Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-06-11
For the Southern Standard
History Of the City Of New York.
FROM THE TINE OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND
IN 1909, TO THE PRESENT DATE
Chapt. XIII.

secure and extensive edifce was erected on the
shores Of North River. A high wall surrounded
The edfce, upon which armed sentines paced their
constant round. A part of the building. with its
cupoa, still stands-far inland now, for there are
several streets between IT and the river; but the
State Prison was removed to Sing Sing, and two
more, one at Auburn, in the centre, and one at
Clinton, in the north part of the State, have since
been added.
The Halls of Justice, embracing the whole block
bounded by Centre, Leonard. Elm, and Franklin
streets the centre of the Police operations of
the City. The main ediGce, devoted to Court and
Police rooms and Offices. connected with the de-
partment, stands on Centre street, and FORMS with
several smaller buildings and walls on the lines of
the other streets enclosure containing the house
of detention in which prisoners awaiting trial
confined The buildings of Egyptian archi-
lecture, and constructed of light colored granite
but the idea of gloom in their appearance has
given them the name of ''The Tombs." The
whole block is 253 feet 8 inches long. and 900 feet
5 inches wide The house 0. detention is l42 feet
long. and As vile, and con aims 40 cells for pris
ontrs.
The low tract of ground that forms the site Of
the Halls of Justice and the surrounding buildings
was formerly fres water pond. called the Collect
having an outlet Or creek that ran along the pres
ent line of Canal street to the North river. But
the creek and the surrounding marshes exist now
only in history; and the solid ground to which
they have given place, is covered with crowded
blocks of buildings. The foundations fer the Halls
of Justice rendered secure, by sinking heavy
Iimbers for some distance below the water level,
and by Introducing inverted arches into the mason
nv. A short Aisit to this abode of the vicious,
will convince the most incredulouS of the activity
of the Police department as it regards offenders.
There was formerly high tower of wood, on the
front of the prison, in which was placed fire
alarm bell The tower was burnt on Friday,
Nov. 9th 1912, the day on which Colt was SEN
fenced to be hung for the murder of Adams.
The old Arsenal was situated on the square
bounded by Centre, Elm, Franklin, and White
streets. was immediately above the Halls Of JUS
lice The building erected in 1903. This
spot was used for a Magazine, early 1915
) during which year public slaughter house was
erected here, loft over which used
f powder house. In 1873, the island on which II
$ stood was appropriated as the most convenient
place for building thereon Magazine, or powder
house.
The new State Arsenal is an imposing edfce
200 feet front by so feet deep, exclusive of th'
towers, being the largest building of the kinc
in the State, located on the Fifth Avenue, BE-
: tween ed and 64h streets, four miles from thu
Ci:y Hall it is constructed of brick. with the tx
ception Of the first story, which is of brown stone
and has at each Of its angles an octagonal towt r
n SO feet high besides four Others--two in front
l. and two in the rear of the building; each 80 fee
i in height.
A sub-celIar. under the north wing of the build
ing. is occupied by the old Revolutionary pieces
consisting in part of So pieces Of field artillery
among which were cannon surrendered to tn
Americans by the capltuation of ST. Johns, No
7 vember GO h, 1875; surrendered by the Con
le vention of Saratoga, October 17th, 1877; cap
Id turtd at Princeton. January Sd. l777; and tw
- brass three FOUNDERS, taken from General Bur
a. govne; 1913 serviceable musketS, 888 rifles, an
p 800 carbines.
, The basement. which is 10 feet high. and
es one large hall, extending the whole length an
breadth of the building. is for heavy cannon an
balls. The principal story, l2 feet inches
height. will be tenanted by the small arms. II
!, second story. feet 6 inches in height. by nun
IT. tons and the upper story, 16 feet high, by guI
carriages, DC, &C.
=, The bearing beams are supported by Goth
TO- castron columns; the floors throughout the bui'
n in are of Georgia zine, with the exception of II
a basement: the roof is iron, above which is Ill
ey erty pole 68 feet in height
eir The work was commenced on the 18Th Jul
- and completed on the 18Th November 1913, at
cost Of $4,000
In the rear of the main building is sm'
Ma azine
n The new Armory, or down town Arsenal, as
he is generally termed is bailding situated at t
IN corner Of White and Elm sts, N. Y.--its exte
~ on the former being one hundred and thirty o
are feet and the latter street, eighty one feet
not material is bIue-stone. The edi6ce is two 81
bic res in height, the lower story being hirte
LUG feet high, and the second thirty feet As su
buildings in case of eneates riots, are frequeI
;, " attacked for the sake Of obtaining arms, d
ate precaution has been taken for its defence.
sell this purpose the narrow windows. only eighte
IN inches in width. are extremely efficient; sim
while the stone itself remains unbattered. Fl
men could defend the arsenal against any ordiI
mn