Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections: The Real Estate Record

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April 14, 1900. RECORD AND GUIDE. 635 "Generally, it has been more favorable to. the investor, for in every change of the building laws there has been an invariable tendency to.improve methods and to elevate the standard re¬ quired even in ordinary structures. Buildings of every class and character bave been benefited by the changes in the building lawa. consquently real investors bave proflted. The stability of Htruotures is greater than ever before. Tbe stringent flreproof requirements are a protection to life as well as to real estate interests. The buildings require less repair, and consequently make smaller Inroads upon the gross income. It is a significant fact that investors are seeking the highest class of modern flre¬ proof structures, in many instances purchasing new buildings of this character before tbey are finished, in order (for one rea- .son) thafthey may personally see every known modern conveni¬ ence installed therein." "Well, how has the new Code operated, so far as the Public is concerned?" "No dissatisfaction has been expressed by owners, architects or builders. The general consensus of opinion seems/to be that the Code is satisfactory in every respect," "Does the Department need any assistance from the public or the building trades to increase its efficiency and service lo the public?" "I do not think that the Department In Itself requires assist¬ ance in Its workings, but tbe Department does imperatively re¬ quire the co-operation of tbe general public, or architects, own¬ ers and builders, in the carrying out of its regulations and tb.-i full requirements of the building laws. This new building Code was passed to regulate a special class of business, namely, build¬ ing, and I most earnestly ask the co-operation of all concerned in the building buaineas, either directly or indirectly, by full com¬ pliance with the spirit aa well as the letter of the law. and I am ready at all times—in fact, anxious—to hear frora anyone who has a grievance to present or a suggestion to offer." "I understand the Department is now more heavily taxed in special ways than it used to be. For instance, are many appli¬ cations being made for searches from parties who desire to make loans on property?" "Yes, an unusually large number. They require the services of a clerk continually fllling out search papers. This feature of the Depar'tment was instituted during my former administration, and it has become a universal practice in passing title to make a search of te records of this Department, this rule being followed by investors and attorneys alike," 1 By this time it waa too late to detain longer even a hard- ■working and ready official. The building in which the Depart- partment of Buildings ia located was entirely deserted and closed and the Commissioner waa driven to the aid of a latch-key to lib¬ erate himself and hie Interviewer. STATISTICS OF BUILDING WORK. Compiled for the Record and Guide by the Building Departmant. OPERATIONS POR THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31, 1900. Plans and Speciflcations for New Builciings Filed, Estimated Plaus, Bldgs. cost. Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. . . 247 331 :fl2,30(!,K(i5 Borough of Brooklyn.................. 377 584 2,803.377 Boroughs of Queens and Richmond...... 214 248 872,572 Totals........................... 838 1,163 $16,042,814 Plans and Specifications tor Alterations to Buildings Filed, Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx... 641 704 ;j;1,02H,716 Borough of Brookiyn.................. .521 399 41)2,926 Boroughs of Queens and Richmond...... 31S 350 138,434 Totals . :........................1,480 1,653 !|;2,231,0T6 QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31, 1900. In progress Cora- Com- Mar 31. New Buildings. menced, pleted. 1900. Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx... l-ioA 591 2,346 Borough of Brooklyn.................. 564 314 3,457 Boroughs of Queens and Richmond...... 24& 261 714 Totals ...........................1.166 1,166 6,517 Alterations. Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx... 523 451 531 Borough of Brooklyn.................. 5f;3 267 894 Boroughs of Queens and Richmond...... 350 157 430 Totals ............................1,436 875 1,861 QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31, 1899. In progress Com- Com- Mar 31, New Buildings. menced, pleted. 1809. Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. . . 73S 562 2,142 Borough of Brooklyn.................. S77 548 2,292 Boroughs of Queens and Richmond...... 305 133 563 Totals ............................1,920 1,243 4,997 Alterations. Boroughs of Manbattan and the Bronx... 555 488 470 Borough of Brooklyn.................. 622 323 628 Boroughs of Queens and Richmond...... 419 280 296 Totals ...........................1,590 1,086 1,394 ANOTHER ADVOCATE OF FIREPROOF WOOD. 'We'learn that Mr. Brainerd, of the famous flrm of architects, Carrere & Hastings, had declared that wood treated by the Elec¬ tric flreproofing process was firmer and lasted longer than un¬ treated wood, we sent a reporter to glean further information on so important a matter. Mr. Brainerd declared tbat be was convinced by patching the effect of constant wear upon a wooden stairway built of Electric fireproofed wood four years ago, that the treatment tended to harden the wood and vastly improve its quality, "The stairway I refer to," confined Mr. Brainerd, "leads to a gallery of very rare and costly paintings. The fireproofed wood was ordered by the owner as some protection in case of fire. I knew the wood was fireproof, but I was not quite certain that the steps would stand the wear caused by the constant walking up and down them of the many visitors to view the pictures. I have watched those steps closely during the past four years, and although thousands of people have passed up and down them tbey show scarcely any signs of wear, and, moreover, although exposed to changes of at¬ mosphere, they bave never warped or shrunk, but every piece of "wood is true and firm in its place as it was when the staircase was flrst flnished. This fact convinces me tbat in Electric fire¬ proofed wood tbe public has a new building material of very great value." MASTER CARPENTERS. Tbe Master Carpenters' Association of thia city haa been recent¬ ly organized into a live up-to-date Association, which meets monthly at the Townsend Building, Broadway and 25th st, in the Building Trades' Club rooms, ■when the mutual interests of the trade and all those employing carpenters are discussed, and individual expressions of opinions are heard. The next raeeting will take place May Ist. A committee has been formed to protect individual members, as far as possible, from any unjust dis¬ criminations. The treasury is in good condition. The fees are quite nominal for the benefit and returns, being but .f30,00. The Association has a separate office in the Townsend Building, which is always open during business hours with attendants in charge. The membership roll contains most of tbe best known names in the trade, and the o.fflcers of the Association are the following: Robert Christie, President; William S. Miller, Vice-President; A. O. Nason,2d "Vice-President; James S, Herrmann, Secretary; Will- lam C. Smith, Treasurer. Trustees for 3 years: John L, Hamil¬ ton, William A, Hoe, Edwin Outwater; for 2 years, John Downey. Hugh Getty. William C, Smith; for 1 year, Donald Mitcheii, Hen¬ ry H. Trenor, Lewis Harding. CommitteesiOrganlzation, Edwin Outwater, H, H, Trenor, J, I. Downey, J. H, MacDonald, E. L, Gridley. Arbitration: Hugh Getty, Jobn L. Hamilton, Edward Jeans. S, K. McGuire, Mr, liiley, of Norcross Bros, Financei John Downey, Lewis Harding, C, W. Hoffman. Legislative: W- A. Hoe, Donald Mitchell, W. A, Hankinson, J. R, Voorhis, W. S. Miller. Real Estate Market. As ithe time approaches for tbe auction sale of the Fifth Avenue Hotel and tbe Madison Square Theatre interest In the fact increases, especially as the two properties are to be offered as one parcel. The large plot of land on which they stand has an area of 49,333 square feet. No piece of property of equal value has ever been offered at auction jn this city, so that thia occasion will be an event of flrst importance in the history of New York realty. Diagram showing location and area of parcel will be found on another page, with terms of sale, and otber par¬ ticulars can be obtained at the offices of the executors of tbe late Amos R. Eno and the auctioneer, Peter P. Meyer, both at No. Ill Broadway, lr »• - ■----------- -------- Next in importance to the Eno estate parcel, among auction of¬ ferings, is the old Delmonico building. Broadway, 5th av. and 26th St., which is also to be offered on the.26th inst, by Peter F. Meyer. It would be decidedly like carrying coal to the mines to tell tbe realty world that this is a choice and valuable prop¬ erty. The property is so well known that it is only necessary to refer readers to the announcement of the sale in our business pages, and to those who can convey tbe necessary information as to terms of sale, etc. They are the auctioneer; Evarts,. Choate & Beaman, No. 52 Wall St., and Douglas Robinson & Co., No, 55 Liberty st. Peter P, Meyer announces for Tuesday of the coming week the partition sale of Nos. 1277. 1456, 1458 and 1400 Broadway, and Nos. 340 (corner 21st st). 763 and 80(5 Oth av., and for Thurs¬ day next, also in partition, the saie of No, 33 Maiden lane and the lease of No. 35 Maiden lane. No, 177 Greenwich st, No. 46 Harrison st, aud No, 111 Ciinton pl or West 8th st. Applications for maps and full particulars should be made to the auctioneer at No. Ill Broadway. Wm, Temple Emmet and P. Chauncey Anderson, attorneys, No, 27 William st, will also answer Inquiries regarding Tuesday's sale, and Charles J McDermott, No. 155 Broadway, as to Thursday's sale. James L, Wells announces in our business pages the auction sale of 50 lots on 3d, Monterey and Lafontaine avs and 17Ttb and 178th ats. on Tuesday next. The location is a particularly live one, being near an L station, and opposite Crotona Park «nd the