New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-18
A MAMMOTH PRINTING HOUSE.


has Just invested nearly $4,000 in OF the finest sites
aud buildings Printing HouseSquare. In 1884 the
German residents OF NewYOrk feeling that their nation
atty should he represented in the city press united In
founding weekly newspaper, called the NeD Yorker
Stats Zeng Published Mt various places and at first
under the supervision OF association and later by
single owners, its progress steady. BY and by
became tri-weeky. and al last in sis its daily publ
cation began I'm 1857 the building at No II Chahamst
was erected for its accommodation, and answered very
well for several years. The increased circulation when
the war brought entire New York press at length
however, rendered that building Inadequate and the
site at Chatham and Contrasts, and Tryon-row was
purchased The dimensions on Chathamst 90 feet
10 nches on TryOn row. % feet inches; Centre-st,
feet rear boundary from Chatham-st to Centre-st,
26 feet. Most OF this was owned by the Harlem
Railroad Company, and was bought for S22o9Ol Tue
remainder belonged to private owner, and cost $4,000
so that total expense Of the site was S2O0O0 Upon
il the proprietor desired TO erect building, which
would meet the present requirements Of the business
be ample for any enlargement which the circulation
might afterYard require and unite great strength and
durability with chaste elegance. The messrs Fern
BACH architects, employed, and submitted plans
for granite building in the italian Renaissance order
OF architecture four stories high, exclusive OF the base
ment and a high Mansard roof The estimated expense
was 100000 but its actual cost exceeded 100000 thus
| making tho total amount invested in building and
site something more than s75OOOO.
The building has thus great advantage 80 far as posi-
ton is concerned 1t is indeed trlne north Of the real
center Of Printing Housesquare but the completion OF
the East River Bridge, which will strike Chatham-st
near that point will tend to bring the center OF business
trlae to the NORTH and thus add to the desrabity OF
the site In its frontage three streets is very fortu
nate Tryon Row striKes Chatham-st at right angle
while IL touches Centret at angle OF degrees The
facade curved at both OF these angles however 80
that the difference is not unpeasanty noticeable. The
1 inf aaffv "a
basement aud first story Of dark quincy granite its
three succeeding stories OF lighter Concord granite and
its high Mansard roof, graceful angle, surmounting
ALL with columns substantial but not heavy, and win
dows OF plate glass; and Of beautiful arch; with rich
but chaste Ornamentatlon from the sidewalk railing TO
the crest Of the roof with bronze statues OF Gutenberg
and Franklin over the central portico, and with smaller
bronze figures bearing the representative implements Of
tho printing the sroat window overhead: and with
graceful flagstaff raised at the center Of the facade
surmounted by gded pen for vane, and above and
turning with it, an eagle with extended wings-tne
| building H. in truth a thing OF beauty.
The interior fully corresponds The foundation is laid
25s feet below the curb and feet above high water
foundation is OF concrete, 10 inches deep Above
this placed two rows OF stone, one IA inches and the
other u inches thick the blocks being 10 feet square
for the walls aud6 by feet extent for the piers.
Above the foundation rise the walls They are Of
considerable thickness and are very substantially laid
The floors OF beams arched with brick and the
partition walls are OF Plaster OF Paris blocks, rather
than OF timber and lath similar precaution is taken
in the Mansard the roof itself being secured TO iron
beams, and the pasterng for the walls within being
attached to sheet iron. cut like kind of woven work.
that the plaster may adhere The building is thus prac
tcay nreproo though some wood is used for Oorn 2,
trimmings &C. The vertical hight OF the several stories
Is as follows: Cellar % feet basement, II feet; first
story POI feet second story IT feet; third and fourth
stories 15s feet EACH fifth story CIansard rood IS feet
The central eastern parts OF the cellar and base
men are used for printing purposes Beneath the pave
ment on Chatham.st is the boiler at the north
east corner OF the building south Of this rooms for
coal and ashes under tho pavement OF Tryon Row
great room the reception and storage OF paper and
for the accommodation of additional presses If they
ever needed Within the walls of the building, and still
in the cellar are engines, for the presses pro-
yided with two cylinders and connecting rods which
be attached TO the driver, so that In case ono
breaks down the other may be instantly set at work
The other engine is connected with tho elevator and
pump Near the engine and occupying cellar and base
inent two six cylinder Hoe presses, which are used
simultaneously the paper having recently adopted the
stereOtypng method la the cellar also, are tanks for
wettng the paper and in the basement are the folding
| and mailing departments The Centrest. side OF the
basement will be elegantly fitted up, aud will probably
I be FAnfod for a nrs,-o.sss restaurant. cs.r.t5
on the arst floor through the p0rco AT the center OF
the facade one enters TIE great hall OF the building
which is elegantly oored with hiCcae made on Medach
thing and at either side Of which will DC placed drec
tories to the upper hoor From the further side OF the
hall rises the great winding staircase OF iron with black
|
the building Ample halls surround each landing, and
| grated gates Of tasteful design open INTO those hall
which, not being occupied at night, might attract
thieves The rooms at the Centrest. side OF the first
floor Will be let for business purposes, While those at the
Chatham-st. side reserved for the counting ROOM
OF the most notable apartments In the entire
building. The rich and tasteful cabinet work. the ele-
Rant chandeliers the rare Yafcgdted marble OF inc
counters tho alternating marbles Tue moor, ana the
choice fresCOing or the walls make the room seem more
like palace than place OF dollars ana cents auu ~
| refreshments at SO much at line
The second ana third stories are richly finished and
will DO let for business purposes The west half OF the
fourth will hc also let while the other half VIII Dc
occupied editorial rooms. Almost the entire nth
its great skyghts, IS allotted to the compositors
A small at the northwest corner OF this floor Is
reserved for the stereoypers The hoor OF this apart
ment Is OF cement preCautlon against NE. An ee
rises from the western side OF the stairway the
first floor, with landings the several floors.
spending shalt at the east OF the stairway
yentlatOr part OF 1t Is partitOned of for Che
tlatiOn OF the press and enSne-rooms. The
building will be heated by steam throughout.
Tho gas pipes connect with tho mains OF both
the and the mutual Gas Company 80 that the
npOsltOrs may laugh strikes. great fast
beneath the roof supplies the building with water which
pumped up by engine In the cellar. The pump
meets with the water mains and with tubular WILL
which has been sunk IN the cellar 90 feet deepS upon
analysis, the water proves suitable for boiler
need or any city water Will be almost entirely obvated
The well reaches down 10 deep gravel stratum. and ia
manufacturing concerns would adopt similar plan, the
the CrOtOn aqucduct IN dry like the
present would be much relieved
The roof OF the building Is accessible by stairway
and with s night OF about " feet presents "A fine view
the harbOr, and the outlying country. The several
floors provided with water, closets. aud similar con
the interior OF the building though the neWspaper mas
been published there since June l6.
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Novor until thia dav have MA