The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-22

opinion OF Mayor Mitchell, while officials
whose departments are to be housed
there have complained that their quar-
tiers in II are announcement and that
space is wasted.
incidentally many persons profess to
See the hne Italian hand of the late
Senator Patrick II. McCarrer IN the prof.
ect. II was he VINO put through the
Legislature the bill providing for the
construction Of the building. partly at
the suggestion OF Bridge Commissioner
Stevenson under the Mcclellan admins
tration. The building was to form part
pf the new subway system and also to
provide the room needed for the munich
pal departments.
In addition to the sig 900 900 cost of
construction the sum of sG,000.000 was
paid for the land on which the building
stands, so that when the day arrives
when It can be said that the structure
b entirely completed and ready TOR &C.
cupancy the entire property will repre-
sent an investment OF approximately
o1S.000.00o.
Many city oficlals are disinclined to
discuss In public the subject OF the new
building and the disappointment: /; has
created through its failure to meet fully
he needs for which 1t is required because
Mayor Mitchell cautioned his heads Of
apartments to do little talking. Pri-
vately they do not hesitate to say what
they think about II.
In the first place, although under the
eontract the building was to have been
entirely finished more than twenty-one
months ago, It's completion has been so
Tar delayed that It Is even now far from
~. ~, 80
Because Of this and the necessity for the
continued use OF quarters in private
Buildings by the various city depart
ments the Board Of Estimate has been
compelled to authorize appropriations
under the budget for 1914 to the extent
of ssss, 1882. even after saving of
e2s4,056.47 had been counted upon for
the departments already or about to be
located in the great pile which towers
over City Hall Park.
Tho delay In the completion OF the
building has already cost the taxpayers
Si,44o.955 in 1918, while for the present
year Il IL said the expense will be ST.
O7l,57l.O5 OF this large sum $685.
071.05 will be paid for rents for depart
ments and bureaus that are in time 10
he moved from their present locations in
private buildings and elsewhere to the
Municipal Building. while S6ss,500 rep
rcsents the bond cost apportioned to
that part OF the building not yet avail
able for use. Indeed the Sinking Fund
Commission has decided that the Dock
Department shall remain at Pier \ and
tie Tax Department in the Hall OF
Records.
1t Is even said that when the new
bullJ!ng is completed and ready for oc-
cupanc, he city will lose. not save
r1nv, .o' 4. number of years, or at leas,
unti oiv-ntlr " the cost Of the struc-
ture las nrcn a!nDrtized. The bond
cost q. the amour: invested In the build
ing II sei5 900 "a year. while for main
tenan.e alone during 1914 there is
charge 'sh!c' amounts 70 SlSs.oOO.
The failure &c complete the buildinl
on Contract .iiIi. Is ascr.bed In part tt
the contractors 70, IN. building; in PAR
70 delay IN tn. fou..dation work due Il
changes in the arrangements for the
subway sa;ion at the Brooklyn Bridge
and ~ part to the contractors for IN,
interior finish work.
The date OF the contract was Deem
Der 81. 1909. 1t was predicted that th'
building would be completed on time
and that It's occupancy would result IL
Q great saving 10 Taxpayers because d
the fnct that all the c:iy department:
and bureaus would thereafter be hous y
there Mayor Mcclellan laid the cornel
Stone JUST before he left office.
Tho date OF completion was set To-
Januar, !. 1919. Since that time tn
contractors for the superstructure hav'
obtained thirteen separate and distinct
extensions, the last on December 20
1913. to March II, 1914. A visit to tn
building even to-day will quickly shov
that much work 10 yet to be done befor
& u entirely finished. II you doubt thu
step around and look at it for yourself.
The date Of the contract FOR the In
tsrior finish work was July II. 1912. tn
date for its completion being July 81
1918. Naturally much OF the interio
dnish could not be commenced mucl
less completed until the superstructur
had been concluded. Four extension
on this contract have already beel
given, the last on December 20, 1911
also to March II. 1914. That at leas
another extension for the interior finisl
n certain will at once be made mani
fest by a visit to the structure an
an examination of It's general condi
tion. Even now there is but one en-
trance for the entire building, a SINAI
door on the Park Row side. while onl,
few Of the elevators are in opera
ton.
Since the time when the contract 70
the superstructure was awarded tn
contractors have erected and complete
the woolworth Building and the Hote
McAlpln. In explanation of this person
interested declare that both the Wool
worth Building and the Hotel McAlp
have form Of construction which mad
IL possible to put the stonework int
place more quickly. The opinion Is sti
he'd by many persons, however, that
the force Of workmen employed on tn
two private buildings had been utilize
on the city building the work woul
has been fastened,
As It Is there Is not the least chanc
Cor the entire building to be complete
BY March II, the date specified in IT,
latest extension Of contract time. In
deed many believe that the building wi
not be entirely finished and ready 10
occupancy until summer. II then.
In seeking excuses for the nom com
pletion OF the structure several ingeni
pus persons have put the blame on tn
bod hoists. Perhaps It In Just as We
10 put the blame there az anvwhey