The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-12

MAD.sox.sQuAkE GARDEN PURCHASED "A con-
BIxED opsRA-H0usg, MUSEUM, THEATRE.
ETC tn BE INFECTED.

Yoruuu0K NEW Sc02me.
MApgsox.seuAks GARDEN PURCHASED cox
BIxED oPsRA-House, MUSEUM, THEATRE,
Il ETc..r0 BIZ ERKcTED.
NEW York, June GA document was
signed on April SSth by William II. Van.
derbiit, on the part Of the Harlem Railroad
Company, agreeing to sell the block OF lnnd
on which the Madison.square Garden now
stands to Barnutn's Museum Cot for
100000. The latter company Is q ioint.
stock corporation, organized for the pur.
pose OF erecting q building containing
under one roof an opefa-house, 90 mu.
scum, theatre, summer garden, and
colosseum, or room adapted to walk
ing-matches, balls, mass meetings, ard
other purposes for which extended space is
necessary. The proposed capital Of the
Museum Company is S3,000,000, and 1t Is
claimed by representatives OF The company
that over s1,000,000 has already been SUBJ
scribed. William II. Vanderbilt, they de-
clare, has agreed to subscribe personally for
bave been filed, and a meeting was held
yesterday In room No. IS In the Drexel
building, at which p. Il. Barnum was elect
ed president, CHARLES A. Shaw yice-presi-
dent, and Elisha Il. Rollins secretary and
not yet been announced, but persons inter.
ested say that among them will be william
Ii. Vanderbilt and other well-known CAPT
talists.
The size Of the building It is now pro-
posed 10 erect will be 200 by 425 feet, cover
ing the entire block bounded by Fourth
and Madison avenues aud Twenty-sixth
and Twenty.seventh streets. II will besfye
stories in height, 6reproof, with towers at
each corner excepting the southwest, where
an observatory will be placed. The lower
or basement floor will be called the colos-
scum; 1t will be prepared for use as cir
Gus, ballroom, meetiDg.room, walking
match track, or other purposes, supply
ing the place OF the Garden, whose site
1T will fill. The first or ground floor
will contain room to be occupied as an
opera'bouse or theatre, where afternoon and
evening dramatic performances will be
given, and smaller room or ball. which
will be let for readings, lectures, and con-
certs. In addition TO these it is intended
that the first floor shall also contain an aqua
rum, skaing-rink, geological department.
and offices. On the second and third floors
it is designed 10 form permanent museum,
where curiosities OF all kinds may find a
home. A space will also be reserved for the
exhibition Of new and curious mechanical
inventions. On one Of these floors will also
he situated q restaurant.
On the fourth floor the proprietors intend
forming large tropical garden, or con-
seryatory. filed with flowers, plants, vines,
and sbrubbery, and with walks, bowers,
grottos, and waterfalls. The roof will be
constructed Of iron and glass, and will be
arranged so that in the summer ii can be
thrown open TO admit plentiful supply OF
air. Around this upper floor VIII run a
large veranda containing reiresbment-tables.
In this garden concerts will be given during
the afternoon and evening. AT the south
west corner OF the building, adjoining Madi-
son Square, will rise an observatory 250
feet in bright, provided with an ele-
vator. Around the dome at night will be
a circle OF electric lights. The build
ing will be heated by steam, and number
OF elevators will connect the several floors.
The officers OF the new company say that
they will begin tearing down the building
now standing on the property about Au-
gust /, and they hope to be able to complete
and open the new building in the early part
OF the coming year. Mr.. Barnum says that
he opened his old museum in 1871, and
hopes to see his new museum building
opened in 1881, forty years from his start as
a Snowman. The general management OF
the enterprise will be entrusted to Mr.. Bar.
mum, and the exclusive use OF his name has
been purchased by the company tribune.