1200





The  Record  and  Guide.





September 24, 1887





Another Fire-proof Storaqe Wareliouse.

A very important improvement is contemplated by a syndicate of capi¬
taUsts about to be formed into a corporation. They are having plans pre¬
pared by Hubert, Pirsson & Co. for an enormous fire-proof storage ware¬
house, which is to occupy the entire frontage of 420 feet on»33d street,
between 4th and Lexington avenues, and have additional frontages on both
avenues of 80 feet. The warehouse is fco be not only novel in construction,
but is to be new in its manner of shipping goods to and fro. The great
feature of the buUding will be that it will contain isolated iron boxes fitting
to each compartment. These boxes wiU be taken from their respective
compartments, lowered to a truck by elevator, forwarded to fcbe residence
or business building from which the goods are to be taken, packed into tbe
box in fronfc of the door, locked by the shipper of the goods aud the key
taken charge of by him. The goods will then be taken back in the box to
the warehouse, hoisted by the elevator and rolled back on a track into its
proper compartment again awaiting the order of its owner. This is cer¬
tainly a splendid idea and will meet with success on the very face of it,
for what wUl be more satisfactoiy to the owner of goods thau to know that
he has the key to his belongings in his pocket, safely guarded and intrenched
behind fire proof walls.

A general description of the proposed building will, no doubt, be of
interest. The building will be of brick and terra cotta, and 100 feet
high. The architecture will be that of the castellated Roman. Ic wiU
contain ten stories. Tbe entrance for all goods wUl be on 4th avenue
the exit on Lexington avenue. The firsfc floor will contain the receiving
room, safe deposit vaults, sales and auction rooms and delivery room, the
balance of the space being utUized by thirteen stores, which are expected
to yield quite a revenue. The second floor wUl contain the offices of lhe
company, which will be on the 4th avenue corner, adjoining which
there will be a bank. One of the features of tbe undertaking is that it is
proposed to loan on goods stored if desired, and to seU them at auction, in
whole or iu part, if so requested by the owner.

The floors above the second story wiU each contain 193 fire-proof com¬
partments of different sizes, so as to accommodate customers of every
description. These compartments, besides being fire-proof, will each con¬
tain a pipe communicating with a large main flue, so that in case of fire
the couflagration wUl be confined to the one compartment, the flames and
smoke passing safely through the main flue without hindrance to any other
of the compartments. The tup floor will contain fifty-three fire-proof
safety rooms for the storage of ti'unks and other smaller packages.

It is proposed to make the building easy of access from 84th street
and Park aveuue by constructing a sidewalk on a level with thafc street
running to 33d street, where a stairway, easy of descent, wUl be placed
running down to a level with 4fcb avenue. Under this sidewalk, which will
be 20t) feet in length, all goods will enter the buildiug. The work of con¬
struction wiU probably be commenced thisfaU, the cost of the improvement
being estimated at upwards of $600,000.





Opposed to the Elevated Road.

The Elevated road wants more land. Engineer Greene has presented a
report to the Dock Board favoring the Manhattan in its request for permis.
sion to build a great coaling station and also a line of bulkheads on the
Harlem River, between 153d and 159th streets. Mr. Greene recommends
that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be asked to sell tbe railroad
company fifty-six lofcs under water, south of the proposed work, which the
city owns. To this enterprise, however, there is no little objection, and
there are threats of lawsmts if the project is carried out. Among the
complainants is the William Lynch estate, which owns a large amount of
property in the vicinity of the 155th sfcreet terminus of tbe raUroad. In
the last four years this estate it is said has expended half a million doUars iu
improvements to the vacant land and water front close to tbe ground now
wauted by the Manhattan, and they have sent a letter of protest to General
Newton, Commissioner of Public Works.





Little Houses with Plenty of Room.

Ten or fifteen years ago New York was largely a city of boarding-
houses, as many of us sorrowfully remember. DwelUngs, then, were too
large and expensive for families of moderate means to occupy strictly as
"homes." An improvemeut was made when '* flats " were introduced;
as was clearly shown by the rapidity with which the public rented tbera.
I have often thought, however, that the further step—that of erecting
small, comfortable and tastUy-finished dweUings at moderate rentals-
remained to be taken. Such a step has afc lasfc been taken in a choice
location uptown, and it is safe to say, not only thafc tbe houses will be
rapidly tenanted, but that they are the forerunners of a new era in New
York's homes.

The residences in question comprise a block of ten houses on the south¬
east corner of 89th street and Lexington avenue. They were designed for
W. Rhinelander, Esq., by Hubert, Pirsson & Co., architecfcs. Externally
they are quaint Queen Anne structures, with projecting bays and balconies
of dark brick, stone and terra cotta, and produce a charming effect.
What calls for special attention is the novel external arrangements. The
old-time high stoop structure, dating from the days when our grand¬
mothers made the basemeat their sitting-room and dining-room, has been
abandoned, and Mr. Rhinelander's houses ore entered through a spacious
haU—in reaUty a large reception-room, paneUed in quartered oak, walnut
or mahogany, and furnished with handsome spindle-work and tUed fire¬
place. At the end of this room is another haU, with quaint platform-stairs
(so easy to mount) leading to a parlor floor, which, foUowing the European
arrangement, is above. To the rear of these stairs on the ground floor is
StiU another hall (the third) leading to a cheerful, well-lit kitchen, fitted
with every possible convenience, behind which are short stairs aud a dumb¬
waiter communicating with the butler's pantry above, which opens into a
fine dining-room en suite with the parlor.   The parlor and dining-room





are handsomely decorated with hardwood, stained glass, and bric-Ji-brac
mantels over open grates of tiles and brass-work.

Above the parlors are four large bed-chambers, with spacious fitted
closets, a bathroom and two servants' rooms. The stairways and landings
are lit by a dome of stained glass. These houses are four stori.es high,
and, so far as the number of rooms is concerned, contain about the accom¬
modation of the largest and most expensive flats. But what a difference
in comfort, privacy, and much else that makes '*home," really " homel''
The rooms of the Rhiaelander houses are so large and well proportioned,
the stairs so easj and well lit, thafc one gets au impression of size that
makes it hard to realize that 12)4 feet is the limit of the frontage of each
dweUing. The houses have been built in a most substantial manner for a
permanent investment, and are certainly a great step forward towards the
era of perfect homes.                                                                         Lynx.





How to Draw a Contract.

An invaluable work for all dealers in realty is fouud in " The Guide to
Buyers and Sellers of Real Estate," by Counsellor Geo. W. Van Siclen.
This pamphlet, of only fifty-six pages, offers a complste solution of all the
complicated questions that arise iu drawing contracts. It discusses ques¬
tions of titles, liens, curtesy and dower rights, deeds, searches, etc., and
contains forms of contracts, and judicial decisions which, with f.ther general
information, will go far towards making every man his own lawyer. It
tells all aboufc fixtures, assumption of mortgages, apportionment of i-ents,
description of property, terms of payment, damages for failure to carry out
contracts, information on setting aside contracts for mistake or fraud, and
forms of deeds.     Published by The Record and Guide, 191 Broadway.

Price, 50 cents.

■---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------•—'-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To Increase the Knock-down Fees.

A communication has been sent to members of the Real Estate Exchange,
signed by twelve stockholaers. In substance ifc states that members of
the Board are already beginning to solicit proxies for the election of direc¬
tors ou 12th December, and the letter asks fchafc such solicitations be refused.
This request is made in view of a movement, now on foot, to increase the
revenues of the Exchange by increasing the knock down fees. The circular
states that at present the auctioneers derive the greatest benefit from the
Exchange, although they represent ouly $25,000 out of a capital of $500,-
OOO. It is thought tbat tbey should contribute more largely than they do
to the revenue. To effect this, ifc is proposed (accordiug to the letter) to
place " at least four non-professional directors on the Board, representing
the $475,000 of capital," and the co-operation of stockholders is solicted.
The signers of this letter are; J. Metzger, Marx Ottinger, Henry Hirsh, W
H. Whiting, Cornelius W, Luyster, Samuel McMillan, Charles Schultz, W.
C. Lesster, Thomas C. Higgins, Arnold Lustig, C. W. Henry and John R.
Foley.





New Members.

Wm. M. Deen, of 33 Beaver street and 1373 'Jth avenue, and John P.
Flanagan, of 146 Broadway, have beeu proposed as sfcock members of the
Real Estate Exchange. Thos. C. Smith, of IU Broadway, has been pro¬
posed as an annual member.





Wants and Offers at the Exchange.

(For the week ending Friday, September 23d.)
The items under the head of " wanted" are condensed statements showing
what sort of property the broker, whose "number" precedes the item,
wishes to secure for clients. The items under *' offered " give the location,
size, cost, and a brief description of the property offered for sale by the
broker whose '* number " precedes the item.

NO.                                                                WANTED.                                                          PBIOE

121 From 15th to 23d street, befcween 5th and Tth avenues.   House.

.................................................$35,000 to $35,000

184 In Sth or 9th Ward.    DweUing house and full lot.    Old build¬
ing may suit........................................13.ii00 to 18,000

337 $3,500 on second mortgage, six montbs or a year.    On  prop¬
erty woi'th $30,000 aud subject to first mortgage of $9,u00..
439 Above 59th street, between Madison aud Lexiugton avenues.

Four-story brown stone house.    About....................    25,000

468 Plot 50 to 75 feet front, from UOth to 135th street  between 5fch
and 8ih avenues, in exchange for a tenement in West 4ath

street.....................................................

1019 Betweeu 43d and 59Lh streets, Lexington and 5th avenues.    A

four-story brown stone residence; must be 30 foot front..,.    40,000
1019 In 19th Wai-d.    Four-story brown stoue residence; must be 35

feet front..........................................3u,000 to 40,000

1073 Between 34th and 50th streets, Stn and 4lh avenues. Three
lots, 75x100, which owner will improve to suit tenant for
long lease.................................................

OFFERED.

5 West 53d street,  No.   144.     Threestory,  high  stoop, brown

stone, 20x45x94.1.........................................    16,500

63 44th street. No. 554 West.    Four-story brick tenement.    Rent

for $600.    Must sell.......................................      6,500

63 Broadway, No. 15^0. between 44th and 45th streets.    To rent.

Large store, 23x100.    Rent................................      1,800

63 47fch street, between 6th aveuue and Broadway.    Three-story

brown stone house with extension.    For sale..............    20,000

63 Slst street. No.  346 West.    Threestory brown stone,  newly

painted and papered.    To rent............................      1,000

63 llth avenue, uear 48th street.    Four-story brick  tenement, 25

xSOxlOU.    For sale........................................    18,500

65 Broad street, No. 1*j2.    Now being altered.    Sfcores, offices and

flats to rent.    Plaus at office...............................

65 Pine street, No. 54.    Offices to let from $ 150 up...............

65 Broadway, Nos. 135 and 137.    A few offices to rent    WiU be

pufc in good order.    Low rent..............................

65 Broadway, No. 149.    Three light rooms on first floor.    Rent..      2,000

65 Broadway, No. 177.    Large basement to rent.................

65 Tremont, No. 1761 Washington avenue.    Rent................         480

67 Between 3'Jth and 34th streets,  5th avenue and  Broadway.

Four-atory high stoop house, 33x50x100....................    45,000

184 Near Exchange place, between Wall and Beaver aud New and

WUliam streets.   Old buUdings; when fuUy rented $30,0JO

per annum................,...............................  180,000