The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-18

$l,e0u,OOu The company OOR pfOlfCtou utlo Ouifes
ing, TO Accommodate irs.extensIve business, and
while the property formerly there was still burning
the position was secured for the purpose the vane
fronts to the Broadway passer, and each elevation
presents fine appearance Besides the location u
nearly central, as concerning gigantic business
interests. When the purchase had been c0nsummatou
. committee, consisting of William Barton, Norris
Franklin, william g. Beers, william II. Appleton,
%
agreeing TO pay each whose plan might be rejected
the sum OF $1,000, with return OF his plan. Tne
Grititn Thomas whose name q ideas,nsd with Pikes
Opera House and many other buildings OF note: a
lot in the rear Of this property was also secured 30
Broadway, loo feet on Leonard street. 1871 feet on
Catharne lane, and II feet from Leonard street TO
geous position the architect struck ground, the
builder being Mr. Thomas Gardiner, Jr. The WORK
has progressed with rapdtty, and is now, e. ar g
The Broadway front u Of white marble. q the en-.
tire building u, and the gllstening surface ano
simple grandeur which broad spread Of, q. THIS MS
material exhibits has been well toned by the Dc
signer ana VIII remain long
Erect sentinel-a deathlsss arch
While HsetiDg ages pass in measured march.
The purity OF the marble and the English Renais.
the richness Of the columns, the spotess white
ness OF all the blocks. the artistic finish OF tho
cornices and transoms and the beauty OF the porco,
give to the whole building very elegant appear
ance. Projecting four feet In front u the portco,
with double columns on each side, capped with
cornice. which In turn has heavy broken pedi-
ment, with fine piece OF sculpture, cut by John
mother feeding her brood, which Is the insignia Of
the company The heavy balustradcs, finished pllas.
tiers, ornamental urns, enormous WINDOWS ana the
coat or standing at the centre OF the facade on
Broadway are all elements OF the design, and to
certain extent enhance the variety OF the front:
The elevation on Leonard street Is mostly marble and
supported In part by iron columns, swhlch WIN be
inted to match the white shade or the marble. On
this street the roof ID depressed between the fronts
and rear for considerable distance from eacn ex-
tremty thus giving to the two elevations something
Of the character OF towers. The Catharine lane front
Is partly OF brick, and tins Is the only departure from
the general richness which pervades the whole build
Entering from Broadway and ascending height
Of feet inches above the street. through large
entrance IL feet wide in the exact centre OF the
building, we reach the first floor, which Will be used
a. the counting room OF the company. ON the north
side OF the hall Is room 20 feet wide by so deep,
and the opposite side s another 20 feet wide and
62 deep. The grand staircase IL In the rear Of the
latter, and is Is feet wide. steam elevator will be
be put In operation when the building Is complete
extending from the BASEMENT floor to the roof
Directly to the rear Of the great hall IS
ing. from which are the spacious quarters
Of the company. The rooms thus occupied Will
area enclosed by so feet width and ITO feet
depth. There will he on this door the main count
ing ROOM the waiting rooms, the book rooms,
room for burglarproof safe and the different guar
ters OF the Oicers. These rooms all we'll lighted
and ventilated and some OF them are carried two
stories high for medical examiners The finish OF
this story will be IN fine foreign marbles wrought
into panels and wainscolngs, and oil the appoint
ments the interior. including the ceilings, the cor
nices and the counting DESKS will be models OF art
ana good taste.
company have determined to spare no expense IN
furnishing this building in Q style commensurate
with their great resources and their Efforts thus lar
indicate that the money Will be well laid OUT.
Inc second story Is divided on into nve large
oces, and these VIII be occupied by the agents OF
~ hn Trof q
main one by an iron spiral staircase, which winds
up to the roof The third and fourth stories are
undergoing like treatment, but will be left open
The basement floor win be rented for stores. A
glance through its interior SHOWS how substantially
this building has been constructed. The floor over
head Is made OF brick arches, laid on iron beams,
which In turn are firmly knit together by heavy
iron girders. THIS method of construction
now coming into general use for all fire.
proof buidlngs-has been adopted through
out the construction. The pillars OF iron which rise
over each other, floor on floor. are OF double
character, there being two columns. one WITHIN the
other, yet separated by circular space concentrc
with their common centres, which Is hled with ire
proof cement. The foundations OF the building are
az the nigh water mark thirtysx feet below the sur
face, on bed OF quicksand, with twenty inches OF
concrete Intervening The walls to the surface have
been compacty constructed and are firm enough TO
support the superinposed weight for all time.
From the lowest apartments, the cellar. sub
feet IL feet and IS feet incnes high, the building
the rst story to an additional height OF II
1e2t IN the second stOrY II leet III Tie tru btOry 40
feet and in the fourth story Is feet,
In other features this splendid structure Is fur
nished with all modern improvements. There are
to be two stories OF vaults extending TO the curb
stone OF the three streets buit massivey and pro.
missing perfect security The toilet arrangements
and all other accommodations will be made first class,
and when the building IL finished the entire system
OF economics as referring to space, personal luxury
and business capacity, Will be as ne as any IN the
city.
THE TWO BUILDINGS COMPARED.
There is q sort OF rivalry between the owners and
designers OF the New York Life and the Equitable
buildings as regards architecture and decoration.
1t il not for US to decide which work en-
bodies the most art and which Is the greater
acquisition to the stateliness OF broadway Both
have been very costly, botn have been executed by
great masters. and both are achievements OF which
every citizen may feel justly proud. One has dignity
and grandeur, the other grace and striking beauty;
one seeks repOse, the other lively Ornamentation.
They attract different tastes according to the liking
OF the observer, and 1t would be hypercritical to
attempt to say which liz the better Together they Will
represent nearly $4,000, 000-an expenditure let US
hope, that will be the foreranner OF but stl larger
outays to give diversity and character to the arch
lecture OF the CITY,