New-York tribune., 1902-11-16

The Razor" Building shows at the present
time while the steel skeleton Of its upper stories
is still bare. what precautions the builders have
taken to keep it from tOppling over Although
only 321s feet wide. it is sixteen stories above
the curb. The steel beams. however, which
support the floor are strengthened with what
are known as wind braces" triangular pieces
boIted into the Joints There is also an l. in The
rear, which adds rigidity to the slim structure
At first sight the spectator thinks that there
must be a skyscraper feud- The Razor Build
ing has been erected alongside Of the Decker
Building. another thin structure, which until
| recently was the highest skyscraper in Union
,, Square The Razor Building has surpassed
it. however.
One unique thing about the Razor Building,
however, which has thus far escaped general at
tention, is that it will be connected by means
OF it's l. in the rear with the rear l. of the Hart
ford Building, on the next corner, Broadway
and Seventeenth-st- An arrangement has been
made between the owners Of the two buildings
| to lease their floors in conjunction. that
| store OF Office may be of the shape OF
horseshoe. with two front exposures IN Broad
way, a long frontage in either street. and a long
connection in the rear. Thus these two build
ings will really form huge U-shaped structure,
which will inclOse within it's sides four smaller
buildings. which are Nos 80, 35, 80 and 80
Union Square.
The Decker Building. No. 33 Union Square. Is
| thus entirely surrounded and overshadowed on
the south and west. RunnOr says that there has
| been something of a feud between the two sky
scrapers. although such is denied by the own
ers. When the Decker Building built the
owner Of the corner property offered his plot
| for sale, but in vain. The Decker Building was
accordingly built. leaving the narrow lot, with a
frontage of 321s feet on the corner. The Decker
| structure was regarded as the chief landmark
OF Union Square, and for many years it was
| one Of the sights of the city.
Land. however, obtained in the rear OF
| the corner plot and excavation begun for
new sixteen story skyscraper. Then it was
found that the foundations of the Decker Build
ing did not extend down to solid rock, and ac-
cordngly il would be undermined. The
gineers of the new structure announced that
they would prop UP the Decker Building and
build new foundations under it before they built
| the corner skyscraper. The feat was done, and
the high structure of twelve stories. surmOUnted
with two stories Of cupola and tower. was held
up by means of needle beams and jackscrews,
as if the l., 100000 pounds of brick, mortar and
steel columns in its south wall were a chicken
coop. Then the earth dug out from under
neath new foundations laid. the walls were
built up and the jackscrews and needle beams
carefully taken away. Alongside. the Bank of the
Metropolis was erected. with walls Of its own
Had the two buildings been erected together,
one thousand square feet. now used for wall
purposes would have been saved each floor.
As the Decker Building gets its light chiefly
from the north its rival has not darkened its
offices to any great extent. although the Decker
management is now installing electric lights for
al its tenants. The Bank OF the Metropolis
Building is owned by the City National Bank
and the Rockefeller interests. The building cost
100000 which, together with the cost of the
land 3@teX1I5. with an 1. 92x25 brings the total
cost up To $SJOOO0