The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-28
CITY IGENCE.
THE NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

Ine new fuDnc Buildings, yesterday afternoon, the
plan OF Mr. John Macarthur, Jr., was awarded the
first premium OF $4,000. The Committee on Plan and
Architecture were authorized to engage the author
10 make such changes and notifications in the same
as In their opinion may be desirable, and to have the
plan, when completed, submitted to the Commission
Tor approval This actiC 4 virtually accepts MIR. Nc
Arthurs designs and thus makes one OF our own
citizens the artist to supervise the erection OF what
will be the grandest structure in our city. Not a
more deserving architect could have been selected
than the gentleman whom fortune has favored, and
the compliment is the more valuable as the premium
with nine fellow-artists who already bear proud
names in the profession. It is somewhat singular
that, although the Committee on Plan and Architec-
ture, Of which Thomas n. Walter Esq, architect OF
Glrard college and OF the Capitol Extension, is
chairman, reported unanimously in favor OF this
award, yet desperate struggle was made yesterday
TO reverse their decision and to favor competitor.
Our citizens ask only that the most meritorious shall
be honored, but it seems sef-evident that educated
artists should be the judges.
General Description.
The style which the architect has deemed best
suited to express his design is Renaissance Its
broken outlines and the comparative freedom from
the arbitrary rule IN its proportions render it pecu
hary adapted to public architecture where 80 many
rooms Of unequal dimensions, and for such varied
uses, must be arranged aud constructed Every
room required by the printed schedule has been pro-
vlded OF the proper size In the general arrange
ment OF the plan three principal divisions have been
Inaue it1 lRe JudlclrY on walnut street; Councils,
WIN tne departments OF Gas, Taxes, and Water, on
Chesnut and Sixth streets; the Mayor CITY Trea.
surer, ana survey DeDartment on Chestnut and Fifth
streets care has been taken to locate the PRINCIPAL
courts so as to render them entirely free from the
noise OF the streets, and at the same time afford
readiness OF access and abundance of lipht and air
Every room in the entire building is well lighted
ventilated, ana readily approached from the sur
rOuhdng street by spacious stalrcases and continu-
Gus corrdors. Ihe mode of heating and ventllating
intended is by steam 'cOils" in the basement fore
ing warm fresh air by powerful fans into each room
IN winter, and cold III sOmmer and ut the same time
driving the vtiaed air through ducts to the boiler
smart situated between the principal courts behind
the Walnut street front
Much valuable room, easy of access and well
lighted and ventilated, is reserved for future use in
Ie basement on SXth street, and also in the third
story OF all the buildings.
In the matter OF materials for the execution Of
this design, the architect suggests of the sand
stones OF our own state most appropriate and
economical. although any other material preferred
can be used without detractng from the general de-
sign The absence of full detail drawings prevents
an accurate estimate of the cost being made: hut
from the present plans the architect estimates their
execution at 81, ,3S5,00O.
The specifications OF material and mode of con-
structon are substantially described in the circu-
lar issued by the Commission to competing architects
The whole building is To be thoroughly fre-proof
throughout. Foundation and basement walls to
pavement are to be of the best quality building
stone; exterior walls steps, and cornices of dressed
sandstone backed with hard bricks. All the interior
walls and archngs are TO be OF brick interior col
umns for support are of cast ron stairs of marble;
floors OF rolled iron and brick covered with marble
ing; roof OF iron covered with slate and tin plate
glass on all the street fronts, and best American on
the court-yards and areas. All locks and other door
and window furniture of best Philadelphia manu-
facture; gas piping according to city regulations
plumbing, wherever practicable, OF galvanized iron
fifteen feet fans, driven by steam engine draining
through terra a-cotta pipes into the public sewers ;
dressed granite curbings all the streets, and
dressed blue flags on all the pavements.
Architectural Outline.
The main front Of the new City Hall will be upon
Walnut street. The building will consist of a base
ment, two main stories, aud Mansard roof. The
central entrance on Walnut street, leading to q CEN
tra corridor, will be through stately columnated
archway, which supports like ornamental porches
the two upper stores terminating on the third with
an over-arched pedlment containing sculptured
arms Of the State, city, etc. From this springs q
high tower containing on each of its four faces a
huge ornamental clock face, and divided by semi
dOrmer windows into four additional stories. A bal
cony encirces this tower twothirds up, and another
observatory is furnished by the roof About twenty
five arched windows will be on each story of this
| front.
on the Fifth and Sixth street corners will be three
stored rotundas, surmOunted by well-proportioned
| dOmes. These will be elevated and reached 10y
broad steps and will contain starcases will also the
central corridor. The fronts upon Fifth and Sixth
| streets will correspond closely, the plans having
| been so carefully drafted that although the nnei
divisions different the same architectural eleva
| tions are to be used. Midway upon each square will
| be an ornamented arChway, supported by columns
| with upper balconies all closely corresponding will
the central entrance upon Walnut street. Upon the
third story which of itself rises far above the
neCted wings, towers another Mansard roof with az
| elevated tower Each story of these fronts has
| nearly thirty windows.
The Chestnut street front will be divided into tive
| similar buildings by Independence Hall proper This
venerable building sanctiiied by od-time memorie:
and associations. viii now, as ever, he scrupulouslN
guarded from alterations, and vacant space will b
left at either side; but the ugly wings OF later con
| structiOn now defaced with Row Offices will sOOr
become things of the past, for which everybody will
| be truly thankful. These new buildings will con
sist of two stories with French roofs and will eacl
| be reached by two nights of steps, corresponding
| with those at the corners of Walnut.
The elevated Observatories, from which views ma
| be had OF the city, Will be abundant for some gene
ratiOns to come as the peculiar adaptabiity OF tn
| Renaissance style allows many graceful breaks IL
been artisticaiiy rurncd into use for the aceommo
dation OF the curious minded who not to be in
timidated by the prospect OF stair-climbing. Tn
only apparent disadvantage in this arrangement
that, in the 1uture ages when these buildings com
to be finished, Councilmep will be very apt TO parca
the care OF these towers out among their preclnc
adherents, and we shall have battalion OF janitor
TO be hunted up by visitors anxious to get the 'Ope
Sesame OF tickets
Ground Floor.
Starting at the main entrance on Walnut stree
and taking the principal moor OF the new City Hal
we find TO the left OF the central corridor in regula
sequence, supreme Court room. 81 by ~ feet
Judges consultation TO' IN, 21 by 26; conversatio
room I9r bar, p by %: and west rotunda. on tn
right are, Nis Prus Court a. by 40: Judges retir
and east rotunda
Back of these, ana separated by a corridor 1G fee
wide, on the left, are Judges consultation room, l
10y 90; Court of Quarter Sessions, No. l. so by 81
3G by 49, male and female witness rooms each II b
10; Grand Jury room, "a by 80; Receiver of Taxes
general Office 40 by g.; offices of Chief Clerk an
Receiver, each IL by2i; Research Clerk, "a by 20
and records, 16 by 2i. A similar wing to the rlg6
contains similar apartments with the exception G
| oubntllulluE iOI luOSc Ol inc Gfa0Q Jury and Ia
department Others Tor the City Treasurer an
Coroner nVe Tor the former and four for the latte
It is to be understood that these rooms flank IN
Courts OF Quarter Sessions, and are inside of tn
| following divisions on Firth and Sixth streets froI
which they are separated by other wide corridors.
| From Walnut street northward along SiXtl
| the rooms adjoining directly upon Sixth are lobb'
} | 10 by %; two offices District Attorney each 21 i
26; Clerk OF Quarter Sessions, 26 by 80, and 90
! | 26; Building Inspectors, II by %; permit room
! | by 22 coonnade entrance, opposite SAMSON stree
Board Of Revision, four 0nices fronting upon ski
\ | and Chestnut streets is the Gas ONCE, 95 by 100
From Walnut street nOrthward along Sixth