USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I > Part 135
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After considerable discussion, and after G. W. Wil- liams, of the 18th ward, and George Jennison, of the 24th ward, were added to the committee, the contract for the excavation for the cellar on the land for the new building was awarded to Thomas Glevcy, the low- est bidder, at thirty-five cents a cubic yard; the work to be commenced on the 21st of June, 1876, and com- pleted in twenty working days. This work was donc according to contract. All other contracts entered in- to by the special committee were required to be executed under the seal of the city, by his honor, the mayor.
On June 21st, 1876, by formal invitation of the Com- mittec on Ceremonies, the Mayor, Board of Aldermen, heads of municipal departments, and the officers there- of; the members of the Board of Supervisors, the county officers, and the public generally, were present at the ceremonies accompanying the breaking of ground for the new municipal building.
After the customary turning over of some sods of earth by the mayor and by Hon. Jolm French, the pres- ident of the Board of Aldermen and Chairman of the Building Committec, addresses were made by the Mayor, President French, Corporation Counsel Wm. C. De Witt, Supervisor Clarke and other officials.
Next in order was the selection of architects' plans for the building; cight of the architects presented their plans, which, on the 28thi of June, 1876, were reported to the Board of Aldermen. Those of John Mumford
538
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
Wm. B. Ditmars and Arthur Crooks were selected as being equally desirable. The matter laid over until a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen, held August 14, 1876, when John Mumford and Wm. B. Ditmars were appointed as joint-architects for the new muni- cipal building, at a total salary of $5,000 for the entire work.
This combination of architects proved very success- ful. Two entirely new plans were prepared; complete harmony prevailed, proving the selection to have been a peculiarly fortunate one. The skill and taste dis- played; the economy shown in every branch of the work, and the fidelity with which they have secured a proper performance of labor, earned for them the grati- tnde of the public. The architectural beauty and finish of the exterior of the building, and its adaptation of the interior to the purposes of its erection, are highly creditable.
On the 13th of the November following, Michael Dady was appointed, by the Common Council, inspector of the building during its construction, at a salary of $120 per month, from January 1, 1877; and his ample fitness for the position proved a source of reliance and satisfaction to the committee. After fourteen months' service he resigned to accept another trust; and there- after, until the completion of the building, Alderman French gave his entire time to the general supervision of the work.
On the 2d of October, 1876, bids were invited for the several branches of the work; and the committec found it necessary to modify the plans so as to bring the cost of the building below the cost of $200,000. On the 23d of October, 1876, contracts were awarded for the construction of the building, as follows: mason work, W. & T. Lamb, Brooklyn, $60,729; iron work, D. Y. Saxtan, Brooklyn, $35,034; nine thousand iron anchors, D. D. Boyce, Brooklyn, $540; marble work, John W. Masterton, New York, $28,200; plumbing and gas- fitting, James Harley, Brooklyn, $4,943; carpenter work, John Fallon, Brooklyn, $37,692.
Each of these parties gave satisfactory sureties in the penal sum of 50 per cent. of the amount of their respective bids, for the faithful performance of their contracts. They were drawn by corporation counsel De Witt, and executed by his honor the Mayor, on behalf of the common council. The time fixed in these contracts for the completion of the building, ready for occupancy, was February 1, 1878. On December 26, 1876, the contract for heating and ventilating the building was awarded to Messrs. Jamer, Jacobs & Co., of New York, for the sum of $11,330.
In his annual message for 1877, his honor, Mayor Frederick A. Schroeder, said : "The new Municipal Building is under contract and will be ready for occu- pation about the 1st of January, 1878. It will be an ornament to the city, and is admirably arranged to meet a want which has long been felt. It will be
entirely fire-proof, and the appropriation of $200,000 herctofore made is ample for its completion." As soon as the weather permitted in the spring of 1877, the contractors began forwarding the work. Steady and faithful progress was made by each contractor until the completion, which was practically effected on April 15, 1878, though the building was not formally accepted until a few weeks later.
There was in the process of erecting this building the nsnal strife, the usual mixture of political prejudice and desire of political preferment and aggrandizement, that always find their way in the history of the erection of most public buildings. Still, the work proceeded with little interruption; perhaps never was the details of the erection of a public building of this magnitude more carefully scrutinized than were these.
On the 6th of September, 1877, Alderman Murtha offered a resolution, which was unanimously adopted, by which a special committee of five members of the Board of Aldermen was appointed to investigate the manner of the execution of the contracts of the new Municipal Build- ing, with power to send for persons and papers. This committee consisted of C. L. Burnett, James T. Easton, David Acker and F. W. Phillips. After many meet- ings and the most searching investigations, and the intervention of other examiners, the committee, on December 24th, 1877, reported favorably upon the general work; stating that it compared favorably with the work on any other building of a like character in this country, both in manner of construction and the economy with which it was done.
" We believe," says the report, "that the city's interests have been well considered by the committee of this Common Council in charge of the construction, and that they have performed their part of the work honestly, faithfully and intelligently, and that they are entitled to the thanks of this Common Council, and of the city."
On the 4th of February, 1878, the building was so nearly completed that the landlords, or the agents of buildings occupied by the various municipal depart- ments, were notified that they would not be required by the city after April 30, 1878, provisions having been made for the said departments in the new municipal department building, and in the city hall. The entire cost of construction of the building was $199,979.48. (A view of the Municipal Building will be found on the illustrated title-page of this history.) We have already given the dimensions of the plot upon which the building stands.
The dimensions of the building are as follows : One hun- dred and one feet and one and one-half inches on Joralemon street; 148 feet on westerly line; 163 feet, 6 inches on the easterly line; 100 feet across the rear, with four stories and a cellar; the fourth story, mansard roof. Height of stories: First story, 18 feet in the clear; second story, 16 feet, 6 inches; third story, 15 feet, 6 inches; fourth story, 18 feet, to deck of roof.
539
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
It is in the Renaissance style of the French and Italian schools, with towers at each angle, and a center pavilion, the towers projecting 1 foot, 6 inches, and having a width of 14 feet, returning on east and west sides; the pavilion cen- ter projecting 4 feet, 6 inches, being 30 feet, 8 inches in width, with the center of the same broken with an 8-inch projection, 12 feet, 6 inches wide. The small towers are surmounted by broken segment cornices, ornamental dormers with pedi- ments and hood with crestings, and mansard roof with orna- mental crestings and flagstaffs sixty feet high. The decks of the towers are 84 feet above curb. The center pavilion is surmounted by a broken Mansard roof, main cornices as above. Ornamental deck cornices and a dome roof with finial, the highest point being 135 feet above curb. The entrances, three in number, are through the center or pavilion, with granite steps and platforms, the central entrance being 7 feet and those each side 5 feet wide; over the central entrance is a portico projecting 6 feet, with carved and moulded col- umns and pilasters, with raised bands, volutes and moulded bases, and granite pedestal bases. The columns are sur- mounted with moulded architrave, panelled ceiling, modil- lian cornice and Corinthian balustrade, panelled and moulded pedestals with ornamental urns, and stone roof with windows of center pavilion extending to said roof. The granite steps to entrance extend into an inner vestibule, the run being broken by two platforms of 4 and 6 feet each.
The outer entrances are secured by fancy wrought iron gates opening inward into the main vestibule through inner vestibule doors, which swing both ways with a Buckman patent spring hinge, and plate glass in upper panels. When in principal vestibule, which is 15x24, the passage is through under the arcade of same. This is supported by two 14-inch ornamental columns and two pilasters, from which arches are sprung, handsomely moulded and finished with archi- traves and key-stones. The passage is from thence to lobby under dome, 24x24 feet, which is lighted from roof with well openings in each floor above, around which are placed orna- mental iron rails with fancy newel posts and a double-hipped galvanized iron dome for skylight and ventilation. Passing on through the center arch, which is 10 feet wide (elliptic), the principal stairs are located, occupying a space, with cor- ridors between, of 28x39 feet, on each side of which is a flight of iron stairs 5 feet, 6 inches wide, with two platforms to each leading to each story; each lighted overhead in the roof by a skylight, 4x10 feet, to each well or cylinder, which is 3 feet wide. At foot of stairs on main corridor are placed orna- mental iron newels, 1 foot, 6 inches square and 6 feet high, upon which are placed bronze standard newel lights. Under these stairs are entrances by stairways to the basement, from corridors and tax collector's office to searchers' room in base- ment. The balance of the corridors which extend through the rear of the building, are 12 feet wide, from which large double doors open to the various departments. At the head of the principal stairs, and passing right or left of the divi- sion walls, towards the front, are private corridors leading to the private stairways for the use of the departments and di- visions of same, which occupy portions of the several floors; the walls on each floor under dome have circular corners. The first story corridor extends through, with an entrance on rear, with vestibule doors. At the center, on the west side of the building, is a tower 22 feet wide, 8 feet projection, surmounted with mansard roof, the deck of which is 88 feet above the sidewalk. The foundation walls of this building are started 10 feet below the curb."
In the first story, on each side of the center arch, are placed the following tablets, which are of black marble, with gilt lettering:
COMMENCED-1876.
Mayor,
FREDERICK A. SCHROEDER.
Marble,
JOHN M. MASTERTON.
Aldermen
JOHN FRENCH,
FRANCIS B. FISHER,
GEORGE W. WILLIAMS,
GEORGE JENNISON, JAMES DONOVAN.
Carpenter, JOHN FALLON.
Architects,
JOHN MUMFORD,
WILLIAM B. DITMARS.
Inspector,
MICHAEL J. DADY.
Plumbing and Gasfitting, JAMES HARLEY.
Completed-1878.
1876. 1878.
Over these tablets, in panels immmediately under each, and to the line of the abacus of the pilasters are placed white marble tablets, with gilt letters, as follows :
Tablet in Main Corridor.
Tablet in Main Corridor.
MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT
COST OF CONSTRUCTION, $197,979.48.
BUILDING.
May 1, 1878.
May 1, 1878.
Special Legislative Act.
Appropriation, $200,000.
How the Building is Occupied .- Cellar .- Con- tains boilers and engine room, store-rooms for Board of Health, Bureau of Streets and Board of City Water Works; Police drill-room, searcher's room; Tax depart- ment, etc.
First Story .- Occupied by Tax Collector (including the assessment room, bill room, cashier's department, the collector's and deputies' private offices, the Registrar of Arrears (public and private offices), the map room (fire-proof), the Registrar of Water Rates, cashier's de- partment (fire and burglar proof vault), etc.
Second Story .- Occupied by City Works, secretaries, two commissioners, chief clerk's room, waiting room, board room, president's room, storc-room and account- ant's room. Board of Health as follows: registrar's public and private offices, secretary's room, fire and burglar proof vault, vaccinating room, board room, waiting room, president's room, office of permits and complaints, inspector's room, Sanitary Superintendent's room and Counsel to the Board; Superintendent of Police detectives' private and public room, inspector's room, waiting room, superintendent's room, telegraph room, battery room and work room, sergeants' and muster rooms. Board of Assessors-General office, president's room and board room, etc.
Third Floor .- Board of City Works, chief engineer's department, bureau of repairs and construction, pur- veyor's department, etc .; bureau of streets and supplies, department of police and excise, etc.
Fourth Floor .- West sidewholly occupied by Police Department as follows: drill captain's room, two sleep- ing rooms for detectives, fire marshall and boiler in- spector, surgeon's room off corridor in front, reporters' room on east side.
CONTRACTORS :
Mason, WM. & T. LAMB, Jr.
Erected by the Common Council un- der the direction of
Iron,
D. Y. SAXTAN.
Heating and Ventilation, JAMER, JACOBS & CO.
540
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
The first telephone used for journalistic purposes was placed in the telegraph room of the board of police, in the new building, by the private enterprise of the Brook- lyn Daily Eagle and Union-Argus, on April 20, 1878. On the 20th of June, 1878, the department being in full occupation, the building was thrown open to public in- spection. Four days later, on June 24th, occurred the first disaster to the building, from the breaking of ground down to that time. A tremendous explosion shook the building, the city hall, court-house and other buildings in the neighborhood, reverberating through the city like an awful clap of thunder. This accident was caused by the carelessness of a gas-fitter employed in making some alterations in a vault on the third floor, by which the gas had been allowed to escape into the vault from 5 p.m. of the previous day until 9.30 a.m. of the 24th, when a clerk entering the vault to procure a book which had been called for, struck a match-and a fearful explosion followed, killing Mr. Oliver S. Vin- cent, a searcher of real estate titles; seriously injuring Wm. F. Code, a stamp clerk in the Tax Office, and in- flicting damage on several other persons; as well as doing immense damage to the vault and adjoining rooms. This explosion, however, fully tested the strength and perfection of the building.
Having briefly described the public buildings of the municipality of Brooklyn, we shall give, in a condensed form, a history of
The Legislative and Administrative Powers of the Corporation of the City, under its charter, passed June 28, 1873, and the various amendments thereto, with amendments down to and including 1877.
The legislative power of said corporation is vested in a board of aldermen, called the Common Council.
The Common Council .- The said charter and said amend- ments declares that, on and after the first Monday in January, 1876, the Common Council shall consist of onealderman, to be elected from each ward of the city; that there shall be elected at the general election to be held in the year 1875, and again in 1876, and at each election every two years after the elec- tion of 1876, by the electors respectively of the 1st, 3d, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 21st, 23d, and 25th wards of said city, one alderman for each of the said wards; and there shall be elected at the said general election in the year 1875, and at such election every two years thereafter, by the electors respectively of the 2nd, 4th 6th, 8th, 10tlı, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, and 24th wards of the city, one alderman for each of the last mentioned wards. The said charter also declares that the said wards are towns of the county of Kings.
The terms of the Aldermen commence on the first day of January next succeeding their election; the compensation of each shall be one thousand dollars per year, except the pres- ident of the board, who receives $2,500 per year.
Qualifications .- Every alderman shall, at the time of his election, be an elector of the ward for which he is chosen, and shall have been a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city for at least three years previous thereto; he can hold no other public office, except that of notary public or commissioner of deeds.
Clerk of the Board .- The Board shall appoint a clerk, who shall also be the City Clerk, and hold his office for two years; he shall have charge of all the papers and documents of the city; countersign all licences granted by the Mayor, and keep the record of the proceedings of the Common Council. He performs such duties as are required of the clerks of the several towns of this state not consistent with the provisions of the charter. He engrosses all the ordinances of the Com- mon Council in a book provided for that purpose, which shall be deemed a public record of such ordinances, each of which shall be signed by the mayor. He receives and pays over to the treasurer all monies, which by law or usage are paid to the Clerk of the City, and make return thereof, under oath, to the Comptroller. These are the principal duties of the clerk.
A majority of aldermen elected constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time, and com- pel the attendance of absent members.
The Board shall annually elect a president from its own body. Every ordinance or resolution of the Board must, before it takes effect, be presented, duly certified, to the mayor; and the approval of the minutes by the said board shall be conclusive evidence that the said ordinance, or resol- ution, has been so presented to the Mayor, who exercises the veto power, similar to that of the governor of the state; and the matter so vetoed may be passed by a two-thirds of the members, notwithstanding his veto.
But such ordinance or resolution cannot take effect in any sense, until the day following the next regular meeting of the board, in which case, it shall take effect upon being ap- proved by the mayor. The board shall hold stated weekly meetings, commencing on the first Monday of January of each year, unless the first Monday happen on the first day of the year, when it shall commence on the second Monday of January, but special meetings may be called.
The Common Council shall have power to make, establish, publish and modify, amend or repeal ordinances, rules, regulations and by-laws, not consistent with this act; to levy and collect assessments, and to manage its property and finances; to supervise the affairs of all the departments and officers appointed or elected under this charter; to fix the salaries of such officers; to regulate all matters connected with the public wharves; all business conducted thereon; and with all parks, places and streets of the city; to regu- late or prohibit bathing or swimming in the waters of, or abounding the city; and to establish and maintain within the city, one or more public baths. To prohibit and abate nuisances, and assess the expenses of such abatements upon the city, or upon the property affected thereby; to regulate the burial of the dead; to enlarge the fire district, and to prohibit and regulate the storage or sale of materials, which, in their judgment, are dangerous; to regulate and license all places of public amusement; to regulate weights and measures, and appoint city surveyors; to regulate and li- cense common carriers of passengers, criers, hawkers, ped- dlers, pawn-brokers, junk dealers, public cartmen, truck- men, hackmen, cabmen, expressmen and dealers in fire- wood, coal, hay and straw; to establish, license, and regulate public and private markets, and to license, regulate or pro- hibit slaughter houses and noxious traffic or business; to prohibit disorderly conduct, and the keeping of disorderly houses; to restrain and punish vagrants, mendicants, street- beggars, and common prostitutes, and to prescribe penalties for the disobedience of this act. The Common Council have power to alter and change the names of all the avenues, streets, places, alleys, lanes, and public places in the city; it shall also have power to establish markets, make parks,
541
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
build bridges, and to make other improvements, for the use of the city, and to create loans, and to issue bonds therefor, payable at such times, and in such manner, and at such rate of interest as they may direct, not, however, without being passed upon by the electors of the city at a charter election, of which three months' notice must be published in the cor- poration newspapers. To direct the digging down, draining, or filling up lots or parcels of ground, in all cases in which a vote of two-thirds; they shall decide upon such digging down, draining or filling up to be necessary, for preventing any damage or injury to the streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, or to the adjoining property; to direct the fencing in of va- cant lots adjoining any street, and the building, or main- taining of brick or stone walls between any lot or piece of land, and any street or lot adjoining the land, or between any lots where the same may be required by the said com -. mon council, by reason of either of said lots not being on the grade with the street upon which either of the same may front; to protect the lot or lots upon the grade of such street, or to protect said street, and to require such wall to be built upon any lot or piece of land which shall not so conform to the grade, at the expense of the owner or own- ers thereof, and to assess and collect the expense thereof, in the same manner as for regulating, grading and paving streets; but before any ordinance shall be passed for any of these purposes, ten days' notice of the application for the intention to pass such ordinance, shall be given to every per- son to be affected thereby, either personally or by publica- tion in the corporation newspapers. Finally to do all other acts necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this act, or such other acts as relate to the city.
The Common Council shall have power to make, alter, modify, amend and repeal all such other ordinances, rules, police, health, excise, fire and building regulations and by- laws as they may deem necessary and proper for the good government, order and protection of persons and property, and for the preservation of the public health, peace and pros- perity of the said city and its inhabitants.
In every by-law, ordinance or regulation which the said Common Council may pass, it shall impose a penalty for the violation or non-performance thereof. Suits may be prose- cuted, in the name of the city, against any person or persons who shall violate any provision of any law, ordinance or reg- ulation of the Common Council, or who shall refuse or ne- glect to do any duty or act required of him or them; and in every such action it shall be sufficient to state in the com- plaint the by-laws, ordinances or regulation, and the section thereof, upon which such action is brought; and the proceed- ings for the violations of any of the said ordinances imposing a penalty may be commenced by a warrant for the arrest of the offender, as well as by summons, to be issued by any justice having jurisdiction in the case, before whom complaint shall be made under oath; and every police justice and justice of the peace in the city shall have jurisdiction in all such cases.
Every general ordinance, by-law and regulation which may be passed by the Common Council, imposing a penalty, shall, after the passage thereof, and before the same shall take effect, be published for ten days successively in the cor- poration newspapers.
The Common Council shall designate four daily newspapers (one of which shall be published in the Eastern District of said city, and one in the German language, having the largest daily circulation therein), in which shall be published all the ordinances, resolutions, notices, tax and assessment sales, and all other proceedings by which this or any other acts are, or may be, required to be published affecting said
city, provided that the aggregate expenditure shall not exceed $60,000 per annum, exclusive of tax and assess- ment sales, which shall be published by said papers, at rates to be fixed by the common council. After the 1st day of January, 1874, the aldermen of the city were, by the act of 1873, made supervisors and fence-viewers in their respective wards; and the term of office of the then present supervisors, elected from the several wards of the city, ceased on the 1st day of January, 1874; and laws for the election of supervisors in the city were repealed. But this law was in existence only a brief period, when, by an act of the legislature, it was repealed, and the office of supervisor for each ward was restored, nearly in manner and form as it formerly existed.
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