The New York herald., 1850-11-16
The Public Buiidi ings OF New York city.


CITY HALL
This building though not the most elegant and
costly, is still the most prominent in the city and
if we were asked the reason why it is 80, we
honestly confess it would tax our ingenuity to give
a good one. The best we can give, however, is the
beauty of its location, and its being the oldest edi
flee OF any note in the city. In communities as well
as in individuals there is tendency to cling 70
their first love, and hence perhaps arises the par
tality of our citizens for the City Hall over all
others IN the city; but let not be mlsund erstood
in these remarks: we do not mean to undsrrate
the beauties OF this editice, for although 1t cannot
compare in point of architectural elegance and
granduer with the Custom House or Merchants
Exchange, ii is nevertheless very elegant struc-
ture, and adds very much to the architectural or
naments of New York.
! II stands nearly in the centre of the Park, an
area of about seven Situated in this spacious
area, 1t is seen to advantage in all directions; but
the best view OF IL is from the grand entrance
opposite the AsIor House. The main building is
in the form OF an o.ong square, two stories, with
basement and attic, and Two wings. The whole
length Of the edhce is PIG feet, and the depth
lO5 feet; the height is 65 feet, including the attic
story. The south front and both wings are built
OF Massachusetts marble. The front on Chambers
street is but of brown cut stone, and ballusrade
of marble is carried round the top of the building.
A circle, of about twenty feet diameter, rises
centrally from the ground floor, supported by twenty
marble pillars of the CORN THAN order; from then
springs The dome, overspannlng and crowning the
circle. On the dome is placed a colossal figure of
justice, holding in her right hand the scales of
justice, and IN her left the swerd, pointing to the
ground
There are four entances-one on the south
'front.' one on Chambers street, and one in the base
ment OF each of the wings. A flight of eleven steps
of the same material as the building leads to the
principal entrance, in front of which there six
teen marble columns, of the Ionic ORDER supporting
portco over the entrance. The entrance fronting
Chambers street is also by flight of eleven steps
OF the same material as that in front. 1t will not
be out OF place here 20 remark, that in lS4S, while
taking down the great bell the machinery gave
way when il was within few feet of the bottom,
and the bell fell on the steps with tremendous
crash, breaking them all more or less, so that at
present they present very unsightly appearance.
The foundation stone of the City Hall was laid
on the 10Th OF September, lS03 during the Mayor
ally of Edward Livingston, Esq, and finished in
1917 at an expense, exclusive of the furniture, of
half million of dollars
OFFICES.
In the first story there fourteen rooms, allotted
TO the Mayor, the Clerk of the Common Council,
the Clerk of the Board of Assistants, the County
Clerk, and Clerk of the Supreme Court, the Sheriff,
the Commissioner of Juries, the Corporation Lii
brary, and the Keepers apartments, aud one room
to the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in
which is held the special term In the second story
are the chambers of the Board of Aldermen and
Board of Assistants, the Governors room, the
court room OF the first branch of the Superior
Court, the Superior Court Clerks office, aud the
court room of the Common Pleas. In the base
ment OF the east wing the Marine Court is held,
and in the basement of the west wing the Office of
the Chief OF Police is located. Ii has, within the last
month, undergone very thorough cleaning, and
has been painted both inside and outside, and the
roof newly coPpered, at an expense of some $lS000
THE NEW CITY HALL.
This building fronts on Chambers street, and is
at present, and always was, an appenaage to the
building above described. II is plain two story
building, without any architectural decorations,
and was formerly known as the old Aims House,
in which the business Of that department was
transacted. The Office Of the Croton Water Board,
with one or two other public Offices, were also
located in IT, In 1913, after the judiciary was re-
modelled, and the number of courts increased, i.
wes found that there was not room in the City
Hall for the additional courts, upon which requ-
stion was made on the Common Council to provide
new court rooms, whereupon sam OF $4,000 or
s25 600, was snpronriated at dii.ys,, uues during
that year to alter and fit up This building for the
new courts, and for other offices. Those repiirs
ana alterations were completed in the latter e.d of
the year lSiS, or beginning of the year lSi9. and
the new courts, and several Of the public Offices,
were removed into the building, the ground story
Of which contains the following court rooms and
Offices The Supreme Court, Circuit, and Court
of Oyer and Terminer, Special Term, together
with the necessary chambers. In the west wing
on the same story, the new branch Of the Superior
Court is also located. Three rooms are allotted 10
this court, one to hold the General Term, another
the Special Term, and the third for chamber BUSH
ness. On the same floor. and in the same wing is
the Corporation Counsel's Chamber, the office OF
the Clerk Of the Board of Education, and directly
opposite the latter office is the Law Library. In
this story also located the Offices Of the Com
missiorers of Repairs and Supplies, and Collector
OF Taxes.
BASEMENT STORY.
In this story there are several rooms, which are
allotted TO the following othcers;The District and
Corporation Attorneys, Receiver of Taxes, Coron-
er, City Inspector. Tax Commissioner, and Com
missiontrs of Emigration. The ground story OF
the eastern wing ls appropriated to the United
States Circuit and Dst,ict Courts, as stated IN
former article.
THE RoIuSDA.
This building is also owned by the city, and was
formerly leased to the generpl government, and by
them used as a Pest Office. In ls45, that de-
partment having been removed TO Nassau street,
Il was granted by the then Common Council to
association OF gentlemen, who turned t into gal
lery Of hne arts, 70 which purpose IL was appropri
ated until the removal Of the Courts into the new
City Hall, when the corporation again to * pos
session Of it, and converted Il into oifces for the
CIoton Aqueduct and Aims House departments.
THE HALL RECORDS.
This building Is situated on the east aide Of the
Park opposite to the City Hall square. II s an OBJ
long building OF two stories. l. has two fronts,
one on Nassau street, the other on Chambers
street, and is built of the same materials as the
south front Of the City Hall. Across each front
four pillars, Of the Ionic order, supporting portico
over the entrances The following Offices are lo-
Gated in this building the Re tgisirar's office,
Surroeae's Office, Office Of the Collector of the
City Revenue, Street Commissioner, and Comp
troller's office.
The HALLS OF JUSTICE.
This cdifice occupies an entire block, and is
bounded by Centre, Elm, Leonard, and Franklin
streets, which wss formerly the corporation yard,
and lie 253 feet inches in length, by 200 feet 8