The New York herald., 1869-12-16

formerly known as the Ialarge House and alter
ward us the southern Hotel, situated on the west
side OF Broadway, between Amity and Blocker
streets Probably no estate IN the city has hai a
more eyentful history has exhibited such strange
aud unaceountablc management as this hotel, with
all ITS appurtenauces, which fell 10 the heirs of
joan Latarge by nis oe9ueSt q few years slnoe.
Tnis rich Frenchmaa IL is pretty generally
admitted. the financial agent OF Louis
Philippe, when that unfortunate monarch held
the pursessrIngs OF the pubic treasury IN
France; and rs part OF the investments
that Lafarge made for his royal master
this hosei was purchased, a. many elain, but
whether the title ever reverted from agent 10 prnci-
pal or whether there was any consideration ever
paid by Mr. Lafarge to Louis Philippe by latter
to Mr. Laiasge does not appear. and probably never
Will. Cpoa the death OF the tes.ator The property
passed under the control OF the helrsfonr sons and
three daua aters Prior 20 the demise OF Mr.. Laiarge
the original building was destroyed by fire. in lS54,
but was rebuilt and WIS continued as hotel, with
The Winter Garden theatre adjoining until March
23, 1857, when the Garden was entroly consumed
ana the hotel injured that business therein could
not proceed. Indeed the damage done py The nre
and water rendered the building totally untenant
able.
At this point began a feature In the management
or the property that Is a curious instance OF tho
often accomplish the dissipation Of valuable estates
The lease haa been purchased by the occupant and
proprietor, Colonel Bruce, and to run Tor four
years, and 1t lad upwards OF three unexpred years
after the date OF the tire. considerable time
taken by the heirs to settle the insurance which
was their due on the building, and this involved
such delay that the lessee injured in his busi-
ness Tne desire on the part OF the estate was
break the lease, and the desire the part OF its
holder was to clear away the rubbish
repair the damages and prepare the house again for
the accommodation OF guests. But the owners had
their rents insured aad were In no hurry. The
property languished, lis valuable use became tied
up IN litigation, and 1t yielded revenues. The
stores were deprived Of their natural worth
from being situated In hotel Without guests, ana
tae interests OF the heirs allowed to go to The
dogs. Finally tue heirs obtained writ OF eject
ment against the lessee and by some hocus-pocus,
resulting from intestine luarrcis decree OF sale
was issued by the supreme Court. This document
was held Tor considerable time, the property being
unstable.
Nearly year ago the hotS was purchased by Mr..
e. s. Higgins, the owner OF the Grand Hotel--a
wealthy merchant--nt cost Of nearly Sl03o,000.
soon after Nh. Higgins conceived the idea or erect
ing d mammoth hotel upoD the slte and for that
purpose endoay0red To buy the corner lot lronLns
on Amity street, running through TO Mercer street.
As IN otacr notable Instances the obeurate owner
would sell, and SO lne chance Tor good archl-
tectural effect mas been lost 90 the city by the super
annuated notion that man must aie upon the pro-
perty where lie has always lived "Me no SELL ex-
claimed the foreigner, indifferent to fat bonus and
the construction had W proceed without Ills cor
ner lot.
| The ground covered by the southern Hotel occu-
pied te lots Nos. GU! COO, OIL 6i3 90 and 61 bToad
| way. but these, OF course, were only loJ feet III
depth and did not ncude the ten corresponding lots
the limits oil tue hotel boundaries, as purchased
| lad out by mr. Higgins. keyen OF tue lots
brought s775,o00, and Two more belonging 10 d!ler
ent, parties were purchased or $l6Jo0o. rhis enor
nous sum indicates how much 25xl00 feet can bring
in of the choicest Localities on Broadway ana
shows that Ss0,ooO Is moderate average remuner-
aton for clear ttie to 2500 square leet OF
| polltan soil IN fancy localities.
THE NEW CONSTRUCTION
will be known hereafter 10 the travelling public as
| the great Central hotel. To an observer passing
| along broadway The immense work which has becR
In progress since last Marcn has scarcely been
bic al ALL Yet the construction OF one Of The mot
| gong forward rapialy, upwards of 100
/ men having been constantly employed in All
classes OF work incident To building. Hardly any
portion Of the operations nave been disclosed,
because the main part OF the construction nas been
| tue marble front Broadway; hut they have been
| Of magnitude that Is truly surprising.
ID external appeafance pc view ron tne rear gves
1 from Its peculiar situation is very much dwarIed III
| Its apparent proportions. The trout on Mercer
| street Is made oi Philadelphia brick, with marble
trimmings, and reaches the oitlest elevation on tne
tnoronghfare. On broadway the old front OF West
i
| architecture IL retained, but wll be enney
c.eaused, returnisned, carried up three stories
| higher, capped WIN a mansard roof, with three
| payIIons, surmouDted by lofty nag5taff5
! The fronts as they are now aid rest upon durable
foundations, capable OF supporting the great weight
OF the stones which rise above then. The Superficial
area which they enclose is measured by ITO leet on
street, giving enclosure each OF the ten stories
OF about 10000 square ieet, or more than 35o,0 900
| square feet IN modern hotel Tlese figures reveal
tue fact tnat ten acres elegantly ntted quarters
| are about 70 be ready IN single enclosure where
| all win gather about the same board and make
merry. for the ten stories, including cellar, base
men towers and fagstans the highest point VIII he
| 1871 feet; 10 the roof the elevation viii reach l27
| feet Tne three towers by whicn IL Is designed to
surnonnt the high and elaborate Mansard roof will,
IN turn be surmounted by uniquely wrought stats,
| supporting elegant figures. Wnea the broadway
| facade shall have been dressed over. and when
I hign dormers, bold cornlces, overtOpping roof and
fresh color shall have been ADDED degree OF arcn
tecturai beauty VIII be realized that viii have Jew
| equals Oh the thofouahiare.
1 THE INTERIOR.
| Observers have wondered wnat the sca1olding
/ protrudlng from The upper windows could mean; II
IL . poor index OF the chaos Of work aud confusion
| walls are all up; The Interior " nearly
all enclosed, save The upper story, the tenth,
lessee hopes 10 have 1t ready Tor opening by the st
| OF june 1870. Work Will continue throughout Tho
winter.
| The entrance to the hotel will occupy the same
position IL formerly did-between Nos. OIL anu 67J
BroadwSy-and VIII consist Of broad, tasaeiiated
marble passage, Ia feet wide, 10 feet hign ON the
| clear, extending Dack loo feet t 1t opens into
capacous excnange-an apartment 6oAioo, leaaing
| out to Mercer street. This room will be place
| fitted Ia manner similar TO the exchanges
| OF the Fitch Avenue and other hotels. aud
| WIN be luSurianty furnished, wainscotted In
rare marbe, jfescoed III bright unts, with
reading rooms. barrier shop; hook ana
| paper stand, barrooIn, offices and other means
| OF personal convenience at hand. double row OF
| nuled Cornihian columns, withornamental capitals
and painted shafts, VIII ascend TO, and whefc neces
gary VIII support, the upper stores Spacious stores
VIII take up the remaining space OF The ground moor.
There VIII he the usual restaurants, billiard rooma
ana other Apartments for refreshment AMI relaXa-
| ton IN convenient size, tastefullY arranged
Rising from the termination OF the entrance on the
4 rignt slde, ana eighty feet from BROADWAY Is the
i grand semlcircular staircase reaching moor on
moor and ending ony with the topmost story. Tue
| steps OF this elaborate stairway VIII be laid
L uarlln. hlnck walnut bannIslera