New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-04
BETTER MAKE HASTE SLOWLY.

IL By reason Of the scheme for a Greater New
York"
BETTER MAKE HASTE SLOWLY.
Smith Ely. who served as Mayor of the city Of
New-York during 1879. was seen at his home
in West Fifty seventh-s,. and in answer to the
question: "Do you favor the preservation OF the
present City Hall?" said:
yes. have some sentimental regard for the
old building and would like to have it continue
where it is or at Bryant Park. although con-
trasted with its present surrounding its appear
ance is a little pi,abe." Mr.. Ely is Of the opn-
ion that the PostofIice does much 10 lessen the
City Halls architectural beauty. and says the
Post office should not have been placed where 1t
is"
The erection Of a new City Hall being men
toned. Mr.. Ely said: II am not yet fully con-
WINGED that we really need new municipal build
ing or If do. that it would be wise to begin II
now. | think that If there were the same econ
omy OF space In the public departments 'hat
there is in the average mercantile ana hhahcial
Establishments. there would be no need ~
additional accommodations for the next Ten
years / had occasion recently to 10 a niue
business with one Of the departments. Nheh
was Mayor a similar transaction was con-
veniently finished by three clerks at three desks
IN the same room. Now to accomplish the same
object. l
which contained desks chairs and railing, but
no human occupant. Il IT is determined that
new building is desirable. would it not be well
10 wait for the result Of my friend Andrew H.
Green's bill for Greater New-York? the sue
cees Of that project will involve new ana I'M
portant considerations
"Tn connection with this question" continued
Mr. Elv 'it has been suggested to remove the
Tweed Building What guarantee nave we 'i'dt
during the nexc ten years our affairs VIII DE
better administered than by the ola Rine anu
why should we replace our Tweed structure Win
others much more expensive?
"The present s14O00G00 courthouse was origi-
nally an honest project. authorized by 'he ieRis-
| iature in which | was State Senator, ana we
| ur,i,od i,s cost TO 100000 | was afterward n
member Of the famous Board of SUPERVISORS
| during It's erection and saw its development III.
size and cost. | could hardly do Otherwise 'haii
| shrink from entering upon another PROJECT '"at
| may result as unfortunately for the pubic
Mr. EIv spoke of the days of Tweed and Of the
| nor, Tweed played I'm the erection OF the court
Zane. 81 knew him we'll | sat with him in the
-, poard NJ Supervisors for four long years
without interchanging a word. and never spoke
| " H., of,orwar1 We were apparently no more
| conscious of each other than two ihahin'a'e
| ODJctts. ,.u,ir. =.
."rben YOU are opposed to the buiidihg OF
new City Hall? 49,
"No cannot say that am opposed 10 IT, out
1, ebouId have further consideration mayor
Curov is right in objectng to the addiuoh OF
90 ooo 600 TO the public debt for the purchase OF
nau, land. Let us utilize what we nave
Edward Cooper, elected to the once oi mayor
t. 1874 was seen at his ofiic'. No IL burning
! Gin bnt he would not express an opinion on the
srhiect Of preserving the City Hall
rx.MAYoR GRACEs PROTEST.
Ex-Mayor William r. Grace when seen at MS
mce No Hanover Square said: i am a
| ,,ory busv man and dislike to engage In con-
,,oersv but / can find time and gladly TO enter my
| ,ro,est against the destruction OF the CITY Hail
Mi. &c not the first time | have expressed The
or,pion either / agree fully with the opinion
.xnressed recently by Mr.. Hunt in The Tribune
that It was wrong ever to allow the fostoihc'
90 no built in the south end of the CITY Han Fark
aud Tins hide from view the beautiful building
ard reduce the necessary breathing spot
"Of course we know that there liz some neon
vepisnce connected with the administration o.
ctv affairs in the old building bu: II IL were ue'