New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-03
WANT ALL B0RINCS
MADE TO BEDROCK
Would Determine Char
acter of Sub-SurfaCe of
New Civic Centre.
CHANGES IN OLD
PLANS BENEFICIAL
New Location of Courthouse Will
Probably Give Better
Street Layout.

The plan for the new courthouse and
civic centre is one of such proportions
and OF such importance TO this city I'm
general that the Real Estate Board of
. New York recently appointed a special
committee 20 investigate this subject.
The committee reported to the board Of
governors at its last meeting. In adopt
ing this report the board Of governors
also moved that copy be sent to George
McAneny, chairman of the courthouse
board. and Marcus NJ. Marks. Borough
President of Manhattan
T. A. Tredwell is chairman OF the COM
mittee. the other members being II. n.
Murdoch. Joel s. De Selding II. II. Hazel
ton. Joseph Caccavajo and A. n. Glitter
man The technical work OF the com
mittee was done by Mr.. Caccavajo, one
of the foremost civil engineers OF this
country and H. IL. Murdoch. leading
architect. of the firm of Jardine, Hill &
Murdoch
II is now proposed TO acquire consid-
orably more land 20 the south and cast
OF the property already acquired for the
courthouse site. says the committee. AS
originally planned. the courthouse was
TO be located at the intersection OF Centre
and Worth SITS. These two streets were
10 be carried through the building, prac-
tically in the same manner as. in Phila-
delphia. Broad and Market SITS, intersect
the City Hall.
The property already acquired was Sc
cured with a view 10 straddling ooth
Worth and Centre SITS.
The courthouse site is now BENG
cleared. but owing TO many reasons 1t IS
now proposed to change the courthouse
location. and the Board of Estimate VIII
be requested 10 make it possible for the
courthouse board to acquire more land
10 the cast of that already secured, so
the courthouse may be centred TO the east
and slightly TO the south OF the hrst pro-
posed location.
The opinion Of your committee con-
cured in by the expert members OF sara
oommittee-Joseph Caccavajo, consulting
engineer, and ". II. Murdoch, architect
is that no more land should be acquired
or ANYTHING further done in preparing
MANS or street layouts until thorough
study is made of sub-surface conditions
i'm and around the property already ac-
duired by the city. which can only be done
by making test boTings. Apparently there
is no one who knows at what depth the
rock is 20 be found. We know the norm
end of the Municipal Building is not on
rock. as it was found Impossible 10 SINK
caissons deep enough TO reach bedrock
ANY proposition which contemplates
building such as the proposed new Court
fn
the material i'm which the foundation is
TO be laid is obviously mistake, and the
cost Of making borings is a small Item
compared with the proposed cost OF the
improvements. and we cannot understand
why these borings We're not made before
the land was acquired.
The commission estimates the building
will cost s1O,OO0,O00. or rather il was stated
the cost would be kept within sl0eD'Vo.
This was divided as follows: 5000" for
the building, 100000 for foundations and
81 10000 for contingencies.
In discussing the matter with an au-
thority, a member of your committee
understood this estimated s1O,W0VO COW
cred only the bare neutrality-suspicious. any
ornamentation, no statuary, no frescoed
81.
ture or court equipment. What this may
add 10 the cost is most difficult to say
Door hardware for single pairs of doors
in the interior of the Hall Of Records
cost $50 a set, .he same price that single
mahogany desks cost in the same place.
Il is estimated that the property as 1t
stands to-day involves 100000 for the
building and 100000 for the land al
ready acquired and the new property
now wanted will cost approximately ST.
10000 additional. However, the resale OF
property not needed after q sufficient
plaza surrounding the building is pro-
yided, II is expected, will more than COM
pensate the city for tho additional cost
Of the extra land TO be acquired. This Is
a real estate proposition that remains TO
be demonstrated.
We believe the general layout of the
Court House and streets and blocks sur
rounding II, as now prepared by the
Court House Board for presentation to the
Board of Estimate. can be decidedly I'M
proved upon as We can indicate If the
board of governors Of the Real Estate
Board so desire. Yet the first thing TO
do before considering any present plans
or modification is certainly 20 definitely
determine the exact nature or the sub
surface and the exact location Of the
rock.
At the present time, considering the
financial condition OF the city and the
extraordinary expense naturally IN
VOWED. and I'm order that this expense
may not become unbearable. we are firm
Nv of the opinion that none Of the eX-
uense OF the new Court House should be
left to chance or to future development
when II is possible to prevent sucn eX-
penss. but there should be present IN
,estigation made of the needs OF the
Court House which will itemize the cost
of not only all parts Of the building, but
also the necessary equipment OF same
which Is always done in private construc-
ton work.
Your committee believes II wise for the
Real Estate Board of New York to go on
record with the above suggestions and
with the preliminary one for immediate
action In suggesting to the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionment and the
Court House Board. that before any fur
Their action is taken money be appropri-
s,ed for series of test borings around
the territory of the Court House site.
Such borings. we are advised should not
cost over $4,000.