The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-10-05

TuBLlC OFFICES IN THx CITY The old ROtun-
da, in the Park, now known as the "Gallery of
Fine Arts does not seem to attract admirns
thousands to gaze upon the collection of paintings
there exhibited; and il is now very evident that
the city could have made much better use of the
building, than to appropriate it to the use for
which it was given The first objection is, that
the location for the exhibition is a bad one, and
the society could better afford to pay rent for a
good hall somewhere in Broadway, than TO hang
their pictures upon the walls of the Rotunda, for
one dollar year Chat beng the amount paid into
the city treasury for the occupation of the build.
lng) to be looked ationly now and then by stran-
ger who in his wanderings about the city, may
be accidentally attracted by the sign board over
the porch.
Although the place is entirely unsuited for the
exhibition OF specimens of art, it would neverthe-
less, make public Offices, number of which are
greatly needed az this time. In fact. the CITY
authorities were never at a greater loss where to
md suitable accommodations for the various pub.
he missionaries, and are now converting the old
Dead House in the Park into an Office for his
Honor, Recorder Scott. The District Attorney is
crowded into a back basement room of the old
Aims House building. The Receiver of Taxes is
accommodated in another basement room in the
same building. The City Inspector is found
slowed away in gloomy basement room of the
City Hall, and the Chief of Police of this grea,
city, and his special aids, also quartered in the
basement OF the old Aims House buildings which
by the way, is entirely unfit for the use o. the be-
forenemed important officers of the city govern
ment, more especially for the accommodation OF
the chief, and officers acting under his particular
directions, who sleep in the office, ready for duty.
as well as TO take care of such prisoners as NAV
DE detained in confinement there; and from the
evidences we have had oi,the dampness of the
rooms occupied ty the chief, we are perfectly sa-
used that they are not fit for either officer or pri-
soner as sleeping apartments.
Now, the houinda would supply this want of
good dry and light rooms exceedingly well. In it,
the Chief OF Police and his aids the Coroner. the
Recorder, District Attorney, and the Clerk of the
Court of Sessions might doubtless have been me-
commodated with suitable Offices The civ
could better afford to pay the rent of a COM
modious room on some public street, for the
benefit and use of the Gallery of Fine Arts
than to allow the Rotunda to be occupied
for the present purpose. Besides all this, it
will be recoected that a great deal was
said at the time the Common Council voted the
building for the Gallery about the vast benc.
ct TO result to the inhabitants of our city, both
grown and growing, in having this tempt, Of the
arts to aid in forming and maturing their tastes,
sculpture SC, &c; but no sooner are the premises
secured and the walls adorned, than an ominous
card, with " admtance Is cents catalogues l2t
cents" meets the eye at the entrance to the build
ins; so, that in fact, instead Of being open to cit.
lens generally, (setting aside subscribers,) the
most extravagant charge, in proportion to what
may be seen Tor the money of any exhibition, is
exacted, Notwithstanding the managers ENJOY
what may be termed free use of the building.
Under these circumstances we repeat our sug.
sesIion, that the Rotunda can and ought to lie
more appropriately and probably used a. public
offices, than as the "Gallery of Fine Arts,