ntroduced. In 1849 and 1854 the cholera again
appeared, killing over 5400 persons. In 1852, the first street railway
was built. In 1858, the Central Park was begun.

The Civil War checked the growth and trade of the city, which languished
during the entire struggle, but upon the return of peace New York resumed
its onward progress. The growth of the city since 1865 has been most
marked, especially in the immediate vicinity of the Central Park. Not
less marked has been the improvement of the older portions. The city is
rapidly increasing in size, population, and magnificence, and is fully
maintaining its position as the brilliant metropolis of the New World.

II. DESCRIPTIVE AND STATISTICAL.

The city of New York, the largest and most important in the United
States, is situated in New York County, on Manhattan Island, at the mouth
of the Hudson River, eighteen miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The city
limits comprise the entire county of New York, embracing Manhattan
Island, Randall's, Ward's, and Blackwell's Islands, in the East River,
and Governor's, Bedloe's, and Ellis' Islands, in the bay. The last three
are occupied by the military posts of the United States Government.
Manhattan Island is bounded on the north by Spuyten Duyvel Creek and the
Harlem River--practically the same stream; on the east by the East River,
on the west by the Hudson, and on the south by New York Bay. It is nine
miles long on the east side, thirteen and a half miles long on the west
side, and two and a half miles wide at its greatest breadth, the average
breadth being a mile and a half. It is but a few feet in width at its
southern extremity, but spreads out like a fan as it stretches away to
the northward. The southern point is but a few inches above the level of
the bay, but the island rises rapidly to the northward, its extreme
northern portion being occupied by a series of bold, finely wooded
heights, which terminate at the junction of the Hudson River and Spuyten
Duyvel Creek, in a bold promontory, 130 feet high. These hills, known as
Washington Heights, are two or three miles in length. The southern
portion of the island is principally a sand-bed, but the remainder is
very rocky. The island covers an area of twenty-two square miles, or
14,000 acres. It is built up compactly for about six miles, along the
east side, and irregularly to Harlem, three miles farther. Along the
west side it is built up compactly to the Ce