Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections: The Real Estate Record

Real estate record and builders' guide: v. 82, no. 2127: December 19, 1908

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December 19, 1908 RECORD AND GUIDE 1259 CANAVAN BROTHERS CO. Excavators and House Shorers The importance of the work done by the excavator in tlie erection of the giant arcliitectural creations of the twentieth century is frequently overlooked in the admiration for the finished structure. The stability of the building depends very largely upon the foundations, and the strength of these depend, in turn, very largely upon the preparation made for thera. In Manhattan, where the peculiarities of the sub-soil often de¬ mand tiiat the excavation go down forty or fifty feet through solid rock, tlie engineering problems attending the operations are both complicated and full of difficulties. The contractors who execute the contracts to excavate and shore for the modern "cloud scratchers," as the Germans call our skyscrapers, must be skillful, indefatigable and resourceful. Needless to say they must be provided with the latest appliances, such as pneuraatic and electric drills, derricks, blasting devices, etc. The shoring of adjoining buildings and the care required to avoid damaging them to the least degree call for efficiency of the highest order. The Canavan Brothers, 518 West 5Gth st, who have prepared the way for the construction work on some of the flnest build¬ ings in New York, thinlt that the owner or general contractor exercises economy in employing a concern that does the work scientifically and expeditiously. Their plant at the address noted is large enough to handle any job ever given out in New York. The amount of machinery kept on hand and the number of men employed, added to tiie long experience of the flrm in this line of work, enable the management to execute several large contracts at the same time. Rapidity without the sacriflce of safety is wliat counts these days in every phase of con¬ struction work. The reputation of Canavan Brothers among architects and general contractors is too well known to need explanation. The facilities of the Canavan Brothers Co. and their motto of "Never procrastinate—do the work to-day." explain the unin¬ terrupted chain of brilliant achievements whicii has character¬ ized their work for the many years that they have been ex¬ cavating and shoring in the metropolis of Araerica. The record made by the company in removing the solid rock from the site of the new Fifth Avenue Building, Broadway and 23d st. was noted in a special article in the Record and Guide last sumraer. The contracts secured this year alone indicate that the Canavan Bros, are awarded the big ones, those invoiving great obstacles and responsibilities. Mention of four of these—the excavating for the Fifth Avenue Euiiding, for the Belnord Apartment House, the addition to the Hotel Astor and the Maxine Elliott Theatre—justifies this statement. The Belnord will be the largest housekeeping apartment house in the world, and the site takes up an entire city block, extending from Broadway to Amsterdam av, between SGth and 87th sts. The blasting of the huge boulders of rock for the Belnord was a six months' con¬ lract, but it was completed in two-thirds of that time. The addition to the Hotel Astor not only involved much heavy blast¬ ing, but also the danger of damaging the magnificent original plant adjoining on one side and private residences on the other side. Foresight, care, skill and the best machinery are required above all things in such a contract as this. The Maxine Elliott Theatre was a rush job, and Canavan Brothers were at work there on one part of the site while the walls were rising on another part. Work of recent years included the excavations for the "Apthorp," the palatial apartment house erected for the Astors on the city block bounded by Broadway, West End av, 7Sth st and 79th st, a contract completed in flve months quicker than the contractors expected, as it was thought to be a year's under¬ taking; the excavations for the Brunswick Building, at Madison square and 26th st, one-flfth of the site being solid rock, but which took the company only six weeks to complete. Enumera¬ tion might be raade indefinitely of the excavations and shoring work accomplished by these indefatigable brothers, David P., John F. and Maurice J. Canavan, who have been engaged in this work for the past twenty flve years. 518 West 56th St., New York City. Phone 450O Columbus. EAST ORANGE, N. J.—Hyman Rosen¬ sohn, Broad st, Newark, is working on plans for two apartment houses, to have all modern improvements, except Steam heat. David Boenninger will be the owner of one to be located in Valley st. East Orange. This will be a 3-sty structure, partly frame construction, tbe exterior being stucco on metal. The estimated cost is $10,000. The other apartment house being designed by Mr, Rosensoiin will be owned by E. Himber, and located at Bigelow and Hunterdon sts. The esti¬ mated cost is $10,000. Banlcs. ROCHESTER, N. T.—Messrs. York & Sawyer, 156 5th av, Manhattan have pre¬ pared plans and will talie figures after Jan. 1, for a 10-sty addition 47xG0 ft, to the bank and office building for the Rochester German Insurance Co. NASHVILLE, TENN.—Plans have been completed by Mowbray & Uffinger, 92 Liberty st, Manhattan, for a 5-aty bank and office building. 45x100 ft, to be erected at Nashville, for the Union Bank and Trust Co. Estimated cost is $150,- OOO. The architect will take bids. BLOOMFIELD, N. J.-The Bloomfield Trust Co. bas just purchased a site at Bloomfield and Glenwood avs. It is in¬ tended to erect a handsome building suit¬ able for banking purposes on the plot. Offices will be located on the second and third floors. No plans have yet been prepared or contracts let. Churches. JERSEY CITY, N. J.—Members of the Second Reformed Church of Hudson City, according to reports, have accepted plans prepared by A. P. Heidt, of Newark, for an edifice to be erected at a cost of $45,- 000. CANASTOTA, N. Y,—Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church are having plans prepared by Merrick & Randall, Syracuse, N. Y., for a 1-sty and basement church, 80x94 ft., of gray pressed briclc and stone, witli slate roof, to cost about $35,000, ARKPORT, N. T.—The Presbyterian congregation lias appointed the following building comraittee to secure plans and estiraates for a new brick church; Nor¬ man Wheeler, Jolm Taylor, S. W. New- some, Lester Conderman and W. M. Hurl¬ burt. Architect will be retained at once. BATAVIA, N. Y.—The First Baptist congregation. Rev. Paul Hayne, pastor, will commission an architect to prepare pians for additions to the Sunday School. Two stories, probably concrete construc¬ tion. Plans to be submitted with esti¬ mate of cost at the annual churcli meet¬ ing, to be held Dec. 30. LIBERTY, N. Y.—The First M. E. Church, Rev, J. Tredinnick, pastor, are considering the erection of a new parish house to cost about $10,000. Local archi¬ tects and builders are submitting plans in competition for this building. Size of plot, 50x100. The materials of construction have not been decided upon. VERONA, N. J.—Bids will be received by Clinton D. Baldwin, chm. building committee of the M. E, congregation, Bloomfield and Lakeside avs, until 10 A. M., Dec. 30, for the erection of a church. Plans can be seen at office of chairman and at Builders' Exchange, Newark, N. J. W. R. Brown, architect, 5439 Superior st, Chicago, 111. BROOKLYN,-Messrs. Allen & Collins, architects, of Boston, Mass., are taking estimates on the construction of the Plat- bush Avenue Congregational Church, at Dorchester road and East ISth st, Brook¬ lyn. Pians provide for a brick and stone building, li^-stys, 75x100, with an ex¬ tension, that will provide for Sunday school rooms, kitchen and church parlors. Approximate cost, $'(^,000. Competitions. SHILOH, GA.—The Pine Mountain Tuberculosis Sanatorium will receive plans and bids until Jan. 1, for a san¬ atorium to consist of 4-room cottage for administration building and dwelling for superintendent and attendants. Address Secretary Pine Mountain Sanatorium, Shiloh. Ga. BUFFALO. N. Y.—Invitations will soon be extended by the Grover Cleveland Me¬ morial Committee to sculptors to submit competitive designs for the bronze statue, in sitting posture, of the late President, Grover Cleveland, to be installed in the Franklin st front of the City and County Hall, Buffalo, N. Y, The comraittee in ehar-ge consists of Thomas B. Lockwood, Carleton Sprague, John L. Clawson, Chas. W. Goodyear, Jacob L. Siegrist, Louis P. Puhrmann, J. J. Albright, and H. H. Sey¬ mour. ALBANY, N. T.—The Soldiers" and Sailors' Monument commission has selec¬ ted the Washington Park site, Albany, on which to erect a monument. Con¬ struction to be stone and bronze. Com¬ petitive designs will soon be called for. Competition will be limited to seven competitors. Six of the competitors to receive $500 each and the seventh com¬ petitor to receive the commission to pre¬ pare designs. Designs to be submitted to flve judges, three of the judges to be appointed by the commission and two judges to be appointed by the competing' architects or sculptors. HARTFORD, CONN,—The Hartford high school commission, consisting of Archibald A. Welch, chairman, Thos. S. Weaver, secretary and treasurer, Thos. F. Kane, Adolph W. Gilbert and Fred¬ erick P. Ford, appointed to select a site and procure preliminary plans, has In¬ vited the following architects to submit plans in competition: Brocklesby & Smith, Davis & Brooks, George Keller, of Hart-