AN   EPOCH   MAKING  MANSION.







The mansion. No. 007 5th av, 51x9(1x100, of which a view is
given herewith, is one of the most remarkable now being con¬
structed in this city, for the reason that it represents the greatest
advance ever made at one step   in speculative house  building.

With enterprise and foresight, for which they are entitled
to great credit, the builders, John T, and James A. Farley,  con-







Charles C, Ttiain, .\rchitect.





NO. 907 PI'FTH AVENUE.

John T. and Jas.





ceived the idea of erecting a mansion in all respects eciual to
those built specially for the millionaire owners, and delivering
it flnished and complete to the opulent buyer. As an instance
of commercial building this stands by Itself, and marks an epocih
in the industry.

It is no exaggeration to say that this is the finest dwelling
ever built commercially, and it may be said generally that it
only differs from the mansions built by individual owners in that





the builders' great experience in high-class domestic construction
enables them to produce a more practical and superior residence.
The location, between 77th and 78th streets, is one of the best
in tbe city, it being in a section that is being improved by the
best architects acting for wealthy and fashionable people, and it
gives this house in particular a beautiful and uninterrupted view

into Central Park.

Senator   Wm.   A.   Clark    is    now
building,    on    the   north   corner   of
77th    street,    what    in    many    re-
t        speets is the most remarkable, and

is certainly the most costly dwell¬
ing ever erected in this city, and
probably the most costly modern
dwelling in the world. Within
the two blocks, beginning at
the northeast corner of 77th
■street, with Senator Clark's man¬
sion, and ending opposite the
79th street entrance to the park,
are the palatial homes of Van Den-
son Lawrence, H. H. Cook, J. D.
Fletcher and J. V. Brokaw. Taken
altogether these are architecturally
the two best-developed blocks on
upper Fifth avenue, and as a con¬
sequence land values there and in
the immediate vicinity are rising
rapidly. Construction of the house
is fireproof throughout, and the un¬
usually generous dimensions allow
the laying out of apartments quite
palatial in area. Por instance: the
drawing room is 23x47.6; the dining
room 25x38, x conservatory exten¬
sion; library. 23x28; chambers, 20x
23 to 18x19.6. The same expansive
ness characterizes the other dimen¬
sions of the fioors.

Nothing finer for receiving can be
imagined than the main fioor, which
contains drawing room, hall, 15x44.
wiCh orchestra gallery at one end;
morning room, dining room, conser¬
vatory, besides entresol and pantry
with dumb-waiters, communicating
with the serving room below, and
closets. The sleeping rooms, with
dressing and bath rooms, are inter¬
communicating, and arranged
ai-ound a large open hall on each
of the upper floors; and the ser¬
vants' quarters are isolated and
consist of 14 or 15 rooms, sewing
room and bath rooms. The billiard
room occupies the whole front of
the basement, and chef's, butler's
and housekeeper's rooms, and im¬
mense kitchen and offices are in the
ground floor at the rear of the re¬
ception room. Light in abundance
is everywhere procured, both by the
disposition of the building on the
plot and by the great open stairway
with its glass dome.

Regarding the sesthetic details, it
may be mentioned that the trim
contract is in the able hands of Geo.
C. Flint Co. The dining room is
designed for rich mahogany, which
will be an especially fine piece of crotch veneer; for the
dravring room and bedrooms enamel on hard woods has been
chosen, and for tbe library Flemish oak. The vestibule, main
ball and stairway wil! he paneled with veined statuary manble;
stair railings will be wrought iron with velvet-covered handrail.
Of the parquetry, mosaic floors, elevator, indirect heating,
open fireplaces of baronial proportions, plumbing, the art glass
and tbe bundred-and-one other details, it is not necessary to
say more than that they are in harmony with the high idea
upon  which   this enterprise is conceived.





A. Parley, Owners and Builders,