New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-12

result would only q hat the building would be
spoiled OBJ competent architect could not oe got
here, he -~ould have one cent for TO Europe. man
buzz ing his own house would have no IouinN''0"'
out one good architect. r,,..a
AID. DRAKE said the Alderman Of the Eign'n nad
great desire to build the new City Hall. lie m9vsu
for a Special Committee when he was one OF 'ho
Standing Committee; IN al ms esI ;i,aa bs cauH
get no better report than this he ought TO take ms
chance in the new Committee. He seemed 20 want
10 be the head and front of the new City HAN ne
probably wished to have his name in marble on tue
ppsuv building He was a grest advocate of Reform,
vet he came in with Q demand for an expense Oh
more than eight millions. He had been q mechanic:
but Aid Drake thought he was behind the age III
there were any meal behind me 1asnei ne wsn.eu ~
get it, Aid. Drake thought the Board ought not to
vote for an unknown plan; there were no specinca-
tions before the Board. This was only revise OF an
old plan offered in 1919.
Ala. WILLIAMsos offered resolution I'll at the
report be recommitted, with directions to advertise
for plans BY competent architects without any resrc-
ton as TO size pan He said his reason was because
he thought two years even ought TO De let rather
than have building that would not be credit 10 the
CITY and one that the Board would be ashamed Of
There had BEEN hitherto too much restriction to give
chance for the best plans to be offered and adopted
AID MoTr hoped the resolution would not be car
RED The building proposed was called "a tenement
"buildipg" and the person who so termed II hsd
influence on the press, AID Morn knew not how so
that articles were inserted to the same effect The
matter was long before the Board the public expected
something to be done, and the plan proposed I'D so
far been favorably received.
Aid. HERRIcK withdrew his resolution, so that AID
WILLIAssos's resolution was before the Board.
AID HOWARD rose to point OF order. Inc resoIu-
ton Wilamsons was not to be entertained inasmuch
the Board could not advertise again according 70
the fifth section OF the Charter. Advertisements
would cost money and the Board could not appropr-
ate any sum, however small.
The CHAIR agreed a. to Aid Towards point; new
ertheess he said the Board could vote the resolution
AID WlKEMAS contended that the matter could be
managed as an amendment to the report OF the Com
mon Council.
Aid. HowARD-No. This is a report of our own
Committee.
to act on the matter before the public and so far a.
he knew the public desired without a dissenting
voice that the present plan should be adopted. lie
laid. c.. thought it the best plan, and ne would sup
port it.
Committee as the best offered. A plan which had
turned the heads of some members here and also
some of the public prints was one that would not at
all answer the building il proposed was one that
would wholly shut in the present City Hail. making it
a mere accessory. The plan recommended by the
Committee was long before the Board and met their
appreciation, az plan. There might be differences oil
opinion as regards materials ard minor points But
the plan was a good one and were 1t adopted the
building would be one which he aid. Mott under
stood would not be surpassed in the world.
Aid. VooRHIs thought the plans sent IN within the
time named had right to the premiums ofered-the
three beet should get the premiums. Any plans sent
in afterward could not be fairly entitled TO the premi
ums The Committee had consulted all the judges,
and the ctAttorney Of the United States and
taken their opinion about the accommodations tney
would require. more splendid appearance might
be made but the plan recommended was good enough,
and high enough for all practical purposes. Grander
buildings were proposed but they were more than
would be required for three hundred years besides,
Az tla Dart into no
the buildings all around, near the noise They would
cost ten Millions instead of 5000 0OO which was all
the proposed plan would cost Aid. Voorhs thought
the plan adopted by the Common Council was good
one but not commOdious enough; besides, It would
expose the buildings too much to the noise OF Broad
way. The matter was too important to be rushed
through, and made political affair. Aid. '. hsd
no interest in marble he bsd bought good deal IN
his time, but had paid for it all, and was under
no obligation and had interest in regard to marble
East Chester marble was certified from the Depart
ment in Washington to be of the strongest kind; 1t
had also the advantage Of being got near the City,
and will thus cost less. The Committee however,
are liberal they recommend East Chester marble, or
any other that is equally good and no dearer-that
allows any one 10 come in at the same price, Inc
Committee thought II right to mention particular
marble because there poor kinds, such AZ Sing
Sing which was nothing but sand and would crumble
away. He, therefore, opposed recomnitung. The
Committee had had the matter only some eight or ten
weeks in their hands; they had been pretty ndustr-
GUS the Board had let it be month"; As 10 the reso
luton regarding a Commission, il did not ask the
Legislature TO appoint them; asked authority Tor
the Common Council to appoint them; and they
should not be politicians, but practlcA men-a stone
cutter, mason, and carpenter just such men Is
any member of the Board would employ to superin-
tend the building of his own house.
Aid. DRAKE cODtended there no distinct report
before the Board there was plan, but specfica-
tons. Until specifications sent in, the public
would not know whether they were going to pay
million, or three. Aid. ID. did not know why the gen.
81 hot.
unless they had an interest in Westminster quarries
as the public voice said they had.
Aid. BROWN hoped the vote would be taken on the
motion to recomm If lost, the merits could be dis
cussed afterwards.
AID Wn TUCKER hoped there would not be re.
committal, the committee could not get any more
inoSm aton the subject; they had consulted prac
tical men; he hoped the Board would vote down the
resolution of the committee, If they did not approve
of it.
Aid. WAKEMAs thought the advertisements had too
much restricted the plans. The only plan offered to
the Committee, aside from those brought out by the
advertisements was that adopted by the Committee.
He thought il great mistake TO take the only plan
presented, shutting out the competition of fifty COM
petent artists. He thought the report should be re-
committed to give other artists chance TO compete
Various professional gentlemen and artists had formed
themselves into body to consider plans that would
give building worthy of the City, not only now but
in future ages. Not single newspaper Except one)
but had a paragraph in favor Of recommittai.
AtoICE-lhey are ali gwen W the SAME person.
Aid. WAKEaAs-So, Sir; / know that is not so;
you only speak con lecture, but know what say
when / say that it is not so. Even if they did all
come from the same brain, that make difference if
the substance be good and sensible.
The President Nathan c. Ety. left the Chair,
leaving Aid. WILLIANsoS in il.
Aid. CHAuscEY thought the idea that larger accom-
modatons would be required with the growth of the
City was false one. There would be more
Courts or Aldermen wanted than now; and the plan
proposed would give ample accommodation. Re-
committing would only defeat the objects of the Com
mittee and the public. The resolution ought TO be at
once disposed Of He aid. c. did not care much
what the newspapers said. Aid. Wakeman seemed