USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > The new city hall, Philadelphia : directory of offices occupied, or allotted and in process of completion, October 7, 1890 > Part 1
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Copy 1
RY OF CONGI COPYRIGHT ZEC/26 1890
SHINGTON
GUIDE
TO THE
PUBLIC OFFICES
in the
PHILADELPHIAS
Geo S Harris & Sons, Lith Phiia.
ISSUED BY The Commissioners for the Erection. of the NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS 1890.
Y
Vommissioners for the frection of the Public Buildings
THE
NEW CITY HALL
PHILADELPHIA.
EC
DIRECTORY
OF OFFICES OCCUPIED ; OR ALLOTTED AND IN PRO- CESS OF COMPLETION, WITH DIAGRAMS OF VARIOUS FLOORS,
AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION APPERTAINING TO THE BUILDING.
OCTOBER 7, 1890.
PRINTED FOR THE COMMISSIONERS: 1890.
.
2
Commissioners for the Erection of the Public Buildings. JANUARY 1, 1890.
WM. BRICE,
ISAAC S. CASSIN,
MAHLON H. DICKINSON,
EDWIN H. FITLER, ex officio. Mayor. THOMAS E. GASKILL,
RICHARD PELTZ,
WILLIAM S. STOKLEY,
JAMES R. GATES, ex officio.
WILLIAM H. WRIGHT,
SAMUEL C. PERKINS, President.
OFFICERS.
President, SAMUEL C. PERKINS. Secretary, WILLIAM B. LAND.
Treasurer, JOHN BARDSLEY.
Solicitor, SAMUEL PELTZ.
Architects, S The late JOHN MCARTHUR, JR. JOHN ORD, Successor. Superintendent of Construction, WM. C. McPHERSON.
STANDING COMMITTEES. Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee consists of the President, ex-officio, with four members of the Commission, who rotate monthly in the alpha- betical order of their names.
Heating and Ventilating.
MAHLON H. DICKINSON, Chm. ISAAC S. CASSIN, HIRAM MILLER.
Fitting Up and Furnishing Rooms. JOHN L. HILL, Chm. RICHARD PELTZ, THOMAS E. GASKILL.
Elevators. RICHARD PELTZ, Chm. ISAAC S. CASSIN, THOMAS E. GASKILL.
Lightning Protection. PRESIDENT, ARCHITECT, SUPERINTENDENT.
Water Supply. ISAAC S. CASSIN, Chm. WM. BRICE, WM. S. STOKLEY.
Electric Lighting. PRESIDENT, ARCHITECT, SUPERINTENDENT.
Tower. SAMUEL C. PERKINS, President, Chairman. ISAAC S. CASSIN, WILLIAM BRICE.
President Select Council.
JOHN L. HILL, WILLIAM M. SMITH, ex officio, President Common Council.
HIRAM MILLER,
3
NEW CITY HALL
PHILADELPHIA.
DIMENSIONS OF BUILDING.
From North to South 486 ft. 6 in.
From East to West
470 ft.
Area
112 acres.
Height of Main Tower
. 547 ft. 312 in. 90 ft.
Centre of Clock Face 361 ft. above pavement.
Diameter of Clock Face 20 ft.
Height of Upper Balcony
296 ft.
Number of Rooms in Building
750
Total Amount of Floor-room is .
Height of each Centre Pavilion
corner Towers
Basement Story
18 ft. 312 in.
Second Story
35 ft. 7 in.
66 Third Story, Centre Pavilions
26 ft. 6 in.
Third Story, Wings
24 ft. 3 in.
66 Third Story, Curtains
20 ft. 5 in.
66 Attie of Centre Pavilions 15 ft.
Attie of Corner Towers .
13 ft. 6 in.
Crowning Statne .
37 ft.
Figures on Centre Dormers 17 ft. 6 in.
Figures on corner Dormers .
12 ft. 10 in
COMPARATIVE HEIGHTS
- OF THE -
Principal Buildings in the World.
Washington Monument . 550 ft.
City Hall, Philadelphia
547 ft. 31/2 in.
Cologne Cathedral
510 “
Great Pyramid
480 “
Strasburg Cathedral
468 **
St. Peter's, Rome
418 “
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna
441
66
Salisbury Cathedral
404
Torcacio of Cremona
396 “
Friburg Cathedral
385 4
Amiens Cathedral
3-3
Church of St. Peter, Hamburg
380 "
The Cathedral, Florence
376 “
Hotel de Ville, Brussels
37{ *
Torre Asinelli, Bologna . 370 “
St. Paul's, London . 360 “
Church of St. Isaac, St. Petersburg 336
Cathedral, Frankfort on Main
326 "
Bell Tower, St. Mark's, Venice
323 "
Hotel des Invalides, Paris
310 “
U. S. Capitol, Washington 287 "
Masonic Temple, Philadelphia
230 "
202 ft. 101% in.
161 ft.
Principal Story
33 ft. 6 iu.
Width of Base .
1412 acres.
66
4
ARRANGEMENT
-FOR-
NUMBERING THE ROOMS.
The buildings from the exterior on each of the four fronts, exclusive of the centre and corner pavilions, present a base- ment story or ground floor, with three principal stories, the uppermost one being a mansard story. These stories, above the basement, are in portions divided by mezzanine or half- stories, which are specially to be noticed from the court-yard. The centre and corner pavilions rise above the adjacent wings and curtains, with attic stories; the corner pavilions being occupied by octagonal staircases.
Including the sub-basement and the mezzanine stories, there are seven floors in the building, the rooms in each floor being on the same level. To each of these floors an even one hundred numbers have been assigned, commencing at the north entrance and following round the buildings to the east, south, and west fronts, and returning to the north entrance; twenty-five numbers being assigned for each quarter of the building. The rooms facing the streets will have the even numbers, and those overlooking the court- yard the odd numbers. The numbers in each one hundred will be assigned to the rooms of corresponding numbers im- mediately above and below upon the other floors. Thus, for example, rooms numbered 40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540 and 640 will be immediately one over the other.
DIRECTORY OF OFFICES
ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED. Nos.
Board of Health-Chief Clerk,
610
66 Health Officer,
615
66
House Drainage Inspectors,
613
Milk Inspectors,
513
Nuisance Inspectors,
617
Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 515
Board of Revision of Taxes. .
113
Clerk of Court of Quarter Sessions,
677
Commissioners-City
136
Fairmount Park,
127
New Public Buildings,
262
Controller,
Courts-Common Pleas, No. 1, Room A, .
146
66
66
No. 2, Room C,
254
66 66
No. 2, Room D,
253
66
No. 3, Room E,
266
66
66
No. 3, Room F,
275
66 No. 4, Room G,
280
6 No. 4, Room H,
285
66 Criminal (Principal) Court Room,
676
Orphans' Court -- Records,
536
Police Court Room,
625
Supreme Court Room,
454
Prothonotary,
456
Department of Public Safety-Boiler Inspectors,
66
66
City Property Bureau,
130
Detective Bureau,
529
Director,
225
66
66
Electrical Bureau, 626
Superintendent of Police, 227
Department of Public Works-Director
212
Highway Bureau, 232
Survey Bureau, 418
District Attorney, .
682
Grand Jury Room,
675
Mavor,
214
National Guard, Pa .- Headquarters,
186
Police Matron,
635
Register of Wills,
162
Tax Office,
102
Tax Office-Delinquent Taxes, Water Rents,
110
114
Treasurer-City,
143
.
317
Buikling Inspectors,
315
"י No. 1, Room B,
246
243
66
6
DIRECTORY OF OFFICES ON FIRST FLOOR.
Receiver of Taxes, General Office.
Chief Clerk. Private Office.
Assessors of Real Estate. Delinquent Taxes.
Water Rents.
Department Public Safety, Markets and City Property Store Room.
Department Public Safety, Markets and City Property General Office.
City Commissioners, Private Office.
General
66
Clerks'
City Controller, Auditor's 66
66
.6
General
Private
Register of Wills, Private
66
State Appraiser.
66
Deputy's Office.
Clerks'
66 Record Room.
170
6.
Hearing
Nos. 111 113 115 119 121 127 129 133 143
Board of Revision of Taxes, Private Room.
.. Board
General Clerks' Room.
66
Search 66 66
Ladies' Toilet Room.
Commissioners of Fairmount Park, Engineer and Su- perintendent.
Commissioners of Fairmount Park, Board Room. City Treasurer's Clerks' Room.
General and Private Office.
Nos. 102 104 106 108 110 112 114 116 128 130 134 136 138 140 142 144
146 148 162 162 A 164 166 168
Diagram of First Floor of the New City Hall Philadelphia.
North Entrance
North
Front
1
-
-
B
A
A
190
192
194
1
104
106 |108
196
-
1
-
1
D
North
Corridor
D
B
191
111
B
110
188
113
18G
112
184
114
185
115
183
180
West
C
120
178
178ª
177
121
Court Yard
125
126
East
170
171
127
128
C
168
167
129
A
A
157
B
B
139
166
163
133
164
ic
153
143
162ª
Open Area
[A]
Open Area
162
8
B
D
South
Corridor
D
160
1158
136
154
146
144
142 140
A
B
152
148
South
Front
South Entrance
NOTE.
A Staircases.
C Ventilating Shafts.
B Elevators.
D Public Toilet rooms.
1
Entrance
Entrance West
181
119
East
116
East
Corridor
Corridor
130
Front
c
134
Front
136
138
0
A
B
1
B
A
100
A
102
West
187
Tower
182
C
8
DIRECTORY OF OFFICES ON SECOND FLOOR.
Department Public Works, Director's Private Room. 66 Clerks' Room.
Mayor's Clerks' Room. Reception " .. Private
Department Public Works, Licenses and Sewers.
66 66 Chief Com. Highways.
Street Cleaning.
66 Highway Com. Room.
66
66 Boiler Inspector's Clerks.
Dept. Pub. Works, Boiler Inspector's Private Office. Architect's Draughting Room, Temporary. Private 66 36 Court of Common Pleas, No. 2, Room C.
262 § Temporary Offices of the Commissioners for the Erec-
tion of the New Public Buildings. Court of Common Pleas, No. 3, Room E.
No. 4, Room G.
Nos. 213 215 217 219 221 225
Department of Public Safety, Clerks.
16
66
66
66
66
66
66 66
Director's Room.
Lieut's Hearing Room.
227 229 243 253 275
66
Supt. of Police Clerks. Private.
Court of Common Pleas, No. 1, Room B.
66
No. 2, Room D.
66
66
No. 3, Room F.
285
No. 4, Room H.
Director's Private Room.
NOTE .- Rooms Nos. 230 to 248 inclusive are now in use temporarily. Nos. 230 to 242 having been allotted to the permanent offices of the Pro- thonotary of the Courts of Common Pleas, and Room No. 246 to the Court of Common Pleas, No. 1, Room A.
Nos. 210 212 214 216 218 230 232 234 236 240 242 244 246 248 254 264 1 266 280
Diagram of Second Floor of the New City Hall. Philadelphia.
North Entrance
North
Front
B
A
A
B
A
290 292 284
204 206 208
A
29G
202
D
North
Corridor
D
288
B| A
A B
210
287
Tower
213
212
284
214.
215
285
216
280
217
281
219
218
C
c
221
220
278
Entrance West
276
275
225
A
East
270
271
227
228
c
267
A
A
2294
257
B
B
239
232
265 263
A 261
235
A
233 231
264
C
C
234.
Open Area
Open Area
262
A
236
245
241
B
D
South Corridor
D
260
258 256
254
252
250
24.8
B
B
South
Front
South Entrance
NOTE.
A Staircases.
C Ventilating Shafts.
B Elevators.
D Public Toilet-rooms.
East
West
East
Corridor
Corridor
226
Entrance
C
229
230
266
Front
259
237
253
243
Front
255
251
8
A
24.G
241 212 240
A
286
West
A
277
C
200
10
DIRECTORY OF OFFICES ON THIRD FLOOR.
Nos.
310 Mayor's Office Store Room.
66 312 Survey Bureau
316
318
Nos.
313 315
Building Inspectors.
66
317
Boiler 66
319
321
Department of Public Safety Police Station Supplies.
325
66 66 Large Store Room.
327
Store Room.
Diagram of Third Floor of the New City Hall Philadelphia. .
North
Front
A
390 392
394
304
306 308
396
302
a
388
North
Corridor
310 ª
388
B
1 A
A
B
310
387
313
386
312
384
315
382
385
317
380
381
319
318
C
C
320
378
377
321
376
375
325
326
370
371
327
328
C
c
367
A
A
357
B
B
339
332
366
365 363| A |361 359
337
364
C
353
343
Open Area
Open Area
362
336
A
R
b
South
Corridor
338
A
360 358 356
354
352
348
346
344 312 340
A
B
6
South
Front
NOTE.
A Staircases.
C Ventilating Shafts.
B Elevators. D Public Toilet rooms.
Front
335 A 333 331
C
334
Front
329
330
368
Corridor
Corridor
316
West
East
East
West
300
B
A
360
350
12
DIRECTORY OF OFFICES ON FOURTH FLOOR.
Board of Highway Supervisors' Draughting Room. Registrar Survey Department City Plans Registry Bureau 6 " Assistant Engineer
66 Chief Engineer Sewers, Etc.
Board of Surveys Committee Room Supreme Court Justices' Consultation Room.
66 66 Toilet Room.
Room.
66
Prothonotary's Office. 66
Law Library.
16
Nos. 406 410 412 416 418 420 450 452 454 456 458 460 468 476 480
Survey Bureau.
Diagram of Fourth Floor of the New City Hall. Philadelphia.
North
Front
B
B
496
402
A
490
492
494
404
4061408
North
Corridor
D
B
491
495
497
401
4.03
405
411
B
410
487
413
484
415
482
4.85
417
480
West
481
419
418
477
421
420
476
473
4.25
471
4.27
428
C
C
468
467
A
A
B
B
439
432
466
465 463
A
461
435 A 4331431
437
464
453
443
C
434
Open Area
462
A
436
455
451
445
441
B
D
South
Corridor
D
460
4581456
454
452
448
44.6
444
442 440
A
B
B
South
Front
NOTE.
A Staircases. C Ventilating Shafts.
B Elevators. D Public Toilet-rooms.
Front
429
Corridor
426
Corridor
C
C
East
416
West
D
488
412
East
430
457
459
Front
Open Area
B
A
450
A
400
14
DIRECTORY OF OFFICES ON FIFTH FLOOR.
Nos.
Orphans' Court Record Rooms.
66 66
66 66
66
.6
Supreme Court 66
..
..
..
. .
Nos.
513 515 517
Board of Health Milk Inspector.
Registration Bureau.
66
Detective Bureau.
529 531
66
533
66
535
537
66
530 532 534
536 556 558 560
Diagram of Fifth Floor of the New City Hall Philadelphia.
North
Front
B
A
590
592
594
504
506
508
a
North
Corridor
510
588
B
595
597
599
501
503
505
B
510
587
513
586
512
515
585
A
516
580
West
581
A
C
C
520
577
521
576
575
525
526
571
527
528
C
C
567
529
566
557
B
539
532
565 563
A
561
559
537
564
C
553
543
562
A
536
B
8
h
South
Corridor
538
A
560
558
556
554
552
548
546
544
542
5-10
A
B
B
South
Front
NOTE.
A Staircases. C Ventilating Shafts.
B Elevators. D Public Toilet rooms.
Front
C
534
Front
535
A
533 531
Corridor
530
A B
A
Corridor
517
East
518
West
East
500
B
596
502
A
588
a
Open Area
Open Area
560
550
16
DIRECTORY OF OFFICES ON SIXTH FLOOR.
Board of Health, Chief Clerk. 66
Clerks' Room. Board Room.
Electrical Bureau, Chief's Priv. Room.
Clerks' Room.
66 Operating Room.
Inspectors' Room.
Dept. Pub. Safety, Reserves Roll Room. Sitting 66 66
Toilet
640 to 6SS Criminal Courts and Offices. Criminal Court Room. Counsel's Conversation Room.
Criminal Court Room. 66
Offices of District Attorney.
66
Board of Health, Inspectors of House Drainage. Board of Health, Health Officer. 66 Inspec. of Nuisances.
Police Magistrates' Private Room.
66 Court Room. Witness' Room.
Police Captains' Room.
Lieut. Reserves' Sergt.
66
66
Matron's 66
66
Turnkey and Surgeon of Police.
Police Prisoners' Cell Room. Court Prisoners' Detention Room.
Turnkey's Room.
Officer's Room.
Witness' Room.
66
Grand Jury Room. Offices of the Clerk of Quarter Sessions. 66 66 66
. . ..
..
Nos. 610 612 616 618 620 626 628 630 634 636
646 650 654 676 682 684 6SS Nos. 613 615 617 621 625 627 629 631 633 635 637 639 643 653 657 659 661 663 665 667 675 677 681 685 687
Diagram of Sixth Floor of the New City Hall Philadelphia.
North
Front
600
B
696
602
A
690 692 694
604
606 608
North
Corridor
D
D
688
B
693
695
601
607
B
610
687
613
684
612
615
685
A
617
680
West
681
A
618
C
C
677
621
620
676
675
625
626
671
627
628
C
C
667
629
666
630
657
B
639
665 663 A |661 659
637 635| A |633 631
664
C
653
6+3
Open Area
Open. Area
662
A
636
B
8
D
South
Corridor
0 D
660| 658
656
654
652
650
1648
B
South
Front
NOTE.
A Staircases.
C _Ventilating Shafts.
B Elevators.
D Public Toilet-rooms.
West
East
682
East
Corridor
Corridor
Front
634
Front
A
646
64-4
642 640
A
A
A B
C
616
Tower
B
A
AN ACT
FOR THE
Erection of the Public Buildings.
AN ACT to provide for the erection of all the Public Buildings required to accommodate the Courts, and for all Municipal purposes, in the City of Philadelphia, and to require the appropriation by said City, of Penn Squares, at Broad and Market Streets, to the Academy of Fine Arts, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Franklin Institute, and the Phila- delphia Library, in the event of the said Squares not being selected by a vote of the people, as the site for the Public Buildings for said city.
Section 1. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same: That THEODORE CUYLER, JOHN RICE, SAMUEL C. PERKINS, JOHN PRICE WETHERILL, LEWIS C. CASSIDY, HENRY M. PHILLIPS, WILLIAM L. STOKES, WILLIAM DEVINE, the MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, and the PRESIDENTS OF SELECT AND COMMON COUNCILS, for the time being, are constituted Commissioners for the erection of the Public Buildings required to accommodate the Courts, and
20
for all Municipal purposes, in the City of Philadelphia, who shall organize within thirty days, procure such plans for the said buildings adapted to either of said sites hereinafter named, as in their judgment may be needful; appoint of of their own number, a President, and from other than their own number, a Secretary, Treasurer, Solicitor, a competent Architect and assistants, and other employees ; fix the com- pensation of each person employed by them, and do all other acts necessary in their judgment to carry out the intent of this act in relation to said Public Buildings ; fill any vacan- cies which may happen by death, resignation, or otherwise, and if in the judgment of said Commission, they shall deem it advisable to increase their number, they may, by a vote of a majority of their whole number, increase said Commission from time to time to any number not exceeding thirteen. The said Commissioners are hereby authorized and directed to locate said buildings on either Washington Square or Penn Square, as may be determined by a vote of the legally quali- fied voters of the City of Philadelphia, at the next general election in October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy, and the Sheriff shall issue his proclamation, and the City Commissioners and other proper officers of said City, shall provide all things that may be needful to enable the voters to decide by ballot, their choice of a site for said Public Buildings, and the Return Clerks shall certify to the Pro- thonotary, the result of said election in the usual form required for other elections. And as soon as said choice is determined by a vote of the people, as provided in this act, the said Commissioners shall, within thirty days thereafter, advertise for proposals, and make all needful contracts for the construction of said buildings, as soon thereafter as may be found practicable, which contracts shall be valid and binding in law upon the City, and upon the Contractors, when approved by a majority of the said Board of Commis- sioners ; and the said Commissioners shall make requisition on the Councils of said City, prior to the first day of December
21
in each year, for the amount of money required by them for the purposes of the Commission for the succeeding year, and said Councils shall levy a special tax, sufficient to raise the amount so required. Provided, That said Councils may at any time make appropriations out of the annual tax in aid of the purposes of this act. And provided further, That the amount to be expended by said Commissioners shall be strictly limited to the sum required to satisfy their contracts for the erection of said buildings, and for the proper and complete furnishing thereof ; and as soon as any part of said buildings may be completed and furnished ready for occu- pancy, they shall be occupied by the Courts, or such branch of the Municipal Government as they are intended for by said Commissioners; and upon the completion of a sufficient portion of said buildings to accommodate the Courts and Municipal Officers, the buildings now occupied by them re- spectively shall be vacated and removed, and upon the entire completion of the new buildings, all the present buildings on Independence Square, except Independence Hall, shall be removed, and the ground placed in good condition by said Commission as part of their duty under this act, the expense of which shall be paid out of their general fund provided by this act, and thereupon the said Independence Square shall be and remain a public walk and green forever.
And be it further provided, That in the event of Washington Square being selected by a majority of votes as the loca- tion for the said Public Buildings, then and in that event, the Councils of the City of Philadelphia are hereby author- ized, empowered and required to set apart for and convey by proper deeds or grants of conveyance, or by proper assurances of the right to occupy said squares, which the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia shall duly sign and execute under the seal of said City, the four squares of ground, known as Penn Squares, located at the intersection of Broad and Market Streets, in the City of Philadelphia, as laid down on the present map of said City, one to each of the following insti-
22
tutions : the Academy of Fine Arts. the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Franklin Institute, and the Philadelphia Library, for the purpose of allowing them to erect thereon, ornamental and suitable buildings for their respective insti- tutions. The location of such buildings and the plans thereof to be approved by the Commissioners appointed under this act, and their successors in office, together with the time of erection, and all other matters appertaining thereto: Provi- ded, however, That all expenses connected with said convey- ances, plans and other information requisite for the said Commission to have, shall be paid by the institutions respect- ively. In the event of the ultimate selection of Penn Squares as the site for said Public Buildings, the said Commission shall have authority and they are hereby empowered to vacate so much of Market and of Broad Streets, as they may deem needful; Provided, however. That the streets passing around said buildings, shall not be of less width than one hundred feet. It shall be the duty of the Mayor, the City Controller, City Commissioners, and City Treasurer, and all other officers of the City, and also the duty of the Councils of the City of Philadelphia, to do and perform all such acts in aid and promotion of the intent and purpose of this Act of Assembly, as said Commission may from time to time require. All laws and parts of laws restricting the uses and purposes of said Squares, or any of them, that may be in conflict with the intention and purpose of this act, be and the same are hereby repealed.
B. B. STRANG, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
CHARLES H. STINSON, Speaker of the Senate.
Approved the fifth day of August, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy.
JOHN W. GEARY.
23
SUMMARY
OF LEGISLATIVE AND MUNICIPAL ACTION RELA- TING TO THE WORK, WITH A BRIEF HISTORY OF EVENTS PER- TAINING THERETO.
The earliest movements relating to the present under- taking consisted in the passage of an ordinance by the City Councils. approved December 31, 1868, providing for the erec- tion of Municipal Buildings on Independence Square, and designating Commissioners to carry the same into effect.
The first meeting of the Commission was held in the Select Council Chamber, January 7, 1869.
Architectural designs were advertised for on the 5th of April, 1869, and on the 1st of September following, plans and drawings had been received from seventeen different archi- tects.
At a meeting of the Commissioners, held September 27, 1869, the first premium was awarded to John McArthur, Jr., architect of this city, and on the 27th of the following December, Mr. McArthur was appointed Architect of the work, and proposals for labor and materials were ordered to be advertised for.
Contracts were awarded on the 16th of January, 1870, and arrangements made for commencing the work.
A strong opposition to Independence Square, as the site for the Municipal Buildings, had existed in the public mind from the earliest movements in that direction, and as the Commission proceeded with their preparations for carrying out the provisions of the ordinance under which they were
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acting, the opposition became daily more intensified, until it culminated in the passage of a law by the Legislature of the State, approved August 5, 1870, providing for the erection of the Public Buildings, either on Washington Square or on Penn Square, as the legally qualified voters of the City of Philadelphia might determine, at the general election to be held in October, 1870. The election resulted, out of a total of 84,450 votes, in a majority of above 18,800 in favor of the site on Penn Square, which finally disposed of the question. The passage of this law rendered the municipal ordinance of no effect, and relieved the Commissioners acting under it, of further duties.
The first meeting of the Commissioners, under the new law, was held on the 27th of August, 1870, at the Mayor's Office. A temporary organization was effected by the election of the Mayor, Daniel M. Fox, as President, and Eugene G. Woodward, Secretary.
September 15, 1870, John McArthur, Jr., was elected Archi- tect of the work.
October 4, 1870, a permanent organization was made, and John Rice was elected President, Charles R. Roberts, Secre- tary, and Charles H. T. Collis, Solicitor.
The removal of the iron railings which inclosed the four squares on Broad and Market Streets, was commenced on the 27th of January 1871, and this may properly be consid- ered as the date of the actual beginning of the work; and August 16, 1871, the ground was formally broken by the President of the Commission.
October 12, 1871, Francis De Haes Janvier was elected Secretary, in place of Mr. Roberts, resigned, and John Sun- derland was elected Superintendent.
April 7, 1872, the original plan for one building on the intersection of Broad and Market Streets, instead of four buildings, divided by these streets, was finally resolved upon.
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The first stone was laid on the 12th of August, 1872, in the southwest angle of the foundations by the President.
On the 17th of April, 1872, Mr. Rice resigned as President of the Commissioners, and Samuel C. Perkins was elected in his place, and has held the office continuously ever since.
The contract for the granite basement was awarded Novem- ber 19, 1872, for $515,500 ; and work was commenced at the buildings, under the contract, March 24, 1873. The contract for the marble work of the superstructure was awarded on the 7th of October, 1873, for $5,300,000 ; and the first block set at the southern entrance, July 3, 1874.
The corner-stone was laid in the Northeast angle of the Tower, July 4, 1874, with Masonic ceremonies, by the R. W. Grand Master of F. and A. M. of Pennsylvania; and the last block of marble was set in place May 7, 1887, on the Tower at the Southwest angle, 337 feet 43 inches from the ground.
November 4, 1873, Wm. C. McPherson was elected Super- intendent, and entered upon his duties November 10, 1873, and has been continued in office ever since.
December 2, 1884, Chas. H. T. Collis resigned his position as Solicitor to the Commissioners ; and Samuel Peltz, was on the same date, elected to fill the vacancy.
January 5, 1885, Francis De Haes Janvier, Secretary, died ; and on February 3, 1885, Wm. B. Land was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Janvier.
January 8, 1890, John McArthur, Jr., the Architect, died.
January 15, 1890, John Ord was elected Architect, and en- tered upon his duties February 1, 1890.
The appropriations, by Councils for the prosecution of the work have been to January 1, 1890, $12,891,609.88.
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Description of the Buildings.
THE EXTERIOR.
A tendency exists in the public mind to seek to classify every considerable architectural design, under the head of some " order" or "style ;" but modern genius and taste deal so largely in original adaptations of classic, and other forms, that we often find no small difficulty in deciding under which, if any, of the heretofore established orders or styles many of the most important structures of the present day can properly be classed.
The architecture of the New Public Buildings is of this character. It is essentially modern in its leading features, and presents a rich example of what is known by the generic term of the "Renaissance," modified and adopted to the varied and extensive requirements of a great American municipality.
It is designed in the spirit of French art, while, at the same time, its adaptation of that florid and tasteful manner of building, is free from servile imitation, either in ornamenta- tion or in the ordonnance of its details.
This immense architectural pile is located on the intersec- tion of Broad and Market Streets, in the City of Philadelphia. It covers, exclusive of the court-yard, an area of nearly 43 acres, and consists of one building, surrounding an interior court-yard, The north and south fronts measure 470 feet, and the east and west fronts 4863 feet in their extreme length.
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The four fronts are similar in design. In the centre of each. an entrance pavilion of 90 feet in width, rises to the height of 202 feet 103 inches, having receding wings of 128 feet elevation. The fronts terminate at the four corners with towers or pavilions of 51 feet square, and 161 feet high.
The whole exterior is bold and effective in outline, and rich in detail, being elaborated with highly ornate columns, pilasters, pediments, cornices, enriched windows, and other appropriate adornments.
Archways of 18 feet in width by 36 feet in height, opening through each of the four central pavilions. constitute the four principal entrances, and at the same time afford passages for pedestrians up and down Broad and Market Streets, directly through the buildings.
The basement story is 18 feet 33 inches in height, and stands entirely above the line of the pavement. Its exterior is of fine white granite, of massive proportions, forming a fitting base for the vast superstructure it supports.
The exterior of the building, above the basement, embraces a principal story of 33 feet 6 inches, a second story of 35 feet 7 inches, and a third story in the centre pavilions of 26 feet 6 inches, with an attic over the central pavilions of 15 feet, and over the corner pavilions of 13 feet 6 inches, all of white marble, from the Lee Quarries, in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, wrought, in all its ado:nments, in forms of exquisite beauty, expressing American ideas, and developing American genius. The small rooms opening upon the court- yard are each sub-divided in height into two stories.
In the centre of the group a court-yard of 200 feet square affords light and air to all the adjacent portions of the build- ing. From the north side of this space rises a grand tower, which will gracefully adorn the Public Buildings, and at the same time will be a crowning feature of the city, from what- ever point it may be approached, as Saint Peter's is of Rome, and Saint Paul's is of London. The foundations of this tower are laid on a bed of solid concrete, 100 feet square
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8 feet 6 inches thick, at the depth of 23 feet 6 inches below the surface of the ground ; and its walls, which at the base are 22 feet in thickness, are built of dressed dimension stones, weighing from 2 to 5 tons each.
This tower, which is so deeply and so strongly founded, is 90 feet square at the base, falling off at each story, until it becomes, at the spring of the dome, an octagon of 50 feet in diameter. A statue of the founder of Pennsylvania, 37 feet in height, will crown the structure, and complete the extra- ordinary altitude of 547 feet 33 inches, making it the highest tower in the world; while at the same time it possesses the elements of firmness and stability, in a higher degree than any known structure of a like character.
THE INTERIOR.
The entire structure will contain over 750 rooms, giving convenient, and stately provision for the accommodation of " the Courts, and for all Municipal purposes in the City of Philadelphia," including a vast amount of surplus room for use in the classification and preservation of the archives of the city, for storage, and for increased accommodations, which will undoubtedly be required from time to time by the natural increase of the public business, and the accumu- lation of the public records.
Every room in the building will be well lighted, warmed, and ventilated, upon a thorough, effective, and approved system, and every part of the structure will be absolutely fireproof.
The several stories are approached by ten large elevators, located at the intersections of the leading corridors, so as to facilitate the intercourse of citizens with the public offices, courts, and other branches of the government. In addition to these means of approach there are large and convenient stairways in the four corner buildings, and a grand staircase in each of the centre pavilions on the north, south, and east fronts.
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