New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-08
CONSERVATORY AND GEOLOGICAL GARDEN.


PLANS FOR BUILDING PLACE OF ANU sENitNT AND
INSTRUCTION Oh It. NICHOLAS AVENUE.
Some prominent citizens have been engaged dur
ing the past month in organizing a new enterprise
for the public benefit and amusement. The Uni
versal Conservatory and Biological Garden Com
pany has been incorporated with capital stock of
81 600 600 three-fourths OF which. it is claimed.
are already subscribed Work has just been begun.
The plan Is to combine large place Of amusement
with a botanical and Geological Garden. The Com
pany, which numbers among its members Benton
Crosby of the law firm of Fullerton x Crosby
J.. r. Martinez, G.. V. Powell. William I. Marshall.
Charles CosgrOve and other residents, has pur-
chased thirty -thrce acres of land bounded BY the
Harlem River, ST. Nicholas-avo.. One-hundrcd-
and-Gfty-ffth and Observation-Disclosures
cts. There are three plateaus upon the lard. of
which the highest point is nearly 155 feet above
Eighth-ave. The land has been purchased for
500 600 and surveys have been made by an Aus.
tran engineer and landscape artist at an EXPENSE
of $4,000. The plans have been prepared bv
Nm. Mcrtaucz, who laid out the Geological Garden
III Philadelphia and other similar places of resort.
Arrangements have been made 10 set at work about
500 laborers who are e. be engaged In forming the
topography OF the ground To the contemplated
buildings. The main cdifice Will front on ST.
Nicholas-ave. and Observation-Disclosures tih-st
with court wards on bOth streets. Ii VIII he con-
stIucted in the GOtMc-MOOrsh STYLE, and Will
have an estimated seating capacity OF 2O,OoO
people. IL Will he three stories In height. res
taurant on one of the upper corridors will accom-
modate 1000 persons. Below II there viii be
bOwhng-aleys and bililaTd-rooms. large concert
hall is 10 be used as at Sydenham Palace, England
after which the whole enterprise Is said 70 he
i'm "A measure copicd-aud for musical entertain
mems aud lectures. Near the centre of the main
building there will be fountains and growing
plants A descent of twenty feet from the east end
of the main entrance will conduct the visitor to the
botanical department, which will be IN "a structure
100 feet wide aud 500 feet long, surrounded at the
ends with towers. broad piazza Is shown on the
diagram as surrounding The building. tower $50
feet above the level of Elghth-ave., to be used as
an observatory 70 be erected at the north end Of
the structure. telescope Is TO be within for pOpu-
lar aud scientific Elevators Will conduct Wis
ltOrs TO the summit.
Ii Is proposed To erect n mammoth glass and Iron
arcade which Will extend 900 feet Elghtb-ave.
building will he forty feet high and seventy-hve
feet deep The plan IS To divide 10 into all sorts Of
stores except liquor or cigar shops, requiring each
proprietor 10 become part owner by subscribing
H. "A certain share of the stock The estimated cost
of the arcade will be 1878 900. An extensive prom
cDade Will surmOunt the building, and rustic seats
will accommodate the lovers OF river and garden
scenery Between the main building aud the
arcade VIII be the garden which Will be lad out III
walks. fountains lakes, islands, aud VIII contain
the cages of Wild animals. Ii Is stated that
arrangements have already been made with agents
here and abroad 10 tie finest spec lmens that
can he purcha ed, while for tine botanical line an
appTOpriatinn of OOOO mas already been sci apart
A rond-house will be erected at 81. NichOlas-aye.
aud Observation-Disclosures fitth-St. capable of
conmodatag 900 teams. II Is claimed that the
LEGATION of this garden Will furnish peculiar tacili
ties for citizens who desire 10 visit II II II easily
reached by thr cars of the Manhattan Elevated
Railway Company and by the Hudson River trains
and the Harlem River boats while the southern
Boulevard bounds II, southern limit and McCOmb's
Dam Bridge Il only >l'~ Instance away.