Evening journal., 1915-09-01


The completion Of the new Equi-
table building at 120 Broadway, New
York, marks an interesting event in
the history OF builCing construction.
II is the creates accomplishment n
all commercial architecture, and it is
a worthy tribute to the men who sue
cessfully carried it to completion.
Someone has likened the great
Equitable Building to a city within a
city; others have characterized it as
the worlds latest wonder, while the
Wall Street brokers refer to it in
terms of finance as "the big issue"
From standpoint of historic in
terest there are many buildings that
would excite more curiosity. There
are mausoleums and mosques that
tell fascinating stories of love and
devotion and there are monuments
that bear testimony to the power and
splendor of ancient kingdoms and
empires; but in all history as far
back as the misty regions of roA
nance and fable, the Equitable Build
ing must be regarded as the great
est achievement in edifices of a bus
mess character that man has ever
produced.
Fancy a single building in which
Is represented more wealth, a great
er variety of occupations and more
space devoted to business than in
all the office buildings of an ordi-
nary city of one hundred and fifty
thousand inhabitants, then you have
fair idea of the magnitude of New
| aHH to -
skyscrapers. The great building cov-
ers an entire block from Pine to Ce-
dar streets, and from Broadway TO
Nassau street. 1t towers five hun
dred and thirty-seven feet, six inches.
above the curb and below the curb
there are fifty feet devoted TO the
purposes of the building. Expressed
differently, thirtyseight stories are
above ground and three below. There
are sixty-two offices to each floor in
the building. The maximum depth
of each Office is twenty-three feet.
and the space is divided to suit the
tenants.
Being located at the centre Of the
most expensive real estate values in
New York, the problem was to pro-
duce the greatest income-producing
structure possible. 1t was not con-
sidered business prudence to build a
high tower for the sake Of archi-
tectural beauty, but rather to plan a
building in which every foot of space
could be utilized.
The exterior in architectural de-
sign is classic and inspired from tie
best examples of Greece and Rome.
The first four stories are white gran
ite with terra-eotta to match for
three stories more. The other thirty
stories are of porcelain-faced light
gray brick with terra-cotta trim
mings.
There are taller buildings in New
York, but when it is considered that
the thirty-eight stories of the Equi-
table all cover an entire block, its
justification to be designated the
worlds greatest Office building is
readily recognized.
The new Equitable Building is.
without doubt, the most wonderful
piece of accurate building construc-
tion of modern times. 1t is stated
that the largest variation in any part
of the new building as completed
from the final plans of the architect
is three-eighths of an inch.
1t is estimated that fifteen thous-
and people will earn their living
within the walls of this new building.
These people will draw every rate of
wages, from that of the errand boy
who earns five dollars a week, to the
salary paid the head of a great cor
poration. amounting to fifty thous-
and dollars or mere a year, ana there
are few lines of industry that will
not be represented. It will contain
banks. the Equitable Life and As
surance Society. railroad offices.
manufacturing, professional men of
all classes, and representatives of
every kind of merchandising.
The cost of the Equitable Building
was approximately fourteen million
dollars, and the reNl estate is valued
at fifteen million dollars, making a
total valuation of the property of
itwenty-nire million dollars. The
wealth within its walls. when it is
fully occupied, will exceed that of
ninety per cent. of the American cit
les, and mole than that of some of
the smaller States.
The administration Of the Equita-
BILE Building bears a close resemb-
lance to that of a municipality. It
has its civil service, its police and
fire departments, its street cleaning
department, its ice plant. its water.
heating and lighting departments.
The elevator service is very similar
to the street railway system of 5 city.
There are forty-eight elevators in six