The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-06-03

THE GREAT UNFINISHED CITY-rHB EFFORTS MAKING
TO COMPLETE IT, ETC.

Herald office and the Battery, are numerous and
important. The two and three story buildings are
built upon and raised to five stories, or they are
entirely prostrated and rebuilt to double their for
mer height. Sometimes you will see a building
undermined, and the principal story, if it be of BRICK
replaced with granite and if it be of granite per-
haps iron is substituted.
We wish we could say so much for the taste of
the architecture for the zeal in increasing the
dimensions. All the orders and styles of ancient
and modern architecture are mixed up together in
''most admired disorder" The Gothic with the
Ionic, the graceful Cornthian with the Egyptian,
and the Elizabethsn with some others that never
had local habtaton a name. The rage is now
for large stores, and for facing them with brown
stone. These buildings generally present heavy,
gloomy, appearance. Iron is rapidly gaining ground
in the public estimation. 1t seems it is cheaper.
while at the same time it is something new. Some
think it is handsomer, too, than stone. In this, we
beg leave to differ, but de gusibus non dispttan-
dun, there is no disputing about tastes. There is
difference of opinion, however, upon a more Sc
rious and substantial matter. While some hold
that the iron is proof against fire, others maintain
that it will crack with intense heat, and sprnging
either out in, the building will be sure to fall.
There has been no test yet by actual experiment.
Iron buildings are novelty in the world, even
in New York. The first of them was erected about
two years ago, at the corner of Duane and Centre
streets, by the manufacturer himself, for his own
Since then, there have been stores erected
of the same material-one in Barclay street, run
ming to Vesey, another in Washington street, and
one in Broadway, occupied by Mr.. Miller, near
Courtlandt street. But pillars of iron for the prn-
cpal stories, have become quite fashionable for
stores.
There is one cause which has powerfully ope-
rated in the First ward, and, indeed, in the city
generally, an incentive the erection of larger
buildings on the sites of smaller ones, and that is
the great advance in rents and the prices of lots.
People must take in some additional space from the
sky, to make house property pay, or, where there
are leases, to enable the lessee to discharge his
obligations.
Many of those who are net Immediately nte-
rested in the improvements going forward, are
much dissatisfied at the distractions of the streets,
including the sidewalks, and they excaim that
New York will never be improved, for every year,
the improvements on the increase, as il all that
had been already done was worse than useless 1t
seems somewhat like Penelope's web, of which
there was as much unrnvelled every night as was
woven in the day, so that the web was never finish
ed. But the comparison Is not exactly aPropos,
for there is always more built up than what Is
pulled down, and the city is growing all the time,
with an amazing rapidity. There can be no surer
indication of the giant strides TO prosperity OF its
trading and commercial interests which, "cribbed,
cabined, confined" cry out for more roon as they
swell, year after year, beyond their former dimen-
sions This consideration reconcest the inhabitants
ofGotham any presentdiscomfort or inconvenience
they may suffer through the growing process, from
had IN onl IN hpff nd from helt
TO best There is one observation, which may not
tho :rs oS ssrs snr sn M fS sr s"s. ~ ,s o.
gard paid TO the durability Of the structure, the
lives Of the peonle Inc walls are built 80 slightly
and 80 loosely, that they are 6y no sufficient
TO sustain the weight put upon them; and in the
event Of strong gale OF wind, their exposure TO
the action OF fire, they will assuredly come down
with crash. Either the authorities now entrusted
with this maitcr are not doing their duty, or they
have not sufficient power TO interfere, and in that
case they ought TO be armed with additional power
some new officer ought to be created, whose duty
II would be TO take cognizance OF the manner in
which all new buildings are constructed.
Let us advert TO some OF the recent improvements
between Fulton street and South Ferry Il is not
long since we published an account Of The new
buildings in the lower part OF the city. We now
notice only those just completed, or in progress of
erection
In Whitehall street a magnificent store has been
far finished that the firm for whom il was erected
are now in occupation, IL has two fronts, one in
Water and the other in Pearl being ITO feet long
and 81 feet wide. II is six stories high, the princi-
pal story being iron, and the remainder Of the build
ing faced with brown stone. The wall is ~ inches
thick, and IL is built in the strongest manner The
doors, which Of iron, fold neatly into the iron
pillars during the day, and thus completely out
Of the way, and when the store is Shut the front is
all flush, having the appearance of an iron wall
without any door. The cellar is one OF the
finest we ever saw IL s capable Of containing GOO
hogsheads Of brandy. This building is wholesale
grocery store, built by Mr. States VI. Mead, for
sacket, Belcher X Co. The architects Mr. J. B.
Corlies.
In the same street, and at the corner Of Stone
street, there is another very handsome four-stOry
store, the principal story and the window sllls OF
the entire building being granite. II Is a cotton
store, occupied by Mr.. Franklin. In Stone street,
few yards from this very large store Is IN progress
Of erection. II is 10 have brown stone front, to
lie four stories high, 30 feet wide, and go feet
long. II is the property Of Mr. Coe. Next 70 u
the ground Is being cleared for the erection Of
similar building.
Coming to Broadway, we find that No. I. or the
Washington Hotel, with which there are so many
historic memories associated, has just received two
additional stories, and now looks a far handsomer
building than II was, while Il Is certainly more
convenient aud profitable. The lower part Of the
building remains in the same state in which u was
when Washington made Il his head-quartcr-, with
the exception Of the front room on the principal
story TO the LETT hand as you enter beng ele-
waited above the room 10 the rear, where the
bar is situated, and having an ascension from
the latter by means Of steps IL - now used
as a reading room. That elevation is 10 be re-
moved by the present occupant. The octangular
room TO the rear or Battery side of the building,
which used to look out upon the spacious bay, has
been prostraled, and magnificent billiard room,
in which there are two new tables, erected in its
stead. This house was built by Captain Kennedy,
in 1850, and was occupied by the Governors of
New York, under the British flag, up 20 the reyolu.
ton, and during the revolution, uIl the English
army evacuated New York. II was known
the Government House." II was in the room Of
this house, known as No. I, and which Is 10 your
night the principal floor as you enter, that Ar.
nolds plan was concocied, and his interviews held
with Major Andre and Lord Hull. Arnold came
there after he left the American army. and resided
in il till he went to Europe. IL was taken posses
sion Of by Washington, on his return from Boston,
and occupied for a short time as his head quarters.
II was then occupied by Nathaniel Pryme; then by
Edward pTyme, and then by Mayor Micklc and
for the last Twelve months 4 has been occupied by
Major Bsrilcit, who has effected the present inn
pfoycments Its massive walls present a striking
contrast TO the slight buildings that are being
erected in these DAYS. There was an old vault ~
it, four feet thick which has been removed 20 make