New-York tribune., 1906-12-16
NEWARK'S NEW CITY Hall
Fine Ne1o Structure To BE FOrmally
Opened This Week.

AS soon as possible after Thursday December
20. the city OF Newark. n. J., will announce
bargain in city halls. That date marks the for
NAL opening Of the city's municipal build
ing, on which work has been in progress since
August 10, 1902, and James E. Howell chair
man Of the commission having the work in hand,
said yesterday that time viii be lost in at
tempting 10 realize as much as possible on the
old City Hall, which is now, after continuous
use for about forty years, 10 be sold at public
auction and torn down.
Before IT was purchased for a municipal build
ing by the city in 1864 Newarks present City
Hall was the old City Hotel Building. The city
outgrew IL twenty-five years ago, and when
new municipal building agreed upon 1t
was decided TO spare nothing 10 make ii OF
the finest in the land Mr.. Howell. who. as
chairman of the commission in charge of the
work. has examined many of the leading mu-
nicipal buildings IN this country, is confident
that Newarks new City Hall will compare IA
Vorably with any he has The building,
which has been erected according 10 plans of ].
II. and Wilson Ely, occupies a prominent site inf
Broad street, between Greene street the north
and Franklin street on the south. II has
frontage on Broad street of $50 feet and depth
OF 100 feet. The cost OF the building itself is
placed at between S1,5O00OO and S1,6o0.0OO. and
the total cost including site and furnishings. is
given S2.250o00.
The money for the construction of the building
was raised by issuing bonds for S1.500O0O and
by the sale Of various properties owned by the
city and not in actual use. Whatever is realized
through the sale of the old City Hall will be
applied to the fund. The building, which
has four floors and a basement and sub-base-
nent, is OF granite, with marble trimmings. It
is surTnounted by huge dome and presents
imposing appearance from the street.
Though the interior finish Of the building is
fine throughout the show feature is the marble
rotunda and vestibule. These of fine Italian
marble, and it is claimed that the marble in the
rotunda and Vestibule is worth about 100000.
There is also said be about So 900 worth of
gOldleaf IN the decorations of the interior of
the dome, high above the rotunda. The chief
ornamental feature OF the rotunda is grand
staircase
from the entrance 10 the floor above.
j The sub-basement of the building is givP up
to machinery and heating apparatus The base
ment is 10 be occupied by the police headquar-
ters. the poor and aims department the city dis
pensary. Office Of the gas testers superintendent
Of public works and two district courts. On the
room and the Offices OF the controller, auditor.
tax assessment commission. tax receivers and
clerk OF arrears.
On the second floor are the Offices Of the
mayor. the common council. the law depart
ment, the city clerk the excise and license COM
mission, the sinking fund commissioners the
police commission executive offices, committee
rooms and the board of works executive offices
and meeting rooms.
On the third floor are fire department head
quarters, the office of the board of education the
city engineer. the city accountant, the assess
ment commission and other offices There will
be few offices the top floor but the feature
of that floor is fine document room.
In view Of the fact that the city has only re-
Gently erected fine public library at a cost of
81 5o0oeo and that the county is tust finish
ing in the city new S2OOOOoO courthouse the
citizens Of Newark feel much elated over their
City Hall. the latest addition 20 their list Of fine
buildings
Pretty good showing for a city of three hum
dred thousand population isn't tt2" was Com
missioner Howell's comment the other after
noon.
An elaborate programme has been arranged
for the formal opening Of the new City Hall
and Governor Stokes is expected 10 be among
those present that occasion.