A CITY BUILT BY ONE MAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4277, 4 December 1874, Page 3

A CITY BUILT BY ONE MAN.

(From the Scicnijtc American.) History affords numerous instances of the foundation of cities by single individuals, and the beautification and enlargement of portions of the same through the munificence of others; but nowhere, as we believe, is it recorded that any one man from his private fortune has ever attempted the actual construction of a complete town. All the more remarkable, therefore, is the enterprise which for some five years past has been quietly pursued by Mr. A. T. Stewart, a gentleman of whose immense wealth no accurate information has ever been made public. The high rates of taxation and the consequent exorbitant rents incident to ownership and occupation of dwellings in New York city have been the means of virtually banishing a large number of persons doing business therein, whose moderate incomes forbid the necessary expenditure, to the adjacent suburban districts. Hence arose a great demand for cheap homes ; and as a result village after village has sprung into existence in Long Island, New Jersey, and in fact at every point within a radius of forty miles of the metropolis.

Mr. Stewart, in view of this constant exodus of the population, conceived the unique idea of building a model suburban city, where comfortable homes, provided with all modem improvements, could be obtained for a moderate outlay. Accordingly, ho purchased a plot of ground, 10,000 acres in extent, and embracing that portion of Long Island known na Hempstead Plains. This is in a compact tract of about ten miles in length by one mile in width, and nearly a perfect parallelogram in shape. Surveying and staking out the new city followed close upon the acquisition of the ground, and the first work taken in hand was the making of streets and avenues, with pavements, sewers, culverts, and conduits, for blocks of buildings yet to be erected. Simultaneous with laying the foundations of the houses was the commencement of gas and water works, and of a railroad connecting the city with New York. Unlike the usual course adopted in projecting new towns in the vicinity of the metropolis, no lots were advertised ; nor has any attempt been made to dispose of the property, as it is the intention to treat the city as a single house, finishing it first, and selling it subsequently. The New York San aptly describes the enterprise as a new city springing up, with no mayor or council, no assessments for street improvements, no taxes for water and gas, no entangling alliances or issuing of • bonds to secure railroad transportation, no scrambling or grumbling to secure immigrants. An admirably kept hotel, situated in the middle of a fine garden plot, together with some 40 houses, are thus far complete. The latter are located in lots of 200 ft. x 200 ft. and provided with outhouses and handsomely laidout grounds. They rent for from S2OO to SBOO per year on three year leases, and contain every convenience found in the best city dwellings. Work upon this remarkable tow, to which the name of Garden City has been given, is rapidly progressing, and we understand that the advantages offered are meeting with a wide popular appreciation.