New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-28
THE PROPOSED CUSTOM HOUSE.
ADVANTAGES OF THE PROPOSED SITE FACING
THE BOWLING GREEN.

THE BOWLING GREEN.
TO the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The article in The Tribune Of March rs on the
above subject Is the most sensible and farmlndcd oil
all that has yet appeared on this matter You are en-
tircy right in saving that those who oppose the build
ing Of a new Custom House not friends to New
York The entire question should be considered In a
perfectly calm manner free from bias whatever or
politics.
As TO the present building great deal Of msappH-
hension exists II was erected more than half cen
iury ago for special purpose, viz, Merchants EA
change. and not for Custom House For this former
use it well adapted. but not for the purpose TO
which II has since been put. The suggestion to add
several stories to ii would simply make monsroSity
Of the building without cmcdying the matter, and
would compel entire rcarrangng Of the interior for
elevators, and even then IL oud not bc properly ar
ranged. This question has, however been decided by
the last act Of Congress, which provides for new
building
The site to be chosen is the next great question to
be decided. 1t will be admitted that this must be be
low Canal-St. For such immense building a, thi,
must be-, large of ground is required II -
site to be above Wall st., then the proper place
would BE- IN the city Hall Park which could not be- oh!
tanned. If below Wast. then the BOWLING Green site
Is ideal one. As long aso the time when Prcai-
dent Arthur Collector OF the Port 1t ugeostc
and architects have declared that it i, most convenient
to be intcrfcrcd with l. an entire MISTAKE, for 1t Is
not 10 be- disturbed IN any way. suppose that the GOV
eminent takes the three blocks below Bowling Green
suggested some time ago. ana that whitehall 81
widcned. Il should be- where Is there >ucn
another site for a great public budngi Let "A careful
examination be made to show. ON the uorlh fronting
"a park looking up broadway; on the wc~t and south
facing Battery Park, 10 longer t. be landing place
for mH grants and the east Whitehall Il. Wdcncd
There j. superb location on the lower part Of
New York. and the binding would show mp sraudly on
every sdc and become great landmark y great
deal Of interest manifested the upper part of Man
haitian Island regarding the Protestant Cathedral. ana
surrounded by park II this j. 80 desirable land who
Will deny ~, WHY should not the sanc idea bc carried
for the lover end. when the parks are already there
for three sides
From some OF the statements which have been made,
n would have seemed though u great wrong Wa
being done To property owners. II the Government
cOnfsCatc the property. such would be- The ca>".
but every owner Is 10 DE fairly compensated. The
buildings a. be- taken almost entirely Old ones, not
built FOR their present uses being mostly renpleird
Dwelling houses. The Government Is 10 appoint hNc
citizens u the state Of New iOrk building commit
,loucrs for the erection and construction ~ the new
building and has also appropriated SfOOooOo toward
IT, and the opportunity l. now offered Ne" y rh ~
securing one OF the most magnificent buildings ~ TIE
country rlynllng some 81 those at Washington.
II is said 10 De the first Instance ever recorded where
A state ha, refused to ccdc jurisdiction t. the General
Government for a great public building. ana II tho
present opportunity l. lost. IL may not come again m
many yenr- The State and city Will both he the
statement that those who opposed TO
this magnificent Improvement the finest which New
York has had offered to her In many N'ars are no.
friends 20 the city Is perfectly true and ut and VIII
he 30 admitted when II j. too a,c t. remedy he oso
Ncv.Yorh. March II, 1911. MANHATTAN.