HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 383

which presents its front up the East River, surrounded almost with water; the conveniences are almost manifest. A considerable country in the rear affords the easy attainment of produce. A pure and salubrious atmosphere, excellent spring water, and good society, are among a host of other desirable advantages. As regards health in particular, it is situated on the natural soilÑno noxious vapors, generated by exhalations, from dock-logs, water, and filth sunk a century under its foundation, are raised here. Sand and clay for building are in the village. Stone is brought from a short distance. Timber, lath, and boards are to be bad on the spot. In fact, almost every article for building is afforded here as cheap as in New York.

Could the inhabitants once divest themselves of their dependence upon that city, and with unanimous consent resolve that their own village ,should prosper, there requires no supernatural agent to inform us of the consequence.

“Want of good title has been alleged by some against building here; but it is ascertained, and from undoubted authority, that none was ever clearer or less entangled, and that reports here circulated what truth is obliged to deny.1

“The principal streets in this village are sixty feet, but the cross-streets are not so wide. They are not yet paved, though a vast number of pebbles may be had here. Latterly, it appears to have had the. appearance of a regular town. Edifices are erecting, and other improvements constantly making. When we observe the elevated situations, the agreeable prospects, the salubrity of the atmosphere, and the contiguousness to New York, with many other interesting advantages, it may claim, perhaps, more consideration than any part of the township.”

The following remarks cannot fail to give comfort to the would-be bridge-builders of the present day:

“It has been suggested that a bridge should be constructed from this village across the East River to New York. This idea has been treated as chimerical, from the magnitude of the design; but whosoever takes it into their serious consideration, will find more weight in the practicability of the scheme than at first view is imagined. This would be the means of raising the value of the lands on the east side of the river. It has been

1 The allusion to doubtful titles evidently refers to the Rapalje estate