 179. + + Bushwick, land purchase, 99; + town plot, 100; + first school, 100; + first schoolmaster, 101; + old church, ii. 37-40; + patriots, 38; + after Revolution, 38; + during war of 1812, 55; + and Williamsburgh, 101, 102; + consolidate with Brooklyn, 107. + + Bushwick Creek, 100. + + Bushwick Democratic Club, ii. 225. + + Butler, Wm. H., ii. 104. + + + Cæcilia Ladies Vocal Society, ii. 228. + + Calvary Cemetery, ii. 194. + + Campbell, Douglass, 42, 95. + + ---- Patrick, ii. 161. + + Canaver, Peter, ii. 76. + + Carlyle, Thomas, 17. + + Carnaville, Chas. A., ii. 129. + + Carpenter, Geo., 214. + + Carroll Park, ii. 143. + + Cary Fund, ii. 206. + + Casper, Andrew, 235. + + Catholic Cathedral, ii. 160. + + Catholic Historical Society, ii. 220. + + Cemetery of the Evergreens, ii. 93, 194. + + Central Grammar School, ii. 200. + + Chadbourne, Zebulon, ii. 85. + + Chadwick, Rev. J. W., ii. 165, 221. + + Chardavogne, Wm., 221. + + Charles II., 104, 110. + + Charter of 1872, ii. 162. + + Chester, Mrs., ii. 69. + + Chinese Sunday-schools, ii. 220. + + Chittenden, S. B., ii. 151. + + Christian Commission, ii. 124. + + Church Charity Foundation, ii. 160, 220. + + Churches, first in Kings County, 88; + Reformed Dutch, 145; + First Baptist, ii. 75; + in 1835, 83; + in 1893, 219. + + City Bible Society, ii. 220. + + City Hall, ii. 71, 84, 96, 99. + + City Park, ii. 143. + + Clarke, Governor, 188, 190. + + Clausen, Hendrick, 162. + + Clinton, Governor, 188. + + ---- Jas., 213. + + ---- Sir Henry, 217, 231. + + Clinton Ave. Congregational Church, ii. 120. + + Clove Road, 278. + + Clubs, ii. 224. + + Cob dock, ii. 2. + + Cobble Hill, 239; ii. 55. + + Cochran, Dr. David Henry, ii. 212. + + Coffee, Peter, ii. 60. + + Colden, Governor, 210. + + Cole, John, ii. 29. + + Collard, Geo. W., 189. + + College of Nineteen, 61. + + Collier, Jurian, 183. + + Colman's Point, 22. + + Columbia College, 198. + + Columbia Theatre, ii. 198. + + Colve, Governor, 113. + + Committee of Sixty, 206. + + Common lands, 158. + + Concordia Maennerchor, ii. 228. + + Coney Island, 55, 122; ii. 33. + + Congregational Church Extension Society, ii. 220. + + Congregational Club, ii. 220. + + Congress of Representatives, 290, 291. + + Conkling, John T., ii. 32, 132. + + Conselyea, Wm., ii. 38. + + Consolidation of Brooklyn and N. Y., ii. 163. + + Continental Congress, 223, 230, 261, 280. + + Cook, Purcell, ii. 32. + + Coombs, John W., ii. 152. + + Coope, Ed., ii. 69. + + Copeland, Edward, ii. 93. + + ---- Ed., 189. + + "Corkscrew Fort," 239. + + Corlaer's Hook Ferry, ii. 42. + + Corlies, E. W., ii. 152. + + Cornbury, Lord, 167-175; ii. 262. + + Cornell, John, ii. 71. + + ---- T. B., ii. 152. + + Cornell House, 257. + + Cornwallis, Earl, 243. + + Cortelyou, Isaac, 185. + + ---- Jacques, 129. + + Cortelyou, Peter, 161. + + Coudrey, Samuel, ii. 16. + + Council of Twelve, 61. + + Courts, 127-131; ii. 30, 72, 73, 75, 95, 98, 99, 111. + + Cowenhoven, 59. + + ---- Captain Peter, ii. 56. + + ---- John, 161. + + ---- Nicholas, 180, 214, 224, 284, 290. + + Cozzens, Issachar, ii. 16. + + Crane, Dr. Jas., ii. 133. + + Craven, A. W., ii. 152. + + Crescent Club, ii. 226. + + Cripplebush, i. 101. + + Crisper, Casper, 285. + + Crist, Abraham, ii. 86. + + Criterion, ii. 198. + + Crittenden, Dr. Alonzo, ii. 211. + + Crombie, John S., ii. 213. + + Crook, Abel, 190. + + Cropsey, Andrew, ii. 38. + + ---- Andrew G., ii. 38. + + ---- Casper, ii. 38. + + ---- Geerte Jans (Kasparse), ii. 38. + + ---- Jerome Ryerson, ii. 38. + + ---- Johannis (Kasparse), ii. 38. + + ---- Joost (Kasparse), ii. 38. + + ---- William, ii. 38. + + Cross, Colonel, ii. 122. + + ---- John A., ii. 85. + + Cullen, Edgar M., 189. + + ---- Henry J., ii. 32. + + Cunningham, 268; ii. 4. + + ---- Robert, ii. 69. + + Cutting, Wm., ii. 61. + + Cuyler, Rev. Theo. L., ii. 218. + + Cypress Hills Cemetery, ii. 93, 194. + + + Dana, Prof. James D., ii. 203. + + Dankers, Jasper, 119. + + Darbee, Levi, ii. 106. + + De Bevoice, Charles, 235. + + ---- Johannes, 285. + + De Hart, Simon Aertsen, 121. + + De Heister, General, 243. + + De Lancey, Lieut.-Governor, 189. + + De Launcey, 262. + + De Mille, Richard M., 189. + + De Sille, Nicasius, 100, 118. + + De Witt, Benjamin, ii. 20. + + Dean, Capt. Wm., 56. + + ---- John, 64. + + Debevoise, James, ii. 97. + + ---- Jost, 213. + + Debtors' Prison, ii. 73. + + Declaration of Independence, 230, 232. + + Denice, Denys, 207. + + Denton, Daniel, 10. + + Deutscher Liederkranz, ii. 228. + + Dewyre, Capt. Wm., ii. 56. + + Dickinson, P. P., ii. 152. + + Dircksen, Cornelis, 53. + + ---- Joris, 59. + + Dongan, Governor, 108, 117, 132, 133, 163; ii. 262. + + Dorlant, John Garretse, 162, 163. + + Doughty, John, ii. 24. + + ---- John, ii. 62, 64, 71. + + ---- Rev. Jno., 41. + + Draft Riots, ii. 121. + + Draper, 96. + + Dress among the Dutch, 76. + + Driggs, Daniel D., ii. 161. + + ---- Edmund, ii. 152. + + "Drum Beat," ii. 123. + + Duke of York, 104. + + "Duke's Laws," 108, 131. + + Duness, Count, 243. + + Dunmore, Governor, 205, 206. + + Duryea, Maria, 14. + + Dutch, and American Exploration, 17; + and Puritans, 42; + manners and customs, 69-105; + and education, 94-99; + and English, 103; + nomenclature, ii. 258. + + Dwight, Rev. Dr., 189. + + + "Eagle and Brooklyn," vi. + + East New York, 274. + + Eastern Dist. Industrial School, ii. 224. + + Edson, Franklin, ii. 179, 181. + + Education under the Dutch, 94, 124. + + Elections in early Brooklyn, 159 (note). + + Ely, Smith, Jr., ii. 151. + + Embargo Act, ii. 50. + + English, and Dutch, 103; + take New York, 105. + + Enos, De Witt C., ii. 32. + + Episcopalians, at Jamaica, 174; + in Brooklyn after the Revolution, ii. 24. + + Erie Basin Docks, ii. 134. + + Erskine, Sir Wm., 243. + + Etherington, Sam., 220. + + Euterpe Chorus and Orchestra, ii. 228. + + "Evening Star," ii. 78. + + Everdell, Colonel, ii. 127. + + Everett, Thomas, 220. + + ---- William, 221. + + Everit, Th., ii. 62. + + Excelsior Club, ii. 226. + + + Faith Home for Incurables, ii. 223. + + Farmers' and Citizens' Bank, ii. 104. + + Federal Building, ii. 195. + + Ferry, the, 53, 120, 153; ii. 27, 77; + ferry and river rights, 132; ii. 261. + + Ffilkin, Henry, 155, 158, 162. + + Field, Thos. W., ii. 38. + + Field and Marine Club, ii. 226. + + Fire Department, early organization, ii. 24; + first legislation relating to, 26; + fire limits, 139; + reorganized, 146. + + Fish, Colonel, 257. + + Fiske, John, ii. 48, 169, 171. + + Flatbush, county court, 35; + Erasmus Hall, 35; + settled, 55; + establishes a church, 88; + population in 1738, 188; + first mill, ii. 34. + + Flatbush Ave. and Amersfoort Road, 55. + + Flatlands, called New Amersfoort, 29; + settled, 54; + new church, ii. 33. + + Fleet estate, ii. 72. + + Fletcher, Benj., 144. + + Floyd, Wm., 230. + + Flushing Bridge and Road Company, ii. 28. + + Fly Market, 221. + + Foord, John, ii. 230. + + Fort Amsterdam, 31, 52. + + Fort Greene, 237; ii. 23, 120. + + Fort Hamilton, 122, 243. + + Fort James, 116. + + Fort Orange, 23. + + "Four Chimneys," 257. + + Fowler, Wm. A., ii. 151. + + Foy, Joseph D., ii. 19. + + Franklin, Benjamin, 229. + + Franklin Literary Society, ii. 229. + + Freeck's Mill, 239; ii. 41. + + Fricke, Geo., ii. 69. + + Froebel Academy, ii. 214. + + Fulton, Robert, ii. 56-58. + + Fulton Ferry, ii. 27, 57, 159. + + Fulton Street, 161. + + Furman, Gabriel, 172, 173; ii. 68, 69. + + ---- William, ii. 69. + + + Galbraithe, Robert, 221. + + Gardiner, Lyon, 39. + + Garrison, John, ii. 64, 69, 71. + + Garritsen, Wolfert, 28, 54. + + Garritson, Samuel, 163, 188, 203. + + "Gazette," 146, 186. + + George III., 199. + + Gerbritse, Jan, 162. + + German Hospital, ii. 223. + + German Young Men's Christian Ass'n, ii. 221. + + Germania Club, ii. 225. + + Germania Savings Bank, ii. 166. + + Gibbons, John, ii. 31. + + Girls' High School, ii. 202. + + Golden Hill, battle of, 205. + + Good Hope, prison ship, ii. 5. + + Gowanus Mill, 29, 183. + + Graham, Augustus, ii. 69, 93, 202. + + Grand Opera House, ii. 198. + + Grant, General, 243. + + Gravesend, settled, 55; + population in 1810, ii. 33. + + Graydon, Colonel, 295. + + Green, Andrew H., ii. 152. + + Greene, General, 229, 233, 237, 240. + + Greenwood, John, ii. 86. + + Greenwood Cemetery, ii. 94. + + Gunnison, Herbert F., ii. 232. + + Guy's picture of Brooklyn in 1820, ii. 68. + + + Hagerman, Joseph, 155. + + Hale, Nathan, 267. + + Half Moon, 20. + + Hall, George, ii. 81, 108, 111. + + ---- Rev. Chas. H., ii. 219. + + Hall of Records, ii. 195. + + Hamilton, Alexander, 216. + + ---- Andrew, 188. + + ---- George, ii. 31. + + Hamilton Club, ii. 225. + + Hamilton Literary Association, ii. 91. + + Hammond, Annie A., xiii. + + Hanover Club, ii. 226. + + Hanssen, Jacob, 163. + + Hanssen, Joris, 162, 163. + + ---- Michael, 159. + + Harper, James, ii. 70. + + Harrison, Gabriel, ii. 196. + + Hart, Samuel, ii. 32. + + Hatton, John A., ii. 230. + + Havens, Thomas, ii. 24. + + Hayward, John W., ii. 152. + + Hazard, Thomas, 221. + + Hazzard, Wm. H., ii. 129. + + Hebrew Orphan Asylum, ii. 224. + + Hegeman, Adriaen, 99, 164, 284. + + ---- Joseph, 161. + + Heights, 54, 233. + + Hell Gate, ii. 167. + + Hendrix, Joseph C., ii. 176. + + Henry, James H., ii. 32. + + ---- John F., ii. 172, 230. + + ---- Thomas W., ii. 32. + + Herman, George G., ii. 129. + + Hessians, 255. + + Hester, Col. Wm., ii. 90. + + ---- Wm. Van Auden, ii. 90. + + Hewell, A. S., ii. 179, 182. + + Hicks, Jacob, ii. 69. + + ---- John, 221-223. + + ---- "Milk," ii. 70. + + ---- "Spetler," ii. 70. + + Hildreth, John T., ii. 23. + + Hobart, John Silas, 292. + + Hodgkinson, Worthington, ii. 86. + + Hoffman, John T., 151. + + Hogan, Capt. W. H., ii. 118. + + Holland, and Spain, 17; + education in, 94-96. + + Holland Society, xii. + + Hooley's Opera House, ii. 197. + + Hopkins, G. G., ii. 32. + + Hotchkiss, Maj. E. O., ii. 127. + + Houston Street Ferry, ii. 101. + + Howard, Henry W. B., vi. + + ---- William, 276-279. + + Howard Colored Orphan Asylum, ii. 224. + + Howell, James, Jr., ii. 168. + + Hubbard, 284. + + Hudde, Andries, 28, 39, 54. + + Hudson, Henry, 17, 19, 22. + + Hudson River, 17. + + Hunt, J. G. T., ii. 32. + + Hunter, John W., ii. 162. + + ---- Robert, 175-178. + + ---- William, Jr., ii. 152, 155. + + Husted, Seymour L., ii. 150, 154. + + Hutchins, A., ii. 32. + + ---- John, 167. + + Hutchinson, Anne, 41. + + ---- Joseph C., ii. 32. + + Huybertsen, Lambert, 39. + + Hyde, Lucius, ii. 32. + + Hyde & Behman's Theatre, ii. 198. + + + Indians, Long Island, 11-15; + and the Dutch, 15, 42-52; + and Hudson, 20; + and early settlers, 42-52; + and Puritans, 42. + + Industrial School Association, ii. 224. + + Inebriates' Home for Kings County, ii. 136. + + Ingersoll, Wm. H., 190. + + "Iphetanga," 54. + + Ireland, Rev. John, ii. 62. + + + Jackson, John, ii. 14, 29. + + Jamaica, Pres. Church, 174. + + Janssen, Abraham, 92; ii. 41. + + Janvier, Thomas A., 31; ii. 42. + + Jefferson, Thomas, 229. + + Jenks, G. T., ii. 151, 155. + + Jervis, Arthur N., vi. + + Jewett, Charles, ii. 32. + + Johnson, Barent, 213, 234. + + ---- Barnet, ii. 97. + + ---- David, ii. 103. + + ---- Gen. Jeremiah, ii. 14, 46, 55, 67, 87, 149. + + ---- Hornbeck, 235, 287. + + ---- Samuel E., 187. + + ---- Rev. Dr. S. R., 190. + + ---- William, 284. + + Johnson estate, 214. + + Jong, Lodewyck, 92. + + Joralemon, Teunis, ii. 72. + + Joralemon's Lane, ii. 71. + + Jourdan, Maj.-Gen. Jas., ii. 179. + + "Journal," 186. + + + Kalbfleisch, Martin, ii. 117, 122, 129, 148, 151, 154, 160. + + Kemper, Jacob, 221. + + Kennedy, Platt, ii. 31. + + Kenney, James F., 104. + + Kershaw, Martin, 235. + + Kidd, Captain, 148-151. + + Kieft, William, 27. + + "Kiekout," 99. + + King, Gamaliel, ii. 129. + + ---- John S., ii. 52. + + Kings County, settled, 26; + first church, 88; + organized, 118; + during Revolution, 211-304; + during War of 1812, ii. 51-56; + during the Civil War, ii. 117-131; + churches in, 219. + + Kings County Court House, ii. 128-130. + + ---- _See_ Courts. + + Kings County Hospital, ii. 223. + + Kings County Medical Society, ii. 32, 119, 217. + + Kings County Sunday-school Ass'n, ii. 221. + + King's Highway, 161, 179-183. + + Kingsley, Harry S., ii. 90. + + ---- William C., ii. 150, 179, 189. + + Kingsley & Keeney, ii. 155. + + Kinsella, Thomas, ii. 90, 150. + + Kirk, Thomas, ii. 70. + + Kissam, Daniel, 204. + + Kissick's Business College, ii. 214. + + Knowles, Edwin, ii. 198. + + Knyphausen, General, 243. + + + Labadists, 119. + + Lafayette, 257. + + Lambertson, Thomas, 129. + + Lamb, Capt. John, 216. + + Lambert, Edward C., ii. 94. + + ---- John, ii. 50, 51. + + Laughlin, Rt. Rev. John, ii. 217. + + Law Library, ii. 217. + + Lawrence, John, 139. + + Lee, General, 217, 227. + + Lefferts, Barent, 213. + + ---- John, 189, 224, 289; ii. 66. + + ---- Leffert, 210, 285; ii. 2, 68, 234. + + Leisler, Jacob, 135-143. + + Leislerian party, 164. + + Leonard, John, ii. 103. + + Levermore, Chas. H., ii. 213. + + Lewis, Francis, 207, 230; ii. 235-257. + + ---- Francis, Jr., ii. 255. + + ---- John W., ii. 155. + + ---- Morgan, ii. 255. + + Lincoln Club, ii. 226. + + Lincoln statue, ii. 126, 195. + + Linden Camera Club, ii. 208. + + Littlejohn, Bishop, ii. 179, 219. + + Livingston, Col. H. B., 294. + + ---- Philip, 205, 207, 230; ii. 71 + Rev. Dr. John H., ii. 36. + + ---- Robert, 165, 229, 230. + + Livingston, Robert R., ii. 57. + + Locke, Richard Adams, ii. 88. + + Lockwood, John, 189. + + ---- John, ii. 213. + + Loisian Academy, ii. 62. + + Long Island, geology, 1-10; + trees, 10; + Indians, 11; + discovery, 16-20; + land, 37; + first houses, 73; + under English rule, 107; + named Nassau, 146; + slavery on, 172; + during Revolution, 211-304; + travel on, ii. 27; + first post route, 28. + + "Long Island Anzeiger," ii. 128. + + Long Island Bank, ii. 65, 234. + + Long Island Baptist Ass'n, ii. 221. + + Long Island Business College, ii. 214. + + Long Island College Hospital, ii. 116, 215. + + Long Island Free Library, ii. 216. + + Long Island Historical Society, xii. 119, 217. + + Long Island Insurance Co., ii. 234. + + Long Island Railroad, ii. 190. + + "Long Island Star," ii. 31, 47, 51, 59, 105. + + Long Island Throat and Lung Hospital, ii. 223. + + "Long Island Weekly Intelligencer," ii. 29. + + Lott, Abraham, 188, 201, 203. + + ---- Engelbert, 284. + + ---- Jeremiah, ii. 56. + + ---- Johannis, 188, 284. + + ---- John A., ii. 91, 129. + + ---- Petrus, 285. + + Lovelace, Governor, 109. + + Low, A. A., ii. 122. + + ---- Cornelius, ii. 32. + + ---- Seth, ii. 87, 97. + + ---- Seth, 190; ii. 170, 171-178, 180, 195, 199. + + Lowe, Doctor, ii. 29. + + ---- John, 129. + + Lubbertsen, Frederick, 37, 108. + + Luqueer's mill, ii. 41. + + Lutheran Hospital, ii. 223. + + + Macloy, Rev. Dr. Archibald, ii. 54. + + Mahon, John, ii. 31. + + Manhattan Beach R. R., ii. 168. + + Manhattan Island, 23. + + Manning, Captain, 110. + + Manufacturers' National Bank, ii. 104. + + Mapes, General, ii. 53. + + Marriage among the Dutch, 79. + + Marsh, William B., ii. 89. + + Marshall, Wm., ii. 152, 155. + + Martense, Roetiff, 155. + + Martin, Geo. H., 189. + + Martyn, Jan, 92. + + Mason, Theodore L., ii. 32. + + Maspeth, 100. + + Mauje, Jan, 39. + + Maxwell, James H., ii. 44. + + ---- William H., ii. 199, 200. + + McClellan, C. R., ii. 32. + + McCloskey, Henry, ii. 89. + + McCue, Alexander, 189; ii. 150, 151, 154. + + McDonnell, Rt. Rev. Charles E., ii. 219. + + McLaughlin, Hugh, ii. 232. + + McLean, Andrew, ii. 90, 231. + + ---- Samuel, ii. 152, 154. + + McDougall, Alexander, 213. + + McKelway, St. Clair, ii. 90. + + Meeker, Benjamin, ii. 69. + + ---- Rev. Stephen H., 189. + + ---- S. M., ii. 103. + + Megapolensis, Johannes, 88. + + Memorial Hospital for Women and Children, ii. 223. + + Mercerin, Andrew, ii. 64. + + Meserole, Abraham, 101. + + ---- Jean, 99. + + ---- Jeremiah V., 99; ii. 119, 127. + + ---- John A., ii. 38. + + ---- John I., ii. 38. + + Methodist Episcopal Hospital, ii. 223. + + Metropolitan police, ii. 116. + + Metropolitan Sanitary District, ii. 133. + + Meyers, T. Bailey, ii. 151. + + Michaelius, Jonas, 87. + + Middagh, Mrs., ii. 69. + + Midwood Club, ii. 225. + + Midwout, 55. + + Milburne, 138, 143. + + Military, in Civil War, ii. 118-127. + + Military Garden, ii. 71, 197. + + Mill, first on L. I., ii. 34. + + Miller, David, ii. 38. + + ---- Eleazar, 204. + + ---- Peter, 235. + + Mills, E. S., ii. 152. + + Minuit, Peter, 23. + + Miss Rounds's School for Girls, ii. 214. + + Mitchell, Chauncey L., ii. 32, 151. + + Monitor, ii. 121. + + Montauk Club, ii. 225. + + Montgomerie, Governor, 185. + + Moody, Lady Deborah, 56, 57. + + Moore, Thomas, ii. 195. + + Morrell, Th., ii. 44. + + Morris, Lewis, 230. + + Morse, Judge N. B., ii. 131. + + Morton, Brig.-General, ii. 19. + + ---- John, ii. 152. + + Moser, Joseph, ii. 76. + + Mudie, A. E., ii. 136. + + Municipal Building, ii. 195. + + Municipal Union Society, ii. 163. + + Murphy, George I., 189. + + ---- Henry C., 59, 119, 189; ii. 22, 60, 91, 92, 150, 151, 154, 156, + 188, 232, 258. + + ---- Henry C., Jr., 189. + + ---- John G., ii. 60. + + + Nagel, Philip, 284. + + Nanfan, Governor, 164-168. + + Nassau ferry-boat, ii. 59. + + Nassau Island, 146, 289. + + Nassau Water Company, ii. 110, 146. + + National Guard, in Civil War, 118-127; + in 1893, 198. + + Naval Hospital, ii. 194. + + Neilson, Judge, ii. 194. + + Nelson, Chief Justice, ii. 86. + + New Amersfoort, 29. + + New Amsterdam, 71. + + New Netherland, 24, 36. + + New Orange, 112. + + New Utrecht, 122; ii. 36, 37. + + New York, taken by English, 105; + new charter, 106; + retaken by Dutch, 112; + named New Orange, 112; + restored to English, 116; + during Revolution, 211-304. + + New York and Brooklyn Ferry Co., ii. 190. + + Newspapers, 191. + + Newtown Creek, 100. + + Nicholas the Frenchman, 92. + + Nicholson, Francis, 133. + + Nicoll, William, 204. + + Nicolls, Governor, 106. + + North Dutch Church, ii. 4. + + Northrup, Daniel W., 190. + + Nostrand, John, 235. + + Noyes, Stephen B., ii. 215. + + Nyack (Najack), 122. + + Nye, James W., ii. 116. + + + Ocean Parkway, ii. 145, 167. + + Odeon, ii. 197. + + Old Brooklynites, Society of, xii.; ii. 23, 229. + + Old Jersey, prison ship, ii. 5, 6. + + Olympia, ii. 29. + + Onderdonk, Right Rev. Henry Ustick, 189. + + Osborn, Albert H., ii. 86, 113. + + ---- Sir Danvers, 189. + + ---- William J., 189. + + Osborne, Samuel J., ii. 32. + + Ostrander, Abraham Duryea, ix. + + ---- Geertje, vii. + + ---- George A., ix. + + ---- Hendrick, viii. + + ---- Peter Wilson, ix. + + ---- Pieter, vii. + + ---- Pieter Pieterszen, vii. + + ---- Stephen, viii. + + ---- Stephen M., vii.-xiii. + + ---- Tryutje, vii. + + Otterson, Andrew, ii. 32. + + Oxford Club, ii. 226. + + + Packer, Mrs. W. S., ii. 211, 212. + + Packer Collegiate Institute, ii. 100, 211. + + Paine, Colonel, ii. 157. + + Palmer, Lorin, ii. 230. + + Parade Ground, ii. 143, 145. + + Park Theatre, ii. 197. + + Patchen, Jacob, ii. 69. + + Payne, Elijah Freeman, 212. + + ---- John Howard, ii. 195. + + ---- Thomas, 226. + + Penitentiary, ii. 97, 98. + + Percy, Earl, 243. + + Perkins, Albert C., ii. 213. + + Perry, Colonel, ii. 120. + + Peters, Bernard, ii. 106. + + ---- Leffert, 183. + + Pierrepont, H. B., ii. 62, 70, 72. + + ---- H. E., ii. 151. + + Pierrepont Mansion, 257, 304; ii. 71. + + Pierson, Joseph B., ii. 31. + + Pirates, 146. + + Plymouth Church, ii. 119. + + Polhemus, Rev. Johannes Theodoras, 88-93. + + ---- Theodorus, 207, 224, 232, 285. + + Police Department, ii. 160. + + Polytechnic Institute, ii. 212. + + Pope, Thomas, ii. 149. + + Powell, Samuel S., ii. 116. + + ---- Samuel T., ii. 162. + + Powers, George, 221, 222. + + Pratt, Chas., ii. 212, 213. + + Pratt Institute, 213, 214, 216. + + Prentice, John H., ii. 152, 155. + + Presbyterians at Jamaica, 174. + + Prime, Nathaniel S., 1, 10, 12. + + Prince, L. Bradford, 190. + + Prison ships of the Wallabout, ii. 3-23. + + Prospect Park, ii. 143. + + Prout, J. S., ii. 32. + + Provincial Congress, 215, 219, 227, 229, 289. + + Provost, John, ii. 38. + + Public School No. 1, ii. 62. + + Public Schools, ii. 147, 199-202. + + Puritans, 40, 42. + + Putnam, Fort, 237, 254. + + Putnam, General, 229, 237, 266. + + + Queens County, organized, 118. + + + "Rain-water Doctor," ii. 32. + + Rapalje, Daniel, 235. + + ---- Diana, ii. 69. + + ---- John, 180, 204, 301. + + ---- Joramus, 164. + + ---- Joris Jansen, 30-35, 101. + + ---- Mrs., 259-261. + + ---- Sarah, 33-35. + + Rapelye, Isaac I., 32. + + Raymond, Dr. John H., ii. 212. + + Reade, John, 221. + + Reese, W. W., ii. 32. + + Religion, under the Dutch, 85-87; + under English, 133, 144. + + Religious societies, ii. 220. + + Remsen, Abraham, ii. 31. + + ---- Col. Jeromus, 290. + + ---- Derick, 284. + + ---- Hendrick, ii. 263. + + ---- Jacob, ii. 27. + + ---- Jan, 126. + + ---- Jeremiah, 224, 285. + + ---- Peter, ii. 71. + + ---- Rem, 164, 221; ii. 41. + + Remsen house, ii. 41. + + Remsen's mill, ii. 41. + + Revolution, 211-304. + + Riding and Driving Club, ii. 225. + + Rising Sun Tavern, 274. + + Roach, John, ii. 151. + + Robertson & Little, ii. 29. + + Roebling, John A., ii. 155, 156, 188. + + ---- Washington A., ii. 155, 157, 188. + + Roehr, Col. Henry E., ii. 128. + + ---- Edward Franz, ii. 128. + + Romaine, Benjamin, ii. 19. + + Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum Society, ii. 224. + + Ruggles, Edward, ii. 151. + + Rushmore, Merwin, 190. + + ---- W. C., ii. 152. + + Rycken, Abraham, 38. + + Ryerse, Adriaen, 126. + + Ryersen, John, 255. + + + Sands, Comfort, 208, 300, 301, 303. + + ---- Joshua, 301; ii. 62, 69. + + Sanford, Lewis, ii. 101. + + Schenck, Abraham, 201, 204. + + ---- Gilliam, ii. 129. + + ---- Martin, 213. + + Schenck property, 214. + + Schepens, 63. + + Schoonmaker, Dominie, ii. 53. + + Schouts, 65. + + Schroeder, Frederick A., ii. 165, 230. + + Schuyler, General, 272. + + ---- Peter, 165, 178. + + Scorpion, ii. 5. + + Sea Beach R. R., ii. 168. + + Seaman, Benjamin, 235. + + ---- Henry L., ii. 92. + + ---- John, ii. 64. + + ---- Zebulon, 204. + + Sebring, Isaac, 220. + + ---- Jacob, 220. + + Selyns, Rev. Henricus, 93. + + Seymour, Rt. Rev. George F., 190. + + Sharpe, Jacob, ii. 2. + + Sheltering Arms Nursery, ii. 224. + + Sherman, Roger, 229. + + Sickels, Garret, ii. 19. + + "Single head" bill, ii. 169. + + Skene, A. J. C., ii. 32. + + Skillman, John, ii. 97. + + Skinner, Chas. M., 3; ii. 89. + + Slavery, 84, 170, 171, 177. + + Slocum, Hy. W., ii. 155, 156. + + Sloughter, Henry, 136. + + Sluyter, Peter, 119. + + Smallpox, 188. + + Smith, Abel, ii. 126. + + ---- Capt. John, 20. + + ---- Col. William, 164. + + ---- Cyrus P., ii. 87. + + ---- George, ii. 71. + + ---- Hugh, ii. 155. + + ---- Isaac A., ii. 106. + + ---- Joseph, 221. + + ---- Samuel, ii. 94. + + ---- Selah, ii. 69. + + Snedeker, Isaac, 235. + + Snedicor, John, 88. + + Snow, Dr. Henry Sanger, ii. 212. + + Society for Improving the Condition of the Poor, ii. 135. + + Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ii. 136. + + Society of St. Vincent de Paul, ii. 222. + + Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch, ii. 195. + + Sons of Liberty, 280. + + South Brooklyn, 5. + + South Ferry, ii. 78. + + Southampton, 40. + + Southold, 40. + + Spooner, Alden, ii. 62, 69. + + Sprague, Homer B., ii. 213. + + ---- Joseph, ii. 73, 75, 87, 92. + + St. Francis College, ii. 214. + + St. Catherine's Hospital, ii. 223. + + St. Mary's Hospital, ii. 223. + + St. Peter's Hospital, ii. 223. + + St. John's College, ii. 214. + + St. John's Hospital, ii. 223. + + St. Joseph's Institute, ii. 214. + + Staats, John, 163. + + Stagg, Peter, ii. 103. + + Stamp Act, 200, 202. + + Standard Oil Company, ii. 193. + + Stanton, Henry, ii. 24. + + Stearns, John M., ii. 43, 45. + + Stebbins, H. G., ii. 151. + + Steddiford, Brig.-General, ii. 19. + + Stellenwerth, Jacob, 214. + + Stevens, Alfred C., ii. 86. + + Stiles, Henry R., v., 25. + + ---- R. Cresson, ii. 32, 133. + + Stillman, Capt. Francis, ii. 56. + + Stillwell, Nicholaus, 155. + + Stillwell, Rich., 129, 207, 284. + + Stirling, Lord, 219. + + Stoffelsen, Jacob, 59. + + Stoothoof, Abraham, ii. 24. + + ---- Wihls, 285. + + Storrs, Rev. R. S., ii. 123, 125, 126, 129, 179, 184, 218. + + Stowe, Harriet Beecher, ii. 165. + + Stranahan, J. S. T., ii. 116, 143, 150, 154, 156, 179, 189, 195. + + ---- Mrs. J. S. T., ii. 124. + + Stryker, Burdett, ii. 16, 69. + + ---- John, 88. + + Stuyvesant, Peter, 68, 70. + + Sugar Refineries, ii. 192. + + Sullivan, General, 233. + + Suydam, Bernardus, 234, 235. + + ---- Evert, 284. + + ---- Ferdinand, 214. + + ---- Hendrick, 235; ii. 37. + + ---- Jacob, 235, 295. + + ---- Lambert, 234, 235. + + ---- Roger, 235. + + Sweeny, Peter B., ii. 155. + + Swift, General, ii. 149. + + + Talbot, Charles A., ii. 129. + + Talmage, Rev. T. DeWitt, ii. 218. + + Tammany Society, ii. 15-17. + + Taylor, Chas. G., ii. 96, 97. + + ---- Stephen G., ii. 213. + + "Tea Party," 206. + + Teckritz, Henry, ii. 129. + + Terhune, Roelof, 235. + + Terry, D. D., 190. + + Thayer, William H., ii. 32. + + Theatres, ii. 196-198. + + Thomasen, William, 53. + + Thompson, George, ii. 104. + + Thoms, Major Richard, 290. + + Thorne, J. Sullivan, ii. 32. + + Tienpont, Adrien Jorissen, 22. + + Tilton, Theodore, ii. 230. + + Titus, Abiel, ii. 69. + + ---- "Charlum," ii. 41. + + ---- Daniel, 221. + + ---- Francis J., ii. 44, 56. + + ---- Johannes, 214. + + ---- John, 234. + + Tonneman, Sheriff, 92. + + Townsend, Charles A., ii. 151. + + ---- Robert, ii. 16. + + Tracy, Benj. F., ii. 230. + + Traphagen, Wm. Janssen, viii. + + Trial for Treason, 154-156. + + Trinity Church, 279. + + Trotter, Jonathan, ii. 82. + + Trumbull, Colonel, 252. + + ---- Governor, 242. + + Tryon, Governor, 206, 286. + + Tweed, Wm. M., 155. + + Twenty-eighth Regiment Armory, ii. 160. + + + Union for Christian Work, ii. 216. + + Union Ferry Co., ii. 119. + + Union League Club, ii. 224. + + Union Missionary Training Institute, ii. 220. + + Unitarian Club, ii. 221. + + Universalist Club, ii. 221. + + University of Leyden, 95. + + Usselinx, Wm., 19. + + Utrecht, treaty of, 178. + + + Van Auden, Isaac, ii. 88, 150, 152, 154, 161. + + Van Bommel, Elizabeth, viii. + + Van Brunt, Adrian, 234. + + ---- Albert C., ii. 56. + + ---- Rutgert, 214, 224, 235. + + ---- William, 285. + + Van Cott, J., ii. 24, 38. + + Van Corlaer, Jacob, 26. + + Van Eckkellen, Johannes, 126. + + Van Dam, Nicholas, 221. + + ---- Rip, 185. + + Van Naerden, Claes Jansen, 39. + + Van Northwyck, Joostje Willems, viii. + + Van Nostrand, Losee, ii. 76. + + Van Pelt, Petrus, 285. + + Van Ruyven, 100. + + Van Schaick, Alex., 213. + + Van Vaas, Jansen, 37. + + Van Wagner, Henry W., ii. 161. + + Vande Water, Benjamin, 161. + + ---- Jacob, 160, 162. + + Vanderbilt, Jeremiah, 203, 207, 224, 284. + + ---- John, 214, 224, 234, 285. + + ---- J. C., ii. 34. + + Vanderveer, Adrian, ii. 32. + + ---- D., 204. + + ---- John, 234, 235. + + ---- John C., ii. 34. + + Vandervoort, Jacob, ii. 16. + + ---- Peter, 235. + + Vanderwick, Cornelis Baren, 126. + + Vandewenter, Jacobus, 285. + + Vanduyk, Cornelius, 163. + + Vanzuren, Casparus, 126. + + Vecht, Hendrick, 113, 183. + + Voorhies, Abram, 285. + + ---- Adrian, 285. + + ---- Stephen, 284. + + + Wade, T. Anderson, ii. 32. + + Waertman, Janse, 19. + + Walden, D. T., ii. 129. + + Waldron, Adolf, 220, 223. + + Wall, Wm., ii. 104. + + Wallabout, 25, 26; ii. 137. + + Wallabout and Brooklyn Toll Bridge Company, ii. 28. + + Wallabout Road, 238. + + Wallace, James P., ii. 126. + + Walloons, 24-26. + + War Fund Committee, ii. 122. + + War of 1812, ii. 51-56. + + Ward, Colonel, 219. + + ---- John Q. A., ii. 165. + + ---- F. A., 190. + + Wartman, homestead, ii. 41. + + Washington, George, 217, 225, 226, 229, 231, 241, 244, 253-260, 264, + 272, 273, 280; ii. 13. + + Washington Engine Co. No. 1, ii. 25. + + Washington Park, 237; ii. 143. + + Water and Sewerage Commissioners, ii. 146. + + Water Rights, ii. 78. + + Water Supply, ii. 146. + + Waterbury, Noah, ii. 46, 101. + + Watson, Benjamin, ii. 16. + + Wendell, Matthew, ii. 32. + + West India Company, 19, 22, 36. + + West Riding, 109. + + Whaley, Alexander, ii. 38. + + "Whig-Hog-Rum Party," ii. 82. + + Whiting, W. Leggett, 190. + + Whitman, Walt, ii. 89. + + Whittaker, Prof. J. B., ii. 213. + + Williams, Colonel, ii. 43. + + ---- Francis, ii. 123. + + ---- Henry, 300. + + Williamsburgh, ii. 43-46, 100-107. + + Williamsburgh City Bank, ii. 104. + + Williamsburgh City Fire Insurance Co., ii. 104. + + "Williamsburgh Democrat," ii. 101. + + "Williamsburgh Gazette," ii. 101. + + Williamsburgh Lyceum, ii. 101. + + Williamsburgh Medical Society, ii. 104. + + "Williamsburgh Morning Post," ii. 106. + + Williamsburgh Savings Bank, ii. 103, 148, 234. + + "Williamsburgh Times," ii. 105-107. + + Williamson, Rem, 234. + + Wilson, Capt. John, ii. 51. + + ---- Margaret T., ix. + + ---- Peter, ix. + + ---- P. L., 190. + + Wit, Peter Janse, 59. + + Wolckertsen, Dirck, 100. + + Wolfertsen, Gerrit, 59. + + Woman's Relief Association, ii. 122. + + Wood, Colonel A. M., ii. 122, 127, 152. + + ---- Silas, 46. + + ---- Wm. W. W., ii. 151. + + Woodford, Stewart L., 189, 230. + + Woodhull, Nathaniel, 119, 215, 227, 233, 262, 263. + + ---- Richard M., ii. 42. + + Woodward, John B., ii. 126. + + ---- Martin, ii. 24. + + Wyckoff, Cornelius, 285. + + ---- Garret, 284. + + ---- Hendrick, 235. + + ---- Nicholas, ii. 38. + + ---- Nicholas, ii. 42, 103. + + ---- Peter, 235. + + ---- Van Brunt, 189. + + Wyckoff farm, ii. 41. + + + Yellow fever, 173. + + Yorkton, ii. 45. + + Young Men's Christian Ass'n of Brooklyn, ii. 104, 217. + + Young Men's Christian Ass'n of Williamsburgh, ii. 104. + + Young Women's Christian Ass'n, ii. 217. + + + Zabriskie, John B., ii. 32. + + Zenger, Jn. Peter, 186-188. + + Zoellner Maennerchor, ii. 228. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + +Volume I of this eBook is available at Project Gutenberg as eText #41979. + +Simple typographical errors were corrected, including some Index +references to Volume I. No attempt was made to ensure the accuracy of +the Index. + +Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant +preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. + +The Table of Contents listed the Appendix as beginning on page 264; it +begins on page 235 and is shown that way in this eBook. + +Tables on pages 265-269 have been segmented to fit within Project +Gutenberg's width requirements. The first column of the original tables +has been duplicated in each of the segments to make them easier to +read. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A History of the City of Brooklyn and +Kings County Volume II, by Stephen M. Ostrander + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42712 *** |