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

Broadway facade Of the structure has excited uni
which has BEEN treated. The faithful way IN which
the sections have BEEN grouped 30 as TO break the
monotony OF general sameness, the great dimen-
tico. It's massive columns ana exquinte capl
tails. the richly wrought and well placed
an area q nsarY zoo square feet Which Is divided
In twain BY opportnne transoms, the splendid pedt
ment OF the Roman school, the elaborate c0rnlces,
nnishins all with an elevation Of 1877 feet conspire
70 render this building model and one which has
Ct ~ 70 o Re
and construct the building: the company has not
been hampered for want Of means nor has It been
retards the landed operations Of rich joint stock cor
porations. Everything has been harmonious, and
the architects have had clear field.
This ef0rt to erect such an edlnce on the part OF
the company Ii laudable and Is public benent. II
ia decisive OF the new school and points 10 what
enormous as those OF the Equitable Insurance Com
pany must make some outlay OF their immense In
Interest o the is IN the Of
palaces which the public purse, IN the hands Of dere
lict ofIlcals has failed TO provide. THIS not only
ornaments the city, but It provides LABOR with wide
field and stimulates all departments OF mechanical
industry.
one on Broadway Is equally well treated, and bears
marked contrast with Its broken and unsymmetri-
cal surroundings. The general external aspect Is
what strikes the observer with most force and this
indeed is the chief merit OF every sue
cessful cdince. Here misplaced ornamental
tion and glaring blemtshcs OF every descrip-
ton win tell against the general design: and
IN this building these faults have been avoided with
singular acuteness. In critical view, therefore,
the structure answers all the requirements OF art,
and to the uncrtical public 1t Is eminently satsfac
tory as an enduring monument OF pure and classical
passing by the Seavs supports Of the columnar
shafts and ascending the staircase, we stand upon
the first floor. Directly below Is the ground door.
reached by an easy descent from the sidewalk. The
space In this department is now rapidly under
gong the finishing work OF the carpenters and
masons. 1t will be divided OF into rooms OF con-
venient size for banking and other business uses
1t is ireproof in all respects, VIII be elegantly
finished and protected against thieves and
Will be unusually commOdious the ceilings being
high and the ventilation good. In exactly the same
constructed has the doorway and hall OF the
Equitable building been designed. There are the
same ,ss steps s ,b tue same n anan the same
ing through the entire length Of the building.
Everything connected with the entrance Is wonder
fully massive and yet not devoid OF an easy grace
In treatment. BY the angular turn and up few
steps Is the first floor. This nat VIII comprise
series OF offices ana other apartments to let, and
nre-prOof, with brick floors and iron lathlng. The
ceilings are twelve feet high Two floors above,
and reached by the first turn In the winding STAIR
case which Is situated on the southern side about
the centre OF the bnllding, the grand quarters
pany. This apartment is IS by los feet, with 20 feet
ceilings, brick floors and large iron columns run
ming upright to support the great weight superlm-
posed by the upper stories. Properly vestibule,
with dome extending upward III the very interior
OF the building distance OF 3S feet, with shafts
that viii be covered with marble, cement and rlcn
capitals with wainscotings III rare foreign marble
and 225 feet or the same stone handsomely
laid as counter, with ceilings frescoed IN
correspond with black walnut furniture and
the other decorations contemplated. tins apart.
being bizarre Completely encircling the yestibule
Is line OF offices for agents and officers OF the CON-
pany, those OF the latter Deing on the Broadway
front. The office 10 the southwark on Broadway ID
the presidents, the next further to northward Is the
actuarys, then the secretarys, then the reception
room. then the vice presidents, commanding o vista
OF the entire fronts These rooms are all TO be iur
nlshed and decorated In becoming style. The CELL
ngs OF this story terminate at the DOME which rises
seventeen feet higher. AT the joint the floor above
forms o gallery which runs around the entire
room, and when enclosed by railing 1t
will disclose the intricate moneyed operations below.
besides the rooms mentioned lunch room Is pro-
vided on the same dat and Kitchens are projected
on an appropriate scale.l When finished the vesti-
bule will be the largest occupied by any insurance
company In the world, it IS claimed. IL Is certainly
q counting room on large scale well designed
and quite unique III Its arrangement. On either
side OF the circular staircase are towers built
expressly To accommodate elevators, which Will be
moved BY steam power They VIII ascend at stated
floor. Going up still another flight we come to
story where the agents Of the company again win
be provided with capacous Offices anu such rooms
as are not thus occupied will be leased.
ON the next story the fifth, the floor is again
broken up lnuO Uue rOOlDS WHICH VIII DC rented.
This floor caps the height which contains the great
windows OF the building, one rising above the other.
On the sixth story the dimensions are Is feet
and the whole fiat IS well lighted and ventilated
The rooms are Is by 20 feet and Will be finished
like the rest Aboveis the seventh story, fitted In
like manner with offices. easily accessible by the
The whole structure Is crowned with high Man.
sard ROOF. rs feet above the cornlcc, and
this roof Is surmounted again by q pavilion Is
feet in height ornamented with galvanized iron, and
enhancing the appearance by . nne position IN the
centre OF the facade. Still higher towers the flag
stan making the golden eagle 205 feet above the
curb an elevation exceeded by no structure IN the
city not church spire-and one that compares
not unfavorably with many Of the highest OF this
class.
The view from the top is magnificent. To the
southward the view stretches away towards the
Narrows, and is mingled with every variety OF the
land and waterscape; over the tops OF the adj0in-
ing buildings, down the bay, passing the forts the
men-otwar, the neecy clouds OF shipping, the dark
huls, the distant hills Of Staten Island, the hazy
on the cast and gives glimpse beyond her Heights,
her suburban settlements, ana then, Drifting to
northward and westward, Clearly aennes streets and
finally has the Jersey shore In fine perspective.
In all other appointments the structure has been
well treated. especially in the ne and durable IRON
work, cast at the West Point Foundry, which shows
that this material Is now more OF favorite with
builders than when arst INTRODUCED Inc structure
occupants early in the spring. Some $50 men are
now engaged in lathing, putting up partitions mould
rior fittings. The scene and din in the building is
one OF great activity. Men engaged with the heavy
and light iron work passing to and fro and amid
the ceaseless fall Of hammer and clink OF metals
shout and give orders, while still maintaining disci
pine. The great piles Of material which hood the
oors E every story IL fast falling into position, and
creditabe feature Is that none Of this STUFF has
unnecessarily blockaded the sidewalk, as often
occurs.
Besides the points already mentioned the building
has many other commendabe features, especially In
It's external appearance. The structure which, as
near as 1t can be classified belongs TO the re,,dts
sance school, has great altitude, but not one pro-
cured by forced Interpretation Of the art; for .
peculiar treatment vs. visible. wherein the designer
has included two internal stories IN only one OF
external order This method has produced gran
Diet. and dignity OF outline. The Mezzanine order
which Il follows, Is always pleasing when handed
with skull, as 1t has been In TINS instance.
Two classes OF taste can be gratifed in the roof,
which, notwithstanding 1ts being on the Mansard
order, Is visible on Broadway In Its full dimen
sions being intercepted Dy the bold cornlces. The
more severe and classical can. therefore, have the
view without this attachment OF the renaissance
school.
group nj etatuarv ia 10 he placed over the nedi-