Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-09-09
Total height,

Total height 81
Brick, granite, and marble are used in the
struc,ion of this splendid building; all the inside
partition walls are brick, with the exception of those
in the rotunda which Of marble. The outside
walls throughout the building entirely of marble,
faced inside with brick. The steps ard stairs
th ugbout of granite, employed for the sake of
durability, although the steps to the portcos will
not harmonic With the marble columns The largest
blocks of marble used in the building weigh 33 tons
the majority weigh from II to IA tons, though the
whole vary from 10 TO 33 tons The roof is also
marble, similar in its design to the Grecian marble
tile reofs for the invention Of which Bises of Naxos
had immortal honors decreed him, and which was
then thought the greatest invention Of the age The
marble slabs for the roof weigh 800 or 100 pounds,
and lap over each eight inches with upper and
under lip to allow OF the expansive power and to
keep out the least particle OF water. Thus the en-
tire outside Of this splendid edi6ce is of marble,
with the exception of the granite steps. The por-
tico steps Wall street form grand granite stair
case, 10 number, II feet high and II feet wide.
The entrance hail, passing in at the north end is
% feet long, by ~ feet three inches; each side
Of this are large ~ feet long by 30 fest
wide for the naval officer and the surveyor. The
roof Of these rooms supported by three futed
marble coumns, Of feet diameter. Underneath
these, similar rooms to correspond both on the
basement and cellar floors, with pillars each feet
square, to support the bearings all the way up, and
on to the fourth story. At the extremity Of the
hail. is the Rotunda large circular room
TO be used as the Collectors office.
This is a most splendid room; the roofs support
ed by l6 beautiful marble connns, with Corinthian
capitals, 80 feet high end feet inches in diane
ter-the whole to be highly polished, there are
versl men now at work polishing these columns
and IN a short time they will be completed. The
diameter Of the rotunda is 90 feet in the clear AID
~ e. in the recesses and yet it i thought will be
barely large enough fer the public business requr-
ed to be transacted in it, The capitals OF these pill
lars are in this country by Italian artists, be-
cause they work cheaper than Americans. In the
four Of that part Of the building containing
the rotunda, are four large rooms OF al irregular
FORM arched indeed Ill the rooms throu ghout
the building, which comprise 30 in number, 10 on
each floor. The cellars admirably constructed
and rsnged, and are to be used for storing wines
and liquors these lighted only by glass let in the
floors above. The floors throue hout of Stock
bridge marble. and instead Of mortar, cement is in
variably used in every part of the work Toe door
ways are all trimmed with marble; the doors are all
Of wrought iron; the small doors weigh 700 pounds
the large double doors weigh $500 pounds. besides
a permanent top piece eghing 100 pounds. making
the total weight % the main doors 1000 pounds: and
all this immense weight hangs comparatively
small pivots, which are not likely to yield in the
least, and admit of an easy movement TO the door
The window sashes all Of wrought ron and
weigh about 1900 pounds each. In short, there is
particle OF GOD work in any part &C the build
ing, and it il probably the only structure in the
world that has been erected pcrfcc Nv "a proof
Even the gallarics around the roiunda are Of iron
4 This superb building was commenced in Nav
1891. aad will he flashed ia May, IsIl, ata cost o
about 81 ,OoO,0oo, some saw 81 10000 The origina
superintendent was Mr.. Thompson, who quarrele,
with the commissioners, and himself and hi. archi
tect "a Scotchnsn) left. Mr. Town was then annie,
to for his plans the government gave him pre-
MUM Tor the same and The commissioners threw nj
plans on one side, being useless and Impractical
he having designed bui enc large room on the mai,
floor. Mr.. Frszee then applied t.. an 4 he Ia,
to make new plans, remodel the whole affair, an,
siIn us, ~ ~. ms-t'e II which largo quan,ii,