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Miller's New York As It Is.
or, Stranger's guide-book to the cities of New York, Brooklyn and adjacent places: comprising notices of every object of interest to strangers; including public buildings, churches, hotels, places of amusement, literary institutions, etc. With map and numerous illustrations.
Published by James Miller. (1866)
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One of the several attempts during the 1860s to produce a comprehensive guide for the city of New York was Miller's New York As It Is. Comprising 220 pages and with over 30 illustrations, Miller's guide competed with the 150-page Lloyd's Pocket Companion and Guide Through New York, for 1866-67, published by Torrey Brothers.
Miller's guide has a number of unnumbered pages, with both missing and unlisted illustrations, leaving the impression of slap-dash production. The first section ("New York as it was.") tells some anecdotes of the city's founding and its first 250 years, and introduces a number of the more interesting locales.
The second, and primary, section ("New York as it is.") describes contemporary life in the metropolis, touting its improvements and civic accomplishments. In turn, Miller summarizes for the stranger to New York its public spaces, government edifices, benevolent institutions and their services, and its libraries, societies, and educational systems. Then come the details on religious, art, and news institutions, the many opportunities for amusement, and important information on local travel and hotels. A special section tells of the city's many churches, and there is some coverage of landmark private residences, private clubs, and stores. Vital information is provided on the postal and telegraph services, ferries, trans-Atlantic travel; and piers, steamers, and consular contacts are listed. The city's advanced water system and military installations are touted. And local omnibus and rail-car systems are described, along with the railroad depots and services.
A similar civic summary is provided in the short section on Brooklyn. And touring opportunities for the immediate region and up the Hudson River are also detailed. A final section provides city-touring hints for the visitor, and information on the City police force and on travel departure points.
The five-page index is followed by a Mercantile and Merchant Directory, with 40 pages of lists and advertisements for various services and businesses.
There are three detailed maps:
New York City and environs, Central Park, and
the Hudson River (from Luzerne to New York City).
See the table of contents for this book.
See a sample screen shot for a BookWebCD. and See more on the BookWebCD format.
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