The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-01-17
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WAS A MARVEL
Burned Building and Site Valued
at S2O,OOO,OOO.
COVERED ACRE OF GROUND.

With Splendid Arcade Of Granite, Onyx
and Marble II Was One Of New
York's Wonders-Lats e. N. Harri-
man Had Offices In Building.
The Equitable Life Assurance socie-
tvs building in New York, which was
recently destroyed by FIRE, was valued
at $17,000,oO0 to S2O.OO0.000. Cover
ing an acre OF ground and containing
q beautiful arcade OF polished granite,
onyx and italian marble, It occupied
an entire block. surrounded by Broad
way, Pine. Cedar and Nassau streets,
and for decades. until the erection of
the great skyscrapers. was one OF the
most imposing buildings in the city.
Built Of granite and elaborately dec
grated, It was pointed out for nearly
half a century as one Of the sights OF
New York. significant OF the solidity
of the city's financial institutions. and
IN later years its ornamented towers
have given a trace Of structural beau
ty to section OF Broadway where
square, towering skyscrapers are fore
ing out older and more beautiful
buildings
1t contained the rooms OF the Law
yers' club and had n law library of
1900 volumes, together with scores
Of valuable paintings.
Held Hartman Offices.
Financiers OF national reputation
had Offices in the Equitable building
for years From Offices there f. II.
Hartman for years directed the affairs
Of his system OF railroads.
Erected in 1869, the original building
covered only one-half OF the Broad
way front OF the block, adjoining
the Pine street corner, but 1t was ex-
tended and remodelled in 1887 so as to
cover the entire block.
1t was then regarded as one of the
city's structural marvels and contain
ed GOO offices. A part Of the old build
ing had been torn down and extensive
additions made, producing a structure
eleven stories high, with approximate
ly 160 feet frontage on Broadway and
$40 feet depth, running through to
Nassau street
Its most notable feature after remod-
cling was the splendid arcade. which
was opened on May 3. 1887 This
composed court 100 feet long. a.
feet wide and 80 feet high. its walls
Of highly polished granite, with rows
Of double pillars OF the same mate
rial. extending along It's sides. The
capitals Of these pillars were of Al
gerian onyx, and along their tops were
layers of Knoxville and Italian mar
BILE
Had TesselIsted Floor.
A tessellated floor Of pink and white
marble added to its beauty. At its
eastern end. in the arch of the dome.
was a mosaic panel. said to be one of
the finest of its kind In the country.
1t consisted Of the draped figure of a
woman, at each side of which was the
figure of a warrior and beneath them
the motto OF the society, vigilance
and Strength-Defend the Defense
less
Plans were made in 1908 to tear
down the building and erect in its
place a sixty two story structure which
was to be 900 feet in height and to
cost $15,OO0.O00, consisting Of a main
building 4S9 feet high. Of thirty-four
stories, and a tower of twenty eight
stories, with a cupola 400 feet high.
These plans, however, were abandon
ed.
The great war against the insurance
companies which resulted in a legis-
lative investigation conducted by
Charles E. Hughes and In extensive
reforms of the insurance business
throughout the country had its incep
ton in the Equitable building and be
gan In a struggle between James Ha-
zen Hyde and James W. Alexander.
its chief official for the stock Of the
society.
AS result OF this struggle Hyde
was forced out Of the ownership Of
the society and sold It TO Thomas r
Ryan
The late e. II. Hartman testified al
the insurance investigation that he
attempted to induce Mr.. Ryan to sell
him a part interest in the society, but
MIR. Ryan declined. and Mr.. Hartman,
when asked If he had squared the a.
count with Mr. Ryan for his refusal
answered. Not yet"
After retaining its ownership for sew
eral years Mr. Ryan sold control OF
the society to j. p. Morgan in 1909
and Mr. Morgan Is now believed to be
its Ownar