New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-19
NO WINGS FOR THE CITY HALL
TAX COMMISSIONER coLEMAN's VIEWS.
zE STRONGLY FAvoRs TIE ELM-sr. SITE ~"
CITY BUnDISG-HIs REASONS.

proposed municipal and court buildings ID Wy
shape, substantially, Of wings to the CITY nan
has been receiving good deal Of attention Oh h''
from public-spirted citizens. The recent open
ing of the plans and estimates for these sIrucS
urcs, furnished to the city by couple OF dozen
architects In response Co the liberal oner oi
$4,000 in prizes for the five most approved oe-
signs, has produced a revival Of the discussion %
a matter of importance, requiring Immediate ~"
tention. Mayor Hewitt, who Is sturdy aaVo-
cate of putting these and all other like buildings
in the City Hall Park, makes an approximate es-
timate Of 100000 as the cost, but the archi-
tects' figures ran up as high as s6,30O,Ooo' anu
only one of the plans brings the sum to Dc
expended below the Mayors proposition wniie
nearly ell the rest are magnifcently higher
Referring to the proposed buildings, President
Michael Coleman. of the Board Of Tax Commls-
sioners, who has given to the matter no niue
time and thought, said yesterday: do not WISH
to be understood as in any way opposing Mayor
Hewitt's general policy for / am in hearty accord
with him in the wise and able measures which ne
has instituted and advocated for progressive and
good government Especially am in favor OF his
rapd-transit system, the object Of which Is to
reach the 100, 900 unoccupied lots in the upper
wards of the city and to prevent our citizens from
search Of homes But as regards these city buildings
and their cost and location think be is wrong,
and hold that citizen who keeps silent when
he sees that errors are on the eve Of being made
is as Justly culpable one who aids In fastening
them upon the city, or who countenances extrava-
gance and jobbery.
SUGGESTING A FAR BETTER PLAN.
Without going fully into the argument re-
carding the crowdng the City Hall Park with
public buildings, 1 wish to suggest what con-
ceve to be far better and more economical plan
The city owns plot Of real estate between Centie
and Elm and Franklin and White sts.. about 200
feet square and worth, say 100000. On 1t could
be erected O structure which would not only be
credit to New-Yorl. but would furnish double the
room now occupied by the various departments OF
the city government which l viii name ana
which are now scattered about and many Of them
most inconveniently located for the proper trans
action Of their business. The cost Of this struct-
ure need not exceed. indeed it could be made less
than, 81 900, 600, which, with the value OF the
land would be not more than S1,400,000 at the
outside. The interest on the bonds of the total
Indebtedness would, at per cent, be s42 200.
In this building there could be comfortably
placed the following Offices with the saving OF the
rents now paid, the amount Of which nave SET
opposite the designation of each:
Tho Park DEPARTMENT So 5e0 Coroners s.Oco
Tas fi5ss o''-.ns 10 p.Se .s:
Commissions" OF Ac' ooo essIt.. pna corrsc
c .on service 1900 9th station $500
Second District Civil
Court.----.---------- %oOO
Also the Court of General Sessions and the Dis
trict-Attorney whose quarters III the brownstone
building could then be occupied by the following
Departments with the saving OF the rep' no"
paid:
department Of TsIss and 5000
ASSESSOR ores which would 'aca'' the mocn he'"eo
ADDITIONAL ROOM FOR PRISONERS.
The Court of General Sessions, now in the
Tombs, could go into the new building, affordlng
the muoh-needed additional room for prisoners
The Corporation Counsel could be accommodated
in the present offices Of the Dstrict-Attorney,
which would save $4,000 more.
saving rents S7S1b9
Netsavins per annum soo'''o
Now f. buildings that could be rented
tNor IN suidin 90 that could be rented or sold.
This would occupy only half Of the proposed
new building, for, allowing for hight and air, there
would be about 90, 900 square feet OF door space,
while the departments named above now use less
than So, 900 square feet. / would increase the ac-
commOdations that they would have $4,000
for other purposes. rental Of $4,000 could be
easily obtained, thus making saving OF about
10000, amounting to more than the entire rentals
paid for all these departments.
"A gallery, either elevated or subterranean.
could connect the Tombs and the new
building, making the transfer OF prisoners to and
from their cells and the courts and coroners onces
easy and reduce the chances Of escape at the same
time avoiding the exposure of criminals TO the
gaze of the Idle and curious and save the city
large sums now paid for transportation aud
guards
MANY ADVANTAGES OF THE PLAN
The advantages to be gained by having the
Courts the District-Attorney, the Cororers, etc.
within immediate reach and connecting with the
prison are too plain to need mention. Then to
nave the Tax Receivers Office in the same building
with that Of the Department Of Taxes and Assess
ments with the Surveyor and Assessors offices adj
iacent, would greatly facilitate public business
To obvtate the necessity Of giving so much space
to the Tax Receiver, who needs it for only week
IN the year. would suggest the establishing OF
branch office In Harlem to accommodate the tax
payers of the Annexed District, large numbers Of
whom have no bank accounts and must come ten
or twelve miles and take whole day TO pay their
taxes under the present plan. Payment OF taxes
by check Is growing in favor with downtown
people. With the uptown people thus sccommo-
dated in Harlem the Receiver of Taxes could
transact his business In greatly reduced quarters
The general desire to move public buildings
northward is in entire accord with my previously
expressed views The eastern part OF Reservoir
Square. now practically In useless occupation and
adjacent 10 great railroad station would be much
more central to New-Yorl than the present site
and would be more convenient TO New
Workers generally as site for pub
lie buildings than their present location
The means Of transit &c and from our dOwn-tOw
business centres are entirely inadequate, and for
several years we have accommodated the popua-
ton Of Jersey and Brooklyn instead of our own
by this condition Of things. We should with the
least possible delay provide rapid, comfortable
and cheap communication with the unoccupied
section OF our city, rather than entertain the
scheme Of building City Hall at this end Of the
Brooklyn Bridge for the benefit of non-residents.
IL is a mistaken policy also to spend money for
small parks In downtown sections which are
rounded by factories and therefore of little value
to the public.
NEWCOMERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
The New-Ycrkers are the people l want TO
accommodate. The multitude Of non-residents who
NOW Cross the East North ri,.orc r,i.rht and