The peculiar formation of the island of Manhattan renders it impossible
for the city to expand save in one direction. On the south, east, and
west its growth is checked by the waters of the rivers and bay, so that
it can increase only to the northward. The lower part of the island is
being occupied for business purposes more and more exclusively every
year, and the people are being forced higher up town. Those who remain
in the extreme lower portion for purposes of residence are simply the
very poor. Those who can afford to do so, seek locations removed as far
as is convenient to them from the business section. The laboring class,
by which I mean all who are forced to pursue some regular occupation for
their support, are not able to go far from their work, and are obliged to
remain in locations which will enable them to reach their places of
business with as little delay as possible.
Consequently the bulk of the population is packed into that portion of
the city which lies between the City Hall and Fourteenth street. By the
United States Census of 1870, the population of the wards in this
district was reported as follows: