New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-22

far Wall st.. tlc Facll-h cplont, ~ @r rs the
city Hall Inrk Tie Americans II I"t ou' mary Hines
did bravcly when they had recovered their fortunes
sufficiently 20 touch Chamber, st.: and the generation
who succeeded them and who bu!ii the city IAN TOOK
real chance. They not only dotted the country far
beyond The Collect Pond which covered the spot over
which the TomAs prison fcars Is depressing bulk. hrt
they prepared the plan o. th" city Us II exists today
GouvcrEcu Morris ~ The head Of the Stree, Com
mission. and the b"-i testimonial Of the excellence
Of his work that bee given Is that II has never
needed TO De done again. Between Ncw-lork proper
and Greenwich village there WAS then residence but
Colonel Bu.rs Richmond llill. II stood In Charlton
T.. b,Iwc Narici ana MaodOuCa SIS. Beyond Green
vich WAS II salt meadow. Cana,t. now runs through
the hcart Of II. Above tbs meadow, L,i'naTds u
was called Colonel Varlck's country scat, tn,
ci;um.7 placed what WAS then lovely knoll n"ar
tie apex Of the triangle marked by Bcchcr and Hons
ton IT'S There were two three little houses beyond
Colonel Narichs and I'm the ncghbOshoOd that We
should designate Blecckcr ST. near Christopher
and I'm enc OF these lived that Nj. Rider with whom
Tom Paine and Nine. Bonneville boarded.
There IS IA fatality about the OF public buildings
which existed In that vlrtuOus day. and will exist
one must fear. the end Of time. In 1902 when IL"
scheme 70 build was first resolved upon. the sum Of
s25, 900 fixed The mi, Of cost and was thought
TO be heavy charge against young and struggling
community. Plans asked for on that basis
There was firm Of architect and builders here Of The
name OF MacOmb & Mansn. They had CONSTRUCTED
fine residences. and tney submitted the plan Of
the Civ Hall as II stand, today II elected wldr
spread objection as altogether too precautions ard ex
pensivc The architects believed It could he carried
out for s35OOOO After II had dazzcd the eyes OF the
community for several months, winning great praise for
It's beauty and simple grandeur. the city government.
whereof the great Edward Livingston Mayor.
adopted II and made Tie necessary appropriations Gov
eIng the estimated expense. The Influence OF Lv-
| accumulated result
well for his gallant defence Of the city In 1903 against
the scourgc Of yellow fever nearly costing lin his me-
he deserved better tUan he got. While he was III "A
clerk cmbczaled large sum Of public money ana hi,
private fortune went TO make good the loss. lie en
grated 10 Louisiana and suffered much hardship. But
fortune IN the end. and with II a seat In the Sen
ate the chief place IN Jacions Cabinet and the French
mission. lie Of NcwlOrk. however. only long
enough 20 commit the Cty 10 the Mncomb design lion
est the architect was. and severe as he made hi,
scrutiny Of all expenditures. The building at last
completed cost not $4,000. nor $4,000 but exactly
Sj3s.73i II was cheap al that bnt OH how the town
grumbled They had 10y far the finest and most In.
posing completed building on The American continent,
The Capitol at Washington not then finished even as
10 It's central structure In ilames, and the
White House had hot Leen hcsun Ent II" people OF
N"wlork. proud as tAty were, fct that their slDry
lad come hisl.
on July d. 1910. the corporation met for The frs,
VI
long while for roof. ~ last the copper to make 1t
arrived from England and rveted into place. Then
in the course OF two years the cupoa built and the
statue VI Justice assumed er supreme emnencc There
great celebration. Everybody in town came into
the paris and tiIc Mayor made pccc. in the
Ia; the building va, illuminated ind the city band
blew hHd pounded aGent.y iiom the balcony In front
Of the Governors Eoon. The oiiy father, dincd them
selves, became g.Atcion % good and patriots
VI good WON, In The or; Hotel and llie Hall was
fairly launched upon rs destiny And what a destiny
1t has realized What ultA9us.t Of achievement!
What unspeaialc sia.nel
lis second Illumination even more notable than
It's nrst The news had arrived from the lakes Of
peIry's Victory. and It va sadly needed Following
the yellow fever scpuigc lad cone au aupiHn: fire.
consuming one hundred houses. and top Of that
calamity Lad come the war and HE town was any.
thing but cheerful. In The JOY Of Prrrys triumph
however. every care disappeared. and. with COOO
lamps and lanterns. with iaGniy flags AMI sireamers
the CITY Hall made 10 depict the popular rejoicing
coud soon lowered upon The town. for NewYOrK was
thought 10 lie IN serious danger. and great mass
meeting was held In the park 10 name IA committee OF
pubic safety. Happily the committee lad little TO
do. COMBS Victories al Lake CAamplaln and on the
saranac River and Captain Rcid's exploits with the
General Armstrong projected New-Ioh letter than
CITY Hall soon held other hrongs witness the honor,
lavisAcd Oh these two heroes. liz these early DAYS
every great assembly OF the people met IN tie park or
IN The Hall Itself Here were the demonstrations In
support Of Clntcns canal project the greatness OF
which In thes. days Of railroads can scarcely an
predatc II was not all plain sailing for the enihns
a.ilc canal men. Ridcue and opposition encountered
them from men whom this generation la, been taught
10 regard persons Of rare aud penetrating wisdom
The story OF the building Of the canal differs little from
that OF the construction Of the great Pacific railroad
the iay!nS OF the Atlantic cable II at that day