The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-27

1t is the Office of The New York Times,
which is being rapidly demolished to make
room for a splendid new structure to be
erected as soon as the crumbling ruins Of
the old building are carted away. While
all this noisy wrecking is going on-while
the heavy planks are being wrenched from
the rotten old frame by the industrious
laborers, The Times Is being issued regu-
larly every morning from the old build
ing. lust as it has been for the past thirty
wears and the editors. reporters and other
employees are working away with as much
nonchalance as though the work of de
struction going on about them were the
most ordinary thing in the world. The
statue Of benjamin Franklin which stands
on the corner, though covered with an ac-
emulation OF plaster and dust has most
unconcerned appearance. and the signs
mo Laborers Wanted which are tackled
on the scafToldings all over the building,
do not prevent the gathering Of large
numb Der of idle nondescripts Of all degrees
of alcoholism and low downism to stretch
themselves on the park benches across the
way. smoke short clay pipes and talk
gloomily of hard times.
The work Of demolition Of the old build
ing is very systematic and well arranged.
The walls are completely torn away, dis
closing to view temporary walls of wood,
covered by building felt, and the numerous
floors are braced aud held in position by
heavy scaffoldings under each, which will
be gradually taken away as the new walls
make them unnecessary. When these
G.. Ia. floors will "a
put in, starting from the top and going
downwards. thus enabling the office TO
continue its business without interrup
ton
The block now occupied by The Times
and Potter buildings and bounded by
Park row on the west, Printing house
square on the north, Nassau street on the
east and Beekman street on the south was
from 1903 until nearly two generations
ago occupied by the Old Brick church and
its cemetery but long before 1857 1t he
came apparent that grayeyards were not
in their proper element amid such unre-
poseful and rushing surroundings. 1t
was matter If some difficulty, however
TO persuade every member OF the Brick
church congregation that this was the
case. and the consent of every pew owner
was necessary in order to obtain the trans
fer of the property. The transfer was
finally made. however. and the ground for
tho buildings now being torn down was
broken with more than the usual care, for
beneath the surface were many vaults
and in each vault were the remains Of one
or more Of New York's long dead pio-
neers.
Many in the vast crowds which cuntin-
ually stream past the present ruin will
recall some of the exciting scenes which
they have witnessed and in which it
formed a prominent factor The senti-
mentalists among them will no doubt feel
sorry to see the passing away of so old q
friend. To such the noble editice which
will be reared in place Of the old building
will be lacking in the chief interest pos
sessed for them by the latter. They re-
rlember it as it stood in the stormy days
IF the civil war when it was many times
threatened by the adherents of one Of the
great contending factions. During the