The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-03
M. EANTlE PALACES.
~. Ac Fity Of Building $50, 000, 600
F.nenaaS in Fine structures-Bold
MovaneSts to Remove Centres Of
Traae-Nd Sites REORGANIZATION
in the NAV Era Of Architecture
n1ansard Roofs-I0fty Cell
inpa-yy,fon Square the Flu
ture <'Palais Royal"

DEBRIS and the quarters which were once infested
with brotnels gin mtlls and pot houses are now &C.
Cuped by substantial business structures. In those
streets bordering the river fronts but little pro-
aress can be no ted; but tn tho INTERIOR and espe-
cialy in localities where particular kinds OF
business centre, the improvements have been
rapid. For instance the dry goods market concen.
trates In Church street, and here marked depar-
ture from the condition of this thoroughfare Is
apparent. The cutting through OF Pearl street at It's
former terminus ut broadway, through the grounds
OF the City Hospital, will be great relief to those
who Lease the stores fronting on the new street,
and 1t will also adj greatly to the value OF property
in that Vicinity.
At Union square building has been creatably
active, but more mas been done about this quarter
the way Of alteration and repair than IN the
ton Of structures entirely The effort TO make
this section the Paais Royal OF the city
now appears successful. Already most any
article can be obtained. that is a staple
OF ParIsiaa elegance. There are cothers,
Jewellers, photographers mauteau and dress.
makers, perfumers, piano makers. boot and shoe
dealers matters, upholserers, cabinet makers haber
dashers, MERGERS, BARRIERS, lapidsries, and most
every other class OF retail trade situated In shops
conveniently fitted to answer the special demands
OF their several departments When all the changes
IN building and alteration contemplated shall have
been made this court al Union square viii be the
gay resort Of the quality in quest of fnery.
This tendency to go up the island and establish
fresh NUCLEUS for various kinds OF trade has some
very bold advocates, who have put their ideas
INTO actual test; SO that now one Of the
largest dry goods houses in the city stands
between Spring and Houston streets. In the
present chaotic state OF building, in ihe
uncertain character OF leases, both as to time and
int nf
surrounding the island on all Sides In the dubious
condition OF the labor question: and, more than ALL
In the cunning operations OF real estate SPECTATORS
1t Is impossible to say where how extensive will
be the settled centres OF business or how much capt.
tai VIII be employed for mercantile building uses.
yrade In all its branches, as far as locality is
cerned, Is In transitory state and not until q
healthy feeling peryades the finances OF the country
will any be able to state authortatively In this
regard.
Below we give some OF the most expensive snd
elaborate structures which have been recently
erected or are now going up IL will be observed
that each belongs to distinct class OF business and
that each may DE taken as a representative building
OF those that will follow. They all indicate marked
progress in elegance of archi lecture purity OF de-
sign beauty of finish and stability OF framework.
Having evidently been butt for the new era and not
for the old one OF cramped space and badly ven-
uated apartments, their ceilings are high, their
facilities for light excellent, and for eXtingushng
flames when not hreproof unsurpassed.
THE BEEKMAN BUILDINGS.
On the site where the "Wooiiy Horsen ana his
humbugs roasted, between Prince and Houston
streets, on the west side OF Broadway, has been
erected an iron building OF imposing outlines, at an
expense OF about 100000 Since the memorable
night when the giantess, the bear and the pseudo
gorilla were gently caressed BY the fire dragon 1t
has been well known that the Snowman had entaed
upon himself one OF those little legal difficulties which
form the vouminous chapters OF his life Alter The
usual prolixty OF the courts the matter was settled
and the property passed into the hands OF Its pres
For upwards Of q Year the construction of the
great building, seven stories high from basement to
roof and 200 by rs feet IN area, has been going on
occupied. The first floor Is used by the house or
Evans, Gardner 4 Co., dry goods firm. 1t occupies
two compartments, each measuring SIX by 200 feet
This moor used for the purpose Of packing and Is
completely ventilated ana partially lighted exter
on the roar, fronting Mercer street. are two steam
engines which are employed In hosting IN driving
wherewith to heat the building. The foundations
are solid durable and cemented carefully extending
derpinning Of the structure consists OF the usual
iron columns, nuted IN front and rear and reaching
the topmost stones, where they terminate, to sup
port roof which E without architectural preten-
sons
The next floor is the basement, which is used for
allow clean length covering the entire area Of the
noor and the $1,000 square leet are devoted exclu-
Southwark are the Woosns ban ne room ona 70 oh ses
articles In this line. Above Is the first floor,
reached by easy access from Broadway on one side
AND mercer street on the other. The counting room
Is In the rear aud the general sales department is
arranged as usual. The interior fittings are plain
but substantial, the wood work being mostly in
black walnut. The hard pine floors are patched In
different places with extended areas Of dead lights
which communicate light nom two large ventllators
arnr
lively IS by 20. These immense courts, coming
down to the second story, are elegantly lifted with
tation that could have been instituted. The rest OF
the appointments are MODERN costly, first class and
Ascending the stairway to southwark from the exte
hrn o. oliver, Carpenter Co., straw goods Fronting
rooms. Furnished with black walnut, finely finished
and extensively carpeted, with private oIices fres.
coed and softly cushioned, they are well arranged
street 10 the sweep OF floor 200 feet In length.
Light Is furnished in abundant quantities by the
above, which constitutes the second loft are the
straw goods OF every description. There are bundles
OF Tue curious merchandise from China Swltzer-
land, Italy and all the looms Of the orient ana 0cci-
dent This department Is exclusively for mems
goods: The lott beng divided in twain by
the apartment to northw ard is tie repository Of
straws which are kept boxed and securely darkened
50 that the light u prevented nom working to their
Aho lS OcSup,eu storage ana
exhibition OF all kinds OF fancy horse hair trimmings
used about bonnets, hats, or other impossible con-
sIlvances, which, by fashion, come under these
strange misnomers. The northern room, however.
~ useu iof manufactures II IL there that 100 girls
~ empoyed In tue light fancy work connected with
tne production OF artificial flowers Men cutting the
vevet aud material from which they are formed into
a., sor,s Of ,eay shapes with dies, girls arranging
1nu Givinh tneni petals, stems and ANATOMY while
Others arrange them into sprgs and branches cojn
ing asserting and performing all the minutia OF
opera ions which necessary 10 perfect Inc Sa e
gear OF which TINS female generation ma become az
enthusiastically iond Thus Is this great structure
whose several floors include area OF los o sonnrs
feet, put TO use. The ground upon which IL STANDS
coat $40, 900, and the money spent ia lots AMI
building comprises an outlay OF over million ana a
quarter.
The construction of such edifices az these THAR
division into single large houses, that Will use than
for manufacturing as well as for storage ana die.
play, viii soon get rid OF the notion that every con