The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-06-01
An Imposing Structure,

An Imposing Structure.
Mr.. WM. f CRaMEh, of the Milwaukee
Wisconsip, who is on a visit to New York,
thus writes to his paper in regard to a
new aud imposing Catholic Cathedral
now being erected in the latter city:
The new Roman Catholic cathedral on
the Fifth Avenue, occupying the laud be,
tween 5Oth and 5lst streets, begins to at.
tract national attention. Ia size it is
the 18th church in the world. Its front
is to be one hundie ed and seventy five feet,
and its depth three hundred aud twenty
five feet. The 10. is two hundred feet
front and .our hundred and twenty five
feet deep, and runs back to Madison
Avenue. It's site is commanding, and is
on one Of the highest point. on Manhattan
Island. It's foundation. like st. Peters
is on the rock, so that it is quite certain
this immense structure will not settle and
show the cracks, which are too often Wis
lille in the walls Of a massive buiidirg Q.
|. is to be Of the Gothic style, with mum.
erous spires. Its grand tower is to be
surmounted by spire, which is to be
crowned by glass cross, fifteen feet BY
ten, and three hundred and twenty five
feet above the ground. This glass cross
is to be hollow, and is always to be lighted
at night. Its elevation is such, and the
spleDdor Of the light will be so conspicuous
from the Illuminated cross, that the mar
liner, one hundred miles at sea, in the
darkness of night, can witness this mag
nificent emblem Of the crucfcton of our
Savior. This happy design was the con-
ception of Archbishop Hughes, and is the
only instance Of the kind in any church in
the world. The light is never to be al
lowed to expire by night, and the sign Of
the cross will be before the eyes Of every
New Yorker, when pleasure or labor leads
him to traverse the streets oy night.
The material of this grand structure is
TO be of Westchester marble of pure
white. In one respect, it is the.-most
striking marble that we have ever seen
under the graver's tools, it is spotted with
a bright, silvery star, which, under the
CLEAN of sunight, emits the effuIgence of
unnumbered gems. When the walls, in
side and out, are completed with this re,
maTkable marble, under certain lights,
| they will sparkle as if they were starred
with silver. There is only ore quarry of
this kind IN the state, and perhaps in he
Union. 1t is owned by the church, and
the builder says there is not more than
sufficient to build the cathedral and the
chapel. 1t is quite clear that when this
cathedral is finished of this rare building
material, it will be one of the most noble
aud imposing edifices in the world. 1t
will rot be so large as St Paul's If Lon
don. Notre Dame Of Paris, or The cathedral
at Cologne. But In general appearance,
and with the advantages Of its site, it will
present such monument Of good taste,
beauty OF design, and Of happy proportions,
that 1t will be temple to the Deity
worthy to be regarded as one of the won
Gers of the republic. Beng erected bv
the voluntary contributions of a people
who consider it labor Of love to con
tribute, even from their mites, for the
noble purpose of rearing edifces, such
only, as IN other countries, are secured by
the forced contributions of monarchs, or
the DEGREES CT an Absolute Church
Hence, as voluntary, offering of the
people, We hail the erection Of such
temples, that, while they consecra'e re-
llgion, they show what a free people can
achieve under the influence of religious
sympa'hies.
II will require ten years to complete
this editice, and though it is estimated
that 81 100000 will do the work. we in
cline to the opinion that ten millions of
dollars will be expended when the temple
is completed in each and every part. In
the rear is to be chapel fronting on
Madison avenue seventy>tve feet, and will
itself be fully as large as an ordinary
church. We could better appreciate the
immense size of this cathedral when we
entered within the walls, which are now
laid to the height of twenty feet. The in
terror looks like large field. At present
only about forty workmen are employed
on the building The Archbishop's
house is to be in the rear, on Madison
Avenue.