The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-19
BUILDING PROSPECTS.
Decrease from Last Year in the Num-
Der Of Applications for Permits.
LOW RENTALS THE CAUSE.
What Has Been and is To Be Done
During the Present Year.

The rsco. d. or the Department OF Buildings show
decrease IN the number Of applications for permits 70
erect new buildings this year as compared with 1876
The present month Of April Is the one IN which usually
the largest number OF applications are received YET up
TO Saturday last there had but ory-one permits
Issued and great majority OF those were TOR small
stores and dwellings OF value not exceeding $1,000
each The total number OF permits issued This year
M 10 and including April II 2li last year up TO
tho same date there POI permits issued, and the
aggregate value Of the buildings erected in that
year far exceeded in amount that Of those Of
the present year. Undoubtedly ono OF 'he
principal causes Of this decrease in building
ucy,ty il the constant fall In rentals and the difficulty
10 get retain fooa tenants. many persons who were
formerly in thai category having now either moved 10
wescheser Long Island or NV Jersey or into aats,
which have into so great popular favor within
he last few years
TuI SEVENTH REGIMENT ARxoRY.
careful scrutiny OF the lst Of applications on die 10
the Department OF Buildings reveals very fow impor
tant buildings The new armory for the Seventh rsg-
ment which has been under contemplation for several
years past is tho coslliest building that has
been or to be erected The regimen armorcs IN this
city are owned by the city, but the Seventh regiment
has for long time been dissatisfied with The armory
occupied by In the important particulars oil location
Il being considerably distant from the residences OF
majority Of The members OF the regiment, and OF &C.
commodaon, being inadequate and united Tor the
uses OF the regiment Repeated application to the city
to furnish suitable building for an armory anu
In more desirable location having failed OF effect, II
was determined by the members to take measures to
provide new quarters their own responsibility.
After the fire in the armory continued
nccunancv hecame very UNPLEASANT to tho rcgl.
ment, and subscription lists were put forth among
the members and their friends aud the project OF o
building pushed with redoubled yigor. site was Sc
cured the block the east side Of Fourth avenue
between Sixty sixth and Sxty.seventh streets and on
Saturday last the formal application for the building
permit fled by the architect, Charles w. Clinton
Tho armory will have a frontage Of 200 feet 10
inches On Fourth avenue, and extend 395 feet down
each Of the .wo streets bounding it, IL will be three
stories height and built entirely of brick, and Is
pected to be thoroughly nreproof full description
Of the plans Of the armory has already been pub
lished in the HERALD. Its cost Is estimated 10 be
e350.000.
DRY GOODS PALACE
The dealers In dry goods occupy some OF the finest
buildings this CITY, and the one recently erected IN
Skin avenue oy Messrs B. Altman 4 Co. Is one Of The
sixiy-fve feet on Sixth avenue and extends about
One hundred feet along Nineteenth street
II IL tour story and basement iron and
lreproof brick building. each story being
spendidiy lighted by COW Of spacious windows ook
Ing out on both streets. The principal show window
is very large cas,e.latsd ocagona one which opens
both Sixth and Nineteenth street. The main
entrance 10 the ground floor departments measures
.hirty feet IN width, and is danked By windows
glazed With immense lights OF French plate glass. On
Nineteenth street the basement floor entered by
roomy iron stairway. Here are the engine room ana
hating apparatus, neatly ensce I'd IN space
the sidewalk, where they 40 M interfere IN the
least with tho business space. The body OF
the basement door is divided INTO several compart-
mcnts intended TOT dressing rooms. shipping ana
receiving departments. and anording room IN which
10 make up mail orders Tor tho accommodation OF out
ot-lown customers The different divisions OF the
work arc separated from each other by neatly ar.
ranged shoulder high partitions pair OF improved
steam worked elevators start from this hoor-one
veying passengers in IN elegantly fitted up car, and
the other goods-to and from The other stories.
The first floor be used The dress goods silks,
laces and general dry goods department II Is n,ted
up in cabinet work OF black walnut and mahog-
any on a scale OF magniGcencc not sur
pissed elsewhere the avenue In The
cabinet finished offices on this floor patent
verbal ann uncators communicate with the heads OF
departments on the other floors. An improved sys-
tenn OF beating tubes and radiators enables the eng,-
neer 10 preserve an cquabe temperature In all parts Of
Tho house during cold weather. The cashier and
counting room desks shut oil from public by
this floor is to be seen new aud ingenious method OF
showing the expensive fabrics that Tor sale,
sstng Of adjustable frames and brackets
The show windows will be lighted by electricity
LADIES' UNDERWEAR DEPARTMENT.
The second floor Is reached by q broad stairway.
which preserves lis Ioomy dimensions up TO the top
story. At the stair landing each floor elegant
marble fountain with silver mounings THIS floor will
be devoted sale ladies' aud chdren's under
garments and fine costumes only, making This of
the largest rooms In the city used Tor the sale OF this
line Of goods av desks and
soOrs OF ash, oak and mahogany The greater portion
Of this noor and the next above will be laid fine
Brussels carpets. Dressing and stock rooms
line The northern and western part OF the
floor Several deliberately mounted French plate
mirrors whose dimensions are y6 by - incncs
adorn the walls The gas fixtures are In chase designs
whose surfaces show cunDingiy traced workings In
nickel aud antique bronze.
The third floor Is DIVIDED into two spacious compart
ments; the front one Is dedicated to the storage OF
plus stock belonging to tbs departments below The
manager Of this branch overi0oks his charge from
olce ut the stairway, ana communicates with other
portions of the establishment by acoustic tubes
Dumb waters employed all the floors 10 carry
goods from story 10 story The rear part oi this floor
IL intended only 10 show the finest and choicest
tunes OF foreign make and those manufactured by the
employees oil the firm.
The fourth floor lifted up into very large work
rooms, whence all the fine costumes to be made by
the house are oemanatc Here the patient seamstress
will sstitch, stitch, stitch IRON carly morning until
declining her deit fingers turn out the habits
OF silks and satns that must deck the ladies Of fashion,
The place IS splenoidy lighted and well ventilated
rnere will be between 200 ana 300 women and girls at
work here. In the rear are retiring rooms anu ward
robes corresponding TO the two great compa TIN ents
into which the top floor rs divided
The architects OF this structure are Messrs. d. J.
Jardnc, oil this CITY, the iron having been furnished to
order by Mr.. James l.. jackson. Messrs. Altman Il
Co. will occupy this new building some time next
week.
The demand for French Hats seems to be growing
each year, more and more families determined TO
relinqush the cares of an entire house and 1--we
fats. Notwithstanding the humber OF apartment no.
tells nov existing IN New York city there appca-
tlone for the erection OF more Mr.. l. T. Marshall viii
erect q i've story brick and brown stone BUILDING, rs
feet front vs. feet deep. at No III West Fifteenth
street. at cost OF s23 ooo lifted up IN flats. Mr. John
Shirnser No ia Eighth avenue also iuienos hung
up building 25xS2, al cost Of $20OOo, Tor the same
purpose hr. John g. Carey has mace applications
Tor n permit French fiat hotel on tue
side Of Forty second street, between Seventh and
Eighth avenues, 25xg2 iect at cost oil $1,000 Sir.
Carsten Gerken intends also erecting similar building
ON the northwest OF sixth avenue and Wavcriey
pace al cost OF xl3 900 All OF these hum
bier scale than those magnificent apartment hotels
known the Newport, Albany, Saratoga, osborne,
Iuanox and Rhnelander.