New-York tribune., 1903-03-22

re twelfth hoorI How he delights to take him
{ IRE window OF his office and listen to his ex-
b-lations in gazing down into the street. where
zen have shrunk the size OF hiesl
When the foreigner still persists in shaking his
head. his American host Will try TO convince him
that the slyscraper is the ideal type OF business
building. He points cut 10 him the many ingenious
and varied conyeniences which he enjoys and which
enable him. as other Americans, to forge ahead Of
the low-rooSed. elow-gong, overcautious Europeans
Under the same the visitor is shown all the
different activities Of a small city. He finds
restaurant with string orchestra for the noon
luncheon: ticker and electric typevTiting machines
telephone and telegraph booths for communication
with the outside world, q cigar store, shoeblacking
pavilion haberdasher shops. flower stalls news
paper stands electric clocks, dentist and physician
offices barber manicure and chiropodist parlors.
bath and toilet rooms. and q clubroom on the top
GoOr
But the growth Of slSyscrapers has at last
alarmed the native New-YorkeT. In the last year
the construction Of huge structures has been
carried on so rapidly that what might be termed
''sLyscraper war has resulted. As long as these
buildings stood isolated. surrounded by low build
.ags and exposed on all sides to the sun and air
their rooms were bright and healthful IN winter
end cooled by every available breeze In summer.
With their increase In number however. the light
and air have been crowded out OF some and threat
Ell to be crowded out OF many more Wall towers
up against wall; skyscraper adtoins skyscraper;
rooms that open and commanding mile
wide views are being plastered up. as it were. by
structures erected elOIeSlue %A-4Q WIN N440
return Of darkness and dampness In some cases
las come not only lesser rents TO the landlord. but
poorer sanitary surroundings Cor the occupant.
While acknowledging the Infinite advantages OF
the skyscraper its dingy brick and brown
stone predecessors. engineers and architects have
come 10 the conclusion that something must be
done 10 check abuses Of this class OF buildings
Some have advocated limiting their height; others
urge court areas for light; still others have de-
rouuced the steel construction as soon prone to
rust and weakening. unless protected more thor
o1ghly from the elements. And some again believe
that more p1ecaution should be taken against
sfa-npedcs in case of fire Ministers, lawyers and
,rhys!c!ars have also added impetus TO the move
-.ert and Il vas proposed at one representative
gathering that State commission be aPpointeo 10
Investigate into the subject and recommend legls-
IatIon first protect the health OF the lnhaOl-
tGIts and second, TO obtain architecture -
Try for the city"
The causes which have led 70 the present as1ta-
t!ovl are tremendous when they regarded in de-
tai. They known in a general way 10 every
C:e who sees block after block torn down by wreck
,ers 10 make place for rapidly ascending stee!
.rarnes In the financial district, for example, IL
is IMPERATIVE 10 walk the middle Of the street
much Of the time, because Of the gangs OF aooreEs
and rnasons beams and scarolding which piock
the sidewalks in front OF new or Par'y cos'i uo'eN
bUll 3i1gs.
From p careful canvass Of the territory at the
southern extremity Of Manhattan Island between
L%onard-st. and South Ferry. an engineer mas
esoerta!ned that there were at the oesi''4Iis "a
Jhis year IM buildings ot nine stories or more ana
ninety OF twelve stories which nave IN eo-
6ltion their first five stories, ADDED lD acres 10
TIE area ofsthe island These figures were obtained
from Reginald Pelham Bolton. Of No. IS Nassau
Ct. who has a consulting engineer in the con-
struction many of the highest buildings IN thlS
city.
Manhattan Island" said Mr.. Bolton yesterday
has area Of about twelve thousand FIVE hum
dred acres The business district south OF Leo
hardest. which has 10 be known as the SKY
scrar-= District' OF the present time, contains
about eleven hundred and ffty-two acres Ac-
cordi:Sly the extra floor which these sky
scrapers have afforded have enlarged this part OF
the island nearly - per cent"
Ar- Bolton. do many other engineers VINO were
seen in regard the subject, maintains that inc
1kyscrsper Is necessary to the ecopQmtqal develop"