New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-05

AN ERA or ARCHITECTURAL REFORM
In describing the impressions OF Martin
Chuzzcwit as he assembled the Bay of New
York. in his search for FL Dorado, Charles
Dickens drew a gloomy view of the low. dull.
Struggling, ill-built city to which his hero
was approaching. The picture was not false
one 1t was scarcely exaggerated. The con-
trast presented only few years ago between
the sOmbre. sqIlatty town that had grown up
on Manhattan Island and the majesty and
beauty Of the natural scenery around it was
painful and disquieting. No spot on the planet
offered greater attractions as the site OF
metropolis but of all prominent cities this was
one Of the least grateful to the eye. 1t gave
travellers most unj just notion OF the American
character. 1t indicated a sordd haste in the
construction of homes and business houses.
1t lent color to all those graccless tales about
Yankee eagcrness for the dollar and Yankee
indifference to I'll questions of taste and all
rcouirements of culture which so seriously
offended sensitive Americans before steam and
electricity brought the continents together. and
afforded conservative Europeans better OPP
portunities to make our closer acquaintance.
Fortunately, such descriptions Of Ncw-York
can no longer DC truthfully made. IL is rapidly
becoming stately. impressive and handsome.
There has never been any want of artistic
fancy among its citizens nor of talent among
its architects. The true reason why its build
ings remained for so long time crude and
unsghtly is to be found in the fact that the
town was engaged in the necessarily preliminary
work of taking its own measure Before IN
yesting fortunes in immovable blocks of gran
tic, IL was necessary to feel certain that there
was no probability of ever wanting to move
them. Before erecting magnificent homes.
prudence required that some indications should
be given as to how far toward the Harlem trade
had determined to advance. Society, too,
needed to become permanent. and fortunes
substantial and general. When one thinks
moment, he cannot be surprised that the archi-
tectural conditions Of NewYork continued
humble for years after the city became the
recognized centre Of commercial activity and
practically tho capital of the Western world.
The part taken by TIE TRIBUNE in bringing
about an architectural reform Is well remem-
bered. Its colossal building was among the
Grst OF the many handsome and enduring
structures which now abound in the business
portions Of the city. 1t gave to the country the
first solution of the problem Of how to erect
really fireproof building. Now. however, from
it's tower can be seen hundreds of splendid
structures, resting upon indestructible founda-
tons and rising from eight to ten stores high
above the ground. pictures of massive strength
and permanent utility. Every year adds largely
to the number of these stately buildings, each
containing the mainsprings Of many great
business enterprises, full from basement to
roof of commercial life. Their erection has
become so ordinary proceeding that invest
ments of a million or two Of dollars in them
occur almost without public notice or record
and they rise so quickly as to suggest magic
hand while the busy throngs that pass and
rcpass scarcely lift their eyes to look upon tho
marvellous feats Of mechanics and engineering
going on above them.
Nor is this reform confined to business houses.
1t has become the Characteristic tendency OF
the architecture Of to-day. All the private
dwellings. the hotels, the retail stores, the
churches, the theatres, the schools are being
constructed with view to permanence as well
as artistic effects. The stringency Of our
present building laws has undoubtedly aided
in accomplishing this excellent result They
were secured through the pressure Of an inn
proved public sentiment, and they have Opcr-
ated to prevent vast amount of nimsy build
ing. Indeed. except in tenement-house dis
| tricts no houses have recently been put up that
are not distinct credit to the city. It seems at
last probable that Newly DIRK will soon be as
worthy in its appearance as its glorious sur
roundings demand.
BRIDGE REORGANIZATION
No reason really worthy of consideration