6id
KECORD AND GUIDE
September 26, 1908
daily fishing at polluted points, and no doubt eating thereafter
the fish taken from the sewer outlets.
If the body be immersed in this polluted water while millions
of sudamlna are throwing out the perspiration of the body,
the system absorbs and Is fllled with these Impurities, and we
have the same condition of absorption of germs as when taken
into the system by respiration, by inhalation of impure air, or
by digestion, when drinking impure water or infected milk, or
by eating oysters which have been whitened and fattened arti¬
ficially in the very water our sewage and drainage has helped
to pollute. So that while we have overcome the great difli¬
culties menacing the health of the community by the best of
sanitary measures, we have allowed these practices to continue
and to contribute many cases of Infectious illness.
No one more than a medical man appreciates the advantages
of open air exercises, and particularly of tiathing in pure
waters, as a healthful recreation for all classes, and no one
more than myself regret the fact that the beautiful shores of
our locality are no longer safe or proper places for such recre¬
ation. But the time has come when the use of diluted sewage
as a medium for such enjoyment must be prohibited, and these
bathing places closed, as w-ell as the practice of flshing near
sewer outlets. If it be possible to establish some large bathing
place supplied with pure water, the attraction of this locality
in this respect might be continued, and it is interesting to
learn that a project Is in hand for providing a means of solving
this problem by the building of a large natatorium at 145th st.
The details of the project have much interested me, and
as I consider tliat the establishment of such an institution on
the Heights would be of general benefit, I have asked Mr. P.
M. Blake, who is the author of the project, to describe it fully
to the members of the Washington Heights Taxpayers' Asso¬
ciation.
PRIVATE SALES MARKET
TRANSIT IN EAST BRONX.
Taxpayers in the neighborhood of Throgg's Neck express their
approval of the petition of the New Tork, Westchester and
Boston Railroad Company for a change of route so as to take
in a branch Une which will tap that locality. The line as
originally granted In 1905 covered a route between the Bronx
and Harlem Rivers. The change now under consideration is
a result of the opposition to the old lines. It is believed that
the construction of the road as originally proposed would re¬
sult in the destruction of so much property tliat the expense of
the undertaking would be prohibitive.
The new route suggested by the company is said to be through
a territory where the right-of-way can be purchased within a
short time and at a price consistent with the flgures paid for
other vacant property in that section. A projected branch Is
also proposed through Throgg's Neck beginning at a point in
W^est Parms road, near the southeast corner of Bronx Park,
and continuing southward almost to the Bronx River, where it
will turn eastward to Clason Point Park. Running northward
from that point along the East River the line as proposed will
flnally cross Baxters Creek and ends at Fort Schuyler road and
East 177th st.
If the changes under consideration are carried out property
interests in the extreme easterly section of the Bronx will be
considerably benefited thereby.
HOTEL GOTHAM TO BE AUCTIONED.
By order of the Supreme Court the Hotel Gotham, at the
southwest corner of 5th av and 55th st, is going to be sold at
public auction on Oct. 13 by Joseph P. Day in the Exchange
salesroom in Vesey st. The Knickerbocker Trust Co. secured
a judgment for $455,000 on a third mortgage. The property is
subject to prior liens aggregating $1,950,000, held by the Metro¬
politan Life Insurance Co. The 51st St. Co. is the owner of
record of the property.
On Aug. 7 Charles Wetherbee and William R. Wood, of the
Hotel Buckingham, took active charge of the management of
this hotel, and their tenure will remain undisturbed, as pro¬
visions have been made to this end. It will be remembered
that this hotel has never been granted a liquor license on ac¬
count of the opposition of the Fifth Av, Presbyterian Church,
which is located within the statutory limitation of 200 ft. From
a flnancial standpoint the hostlery has always been a failure. The
building has a frontage of 100 ft. on the avenue and 125 ft. on
55th st, and is 18-stys in height, of modern flreproof construction.
IN AN ELEVATOR APARTMENT HOUSE the elevator boy
plays an Important role. Higher prices are paid for apart¬
ments in this class of house compared with a non-elevator
structure, and the families that live there naturally demand
better and prompter service than could be expected in a cheaper
grade house. Aa a rule the elevator boy is not an impressive
sight. He is usually more dead than alive, but a boy who will
jump up from his seat when a prospective tenant appears, and
show some interest in tvhat is happening, greatly increases the
chances of the apartment being leased.
SOUTH OF BOTH STREET.
CITY HALL PL.—Eliza Arnold sold the 4-sty building 19 City
Hal ]pl, 24.6x&9.5. The property adjoins the Deutscher Press Club,
and is 131 ft. north of Duane st.
Block Front Sold.
DOVER ST.—The Charles F. Noyes Co. has sold for Mrs. Ida
M, Otz the entire block front on the southerly side of
Dover st, from Front to South, consisting of 4 buildings, namely,
209 Front, 36 Dover, 3S and 100 South st. The total property has
a st frontage of about 144 ft. on Dover st, with direct north light,
and the plot contains ahout 4,000 sq ft. The property is purchased
by an investor. It has been in the family of the sellers for about 50
years. The purchase is a cash one, though there is a clauSe per¬
mitting a purchase money mortgage to remain, should the purchaser
so elect. The date of closing is also elastic. There is some doubt
just what will be done with the property, antl, iu fact, until an ac¬
curate survey is made nothing definite can be decided. One of the
buildings is a substantial structure. There is a possibility of a
new modern 6-sty huilding being erected on the site.
OTH ST.~John G. Folsom sold for a client to the Oth Street Co.
233 East Oth st, a 6-sty tenement, 39.6xOS.llx irregular. There waa
a mortgage of $37,250 on the property.
15TH ST.—The Duross Co., in conjunction with H. M. Weill and
Joseph Burke, sold 330, 332 and 334 West loth st, a G-sty elevator
apartment house, 68x100, to Nestine Marks.
26TH ST.—S. B. Goodale & Son sold for Josephine Mullee to a
client 241, 243 and 245 West 2t;th st, near 7th av, two 4 and 5-sty
stores and tenements, G3x98.9. The present seller bought this prop¬
erty from Jefferson M. Levy on March 26, 1908, subject to a mort¬
gage of $57,000.
27TH ST.—Robert Alexander resold 49 and 47 West 27th st, two
5-sty dwellings, 50x98.9. This property was acquired on Sept. 12,
1908. from Elmer A, Darling in a trade. Last April the building
43 West 27th st was sold to J. B. Thompson. It is a 9-sty fireproof
office structure, 25x98.9, and was held at $190,000. It was mort¬
gaged for $105,000, and the gross rentals aggregated $22,000. The
Wilmurt Realty Co. sold to Andrew P. Gilsey and the Investors' &
Traders' Realty Co. the 5-sty loft and office building 20 West 27th
St. across the street from the property just sold, on May 15 last.
It has been reported that the Astor Estate acquired this latter
property, which abuts their holdings in 26th st.
Buys Handsome Dwelling.
4STH ST.—The McVickar-Gaillard Realty Co. sold for a client of
Pease & Elliman the 4-sty dwelling wilh elevator at 19 East 48th
St. The buyer is Mrs. Frank P. Mitchell, who for the last two years
bas occupied Admiral Dewey's house in Washington.
51ST ST.—Col. John H. Wood bought from the Striker Estate for
occupancy 337 West 51st st, 3-sty private dwelling, 17.0x100.5.
Alexander Wilson was the broker in the transaction. The adjoin¬
ing house, 335 West 51st st, a similar house, was sold at an execu¬
tors sale to Wm. H. Kilgannon in October, 1907, for .flO.OOO. Be¬
fore the city was laid out on the present plan an old road rau
through this property.
54TH ST.—Francis B. Robert sold for Daniel Guggenheim to Fred¬
erick W. White, of Peters, White & Co., the 5-sty American base¬
ment dwelling 12 West 54th st, 25x100. This house is on the south
side of 54th st. The residence of Alexander Walker adjoining the
home of John D. Rockefeller is on the east, and Mrs. Mary B. Blood-
good owns the house directly on the west. The University Club Is
across the street on the northwest cor of 5th av. This block is one
of the choicest residential blocks south of 59th st.
57TH ST.—Henry D. Winans & May sold 113 E'ast 57th st, a 5-sty
American basement residence, 20x100.5, for Mr. H. D. Morrison, of
121 East 79th st, on private terms. Tho purchaser, Martin W. Lit¬
tleton, will occupy as his home. The house is 75 ft. deep, with a
3-sty extension. A 12-sty apartment occupies the southeast cor of
Madison av, 90x100.5, built 90 Et, deep.
2d av.—j. E. Brando, as attorney, bought for R. Lucatorti 197 2d
av, a 4-sty dwelling, 21x9G.
8th av.—The Gem Realty Co. and the Amsterdam Realty Co. sold
through Herman Reinheimer the northeast cor of 8th av and 43d st
known aa 680 to 686 8th av and 265 to 269 West 43d. st. The size
of the plot is 75x100. The asking price for the property has been
$275,000. Montgomery Maze is the huyer. This sale is of especial
importance, and is the largest transaction since the famous Doherty
sale in March, 1907.
NORTH OP 59TH STREET.
70TH ST.—Pease & Elliman sold for Monroe & Simon 2G2 West
70th st, a 3-sty brownstone dwelling, 17x100. The buyer will occupy
the house. The present sellers took title June 20, 1903. The house
is 50 ft. deep.
71ST ST.—Pease & Elliman sold for Charles Maync 274 West 71st
st, a 3-sty dwelling, 20x100.5. The new owner will occupy the
house.
71ST ST.—Otto Gendau sold 320 West 71st st, a 3-sty and base¬
ment stone front dwelling, 17.6x100.5.
82D ST.—Paul M. Warburg sold through S. Osgood Pell & Co. 3
East S2d st, a 5-sty whitestone and hrk dwelling, 25x102.2. The
buyer is Robert Hager, Jr. The house adjoins tbe cor plot owned
by the Trask estate, which is vacant. This property at one time was
part of the old Abraham Schermerhorn.
92d Street Activity.
92D ST.—Richtmeyer & Irving sold to a client for the estate of
Maria T. Waters the 4-sty dwelling 48 West 92d st, lSxlOO.8.
92D ST.^Slawson Se Hobhs sold for W. E. D. Stokes to a client the
vacant lot on the north side of 02d st, 200 ft. east of West End av,
25x100.8.
119th ST.-L Kashare sold for Gross & Herbner 28 East 119th st
a 4-sty brownstone dwelling, 15.8x100. This completes the resale of
the row of houses -n'hich the sellers took in trade from ex-Gov. Levi
P. Morton on .4pri 8, 1908. The properties involved in that trade
were 97 Crosby st, a 7-sty loft and store buildiag, 25.3xR6- the 4-Ety
dwelling 55 West 95th st, 19x100.8, given by Mr. Morton who re¬
ceived 20, 24, 28 and 32 East 119th st, four 3-sty dwellings, 15.8x
100 each. Across the street is a row of 9 flat houses occupying the
block front.