New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-18
City Officials and Realty
Interests Discuss ReviS-
ing Project.
STRONG FOUNDATION
CAN BE LAID
Every Possible Economy Will
Be Effected in Carrying
Out Contracts.
BY Advisory Council of Real Estate
Interests.


proceeding with the Courthouse project
eliminated in a conference this week
between the city officials and represen-
tativeS Of the Advisory Council of Real
Estate Interests. The city admnistra-
tion was represented by Mayor Mitchell
Controller Prendergast. President Nc
Aneny and President Pounds, while
MeSsrs. William l.. De Bost. Frederick
II. Ecker, Alfred +. Marling. Clarence
II. Kelsey, Cyrus c. Miller and Charles
A. Peabody represented the real estate
interests. After considering the vari-
Gus aspects of this entire subject, the
discussion resolved itself into an en-
deavor TO ascertain just how ineXpens-
lively the courthouse itself could be
constructed. Since the city had already
been committed TO the purchase of the
land for the new site and title had
vested, il seemed almost impossible TO
give up the present site, without It's
costing the city much more than build
inc the Courthouse upon IT, In TACT,
since 1903 every step taken has been
approved by the Courthouse Board and
the Board of Estimate, so that legally
the construction of the courthouse IT.
self is mandatory. Although the con-
ference carefully considered every an
gle Of the courthouse proposition, the
discussion itself might briefly be d.
vided into four phases.
The first covered the question as 10
whether or not suitable foundations
existed upon the present site for the
construction of a courthouse. Both
Daniel f. Moran, the well known con
sulting engineer on foundations. and +.
2. Goodrich, Chief Engineer OF the Dor
ough of Manhattan, assured the CON
ferrees that comparing the conditions at
the site selected with conditions else
where upon Manhattan Island, south OF
Fourteenth Street, they had no hesita-
ton in saving that for economical ana
satisfactory foundations no more aa,
vantageous site of equal extent could
he found. Mr. Moran submitted a gen.
eral statement in reference to the same
in which he states that no rock exists
above the elevation of 100 feet DeIo"
street level but that everything the rock
there were sand and coarse gravel. In
his opinion sand furnishes an admlra-
HE material for foundations, Tor some
of the largest and tallest buildings IN
New York are founded on extensive
he'd, of sand. For example, the north-
ern part of the Municipal buiIoihS
rests entirely upon sand. AIthoueh
hOT1DUS snow DOlllOl4S Va bN
deriving the Criminal Courts and the
Tombs buildings, there is practically no
roat or clay under the proposed size
Tor tho courthouse. The actual cost
cf the foundation is estimated by Mr
Moran as equivalent to S.O2OS per cuDlc
foot Of building above grade, as com.
rered 10 S.O83, the cost per CUBIC 100
If STRUCTURE for the Municipal Build
inc Thus il seems reasonably certain
nat tho foundations upon the new sue
AFRO ADEQUATE for the courthouse
Tho next phase Of the subject con,
sidered was as TO the adVlsaOilIE, VI
disseminating the entire pfoJecI' H.H
il is understood that the title 10 -
entire site has already vested IN Ihe
cltv AZ a cost, including interest ana loss
Of taxes. of Sl2 100000, 1t seemed uouD,
fpl whether the land acquired couiu
a@air he sold without a loss of at least
"a ner cent. Considering the depreS-
sion in the real estate market, II was
oven then questionable whether the
e;te could be sold, and, If sold IN smaA
lots. whether the dumping OF such
large real estate plOttage upon the mar
lot would not be attended with fur'
tber denression. There is no doubt
that nroperty owners within the VlcIh
ity of the new site have, Tor the laS'
four years, been developing their prop,
ertv in accordance with the plans VI
the city. Since they have been ASSURED
that such an improvement would lSh'
Mace. the possibility OF innumerdoit
iaws,its with large damages, would
49, 20 no considered. In case the site
should be abandoned, il would be neces,
sary to have the Legislature rescinG
Tho courthouse act, and II is douDtlui
whether public sentiment, supported Dy
the judiciary and the legal fraternity
would approve of any such change; III
the mean time interest upon Sl2,5OO'O0l
would accumulate at the rate OF az
nor cent. When 1t is comprehendeo
that the remainders after the court
house will have been built may brlng
hack 10 the city an amount somewhere
between 100000 and S5,OOO'oOO'
seemed advisable, when all clrcum
stances were analysed, to utlllze tht
present site In other words tht
courthouse project had proceeded SC
far that il would be as expensive, If not
more so, TO give up the present sue a.
IN utilize il for the courthouse, al
though in many respects the steps
taken to acquire the site OUTSIDE OF
civ Hall Park do not have the ap
nroval OF real estate interests.
The third aspect of the discussion
rolated TO the possibility Of employing
a norton of the present CITY nan ram
for an addition TO the old courthouse
while retaining part Of the proposed
site for a public park, selling the re-
mainder Of the proposed site 10 pay
for the addition 10 the courthouse. inns
in itself would naturally be but tenn
norarv measure, until the financial con
dition of the city would warrant inc
construction of better building. Inc
utilization Of City Hall Park Tor
courthouse was strongly emphasized
However, when il was. recognized thal
public sentiment recently dlsapProVeO
of such action by the city whiIe tht
sale of any portion OF the PROPOSE
ito AZ the present time could only De
made at a great loss, II was ueGIuru
that the better policy would be TO nave
C;tv Hall Park retained entirely foI
ARK purposes, because of the conges-
i;or of traffic from the bridges, sub
,ysvs cite. as we'll as because OF us
convenient location. 81, -,
The conference concluded with the
decision that real estate interests ahI
the city administration would inSis'
that every possible economy should DC
Effected in the construction OF the
Courthouse itself. Since title mac
vested and foundations were adequate
- seemed desirable 20 prosecute the
work 10 an immediate finish, so as 70
take advantage of the possible cheap
encd cost of construction at this time
II is generally recognized in building
circles that during times of business
depression it is wise TO avail ones
S oe}f of low prices and bids, for con
tractors are often willing to do the
work for less profit than in prosperous
40 moot overhead charges