New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-09
PART III.
FOUR PAGES.
CUSTOM HOUSE PLANS.
TO BE SEEN AT ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE
TION-DESCRIPTION OF THEM.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THEM.
The fifteenth annual exhibition Of the Architectu-
"a League OF New-YoTk viii be held in the gal
lsr4es OF the American Fine Arts Society. No ni
West F1fty-seventh-st-. from February 10 to March
inclusive, and although the collection is IN
usually iarge and interesting many visitors will
look with greatest interest for the accepted plans
Of the new Custom House which will be erected in
Bowling Green The plans have been hung IN the
Vanderbilt Gallery. and from the location of some
n them. behind radiator and high 10 be OF
serTice 10 those people who are interested in the
,rdlars il IS evident that Cass Gilbert their de-
ssgner, was not consulted by the Hanging Commit
tee
EXHIBITS Nos 695 and sss are the accepted and the
competitive designs respectively. They show a
tiding SIX stories nigh with two additional stories
r. the Iansard. There is neither dome, spire nor
steele 20 the building. despite the demands for
such a6orament BY Mr.. Piatt. broad staircase
Of about twenty steps in the middle Of the Bowl
Ing Green front viii lead the main entrance
which vii be protected by an artistic grflwork of
iron Large statues Of Europe and America will
flank the staircase Entrance TO the basement VIII
be gained by two large doors 70 be placed al either
side Of the main entrance on a level with the
street. but removed from it by area. AT either
side OF each door the plans show windows. so that
there are q door and Two windows either side
OF rhe great staircase At the extreme ends Of the
b-il5tng corresponding wiki the two large statues,
are similar groups representing Asia and America.
Or the building viii nave three Tan
windows on either side % the central portal, and
above these marking the second story. Will be the
sane number OF windows. about one-third sna Ter.
II The next tier the windows are again smaller,
sn5 OF the fourth uer they are arranged directly
rr5er heavy corn.ce. and about Onethird the size
Of those On the main floor The windows on all the
floors are placed between twelve Ionic columns
which extend from the level OF the head OF the
rtaf-casc TO the third story On the next story
twelve shields are arranged in a line with the
columns. and q line corresponding with these
OF the next story are aIegorical figures Of gigantic
size faukiug windows Of the same size as those on
tn fourth story In the centre Of the building
rising from the top OF the fifth story half way TO
he t0p Of The ransard viii be the carved coat Of
sr-ns OF the United States
TIE front as a whole. is quiet ii style and i'm
presses one fav0rabIy- While there is an air Of
solsity and business about H. there Is also artistic
establishment sufficient 10 make the building i'm
posing -. o-.-or.1
s-Tie The entrance is by a door level with
=. z-S me general scheme OF pillars the
fourth story and statues between the Wlndo"s 90
the TOP 1OOr Is continued. ma
Ine shows that there viii be two stories below the
s-reet Level The main floor plans show oroad
er5 lofty central entrance hall. TO the rlght OF
which VIII be the AOtlecloI sun %
The reception room viii be the first OF these, con
tanning one thousand square Ieet, tls5 ne 49+e
ec-8-s office. about One-third larger, and PIlNele
Once as large the reception room On ne
o-r1sf-a side OF the hall viii be the onlces OF the
special deputy. and other osrces ~
So v-irr those on the Collectors side On TINS
41rr VIII De the great rOrunda. from which broad
Messages VIII lead the corridors when VIII eX-
80 sI0-r three sides Of the building, and from
which entrance will gained TO the various or1ces
- --s-e - The other floors except the basement:
any practical use they might nave been ieIt IN MI
Gilberr's cflce