New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-11
BOWLING GREEN CHOSEN.
NEW CUSTOM HOUSE AND AP'
PRAIsER,s STORES TO BE BUILT THERE.
REASONS THAT INFLUENCED SECRETARY WIN
DOM TO SELECT THIS sITE-PRoBABLE
COST OF THE IMPROVEMENTS
[Br TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUsE1


(Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TBBUsE1
Washington, Sept. IO.-Secretary Window has
finally selected what is known as the Bownns
Green site as the location for the new custom
House and Appraisers Stores at New-lork. Inc
law requires these buildings TO be located near
each other, and appropristes S2,000,OoO for the
sites.
Secretary WINDOWS decision in favor OF Bowl
ing Green was arrived at after exhaustive
consideration of the question 1t is approved by
Assistant Secretary TichenOr and Mr.. Windrlnl'
the Supervising Architect Of the Treasury De-
partment These officials, with General Batcheller
and the Secretary, constituted the commission
having charge of the matter. General Batcheler
was the only one of the four in favor of the
Laicht-st site, that on which the Public StOres
now stand At one time the others thought
favorably of this location, but in
vestigation satisfied them that 1or
various reasons, it was not tho
most desirable. The site at the foot of West
Eleventh-st, offered by Simon Stevens also was
favorably considered, but it was finally believed
TO be too lar uptown.
The arguments in favor of the place selected
were many but it is understood that those having
most weight with the Department were these:
First the fact that this site will be large enough
for the erection of both Custom House ana
Appraisers stores, thus carrying out Secretary
Windoms idea that the two buildings should DC
close together. The new Custom House Will Hlce
Bowling Green at the foot of Broadway; and IL
the ideas of the Department are carried out, IL
will be an architectural masterpiece The Apprals-
ers building will stand on the block below, having
for a water front that Of the Barge Once, now
owned by the Government OF the money Tor
this great work only S650,OOO has been appro-
priated, besides the S2,OOO,00O for the ground
but the sale of the preSen'
Custom House will increase this sum to an amount
almost sufficient for the completion of the under
taking. The land will probably be acquired BY
condemnation.
Another reason that influenced the Department
was the fact that most of the important business
Is still downtown; over fifty per cent il is learned
being below Canast., and little of IL going above
Fourteenth-st Then too, Bowling Green Is
nearest TO Brooklyn, important consideration
in Mr.. WINDOWS mind Various other advantageS age
are believed to be afforded by this central site
but these are among the most important. 1t Is
the intention of the Department to begin pro
ceedings at once for the attainment OF the Iana,
and the work will be pushed vigorously Inc
two buildings, with the land, will probably cost
S5,000,O00 or S6,OOOOOO.
The secreary's decision ends long controversy, and
the general business public Will probably ma grea
,atsfac; on IN the thought that these two imporam
ins duons are to be honccforLh OIL the same ste' a.
stead of being separated. In the discussion as 10 the
site Of the Public Stores, the dry goods men seemed
to favor Lalghtst West Eleventh-st. was also sug
gested and its advantages we're strongly urged.
Tho sto on which tho new buildings
win stand fs now occupied by the ,oicssa
of several Of the transatlantic steamship
companies and other places of business. 1t Is
bounded by Bowling Green on the north, statest. on
the west and Whiehall-st the east and by either
Bridge Pearl sts. on the south. Iho steamship
companles that occupy tho offices Bowling Green
are the North German Lloyd tho French Transatlantic
the Cunarl, the Clyde the Inman the RED star ami
tbe Anchor Tho Atlas Wilson, Thingvalla and other
lines have headquarters in the block along states
The French ConsIatcs in the buildings that face
Bowling Green. These old houses I'm thclr day were
among the most fashionable residences of the city.
The upper part Of the block is just across the street
from the Produce Exchange.