New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-31

can be suid 10 have any shape. is to be put up
ON The Centre st. side Of the park and used
ns n criminal courthouse. IL would have
frontage widtl. Of 101 feet md n rear width OF
10 feet and 1t would run down to within 40
feet of the curb. The entire park from the
avenue In front Of the City Hall through to
Chambers-st and from Broadway to Centre-st.
would be sacrificed to these absurd looking
"winps''-wings, by the way, that bear to the
body of which they are supposed to be an adj
junct about the same relation as would be
borne wer6 the wings OF crow sewed on to
robin.
When the city's own officials seek to ini1id
such an outrage as this upon it. the Legislature
must hurry to its rescue 1t is said that Mayor
Hewitt does not consider himself committed
TO this scheme, and we trust that information
is correct. The Mayor is a man of taste. Judg-
ment and hard practical sense, and he must
know that a far better way of accommodating
the city's need for shelter is right at hand
In Centre-st, Just six short blocks away from
the City Hall, the city owns property cover
ing one entire block and nearly half OF another
an area Of 10000 square feet. The block
bounded by Elm. Franklin. Centre and White
sts covering 10000 square feet, is now in
privatc use as a car depot under lease which
will expire on September l, 1892. When The
legislative permission to build was gwen 'ast
winter this site was the one contemplated ny
everybody as the place for the criminal court
house. Ex-Controller Loew had fully arranged
to purchase the lease at a moderate cost.
No proper excuse can be given for failing to
90 on with this plan. A handsome, shapciy
structure. built Of brick, terra-cOtta and ron
throughout and absolutely freproof. could be
mt ND here at much less expense than would
be necessarily incurred by any adequate con-
tinuation in marble of the park buildings. 1t
could have floor area nearly as great as that
Of both these proposed eXcrcscences COM
bincd. II its accommodations were then
insufficient for the citys needs, another
building could be put up directly across
the street. where plot of 10000 square
feet is already available. 1t is said
that the foundations in this ncighborhood are
soft, but weaker plea could not be advanced
The colossal TOmbs stands on them firmly,
and even if they are soft, no engineering feat
is simpler. surcr or better understood than that
of making foundation Of piles. Some of the
heaviest buildings in this city rest on an arti-
fetal support, and have stood for years without
The slightest sign of weakness
Centre and Elm SITS. are rapidly filling up
with large handsome business houses. and the
city's example would be so quickly followed
that in few years these thOroughfarcs would
be among the finest in New-York. The crown
ing argument in favor of this settlement OF the
building question is that it would put an end
to the practice OF carting prisoners between
the Tombs and the criminal courthouse,
practice cruel and unciviized in itself and one
that costs the city annually more than $4,000.
In view Of all these facts, it is amazing that
the city officials persist in rejecting this adj
mirablc scheme and in favoring one open to
numerous and wcighty objections.