New-York tribune., 1907-06-30

especially If the months of August and Septem-
Der Dear any resen alliance 70 the closing days of
June In heat and humidity.
An item of more than passing interest, and one
"hlch ought TO be bluepencilled and sent to the
contractors who built and furnished the State
capitol at Harrisburg. is the fact that. although
the construction of the Custom House is polit
lcaI job, there will be n surplus Of about $4,000
turned back into the Golfers of Uncle Sam after
the bill of the last contractor is paid. This,
too, when after asking for appropriation of
S6.000,000 Father KnickerbOcker told to be
thankful with S4,965 900. The hands of officials
in high places were raised aghast when the first
named amount was asked for, and II was only
after much contention that $3,000.000 was gin
gerry handed over. After the dirt began TO fly
in the construction of foundation for the new
building this sum augmented by $1,5O0OOO.
and later, in 1906. additional $465,000 was APP
proprated to admit of further needed improve
mentS. Lovers of art and others who hoped for
an interior effect better to off the beauty OF
the marble finish besought the governmental
heads to add mural decorations to the rest. Thus
far, however, the government has been deaf 10
their plea and as no appropriation for interior
paintings has been made the idea of mural deco
rations has been abandoned, temporarily at
least.
AS it stands to-day the New York Custom
House is one OF the best. if not the best, gov
ernment building of its kind IL the world. Built
entirely of granite. 1t IS of the most massive
construction. and it typifes strength and
power. The dominant groups OF the approach
are America and Europe, well in front of the
FACADE, and at the sides of the central stair
way. while at the outer corners of the front sit
Asia and Africa looking with stony stare out
on the busy world around them, a microcosm
largely composed OF men who themselves were
only lately subjects in some of the countries Of
these continents Together as they sit there.
these ponderOus imaginings of Daniel Chester
French are not altogether unsuggestive of the
conference of the nations which is now gath
cred at The Hague. unless, maybe, the likeness
is bit strained because of the sculptures
silence.
Above the deep embrasures OF the windows
and acting as keystOnes IN the arches of these
are the visages of the races OF mankind. Here
are the intellectual face Of the American and the
dreamy face Of the Italian; the Chinaman peers
out while the African HIndoo. Celt, Esquimau
and others all have their places where they
can look down on the hordes OF their fellow
countrymen who cross the great front door OF
the United States just beyond the Custom House
to rningle and become part of the hurrying
body OF humanity In this land. All of these faces
and the fine marble statues Of the leading mari
time countries of the world. which occupy
place just above them. represent the carvings
OF we'll known sculptoTs. The handiwork of st.
Gaudens. Ruckstuhl. Elwell Tonetu and others
adorns the front of this colossal structure. the
inside OF which presents one OF the finest marble
interiors IN the world. The choice of workmen
and materials was had IN its construction. and
building is ccntrasted, as q whole. with the old
Custom House IN Wall street. TIN new build
ing Is IN an environment OF shipping offices and
close 10 the immigrant landing. while in its
comparatively isolated position It IS apart from
tho danger OF fire. and what is also worthy of
consideration. 1t is right whero Its fine points
may be appreciated by tho occupants OF sight
seeing automobiles and other visitors TO
Gotham.
So far as is known, there viii be no house
warming exercises fanfare OF brass or tin
king cynbals when Collector Stranahan and his
staff OF officials move from their present
cramped quarters into their new home. Cass
Gilbert the architect, who planned tho building.
said: II do not know of any intention 10 hold
a ceremony at the opening of the building. The
official staff will move In when the building is
ready 10 receive them, and, so far as L know
that win be all there is 20 IT, There has been
no talk at Washington about a celebration. and
now that the difficulties encountered I'm getting
the building finished have been overcome l do
not think II will take more than sixty days at
the most to get things in n condition TO receive
the customs officials
The contractors who have the final details
in hand say that the Interior can be completed
in much less than sixty days. and in the ardent
hope OF this the crowded officials on Wall street
are beginning to pack up their belongings for
removal to the new Custom House.