1 86 The Story of The Bronx 



parison with Westchester County, was thickly settled, so 

 that a ready and easy means of communication was not only 

 convenient but necessary. The Long Island settlements 

 were nearer to the county than New York City; and a trip 

 to the city by land was long and tedious, as the traveller had 

 to go by way of Spuyten Duyvil Creek; while by water, the 

 voyager had to encounter all the dangers and terrors of 

 Hell Gate, a mighty bugbear in the early days before Fulton 

 planned his "folly" and introduced steam navigation. 



As time passed, the travel between York Island and the 

 mainland increased to such an extent that it was deemed ad- 

 visable to substitute a bridge for the ferry. Accordingly, 

 in 1680, the Governor's Council ordered a survey to be made 

 at the "Spiting Devil" with that end in view, and a bill was 

 introduced in the Provincial Assembly in 1690, authorizing 

 its construction. In the following year, Governor Fletcher 

 recommended it to the city authorities, but they were deterred 

 from building it by "the great expense." In January, 1693, 

 Frederick Philipse offered to build it at his own expense, pro- 

 vided he were assured of reasonable tolls to cover his outlay 

 and expense. His manor grant of June 12, 1693, reads in 

 part: 



"And whereas our loving subject the said Frederick Philipse 

 . . . prayed . . . that we would further grant unto our said 

 loving subject a certain neck or island of land called Paparin- 

 emo . . . with the salt meadows thereunto belonging, 

 together with power and authority to erect a bridge over the 

 water or river commonly called Spiten devil ferry or Papa- 

 rinemo, and so receive toll from all passengers and droves of 

 cattle that shall pass thereon, according to rates hereinafter 

 mentioned . . . and that he is likewise willing at his own 

 proper cost and charge to build a bridge at the ferry aforesaid 



