The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-27
FoRTY-sECoAD STREET RESERVOIR
WILL IT BE CONVERTED INTO NATIONAL

WILL IT BE CONVERTED INTO NATIONAL
GUARD ARMoRY?-PLANs SUBMITTED 70 THE
COMMON coUNCIL-cosr OF CONSTRUCTION.
Commissioner OF Public Works Campbell yesterday
sent in a communication to the Board OF Aldermen
relative to the proposal Tor erection OF brigade
armory upon the grounds OF the reservoir At Forty
second street and Fifth avenue Under the PROPOSE
ton II Is suggested according 10 Commissioner camp
bell .o cover and utilize this interior space SO as u
give ample accommodation Tor an entire brigade o.
our militia posed of three infantry regiments,
battery OF artillery, four troops OF cavalry and Q
brigade staff and also for the headquarters Of two
other brigades and oil the DIVISION"
THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE.
Commissioner Campbell also submits plans sent IN
by architects of which Tho following Is general out
line OF the proposed alterations and arrangements
necessary for the erection OF this armory Tho new
structure be built upon and within tho present.
III wall. The present walls are not 10 be altered
except by the cutting Of em6rasures IN Inc coping
and eight openings Tor doors mo division wall ana
inner onbankments are to be- removed and VIII lur-
nsn a large supply Of building stone Tor The new
SECTIONS, each 1872 ieet square, forming Jour sepa.
rate though connecting armories, Que lor each Of
the three infantry regiments ana one Tor tho
cavalry, ARTILLERY ana brigade headquarters. Each
sectlon viii have main or oattahon drliiroom 100
leel by l92, and building or structure containing
smaller rooms Tor Offices, company rooms, &c These
buildings VIII run along the entire front Of rum
avenue and the Park. Between them will oe stu
ated the man drlrooms, tue entire space WITHIN me
retaining walls being covered anu utilized. The drill
rooms will BIO covered by glass and meal rooi, sup
ported by wrought iron trusses 1hs present
inner Will VIII form The outer wall OF the
buildings on the Fifth avenue ana fark
fronts, raised 70 the required height. the
rooms will Ugh: from TIE interior through tie
glass covering The drillrooms and from the ex'
terror by windows above the present inner wall
The easements will con rifle ranges, waller Closets
waste rooms, magazines aud store rooms Tho ground
ana upper toors wnl be arranged Tor company rooms
drlrooms rooms Tor band aud drum corps. Held ana
stan officers, officers driro0ms, armorers quarters
aud barracks Each building or section VIII have Two
ample starways, ana Will be ntersected ny huiis
connecting the different starways, rooms anu exts 10
ramparts and driilrooms. The drlllrooms Will have
IRON the SIDES connecting with INC rooms
on the gallery floor The exterior retaining walls with
their vauited walls offer an opportunity Tor
Rampant eignt feet WIDE, excluding around inc whoie
structure and protected by parapet masonry wall,
ten eet ign and thick, aud connected with
the interior OF the armOry Wide embIasures are 10
be cut In Tins psrapet WALL admitting ight and air TO
the armuries, and anordinR, with tue bastions the
usual means OF front and hank defence. One OF The
main sections will be divided into Two portlons-ohe
TOR cavalry ana artillery, the other Tor the Dsads
and divIsIOn headquarters, each appropriately ar
ranged Tor their respective uses. Two vi The nam
drillrooms wn be separated by movable partition or
screen that they Can easily De Converted lno slh-
gle room, los wide and $3.50 feet long
There viii DC eight entrances. one TO each OF the
drilIrooms opening on For,ieh and Forty -second
streets, and to each armory building or section
opening Fiith avenue and the Park. The exterior
the Park side, forty ieet wde Can be used
as an approach without encroaching on the Park
grounds proper. When altered, in accordance with
TINS general plan, the structure Will present some.
what the appearance OF CITADEL rising twenty ieet
above the line oil the present coping Further details
regarding the interior arrangements are shown on
maps accompanying the commuu icatioD.
ESTIMATED COST.
The estimated cost according 10 these specifca-
tous, is $500. 000 Mr. Campbell thinks this amount
sufficient TO complete tae work. and then says
he only advantage in using the present reservoir
for armory, Tar as economy OF construction Is
concerned asae from the value OF the land IL IN the
septW wall ~ "A
but small portion OF the vaue oil the entire building
In the division and arrangement OF tho rooms, quar-
ters, &C., Major General Shaer has very kindly gwen
his ADVICE and opinion most iuIly, 80 that regard
its usefulness for The purpose designated will
probably meet with the views oil military experts
The communications and documents on the subject
were laid over.