New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24
THE HIGHEST RESPECT.


THE HIGHEST RESPECT.
The genius, skill and almost unbounded
capabilities Of the modern builder are nowhere
better illustrated than in Greater New-Hork.
Here during the declining years Of the nine
teenth century has been witnessed period OF
remarkable architectural growth and develop
ment. In the lower section of Manhattan the
change has been so marked that it all seems
like fairy tale, even 10 the eyes Of the staid
New-Yorker who has dwelt on the spot while
The revelation has been slowly but surely going
around him. This has been aptly termed the
era Of the "skyscraper." The builders of to-
day have not only levied upon mother earth
hut also upon the air. Their operations have
caused them 10 go downward to great depths
and upward to thrilling attitudes
AS the skill and versatility OF the architect
have been taxed to meet the present conditions.
so the old-tiTe builder Of a dozen or more
years ago has found himself in the whirl OF a
building evolution that has required the great
est study and experience to keep pace with.
In former times he looked for his materials in
the quarry. the lumber yard and the kiln. The
materials OF the present time come almost
tTely from the innumerable productive arts.
The steel and iron manufacturer, the founder
of brass and bronze. the metal workers. scupt-
ors. makers OF ornamental glass OF delicately
wrought mouldings and decorations of almost
every kind Of material, Of cornices and devices
IN copper and steel and marble and silver. OF all
the wealth of electrical invention. development
and power OF steam and hydraulic forces. of
engines and engineering-all these now combine
in an array OF factors that enable him to create
the huge structures which arc the wonders OF
the world.
The art of building has been technically de-
fined as comprising the practice OF civil ar
chitecture or the mechanical operations neces-
sary TO carry the designs of the architect into
effect II is not infrequently called practical
architecture, but the adoption of this term
would tend only to confuse. by rendering 1t
difficult to make the distinction generally UNI
dcrstood between architecture as a fine lib
-eral art and architecture as a mechanical art.
The execution of the works Of architecture
essarily includes building. but building is fire.
quently employed when the result Is not
chitectural. and man may be competent
builder without being an architect.
AN INTRICATE CALLING.
The builder OF the present day is confronted
with a host Of details with which he must have
. complete acquaintance. This must relate TO
the arrangement OF plans FOR the greatest pos
ylle degree of convenience on the smallest
space and at the least expense: its tranSferrencc
10 the ground, the preparation and formation
- foundations, the ai1anetment ana construc-
zion of drains. sewers and vent shafts, the va
leies of walng with stone and of laying
bricks in brickwOrk: the merit Of the various
modes of bonding and Tying walls, the ar
langement Of cutters on roofs TO get sufficient
fan and TO conduct the water 10 the least in
convenient places for fixing trunks 10 lead IL
down. the arrangement and formation Of llues;
the protection of walls from damp OF timber
from moisture and stagnant air, and Of metals
generally from exciting causes; the cost OF ma
terials and labor. and the quantity of each TO
produce certain results. Together with these
The builder should be practically acquainted
with all the modes Of operation in all the
trades or arts employed In building, and be
able to infinitely estimate beforehand the abso-
lutte cost involved in the execution OF pro-
posed structure.
Under existing conditions the business OF the
builder has to be divided into classes
something follows: Ordinary construction,
partial fireproof, freproof and strictly fireprOof
SO great has been the desire of those investing
large sums in structures intended for Of
fees and commercial uses generally to obtain
the best possible results in the direction of
iireprooGng that the subject has called forth
the most extensive and careful study. Spleen
did results have been obtained 1t has reached
a point where even the wood, which is necessary
az least in small measure in all buildings. Is
treated to a process which renders il proof
against heat and flames. 1t is said that the
fire insurance companies of the city have al
ready recognized the perfection of construction
If this type and the real meaning of the word
freprOof has been made significant. In New
York, where thee are vast interests at stake
and where the land values have reached such
an unusually high level. there has been fertile
field for the exercise OF the skill and genius OF
both architect and builde". There has been
steady drift in the direction of making the
builders art "A great manufacturing industry.
the rival Of any in the country The question
is no longer how cheaply structure can be
erected, but how much money can be expended
in the right direction for securing all OF the
modern improvements which go 10 mark the
distinction between the buildings Of dozen
years ago and those Of the present time.
A LARGE INDUSTRY.
In the Borough of Manhattan there nearly
two thousand builders under the different
classes of general builders carpenters, and
Iui