The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-04
DUB NEW BUILDINGS.
The Architectural Beauties of
the Metropolis.
The Moorish Order Threatening to Su-
persede the Doric-
The Rise Of Conservative Element op-
posed to Improvement and the
Prospective Results

I AOubtful II during any one year IA tAt MS
cory Of the metropolis there were ever IN progress
NO many improvements IN the peblc edlnces and
private residences Of the metropolis n wonla
seem also that the large buildings rising were
on SITES peculiarly calculated 10 be OF the greatest
architectural advantage TO the city. Although 10
~ STATED on the very best OF authority that
the number OF buildings which in this direction
mark the city's growth less tnan for several
years past, 1t rs certain that Ia the matter Of
churches, business houses and pubic buiidinKs
there is no valid evidence OF retrogresson In the
Improvement OF the city's architecture. New
houses do not appear TO be the result Of increased
population. The centres nave become more densely
built only to contrast more strongly with the
sparsely settled environs.
WHAT ARE TUE REASONS FOR rHIs,
There are several causes contributing toward
shis result The old and chronic contest between
labor and capital is perhaps the most prominent.
Again. as on many previous occasions, the laborng
element In the community has, TO great degree,
stnea means OF its support Injudiclous to the
verge suicide the EFFORTS OF labor dic
tate prices aud hours to employ ing capital proved
1t IL not until the laborer becomes enough Of
capitalist TO be able to live for several months
beginning at any and every moment when it may
suit the temper OF ssunlonn to order him TO
'sKnock ON work-that he can hope to success
fply contend ag inst the man who employs him
This Is certainly not intended as partisan view
Of the case, nut Q simple common sense axiom.
Indeed, this article is written by a salaried man,
who does not have to go outside OF his own person
80 find OF toll.
YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE,
The superintendent oi Buildings Mr.. Adams. does
not hesitate TO ascrlbe very much OF the present
ssagnatlon In building to the uncertainty Of LABOR
The contractors uncertain what to 90 and
Know not what to expect from any BODY OF men,
Contracts made under the ten-hour system would
fail 10 yield any profit under an eight
hour requirement. The dire threats OF
An impending struggle between labor and
capital IN Which the latter was to be throtiled
when in its most indefensble condition. has made
contractors exceedingly wary OF the number OF
enterprises they engaged in which threatened to
place their money within the reach Of that CARROT
ing process known "a strike.n
AN ECHO OF THE FINANCIAL CRASH.
The financial embarrassments or the country
which occuiJed during last summer resulted in
small degree, in transferring capital into the
hands oil conservative class who, for the most
part, are wanting In public enterprise and seldom
build houses. These causes. combined with an in
creased lear OF confagration. have conspired to
ActunLy decrease the number Of buildings during
the past year. Although this is the TACT there
have been completed during the past Six months
many new buildings which must long remain an
ornament to the city. Among the other prominent
recent architectural additions may be mentioned
the Lenox Library costing s25o,ooo; the Colosseum,
100000; the Hippodrome, 100000, and the Park
BANK, $4,000.
THE POET OFFICE.
The new Post ONCE, now nearing completion,
win be, without doubt, the most imposing govern
nent building in the country outside OF Washing
ton. Occupying one OF she most commanding sites
In the whole metropolis, IL must ever remain the
most conspicuous edlnce on broadway. Modelled
alter the Doric style OF architecture, the plan on
which the new structure is built Is not
only novel and unique TO this city,
but combines with the greatest s0ifdity
tasteful elegance in detail which unequalled
BY any other building in the metropolis only
relative idea OF It's immensely is given when It is
stated that il occupies a space OF ground equal to
about twenty-one ordinary city lots. The frontage
on Broadway Is $40 feet in length, on Park row $40
feet the north front, toward the City Hall, 200
ieet, and the south front, opposite the HERALD
bnildinx, 100 feet. This makes . total frontage OF
40 ieet, equal to the frontage or about forty
ordinary CITY buildings, or four complete
same style oil architecture with the same amount
Of decoration, that there are no rear sides TO
Seea n lew monsns VIII conss. Of &C cea
basement, four stories and Mansard ROOT, with
attlcs. The height Of tue cellar Is u feet base
ment, IL feet; rst story 80 ieeC second story, 70
ieet third story p 1eets inches; fourth story, ~
feet and attic " ieet. The whole will thus tower
LOO 1eet above the SIDEWALKS, while the lofty
d0mes over the southern and northern parts
WAL rise much higher. The various parts OF the
b0ldfng Will be occupied about as ioiows:-Tne
cellar I0r iuel, engines, &C. and eventually the
landing Tor the pneumatic tube mail sy stem, which
ment, one vast apartment occupying the wnole
sise will be devoted 10 the post onice depart
ready the mails. There several hundred men
VIII be constantly employed. the nrss moor
no M W
surrounds the entire interior will contain the
Offices OF the subordinate officers. The Money
Order stamp and Receiving and Register
ing departments together with the ONCE
OF the Postmaster, will be on this moor. The ar
utmost perfection. large triangular SNAPPED
open space IN the centre OF the building admits q
portion Il really the best lighted. the
second third and fourth floors win be
occupied by the several branches OF the United
States courts. The attic Will be occupied by The
lanitor, Waterman and others connected Win the
made an extended Tour tSpoupn the entire struc.
ture, with the obiglng superintendent, Mr.. Stem.
metz II was seen tnat no materials were used
Malcn could BY any means be made lnnammable.
Granite, iron, brick, concrete and glass are tue
component parts which, united, make up This mag
nihcent edince. The two Spacious court rooms on
The northern 'front.', nearly dity height, were
visited. The locations OF tine four large passenger
and the ten small elevators Tor freight and mails
we're pointed out. The HERALD man was told that
fer three years past 900 men on little island on
the coast OF Name had been employed in fash
iOning the stone into shape, so that It could be
laid without the use OF a chisel. About $4,000
$1,000 barrels OF cement 16,000,000 bricks ana
$780, 900 pounds or iron have been used In tue
struSLlon IL has already cost over S400O0OO
The rapidity with which this great work has been
pushed 10 deserving OF all praise. Ground was
broken IN the fan OF 1859, bat tue work was con.
stanty embarrassed up TO 1872 by the lethargy or
Congress; since that time, however, the work mas
not Jagged Tor day. Ii will be completed by TALL.
THE STEWART BUILDING.
The spacious iron structure which Tor more than
three years past has been gradually rising on
Fourth avenue, between Thirty-second and Thirty
third streets, and h. now nearing completion, is
aaid to be Intended home Tor destitute
w0men--the git OF Alexander T. Stewart. The
frontage on Fourth avenue rs lg2 feet inches,
on Thirty-sec0nd and 1hirty-thrd streets respect
lively, 900 feet The area covered by the entire
structure Is a. 600 square feet. The main building
il ak stories nigh, with Mansard roof. and toe
central portion OF each front, extending width