The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-27

luent but well founded complaints and murmurs from the
public and the press against the lack Of court rooms,
whilst they had building under their control adequate
10 remedy alleviate the evil and no means to
erect new building In this emergency the Legisla-
ture, IN 1857 passed act, appointing tive commission
ers 70 direct and supernend the erection OF new City
Conmonalty raise for that purpose not exceed
ing two millions Of dollars by the creation Of stock to
be called "New City Hall Stock Of the City Of New York.
and directing the Board OF Supervisors to raise by
tax a sum sufficient to meet the interest on such
stock. The Common Council having failed 70 raise
the money, as authorized by the act just re-
ferred to- the Legislature in 1883 passed act repeating
the act OF 1857 and authorizing the Mayor nominate
ana Inc BOARD OF supervisors 70 confirm not more than
three Commissioners TO superntend the erection Of
City Hall and authorizing the Supervisors TO raise
Tor that purpose not exceeding by the creation
Of public stock. On the 9th Of April 1855 the Board
Of Supervisors appointed committee to take into con
sideration the subject Of City Hail. On the 4th Of
May the Mayor transmitted to the Board copy OF the
act q 1853 Subsequently, and the kh Of November,
1858, Wilson G. Hunt and John B. Corles Esqs, were,
upon the nomination Of the Mayor, appointed e6hhis
soners under that act Afterwards committee OF tho
Supervisors who had tho subject in charge reported
that after having given the subject great consideration
and after consultations with the they had
arrived at the conclusion that the authorized by
tho act not only greatly inadequate 10
tho purpose intended, but that there were serious
doubts as to the legality Of stock to be paid
In the manner directed by the act; they therefore
commended that application should be made the M
gislature for modification Of the act OF 1883 as 10
embrace coftan essential OF 1851.
and TO enable them to raise such additional Of
money as might DO required In the provided by
law. On January IL, 1859, . communication was re-
ceivcd from the Commissioners setting forth that they
had made inquiries Of the Judges other officers as to
the room required for the purposes proposed by the act
that u would require building at least 375 feet long by
1SI feet wide, two stories high with basement and eel
lar, costing at least million OF dollars and that OF
course they could not for $3.50 900 such building
as was Needed On May D. 1853, the Legislature having
Board OF Supervisors adopted resolution calling upon
the Commissioners to proceed with the performance
Commissioners stated that they had obtained the
opinion OF counsel that they had power or
right under the act to erect section or portion of the
building, without building 1t entire, TO accommo-
date all the courts and departments specified in the act
and that therefore, they could proceed erect the
building as the sum authorized greatly inadequate
for the purpose The Board then mado further apr lea
ton to the Legislature for authority raise million OF
dollars to erect City Hail. but this application was
refused. In March, 1880, james Salmon ESQ.,. was ap-
pointed an additional commissioner upon the nomination
Of his Honor tho present Mayor. In Nav 1860 the S-
ps,visors Sy their committee with the
in the Park Court House (hey having authorized
BY the Legislature to raise 100000 for that purpose)
but to this communication, understand no reply was
ever received Thus will be that the Board Of Su.
pervisors had done all its power and used every
provide adequate accommodations for the courts and that
although unsuccessful 1t not its fault The act of
1857 was repealed in 1858 The act Of 1858 only
inadequate In the amount appropriated but deemed
Illegal in its provisions Under the act Of 1860 nothing
done In consequence Of the application Of the Super
vsors for leave to build upon city property having met
with no response, and the act giving the Board au
sors again presented their claim to the Legislature and
made application for authority to acquire lands in the
city Of New York for the purpose Of Court House This
application was granted, and, by act passed
April 10, 1861, the Supervisors authorized
and empowered TO take such lands they
n srs H assm FOR the purposes Of
this act the Board took the legal steps necessary &C.
quire the title TO the lands within this nclosure On the
NJ 1ootth
take the lands made their report which the same
day confirmed by the Supreme Court and the title TO the
IA, snd a nSs yssea IN the county Having thus aaagred
BY the act Of 1851 the Board authorized to
the Of $50 addition to the $4,000 authorized
BY the act OF 1850 (making in all $3.50 00O This sum,
apparent TO ALL Is entirely inadequate 70 the cree
ton Of such building Is required by the wants of
the city, and such as is now in progress. The Super
vsors, after mature reflection, arrived at the
clus!on that, IN order TO prevent the delays and
increased expense necessarily attendant upon pre-
performance of the work by contract, il was best
10 have the work commenced under the direction OF a
committee Of their Board and proceeded with by davis
work during the fall and winter months To have pre-
pared complete plans and specifications and to have given
the work out by contract under the present circum
stances would have almost Of necessity have delayed
the commencement Of the work until next spring and
every day lost in the finishing Of the building add
tional loss to the county and the public With only
$3.50 900 contract could have been made for the
Torrance Of the whole work, contractor would be
willing TO make his pay dependent upon the action OF
tuture Legislatures, he did IT would only
receiving sufficiently large to indemnify him for
all the losses and delays which he might incur in
consequence The Board could have made
the entire work without making the payment all sums
Sl50,O00 dependent upon such contingencies Be-
sides s well known the present is which
building materials Of all kinds and labor exceedingly
low No contractor would have estimated for this wrk
without making ample allowance for the probable Of
both materials and labor. To the county the
benefit Of this reduction In labor and materials
additional reason for the Supervisors undertaking the
work themselves Acting upon these views the Board
on the 30h Of August In anticipation of the procurement
Of the land authorized their committee to employ
chitect to prepare plans for the building and proceed
with all possible despatch in the erection Of the buang
Accordingly, Monday, September 10, the ground was
broken and the work commenced, since which
time 1t has proceeded with all possible despatch.
Mr. Stewart said that the materials purchased by the
pervisors procured on much favorable TERMS
and less per cenage, than the like materials for
my other lding either public private in this city
and If the work were finished at corresponding price ii
would be the cheapest building of its size and character
in New York. On October 80, and whilst the work was
in rapid progress communication received from tho
Comptroller enclosing to him from the Corporation
CounseD casting doubts upon the right Of the Su.
pervsors to proceed with the building and claiming that
the right to superintend the erection Of the building
vested In the Commissioners appointed under the act Of
1855 The Supervisors, having personal interests to
subserve and being acuatcd entirely and solely by the
desire to the building finished in the most expeditions
and best manner, and being anxious to avoid delay
the I'd day Of November requested the Commission
es, under the net Of 1885, to take charge Of the
Of the Court House; since which time the
work has been done under their superintendence
In conclusion, would say that the building when COM
pietcd WILL think surpass in it's architecture, in its
adaptation for the purposes for which it designed
and In the stability OF Its construction, any building in
possession Of the city county governments that
when finished, II will afford ample and sufficient accom-
mediation for all the courts and the increasing legal bust
ness Of the county, and that longer will Judges be
comreed to resign account Of lily ventilated
rooms that more complaints would DO heard Of the
efluva arising from engine houses that no more courts
will have to adjourn for want Of rooms but that, with
the increased facilities for transacing business our
will be able the end Of their calendars and
q lawsuit be reached and tried within an ordinary life
time. When such day shall have arrived it may be
well said that legal millennium shall have dawnod upon
our city. (Applause.)
This terminated the ceremonies and the assemblage
dispersed.