New-York tribune., 1896-05-03

ones). The narrowness Of this building is less no.
tiseab:s by reason q Its close proximity 10 the 'AA
The corbin building. John,st. about % fee. front
on shee snd Lsahsf buds Tih
25xss feet z stories high, with or omces 20 :
Splendid eaamDe Of he bSn
view OF 1t can be obtained coming west 'nrousn
The SIX Exshsnss Building Nj 49, facing fd mss s!sS
feet II is IL stories high. with about twerve o'"ee'
Union Square give. two examples G1 the e, hfs tss
west side. and the Jackson Building. on the nortn
THE LOT WAS ONCE A LANE.
Huddled In between hve-story building on the
south and six-story the north. and bear
ing the number 20 Union Square West will be seen
two-story store over which hangs huge pair OK
spectaeles. Its frontage Is not more than twelve
as lane for the house on George hove and was
among the first erected in the square. ,...
finished Stands on a base with a frontage Of about
thirty feet, and up nine stories high It is on
corner and affords another example OF TAU
Architects in general do not favor the constfue:
policy they cannot afford to, turn away a client
THIS subject here Is what few representatives OF
this profession say:
ceedingiy ugly i' T * for the narrow building the
ground upon which to build and the outrageous
prices at which adjoining property was held when Il
was known that II was needed for building pur-
poses. He said that of the most serious OBJ
jections to the construction Of high buildings was
SSns the to ow os we're to
from lack of light and proper ventilation; AZ
he considered them most unsightly; They offered
little chance for architect to make any display
other than that OF an ornamental front.
HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN THEM
George B. Post said that all reputable ArchitectS
were opposed to building high narrow buildings.
In exceptional cases. The only ones who
offered opposition were those who had In their Of
fees plans for building projects 1t was NATURAL to
infer that their reasons were Of purely selfish Or
present time to '1 run ~ everything up a.
as possible He said 1t was rare that he had cli-
ent who wanted building designed with less tnan
ten stories. 1t was his opinion. that these high
buildings erected on small plots OF ground would IN
was wa co Concerned This would come about through
the competition OF Office buildings for tenants ny
reason Of the lack OF room: the narrow ". building
in this respect would be at disadvantage To 1ve
ne Would have to aerce that cod be ased
offices, and thus suffer large loss In regard to
rents. Mr. Post said he understood that the the
upper floors brought the same II not better prices
than the lower This was matter Of fashion
at the present time While the light in the upper
cdedly unfavorable. In the summer time 1t was
impossible open the windows Of the upper sto-
res without letting in all the smoke and SCOT from
the chimneys of the surrounding neighborhood.
Sewer gas and other foul and obnoxious odors also
Mr. Post said that already he had heard OF cases
of typhoid fever and diphtheria ascribed to these
sructed in scientific manner there was no reason a
why it. should not be perfectly safe Mr; Post
year the Legislature would pass law limiting the
construction of buildings as regards their height
present unlimited manner, he pictured the con-
gested condition OF the streets at noon and at the
90 Ia hatr ,bcn haca
should pour forth their living contents. over
crowded streets would be the natural consequence
of putting plot OF ground structure with ca.
pacity three or four times more than the ground
space would warrant.
1T CALLS FORTH NEW DEVICES
J. Cleveland Cady. of the firm Of Cady, Berg =
See. sad that the number Of narrow buildings was
rapidly increasing each year 1t was natural that
property-holders and prospective builders should
given piece Of ground The high value of downtown
ssry Sto' to devsop as much renting room as
sstent with safe construction. Where building
Sh pc meant up @us the Of
Mr.. Cady said he tho Ight that the construction
By 'eers eeran nsG modern of Inventions % and
mentioned mail-chues and express elevators az
cafes, barber shops and many other eonveniences'
s6 va H RPPIsf sy
this Eont man prominent In building circ.ss sac atS
Of one Of the Valuable
I'm the world In his recollection there had never
been a foreclosure of first mortgage be.ow Four.
feminist. which showed deficiency Time ana
time again rea. estate had been marked up beyono
demonstrated that the price had been right. he
said that valuable was this downtown business
property that in a majority or cases 10 De uo
owner meant be the who had the right TO the
equity OF redemption. 1t was true that the ac-
tvity IN building was noticeable at the present
time when other lines OF Industry, were anglishing
And yet in his opinion there would be great deal
more done in the way of improving property VI
loans could be more easily obtained on frst-c:ass
securities The investment In real estate required
so much capital that from 80 to % per cent or the
funds invested carried in loans. The main
banks and insurance companies "nlcn as a gen
eral rule not overgenerous in their treatment
OF applications He said 1t was a pity that this
form of investment could not in some way be made
available for the general pubic.
In speaking upon the subject OF hreproof con-
were few buildings worthy Of that name in the city:
THIS was accounted for by the Ignorance ana
prejudice of builders and the extreme Conservatism
Of those who lent money on bond and mortgage
Steel construction should be covered with fire Drick
Granite and cut stone not a protection 10 O.
outside This had been shown In several lamentaole
cases. He said that narrow buildings should not
be allowed Buildings should cover whoe Docks
and be of a handsome and solid style OF architec-
ture With liberal ,oans from institutions or ny
making this kind Of security availaoie for pupno
distribution. this might be accomplished. ,.s L.,
The effect of excessive land values is exhlpteo ln
the construction OF dwellings in the upper part OF
the city Here the small width OF the ot Is not 50
noticeable as the buildings upon them are carried
up only four or five stories