Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-15
A THING OF BEAUTY.
"A Description of Omaha's New City
Hall.

"A De9Cr1pttOn OF Omana'0 Now ClCy
Hall.
Mr.. Beindorff. of Fowler & Beindorff, the
architects making the winning plan of the
city hall, gives the following description Of
the building contemplated by their plan:
The Farnam street entrance is thirty-two
feet in width on an extreme ground measure
ment. On very massive base are grouped
combination columns, the caps of which are
beautifully carved and intertwined, forming
rather mass than a distinctive column
effect. Springing therefrom is the arch,
which is very massive in character.
with voussoirs splayed inward, and
neatly carved, presenting heavy appear
ance. This feature is comparatively new
one Above the arch are inscribed the words
"Cty Hail. Omaha, Nebraska" with a
shield on either side bearing the dates Of the
organization of the city and the initiation of
the building Still higher is q cap of very
massive cornices Of but few members ending
in gargoyl at each end for theIdischarge OF
water from the surmounting balustrade,
which would make good speaking stump,
On each side of the entrance are two
heavily arched windows, aud at the extreme
southeast corner is minaret starting from
a massive base and continuing above the
roof.
Covering the second and third stories is a
magnificent grouping of five double win
dows the center one being slightly higher
than the others and differently panep. This
grand facade Of windows, with gracefully
grouped columns on the sides and center,
shows at once that it is the exterior Of the
principal room, the council chamber, and
stamps the building as the seat of municipal
government.
The ability to thus prove the character of
a building is point always sought after by
prominent architects, but 1T is seldom that
such a splendid realization is reached. 1t is
a feature about which the professed critic,
Mr.. Garczynsk waxed funny.
Above the grouped columns are panels of
mosaic work in two colors OF stone.
The fourth story is comparatively PLAIN,
with straight caps and heavy panellng, rest
ing the eye for an inspection of the dormers
which are distinctively ROmanesque, resem-
bling very much in style those of the Mills
building in Boston, which was considered
one Of the finest efforts of the late Mr.. Rich
ardson. -.
The central feature, the gable, is made
more prominent by twp octagonal columns,
starting from the backsi of dragons at tie
base of the arches in the third story and
topping oat with griiins holding the. shield
The fifth story ofshei gable is a charming
grouping Of a.triple ascf, whose magnificent
apex is finely carved ana crowned by figure
representing Libertys sfhis statue also in-
censed Mr. Garczyuskito an unwonted de-
gree, he claimiDp gthe Bartholdi statue
on Bedloe's island, IN New York bay, TO be
an abortive attempt at art. He is opposed
by some of the beading architects Of the
world, who have declared it to be a marvel
Of art .r1ann
have neglectedjtn speak of the cornice.
At its base is repeated afeature that appears
below, althouHhin different style. 10 this
cornice the panels % mosaic in two colors of
stone give a richf effect. The cornice is
broken by brackets with gargoyl heads for
the discharge of the drift water which other
wise would drift down over the faces of the
jormers. st
Tho tower at the corner of Eighteenth and
Farnam streets is 23 feet square at its base,
battering in at the top of the first story to
width OF % feet In the first story are two
windows, with combined arch and alleged
balcony. Above this arch Is very heavily
carved panellng several feet IN width.
Gradually spring out by means Of carving is
an octagonal column running TO the top
OF the tower, lending grace and
delicacy to this otherwise massive
feature. The second story of the tower is
broken into group of three windows, COW
cred by an arched cap. This story is separ-
ated from the next above by a nodded sill
course. Springing from this sill course are
grouped columns of the same character as
those spoken Of before, running up a height
OF three stories, and arched massively. The
next story, which is above the roof, is "a very
wide arch, open on each of the four sides,
with wrought iron spindle work.