The sun., 1901-10-09
BEAUTIES OF TERRA GOTTA.

Walter Geer, president of the New
York Architectural Terra Gotta Com
pany, writes entertainingly of an indus
try on which he is recognized authority.
"fhe average reader needs but brief
reminder of the antiquity of terra Gotta
as a building material. The literature
of all languages, conflicting in regard to
most things, is in substantial agreement
on this one.
students of architecture know what
excellent use the Romans made Of
burned clay, how their system of build
ing spread with their conquests through
western Europe, and how its influence
still survives, fifteen centuries after
their departure from the British Isles.
The terra Gotta architecture of Italy has
been and will continue to be an in
spiration to men Of different tongues
and nations So, too, the examples
found in Spain and the south Of France;
also the less ornate but not less interest
ing brickwork of Germany, Holland and
Belgium. These with much that was
of purely native growth, dating from the
Tudor period. gave rise to the modern
revival of terra Gotta in England some
sixty years ago.
"The first terra Gotta made in New
York, or, perhaps, in America, dates
from about 1853 when it was used for
string courses ana window trim on the
Hotel st. Denis, Broadway and Eleventh
street. On the same thoroughfare, and
overlooking Trinity Churchyard, there
are number Of tigers head keys, which
millions Of people have assumed to be Of
brown stone. Even now, after lapse Of
nearly half a century, the only thing that
points to different conclusion is their
perfect and otherwise unaccountabie
state of preservation. Yet nOtwithstand-
ing this promising beginning. very little
was attempted along the same lines dur
ing the next thirty years. Not until 1856
did the architects and building public of
this otherwise progressive city begin to
realize the extent of their neglected OPP
portunities. In that year the late Orlan-
do Il. Potter organized the New York
Architectural Terra Gotta Company,
whose works were established on the site
of the Walach homestead, Ravcnswood,
L. I.
lie use Ol terra cOtlH prttcu'n ny
some years the advent of the 'skyscrap-
ers,' to which form of building it afford
ed much encouragement. 1t, in turn. re-
ceived corresponding impetus, which
goes far to account for the extraordinary
growth Of comparatively new industry.
1t is, therefore. not too much to say that
architectural terra Gotta in combination
with structural steel has, within period
of ten years caused a complete revolu-
ton in building methods.
"The difficulties at first experienced in
the manufacture of terra Gotta We're
much the same as those encountered a
few wears earlier in England and ulti-
mately overcome They arose chiefly
from the scarcity Of competent work
men That condition Of things, however.
has long since disappeared. There is 20
longer any uncertainty as to shrlnkagc.
the blocks are true to line, the color well
under control and deliveries are made on
time These claims can be verified by
referring to any of the important build
ings for which terra Gotta has been fur
nished by the New York Architecture,
Terra Gotta Company during the past
five years. Representative of these may
be mentioned three buildings, ont Of as
many hundreds. in this city. The As
tora Hotel, Thirty-fourth street and
Fifth avenue; the Delmonico building,
Forty fourth street and Fifth avenue,
and the seventeen-story apartment house
now in course of erection by Mr.. w. IL
d. Stokes on the block bounded by Sew
enty-third and Seventy y-fourth streets and
Broadway. The work on this latter
building will doubtless reach a standard
of excellence worthy of the first year OF
the twentyeith century.
"WALTER GEER."