y opposite the Treasury, and at the corner of William street, is
the Custom House, which occupies the irregular square bounded by Wall
street, Exchange Place, William street, and Hanover street. It is one of
the finest and best arranged edifices in the city.

Just below the Custom House is the handsome marble building of Brown
Brothers, one of the model houses of New York, as regards both the firm
and the edifice. The Messrs. Brown are regarded as the most reliable and
accomplished operators in the street. Across the way, in a dingy granite
building, is the office of August Belmont & Co., the American agents of
the Rothschilds, and bankers on their own account. Jay Cooke & Co.
occupy the fine marble building at the corner of Wall and Nassau streets,
opposite the Treasury, and there conduct the New York branch of their
enormous business. Fisk & Hatch, the financial agents of the great
Pacific Railway, are a few steps higher up Nassau street. Henry Clews &
Co. are in the building occupied by the United States Assay Office.
Other firms, of more or less eminence, fill the street. Some have fine,
showy offices, others operate in dark, dingy holes.

II. THE STOCK EXCHANGE.

The Stock Exchange is located on the west side of Broad street, just out
of Wall street. It is a fine white marble edifice, with a portico of
iron, painted flashily in black and gold. It extends back to New street,
with an entrance on that street. There is also an entrance on Wall
street. It contains the "New York Stock Exchange," "The Mining Board,"
and the "Government Board."

During the spring and summer of 1871 the internal arrangements of the
building were very much improved. The refitting cost the brokers
$60,000, but they now have the handsomest establishment of its kind in
the world.

The main entrance is on Broad street, and from this the visitor passes
into a room, the larger portion of which is separated from the Broad
street end by an iron railing. This is "The Long Room," and during the
day it is almost always filled with a noisy and not over-nice crowd. It
is the scene of the irregular sales of stocks. Any one who can raise $50
can purchase a season ticket to this hall, and once admitted can sell and
purchase stocks without being a member of the Regular Board. This
arrangement has nearly put an end to the sales of stocks on the side
walks, and has given a tinge of respectability to the class known as
"Curb-stone Br