New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-14
THE FUTURE OF THE GARDEN:
PLANS PROPOSED TO SAVE THE GREAT
MADISON SQUARE ARENA.
STANFORD WHITES VIEWS AS To THE cIrr'S
NEED OF SUCH A PLAcE-WHAT OTHER
ARCHITECTS SAY.

STANFORD WHITES VIEWS AS TO THE cTrr's
NEED OF SUCH PLAcE-wHAr OTHER
ARCHITECTS SAY.
Ever since 1t has become known that the stocks
holders OF the Madison Square Garden have su-
thorized the president OF the corporation. r. K
sturgls. and James c. Young the secretary TO dis
pose OF the property at public or private ssie
there has beef. much speculation as to what wou1d
be the ultimate fate Of the vast building. For
years IL has been the scene OF great meetings ana
exhibitions which could not have taken place In
any other Enclosure with the same success that II.
tended them in the Garden. and the place has be-
come In many respects a feature Of the city. Tho
annual horse and bench shows, athletic tourna-
ments. races and circus performances have at
tracted hundreds Of thousands Of people TO the
building and many OF those persons who saw II
only when II swarmed with humanity are at a loss
for the reason why the corporation should wish to
abandon the property. But despite the large at
tendance In the great arena. the Garden has been
a financial failure.
The Indebtedness o, the company consists Of
bonds secured by first mortgage. due Noyernoss
l. 1919 ST. $50 600: bonds secured by second mon.
gage due November /. 1920. $4,000; taxes. about
$4,000 and interest due May l. To meet all these
demands the company has only about $1,000. ana
there seems to be good reason for its desire to
realize the building.
All sorts Of plans have been proposed by people
who would dislike to see the great structure demol-
ished and while some Of them contained elements
OF feasibility, others unworthy OF noments
consideration. - great department store mighs
be started under the big root. said one man,
which would eclipse anything in that line that
has ever been rearned Of OF course Il would DO
too vast for any one concern. but the corporation
having the building would rent out stores or de-
partments on the streets which would run through
the place. II 1t could be brought about the pace
would be the greatest business establishment In
the world and under one roof could be found any
thing purchasable. Every trade ana proiess'on
would be represented"
.Yes said a less enthusiastic but older listener.
'and at the end Of the first year you could make
record OF more failures than had ever taken place
under one roof. For store purposes the Garden
will probably never be good investment because
the shopping district is another part OF the ciy
and n5 matter how vast the store or collection OF
stores might be. the shoppers would not pa,ronA|s
it sufficiently 10 make It pay
Another suggestion was that series OK arcaoes
be built through the building. and that these %
made attractive by their style OF architecture 80
that the shopkeepers could afford TO pay good
rents for the places which they would occupy; but
the same arguments which were advanced against
rho gigantic department store were used In connec'
ton with the arcade pan-crowds will go there 10
see exhibitions and to be amused, but they will not
20 TO that part OF the city for merchandise
Stanford White OF the firm Of McKim. Mead D
who f. one OF the principal stockholders. said that
the city needed the great arena and that IL the
other parts Of the building paid as well as the
arena there would have been no need for the action
which was taken by the stockholders
without the arena" he said. there would %
no mace 10 hold the horse shows and many other
gatherings which now take place as regularly as
the seasons, and the space should be kept IN us
present condition. 1t is the front OF the building
the theatre and the Assembly Hall on the Madison
ave. side OF the structure-which does not pay IL
has been loss TO the corporation for long time,
and instead of receiving any relief from the city.
we have been burdened with taxes" The amount
of taxes charged against the stockholders for the
year 1896 Is about $1,000
When asked what remedy he would suggest By
which the arena might be retained and the front
part Of the building be made sef-sustaining. Mr.
White said: THE city needs space such as thae
on the Madison-ave. side OF the Garden. and 10
should take long lease Of II. An uptown post
Office might also be established there. The loca-
ton Is central and easy OF access. and no better
place could be selected for that purpose. With
the front OF the building disposed Of the arena
would take care OF itself. and there would Dc no
danger Of losing that iarge space. ...
factor in the failure Of ne Madison-ave. side OF
the Madison Square Garden was the portieo wnic Ii
extends along that side of the Garden and short
distance in Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seyenth sts.
70 the eve" he said give the street an a.ley-ke
appearance and that. together with the iact that
entrance
SIDE, made that side unpopular with pe9Ple ".o
dis Ike 10 minge with large crowds, Inc nrst
change. and K is one the Dement'S OF which tnc
architects will recognize. should be TO make IN:
arena entrance on the Fourth,ave; side. Ihat
would relieve the congestion on the MaGison-aye:
side and people going 10 the smaIer mans wouio
not be crowded by those who are on their way 20
a cake walk a boxing match or Il waking contest
81 agree with Mr. White that the amphitheatrs
10 a necessity and I believe that the city should
own a place like IT, The Greater New-fork might
see fit to do as Vienna and Paris do In such mat
ters and in that event the amphtheatre ~ouio %
gzaI for b
'The Madison-ave side could with slight expense
be transformed into halls, in when the ART socl-
cites might md an adequate shelter ana neetin4
ROOM and where the public school exercises ana
similar functions could take place. Ih.fe ne arg
citizens committee meetings could be held ana
homeless but important temporary orsam1Auons
could have their meetings. Al the present time
there are no halls and no meeting places IN New
York City which be procured gratis, no matter
how good the cause may be Tor whlch tney wero
LIED together Either some person or corporation
donstes the use of the hail. or is paid for and in
that way much money which had been contriouseo
for charity goes astray -, &c.. - 49,.
canvassed the growing musical organizations
should be considered and am sure that the men
W wnD want arrangements made for the accommo
dalton of their pupils II the city once aceu nrea
possession Of the, Madison Square Garden, appr1 .
pirate uses would soon De louho' anu Tue peop'o
would be the winners -.
Thomas Hastings. Of Carrere Hastings. said
proyements about the Madison Square Garden. NJ
Step should be taken without the approval and CO.
operation Of McKim. Mead White, the archi-
tects With them should rest the decision OF the
question: What shall be done with the carden!
and all propositions from other PERSONS should %
II agree with Mr.. White in what he says as 70
the needs OF New-York In that respect. would be
heartily in favor OF tia, plan and i seems 20 me
that no better t use foaa De cze o. AM are
tect think IL would be unprofessional TO o'scuo