Brooklyn, New York, USA (Flatlands) (Flatbush) (Coney Island)
1854 - Brooklyn

Brooklyn, a city, seaport, and seat of justice of King's county, New York, at the western extremity of Long island, 146 miles S. from Albany, and 220 miles N. E. from Washington. Lat. of the navy-yard, 40° 41' 50" N. ; Lon. 73° 69' 30" W. A strait, called the East river, about three-fourths of a mile wide, separates it from New York city. This strait is crossed by several steam-ferries, the principal of which are the Fulton, South, Catharine, Jackson, and the Hamilton Avenue ferries. Of these the Fulton ferry is by far the greatest thoroughfare. Boats leave the opposite landings every few minutes during the day, and once in 80 minutes from 12 o'clock at night until morning. The crowd of passengers, both at the Fulton and South ferries, morning and evening, is immense: three boats at each are kept constantly plying, and occupy no more than 5 or 6 minutes in crossing. The site of Brooklyn is considerably elevated and very uneven, though much has been done in the way of grading and other improvements to over come the original inequalities of the surface. One prominence, towards the East river, denominated the 'Heights,' is 70 feet above the level of the sea, and affords a magnificent view of New York city, the harbor, and surrounding scenery. The streets are generally about 60 eet in width, and, with the exception of Fulton, nearly all straight, intersecting each other at right angles. Many of them are beautifully shaded, which, in the summer season, imparts to the city all the freshness and tranquil appearance of a country town. Fulton street, leading from Fulton ferry, is the great thoroughfare ; enclosed on either side with blocks of lofty buildings, it forms an imposing entrance to the city. Most of the finest streets are towards the S. W., near the bay. Many of the dwellings in this section are of surpassing elegance, and are generally surrounded with yards, adorned with beautiful gardens and shrubbery. The more densely settled portions of the city have no public squares, but from its elevated position, the breadth of the streets, and the profusion of shade-trees, the want of those means of ventilation and sources of health is much less felt than might have been expected. In the newer parts, however, provision for some public grounds has been made. The proximity of Brooklyn to New York, its healthy atmosphere, and the facilities afforded for communication with the great metropolis, have made it a favorite place of residence to persons doing business in that city. It is to this circumstance that its rapid growth is mainly attributable.

Brooklyn is one of the best-built cities in the United States, and contains a large number of edifices that are distinguished either for elegance or architectural design. The most prominent of these is the new city hall, situated on a triangular piece of ground bounded by Fulton, Court, and Joralemon streets. It is constructed of white marble, 162 feet by 102, and 75 feet in height, comprising three stories and a basement. A dome surmounts the building, the top of which is 153 feet from the ground. Its entire cost was about $20,000. The jail, erected in 1837, is a substantial building of freestone, situated in the eastern part of the city, near Port Greene.

There are 66 churches in Brooklyn, several of which are imposing structures. The Church of the Pilgrims, a gray stone building, with a tower and spire, is a commanding object to those approaching the city from the bay. The Holy Trinity (Episcopal) is a brown stone edifice, of Gothic architecture, and cost about $150,000. Grace church, the Unitarian church, and the Church of the Restoration, are all of brown stone, and in the Gothic style of architecture. Dr. Cox's church, and Dr. Bethune's, (the latter not yet completed,) are also of brown stone.

The Atlantic dock, 1 mile S. of Fulton ferry, is one of the most extensive works of the kind in the United States. It was built by a company incorporated in 1840, with a capital of $1,000,000, and embraces within the piers 40 acres. Its depth is sufficient for ships of the largest size. The outer pier, extending 8000 feet on Buttermilk channel, is occupied with a range of granite stores, which completely shelters it from the harbor. An extensive dry dock, at the navy-yard, has recently been completed at a cost of about $1,000,000. The shores of Brooklyn, where not protected by docks and wharves, are rapidly wearing away, in consequence of the strong current in the East river. Governor's Island was formerly connected with Long Island, and, previous to the Revolution, cattle were driven from Red Hook Point to it across Buttermilk channel, then a shallow passage, but now of sufficient depth for vessels of the largest class. The United States navy-yard is situated on the S. side of Wallabout bay, which makes up towards the N. E. part of Brooklyn, in the form of a broad curve. It occupies about 40 acres of ground, which is enclosed on the land side by a high stone wall, and contains, besides the residences of the officers, two extensive ship- houses, various workshops, and a large amount of military stores.

Among the literary and charitable institutions, may be mentioned the Brooklyn Athenaeum, at the corner of Atlantic and Clinton streets. It is provided with a library, reading room, and a course of lectures. The building is a tine structure, 90 feet by 80, and cost $60,000. The City Library contains a collection of valuable works. The Lyceum, in Washington street, is a noble granite structure, with a spacious lecture room. The United States Lyceum, organized in 1833, is in the navy-yard, and possesses be sides a valuable collection of curiosities, ex-tensive geological and mineralogical cabinets. The new City Hospital, in Raymond street, near De Kalb, was opened in April, 1852, and has accommodations for 170 patients. The whole number of admissions during the year 1852, was 456. The "Graham Institution, for the relief of respectable, aged, indigent females," was founded in 1851, and the building dedicated October 26th, 1852. It is constructed of brick, 52 feet front, 80 deep, and 4 stories high, containing 55 rooms, which afford accommodation for 90 persons. Entire cost, $29,044. The Orphan Asylum of the City of Brooklyn, incorporated in 1835, furnishes a home to about 150 children. The Marine Hospital, surrounded with about 30 acres of well-cultivated land, occupies a commanding elevation on the opposite side of Wallabout bay. In addition to the above, may be mentioned the Church Charity Foundation, a corporation organized in 1851, having for its object the relief of indigent and destitute persons, and the Brooklyn Dispensary, on Pineapple street, near Fulton.

The public schools of Brooklyn are in a very prosperous condition. From the original formation of the board of education in 1843, to January 1st, 1858, the number of schools had increased from 10 to 15; the average attendance of pupils from 1805 to 6338 ; the number of teachers, from 29 to 157, and the yearly amount of teachers' salaries from $9610 to $35,068. The number of pupils registered, January 1st, 1853, was 9903, and the number who had received instruction during the year, 19,148. Of the teachers, 18 were males, and 139 females. During the year referred to, 671 volumes were added to the school libraries, making an aggregate of 19,799 volumes. The appropriations for 1852 amounted to $48,403 74 ; $23,403 74 of this sum was received from the state, and $25,000 from the city tax. In addition to this the Board advanced $33,861 for the purchase of school sites and the erection and repairing of houses, making the entire sum expended for school purposes in 1852, $82,264 74.

Brooklyn contains six banks and two savings institutions. Four daily and three or four weekly newspapers are published in the city.

At Wallabout bay, in the Revolutionary war, were stationed the English prison-ships, in which it is said nearly 12,000 Americans perished from close confinement and other ill treatment. The bodies of the sufferers were hastily buried upon the shore with but little care, except to conceal them from sight. In 1808 their bones, which were beginning to be washed from their graves, were taken up and placed in thirteen coffins, inscribed with the names of the thirteen original states, and then deposited in a common vault beneath a building erected for the purpose, on Hudson avenue, near the navy-yard. Brooklyn was first settled in 1625, near Wallabout bay. The first deed for land was granted in 1689. In 1776 this part of Long Island became the seat of the Revolutionary war. Brooklyn was incorporated as a township in April, 1806, and as a city, having the same limits as the township, 6 miles long and 4 wide at its greatest breadth, in April, 1834. It is divided into 9 words, and governed by a mayor and a board of 18 aldermen, 2 from each ward, elected annually. Population in 1810, 4402; 1820, 7175; 1830, 15,396; 1840, 36,233; 1850, 96,838; 1858, estimated at 125,000.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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