WHAT   WAS   GOING   ON
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO

BRIEF    SKETCH   OF   THE   CITY   AND   ITS    ACTIVITIES    IN    1824.

INTROIIUCTIOK    OF   ANTHRACITE,    MANUFACTURING   OF

GAS  BEGUN,  AND   MANY   OTHER  IMPUOVEMEXTS.

1823. Under the new constitution the Mayor was
appointed by the Common Council, and Stephen Allen
was thus appointed.

Centre Market was opened in this year. The lower
part of Fly Market, at foot of Maiden Lane, was taken
down, from Pearl to South Street. In July, the widen¬
ing of Maiden Lane was ordered. The Merchants'
Exchange was incorporated by the Legislature. The
area of the Battery was much enlarged by filling out to a
rip-rap enceinte, which was surmounted by a coursed stone
wall and a balustrade. The Potter's Field (Washington
Parade, now Washington Square) was levelled; the use
of it as a place of interment being abandoned in favor of
a new plot of ground bought for the purpose, bounded by
Fortieth and Forty-second Streets, Fifth and Sixth Ave¬
nues—now occupied by the Reservoir and Bryant Park.
This plot, containing 128 building lots, was purchased
for $8449. In the matter of public grounds, the necessi¬
ties of the poor have greatly ministered to the advantage
of their more fortunate brethren; Washington Square,
Union Square, Madison Square, and Bryant Park, all
owing their existence as pleasure-grounds to prior use as
pauper burial-places.    About this time an ordinance was

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