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portion of our city at a very cheap rate, the owners take plenty of breathing space for their residences and the enjoyments of semi-rural life are attainable at a comparatively low rate. When this section of the city becomes occupied it will be the most attractive part of Brooklyn. Clinton avenue, from Myrtle to the railroad, already presents one of the most agreeable prospects it is possible to conceive. Combining as it does the conveniences of a city with all the advantages of country life, so enthusiastically sough [sic] for by those who are doomed to the noise, dirt and confusion of the city, we do not wonder at the rush which is made to obtain houses there by all whose business will permit them to live at a little distance. In a short time, from present appearances, all the neighboring streets will be as thickly studded with beautiful mansions as Clinton avenue.

We yesterday took a walk all through this portion of the city and found surveyors marking out locations for houses which are destined to go up forth-with; recent purchases with their eyes gloating in anticipation over their newly acquired property; many splended mansions in process of being finished. And everything betokening an advancing stage of prosperity and rural

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felicity. If there be anything which really causes a man to be envious, it is the view of such a prospect. What an agreeable picture of domestic is it to see a pretty wife upon the piazza, anxiously peering at intervals down the avenue in expectancy of the evening return of her husband, while the children, accompanied by the spaniel, are gambolling about in front, ready to run and hasten the near approach of their father; while as you pass, your eye unconsciously peers in at the basement window and takes a rapid inventory of neatly arranged furniture, and a well spread board, rejoicing in all the glories of pure white china and spotless table linen. These are the incidents which make life rationally agreeable; and these are witnessed in abundance on our return. Then in the evening there are delightful reunions among the neighbors, who while away the time in music and various other social enjoyments. People out there do not, as in the dense and selfish city, take delight in alleging that they are unacquainted with their next door neighbor. It is a comparatively new country and neighbors feel the necessity and consequent benefit of rendering to each other all the agreements of sociality. Commend us, therefore to the fast growing rural positions of Brooklyn.

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[Image of these pages not available due to copyright restrictions.]

by Walt Whitman August 19.1846 in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

August 18.1847 - Whitman B.D.Eagle

Garbage in the streets

The practice of casting into the streets all descriptions of vegetable garbage is one of the worst kinds of nuisances. And just now, when the season is the most sickly of all the year, and its usual unhealthiness much aggravated by the humid "yellow fever" atmosphere which has prevailed for a number of days past, this practice has become intolerable in some portions of our city.

.... And we hope to see some of the people who persist in casting the filth of their kitchens into the thoroughfares, to rot and reek and offend the great sacred nose of the public with its "ancient and fish like smell," made to suffer the pains of the law. Let the city inspectors make examples of all offenders they can lay their hands upon.

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New York Times - Oct 23.72 interview with Louis Kahn architect - p 40

"Reaction of Defiling"

[Clipping of article from New York Times October 23, 1972]

Place has the most delicate control over character, location pertains to feeling. Eudora Welty NYT. May 27.73

The Street Window

Whoever leads a solitary life and yet now and then wants to attach himself somewhere, whoever, according to changes in the time of day, the weather, the state of business, and the like, suddenly wishes to see any arm at all to which he might cling - he will not be able to manage for long without a window looking on to the street. And if he is in the mood of not desiring anything and only goes to his window sill a tired man, with eyes turning from his public to heaven and back again, not wanting to look out and having thrown his head up a little, even then the hourses below will draw him.

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[Image of these pages not available due to copyright restrictions.]

"Myrtle Widening Project Proposed"

"Residents and Business to Fight Project"

[Article in an unidentified Brooklyn newspaper from April 22, 1973]

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down into their train of wagons and tumult, and so at last into the human harmony."

Franz Kafka - complete stories p. 384

4.14.74

Even the ultimate city of imperfection has its perfect hour, the moment when every city is the City.

Italo Calvino from "The Watcher"

5.25.74

The City - a bounded infinity. A labyrinth where you are never lost. Your private map where every block bears exactly the same number. Even if you lose your way you cannot go wrong.

.... The city is the place where people first had to deal with the stranger who is not an enemy. I think they still have not succeeded completely.

Kobo Abé from NY Times sun. magazine Nov. 17.1974 p.66

Thomas Jefferson to James Madison - 1787

"I think our governments will remain virtuous for centuries as long as they are chiefly agricultural, and this will continue as long as there shall be vacant lands in any part of America. When