New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-01
TIE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN.
ITS MAGNIFICENT NEW BUILDING IN FIFTH
AVE
DETAILS AND INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT OF THE
sTKUcTURE-A PROSPEROUS BUSINESS
HOUSE.

|
sTKucrURE-A PROSPEROUS BUSINESS
HOUSE.
One Of the finest business houses Of the city is the
| Methodist Cook Concern and Mission Building, now
rapidly approaching completion. at Fifth-ave and
Twentieth-st 1t is beautiful example OF the Italian
Renaissance, with suitable notifications, and will be
lasting credit to the architect. Edward H. Kendel.
1t covers plot of ground feet long In Fifth ave.
and 40 feet In Twenteth-sf., with main entrances
on both sides. The materials used are principally
Jonesborough pink granite and Baltimore pressed brick
| making attractive color combination. The first
two stories Of granite, the next four OF brick and
the seventh and eighth OF granite and brick. The
building all told IS 100 feet high above the pave
nent In laying the foundation, which was begun
In May. 1883, the contractors Obliged, unex
pccy, to dig through ten feet OF Quicksand before
reaching the desired solid rock, thus adding $4,000
TO the original estimate Of the cost. -
The basement Is made OF a dark, reddish granite,
while lighter color Of the same material IS used 10?
the wrought work OF the supersircture. excepting
where terra Gotta has been introduced In the decorative
panels. Tho openings in the ground floor are I'M
divided and covered by fat arches Of considerable
span, giving plenty of space for store fronts. The
central entrance is the chief feature in the avenue
front Gathering piers flank the doorway. above
which Is an order OF two pairs of pillars which, In
turn, support an entabauIrc Tho effect OF the whoe
IS striking The plane OF tho wall above this las
been set back somewhat In order to allow the con-
struction Of bay windows. There are three bays on
the avenue 'front.' running through four stories and
crowned with round arches. On each side OF these
bays, which form a central group. is Of smaller
double windows, making the divisions Of the stories
On the Twentieth st. side there five rows OF
windows extending also through four stories, on each
side Of which is row Of double openings The attic
below the cornlcs is entirely OF granite. The open
ings in this arranged by thIces and are linelled
or horizontal. In the attic above the cornice the
openings windows arched instead of being hori
zontal. They are five in number the avenue side
and eight on the Twcntcth-st side. The roof which
is fiat, viii be used roof garden, with plants and
flowers where those at work In the building may rest
II necessary.
Tho arrangement OF the large building, winch as it
stands to-day cost 81 100000, is both practical and
convenient for business purposes. The base
ment Will contain the engineroom, and print
ing machines in part while ample room for
storage remains. There will be two dynamos |
In this part Of the house with combined capacity Tor
1000 lights for which twenty-five mIos of wire have
been used. Several elevators, both for passengers ana
freight will be IN various parts Of the building Inc
ground floor Is divided into three main rooms with |
ample hallway and op9h court. The southern |
rOom fronting in Flfth-ave, which is 4oXoo feet |
has been rented to the firm OF Knabe a. Co. The other
ST. will be used exclusively in the retail book busl- |
ness giving the agents plenty OF space to display their
large list of publications, which number almost
3 700.
The second hoor to which a large and comfortable |
stairway leads Is devoted to the interests OF the |
wholesale department and to offices for the numerous
bookkeepcrs and the agents Of the concern, Dr.
Homer Eaton and DR. >. Hunt Inc puDnsiihs ue,
partment occupies space I5X63 feet On the niri
hOOr there the bishops ONCE, ante rooms
library another large space devoted to the publish
ing department, and chapel The chapel Is forty
feet wide and eighy-one feet long and VIII be uSed
to hold special services in as well as
for lectures and concerts In the interest OF I'M, inc
tories and Is tastefuly decorated. On the fourth
floor aside from the publishing department, TO which
sracc Is given FIVE floors. are the offices OF The
Christian Advocate Quarterly Review and Board
Of Education, with sunday school room ana various
other ROOMS large part Of the fifth noor h VIII
published by the concern are encased in their cover
ing, Here are also few Offices ior rem; no, me
two immense rooms used for binding alone. me
,oHo feet GS and Is a ea 1 Of which ed With
the immense presses used III printing me oOoks.
The eighth floor also divided into three rooms of the
same size as those on tho floor below. The largest
IS used tho stereotyplng loom' wnue me othsr
two are devoted TO the cOmpositors The missionary
society will have their Offices in the fifth and sixth
tn. prescnt building IS the sixth occuped by the
Methodist Book Concern since its establishment in
Ncw-York in 1904. The various buildings form
fitting commentary on the nne g " Ss fo ri
opened February O. 1890 in connection with the an
nual meeting Of the Book Concern. The growth or
the Book Concern hes been rrmeI kablc. II Is the
oldest Organized auxiliary agency OF Meth0dlsm
in the United states The Methodist Episcopa Chuch
took an organic form In 17e4 al the Christian Con
ference Five wears later the Book Concern was
established in Philadelphia By the Rev. John Dick
ons by order Of the church with a borrowed capital
of $500 II celebrated this year. therefore, us cen
tennal. From that insienihcant BEGINNING the Book
Concern has grown until II has now branches In most
Of the principal cities Of the cOCntry, with annual
sales from the books and papers amounting 10 moro
than ~ 100000. Since 1895 the concern has made
a clear profit Of - O00,C0O. in addition 10 which Il
has paid - 900 900 to The various departments Of
the Church by orlcr OF the General Conference That
i, business record Of which any house might be
proud and which : particularly pleasing TO the large
numbers Of Mehodsts IN the United States.