The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-22

where VIII focus the interests that are concerned with its government.
 The location of the new Courthouse, near by. will make 1t necessary for law yers to seek quarters closer to the Courthouse.
 There is the great territory between Broadway and the Hudson River, now covered with old buildings that must in- evitably within few years be suppiant- ed with modern structures. These are some of the reasons that led me to look upon this plot as ideal Tor the erection of the Woolworth Builo- ing.
 Now. as to the highest and largest office building In the world. Think oi the value of that designation simply rom the advertising point of view. Take, for instance. an importer who may have connections in Paris. It VIII be only necessary for him to tell his cor respondents that he occupies quarters In the highest building in the world.
 Take, again, the millions who an nually visit this city on business or pleasure. When they return to their homes, no matter where they may be, the first question they are asked will pe' Did you go to the top of the highest building in the world?'
 '-The fame of such structure will not only add to the prestige of New forK' but to the building it will be of the greatest value"
 1 Of great interest, particularly to those who study real estate, is the story oi how the plot on which the building IS erected was assembled. MT. Woolworth says:
 "The Irving National Exchange Bank had for long time been anxious to op- | tain location on Broadway for US offices. I. as a member of the board ol directors. had looked at several plots. We heard that the Mercantile Bank was willing to sell the plot at Broadway and Park place. Edward J. Hogan began ne- gotiations for that and the adjoining plot l to the south. Without both we could have done nothing. Finally the officers of the bank agreed to sell, but the owners of the plot to the south held off. l sat in my office one night while Mir. Hogan was at that of title company on Broadway procuring signatures to an agreement to sell the plot adjoining the corner. l was l finally advised that papers were about to be signed and told to be ready. l went down Broadway and stood in front of the Guardian Trust Company. In short time Mir. Hogan came out and told me that the papers for the plot next to the corner had been signed. l was hurried l Into an automobile and we speeded up Broadway. I had supposed that the Mer- cantile Bank plot had already been pro- cured, but upon asking where we were bound, was told that the bank had kept the option open until 6 o'clock. after which the vice president had gone home without signing the paper. | "We arrived at the home of the banker little after ' o'clock. The automobile stopped few doors away and MT. Hogan entered. I was left alone. In a short l time another automobile arrived and the occupant entered the bankers house. Not long after that MT. Hogan came out and told me that the papers had been signed, but how narrow was the margin!
 "The banker had been dressing to go to some entertainment with his wife. She was hurrying him, and he wanted to put off the signing until the next morning. MT Hogan feared that if that were done he might learn of the sale of the adjoln- tho nroperty and hold out for a higher figure. or possibly refuse to sell at all. "ue did not dare to appear too anxious, ,,,. urged that the deal be concluded at once. In his hurry. the banker. when tok,ne the pen, upset the ink bottle and s,lattered ink over his cuffs and shirt front.
 There" he said to Hogan, don't you see that I am too nervous to sign to- night? I won't do it. Let it go until morning.
 Hogan was persistent, and with t,, art of the real estate man. persuaded him to sign.
 My ideas had by this time expanded, anu determined to erect the greatest business building in the world. I wanted that Barclay street corner. It was leased at good rental and the owners declined to sell. It looked as though We womb be unable to get it, so Cass Gilbert worked out the plan for the building on the plot We owned.
 We then began negotiating for the plots in Park place and Barclay street. These negotiations were successful. The owners of the Barclay street corner hv this time knew what we intended to do. and they capitulated For that corner I finally paid something like s1Oo,0Oo less than l had offered for it six months hs. 1 fore.
 l T have supreme faith in the future of New York city. feel satisfied that what ever may come. the building is the safest investment into which I could mi 1 money"
 MT. Woolworth is a modest man. b,. as architecture is, as Lady Morgan says. the printing press of all ages, giving a history of the state of the society in which it was erected, it would not be inappropriate for him to inscribe some- where in this great structure the Latin phrase which serves as the epitapb of Sir Christopher Wren in St. Paul's Cathe- dral. London;
 Si Monumentum Requieris, Circumspice. Who would seek his monument. let him look around"
 A Word About Woolworth.
 A word about Woolworth who. like a modern Prometheus. has stolen the sac. red Hub of the Universe" from Boston and set 1t in the commercial centre of