New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-09
A CHAPTER or MUNICIPAL HISTORY.

4
If there were no better reason for suppoSihs
that this community Is fit to live under lree III
situations than is found IN the history OF 'he
new municipal building project. it would De time
to advertise for IN enlightened dcspot. we can
not say how long ago the fact began TO OBTAIN
recognition that such structure was needed
but as far back as the MayOraty OF Mr.. Hewitt
the hypothesis had grown into conviction FOR
a brief period Mr.. Hewitt dreamed OF ADAM"
hugo wings to the City Hall but this was gen
orally Identified by the public, and aiterWard
we believe by him. as Il nightmare instead OF Il
beatific vision. With the advent of Mayor Grant
the scheme began to take definite form, ana the
form which it took in the Tammany mind was
that Of a stupcndous edice covering the site OF
the CITY Hall and nearly all the rest OF the PARK
At various periods elaborate precautions were
taken to conceal the plot but it was steadily de-
welcoming all the while. A bill sanctionins the
devastation was passed by the Legislature i'll
1889. but in Difference TO unexpected opposition
was repealed the following year in consequence
of which a general sense OF relief and satsfac-
ton prevailed. and the municipal administration
wore the appearance of resignation and doclliy.
But the people were fooled, and Iammahy con
tlnuct SctTcIlN 10 Illdtuit Us Ii''''''
About this time the Municipal Building Com
mission, composed of city officials. began 10 SNOW
great zeal and activity in the examination Oh
sites. which II successfully recommended as just
the thing only to have them successN"y re-
fccted for various reasons. The ostensble ODD
ioct Of this search was to find place Tor the
now building. outside of but in close proximity
70 the City Hall Park, which should be univer-
sally acclaimed Il perfect solution OF the prop
lem The real object was by process or eNclu-
sion 10 convince Il reluctant community mat sucn
a site was unobtanabe, and thus prepare pun
lie opinion for Il removal Of the restrictions i'll
posed by the Legislature in $500. The scheme
worked. not exactly like charm Tor popuiar
sentiment remained rebellious, but well enough
for the purposes of the Tammany consplralors.
and when their plans were ripe They procured
the passage Of bill permitting the destruction
or removal Of the City Hall. Thereafter for Il
time their progress was smooth and uninterrupt'
ed, and Mayor Gilroy, then at the zenith OF MS
glory, was wont to say that if be could only see
the beginning of n vast and gorgeous structure
such as would beft a municipality governed by
Tammany Hall. he should feel that he had not
lived in vain. Nor had he any reason TO doubt
the f,llfment Of his lofty ambition. Spcclhca-
lions were drawn and scores OF architects re-
sponded to an invitation 70 compete for the honor
of celebrating the City Hall and covering the
moor little park with realization Of the Mayor :
sublime conception. Bit while the architects
were at work public sentiment worked also ana
in the winter of 1894. after an advisory coinm's'
sion had reported that six Of the one hundred
and thirty-four plans submitted We're better than
the rest but that all were bad. 1t worked Wiz
great vigor and rapidity. Mayor Gllroy $ III
genious proposition that the least objectionable
features Of the six better plans should be com
bned in the production Of unique monsrosity
did not retard it in the least. Meetings were
held to save the City Hail. public bodies ana PR
vate citizens joined IN the protest against lis
destruction and official courage began 10 waver.
SUGGESTIONS Of compromise were offered. but the
community had gained the ascendancy the
Legislature passed another bill OF salvation, ana
Governor Flower was literally forced by popular
opinion to make it a law.
Last year the project OF new municipal build
ing slept. but il was revived Il few weeks ago
appearing before the Legislature in the form of a
hin which Mayor Strong unwisey approved
authorizing not the destruction or removal OF
|
hideous and dangerous buildings in the park by
new structure suited to public requirements
This measure has been adversely reported by the
Senate Committee on Cities, which Is now ready
to consider proposal that such building as
the municipality unquestonably needs should be
erected outside the park. Tammany, with Il
ludicrous pretence of devotion to interests and
sentiments which it persistently affronted Sc
long as 1t was in power. helped to accomplish
the preservation Of the park. But we care moth
ing about that feature OF the case. good thing
has been done though the doing Of it brings
lis back to the precise condition we were in
wears ago when the old Municipal Commission
began its search for site In the mean time the
| CITY has been losing money steadily by paying
large rentals for unsatisfactory accommodations
when II might have been economically served In
a building Of It's own.
From this time on we hope that history will
not repeat itself new building is greatly
! needed a suitable site near the park can be oh
tanned. though 1t will probably cost much more
| than il would have cost ten years ago, and q
work which ought TO have been finished ere now
can be begun by this administration. TO thai
| end the local authorities and the Legislature
| ought to cooperate without delay.