The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-30
mitchell WORKS ON
EQUITABLE BUILDING
Last. City Skyscrapcr. He Hints,
While Laying the
Cornerstone.
USES A SILVER TROWEL
Leading Financiers Arc Lunch.
con Guests Of Gen. du POnt
After Ceremonies.

The rattle Of triphammers paused for
half an hour yesterday noon while Mayor
Mitchell laid the cornerstone of tho new
Equitable Building at Cedar street and
Broadway. which when completed next
March, will be the worlds largest struc-
turs for business offices. The leading
New York bankers and commercial men
we're present at the ceremony.
Significance was given to the event by
tho Mayors reference TO the law recently
passed by the Legislature which gives
the Board Of Estimate power to restrict
the height Of buildings and his comment
that this newest skyscraper might pos
sibly be the last city within city to
he erected in New York"
After the Theoretically soidered copper
cssket containing coins and records taken
from the cornerstone of the old building
and new records. coins and copies of the
days newspapers was tapped into place
by the Mayors silver trowel. a luncheon
was given to the guests OF the occasion
by Gen. T. Coleman du Pont, president
Of the Equitable once Building Cor
poration.
The architect Of the now Equitable
Building, Il. r. Graham Of Chicago, has
Incorporated In It several distinguishing
features. While II will not have the or
namsntai features Of the wooiworth
Building and new Municipal Building, IL
will combine what the Mayor termed "the
highest ideals Of common service, con-
venience and eficiency q building can
render to the people"
Bsilding to Cost s2O.OOO,OOO.
It's height will be ba7 feet q inches.
vni1 hA IA, .g.k.
ground and three below. the total floor
space being forty-five acres. 1t will house
$1,000 workeN The cost Is estimated at
S2s.0O0.000. The new building will have
IL own police. street cleaning. health and
fire departments: 1t will have its own ice
plant and restaurant, and an elevator
system that may be likened to the trolley
system of a great city. There will be
forty-eight elevators with two sidewalk
lifts.
In the course Of speeches after the
luncheon at the Whitehall Club by Mayor
Mitchell. George McAneny. John b. Lun-
ger. Louis J. Horowitz and Gov Miller
Of Delaware congratulations were be-
slowed upon Gen. du Pont and Mr. Ora
ham. its architect. Mr.. Lunger vice-presi-
dent Of the Equitable Life Assurance So
ciety, referred to the new building as the
finest located piece Of real estate in the
world" Gov. Miller professed himself APP
palled as visitor from an agricultural
state to behold the astounding things
New York city was achieving. why"
he said. II heard that a New Yorker
the other day paid 100000 for q paint
ing Of a COW and you can buy a real
COW In Delaware for $50. Why any one
should care to pay 100000 for something
he can't even milk 10 something that
passes my comprehension"
Seneca Lark, the Hero.
Alderman Henry Curran told the story
first class fireman. Lark was the man
who. despite orders to firemen TO quit a
dangerous post in the Equitable nre,
stayed in the midst Of flame, storm and
falling stone until he had sawed through
an iron bar which held two men prisoners.
One OF the two We saved Mr.. Curran said
that Lark, because of the nervous strain
ne underwent at that time. was unable
TO take the examination for promotion
under proper conditions and failed SO he
was still in the same rank he held at the
time of the exploit which brought him the
usual medal and a $500 reward from the
Equitable society.
Mr.. Curran said that he, Commissioner
Adamson and Mayor Mitchell had taken
up Larks case and were trying to per-
suade the Civil Service Commission ia
allow the fireman to try again for promo
ton at \ special examination. The Alder
man asked all those present TO use any
influence they might have with the Com
mlssioners 80 that Lark might get the
advancement ne undoubtedly would have
won II his heroism at the nre had not
ruined his chances.
Besides the speakers the following
guests were present Borough President
Marks. Justice Morgan J. O'Brien, Bor-
ough President Pounds, Frank W. Wool
worth and Jacob Schiff