New-York tribune., 1899-12-22
ACADEMY OF Designs BUILDING.
ITS NEW STRUCTURE TO COST ssooOoo-THB
MAYOR SUGGESTS a SITE IL ONE OF
THE PARKS.

ITS NEW STRUCTURE TO COST $so0OOo-THb
MAYOR SUGGESTS SITE N ONE OF
THE PARKS.
II was rumored in art circles yesterday that the
National Academy OF Design had asked the city
authorities for aid in building its future home on
Mornngslde Heights. which will cost 10000.
After the purchase OF a site at One-hundred-and-
tenth-st and Amsterdam-ave.. for about $25QGo.
the Academicans had a building fund for the
erection OF the academy building amounting
TO about $4,000. In order to raise the required
$500 OoO appeals made to wealthy New-Y Workers
by Ways and Means Committee consisting OF J..
Carroll Beckwith. chairman; J. c. Nicol, James
D. smile. ]. @. Brown. Lockwood de Forest and
Benjamin c. Porter Some Of the most generous
subscriptions received were: Coils i. Huntington
s25 900: the late Cornelius Vanderbilt. $1,000; OK
Governor Levi p. Morton, 5000 Jacob II. Schn
5000; William T. Dodge. 5000. and William v.
Lawrence. 5000
Regarding the report that Mayor Van Wyck had
been asked by Academicians TO aid the institution
j. Carroll Beckwith said yesterday TO a Tribune
reporter:
We did call on the Mayor several months ago.
and found him not only familiar with the purposes
OF the academy and its work but much interested
in its snccess AS The academy Is distinctly pub
lie benefactor by reason Of its free schools and
OF 10 the fullest extent by the citizens. we are at
a loss 10 why the city should not I'm some
was very gratifying to find Mayor Van Wyck so
disposed. although he indicated IN the charter a
para graph which made ii impossible for the city
10 give the institution money for its support. The
Mayor. however, suggested that the city might be
able in other respects 10 acknowledge the benefits
OF the Institution for the city.
or course. the city has land In its park
sites. which might be embellished and made more
attractive by large structure such as the
academy would undoubtedly build and the Mayor
suggested that II the academy would select Site
IN OF the new parks. he would favor the city
giving II TO the institution. But as there ls much
dissatisfaction expressed al present toward the
rcmoteness o: new site on MOrningslde Heights.
the institution could not entertain proposition 10
remove itself further from the central portion Of
the city.
Now that IT Is reported that the Union Club will
become the possessoT OF the lower part Of the
Roman Catholic orphan Asylum property in Fifth
ave, is u not pity that the other part OF this
block could not be purchased and built upon by the
academy? But. unfortunately. unless some public
spirited and cultured citizen can come forward TO
its aid this Is not 10 be entertained
The gifts "a the endowment fund Of 10000 the
income OF which will be used fOr maintenance have
now reached nearly $1,000 This will release when
complete. the 10000 appropriated by the institu-
ton for maintenance two years ago. which sum
VIII be added to the building fund, making IN hand
nearly 10000 for building purposes. This to-
gether with the $4,000 invested I'm the site which
is paid for, IN full shows the institution 10 be on
an excellent footing, although with not sufficient
means to proceed with the structure which has
been planned.