The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-13
CITY UNDER A SINGLE ROOF.
A Mammoth Building Half Mile
High.

From the New York Morning Journal
a complete city under one roof! Practi-
cal architects admit the thing is possi-
Bile. and moreover, there are pretty
strong hints and signs to the effect that
before the century closes the possibility
OF this architectural miracle will be dem
onstrated right here in New York.
Indeed, there is rumor that the en-
tire block at the corner Of West Nine
teenth street and Fifth avenue. stretch
ing west has been bought up by secret
syndicate of beneyolently speculative mill
ionaires.
1t is limited that Hon. Charles T.
Nerkes the Chicago horee-car and troll
ley millionaire and the owner Of Ameri-
cas- choicest picture gallery. is one Of
the guiding spirits in this tremendous
enterprise.
Mr. Yerkes is well known to the scien
ttc world as the giver of the famous
Nerkes telescope and il is easy to under
stand how man OF his practical mind as
wen as humane heart might be fas-
cinated by the prospect which this gigan-
tic scheme for human advancement so
temptinsly presents.
Who the New Workers. are connected
with the Chicago business genius in this
plan, which involves millions to start
with. can only be surmised as present
But it is shreWdly suspected that the
brilliant son of a famous Judge who
abandoned law for business is one If
these choice spirits, and that several very
rich women of this city are also sub
scribers to the stock
one thing is absolutely certain in this
connection The real estate deal for the
property las been consunmated, and the
former owners or renters of private
houses in that block are seeking new
abodes.
But what does the plan actually pro-
pose? VIII it Justify the assertion made
at the opening Of this article-a com
plete city under one roof?
According to the best uttainable infor-
nation from inside sources it may. IN
less the magnificent intention collaDses
eventuate something like this:
Every building on the block Will he
torn down and an absolute open space
bS enough for foot bail amphitbeate,.
heart of the city.
me foundation viii be dug very deem
ana the main pipes viii be wrought iror,
Iron interspersed with alulninun p-.tb
glass and with stone for pictorial effect
VIII be used chiefly in the constructfon
OF the building 'o'i
rms VIII be huge oval shell with a
spacious court, hotel theater and sriraI
driving park Of gradual ascent inside IA
central dome. The arrangement viii bo
such during the summer the eiIes -
TINS lmperceptibly ascending sptraI ~
nue. can be thrown open to natural ai1
while in severe winter weather mo-, -.
be closed tight it necessary. -'-
The lower part OF the huge oval sbeu
VIII be arranged chiefly for the 1,94,.5-r
ment Of Wholesale businesses. ana m, -,
SecOHi IGOR the employees and workers IL,
me Vast hive viii have their quarters
4hefe VII be nifty floors with an aver
hight q
some OF the halls and bathrooms. lease
Die IN turn by the neighbors of this coz
ered city, so that the probable bf~bt of
the building viii be over half a rqile
Each one of these fats will look ont ~,
we inner court and also on the street -
we ou1slde world and each will be ar
ranged Tor family of siv or
eight persons. They will he
arranged in building the
rate outside sections that none IF 80
windows Viii look into those OF an 60
site neishbor. The sections of the a7i1rt
in number. WIN D7 -
Hence the calculation is easy that ab,,,.
2'e0O people can be accommodated ~
TINS mammoth apartment palace
ne rentals OF these 800 most desiret a.,
apiece. '''" 9-'VOO
This item alone gives 5000 Ooa or
cent. interest on the originaI ip,-aetr,.2 per
$10OC1000 80 'H'eAt OF
Consider, now. the food bills of tba.a
200 families. who will be supplied from from
5 SI sea '3l central restaurant These food
o.,'s wiz NOT ne less than another 81 an
Oo per annum, half of which. Or 80
may be reehoned as sheer. clear prafif >
consider next that all the stores r7,,~i-4-.
baths drives. theaters etc. in mi l.1 Ai'5l
WIN be owned and managed by this -
p.ii.y' ana mat IN addition to the CON
slan1 pioht aceruins from those VIII, ~
in the CITY, viii be the stream cf no ~, i've
from the outside. % frame
For is It not clear that outsiders MI,
come IN floods to a place wbera no. WI
ever thing is cheaper than elsewhere ac
eUto'l!s 20 quality but where So nurb
tremendous architectural beauty Is eat -
by such unimaginable spiendor Of eiectrid
Nights shifting through all tints like ~