r lis .6.S y ( % NEW CITY HALL PROPOSED, Extending entirely around the Park. Present buildings removed. Three times the space for recreation other plans allow. l-'"irst Story 21 Arches, and rooms for Stores, &c. Sec- ond, third and fourth Stories, a Passage Hall through the centre of each, with rooms for Courts and City Authorities oa Purity and Lawyer's Olfices, kc. on street side of Passage Halls. Whole of fifth Story, Park Hall with Galleries— a Ba- zaar. Whole top, Monument Park— a Promenade. Four Bal- conies, one each, around second and third Stories on street and Park fronts. Eight Monuments: Washington, Hamilton, Lafayette, Jefferson, Madison, Clinton, Fulton and Franklin, each with Balconies and Statues. Washington Monument ^0 feet high with ,2^ Balconies. Have a model of City Hall proposed. Have been at work on my City Hall plan t|toD years without pay. Now need raeans to perfect, complete and properly present for adoption said plan, which I propose to ob- tain by subscriptions and the sale of my Pamphlets, (four for :^1, twenty-five for $5,) entitled Outline of a new City Hall. Citizens of New-York ! give me the means and I will give you complete the plan, which, without any tax or cost to the City if desired, will suitably improve and adorn the Park, combining, in patriotic form, in one magnificent structure, unequalled accommodations for the transaction of public and private business, with vasyaud varied opportunities for recre- ation. D. HOUGH Jr. 39 Liberty-St. OUTLIISrE OF A NB-W CITY HALL, Requiring no tax or expenditure by the City, — with Monuments, Balconies, Protnonades, Decorations, spacious Halls. Rooms for Courts. Public and Private Offices, Banks, Storof, &c — the whole worthy of New York — bringing thousands of visitors to the city annually, — benefiting every branch of trade and industry in our great Metropolis. Entered according to •i/ct of Congress, in the yeai- ISJ'3, by D. HOUGH, Jr In the Clerk's Office of the DistrietCoiiyt of the United States for the Southern District of >^ew- York. STAIRS. CHAMBERS Plan of 1*» Slory of proposed IVew City Hall, rxtendidg entire- ly iirouud the Park. Designated narrow, white spacos indicate tbo position and range of the passage arche.s, and arches containing stairs. Narrow, white spaces, without designation, inrlicate the position, range and about the number of rooms for stores, banks and offlcos. Spaces W H and \V M show, respectively, the locality and limits of Washing- U'n H.iUaud Washington Monument. E K — Entrances to VTashington Monument. Plan of 2d, 3d and 4iii Stories. The inner black space, indicates the space for rooms for tbe Courts and City Authorities, and for private offices, in part, in 4th story ; the outer black space, the space for private business rooms and offices ; narrow white space, main passage hall ; "W H, "Washington Hall, and W. part passed through by Washington Monument. Dots, ( , ) Stairs. Plan of main floor of Park Hall in 5th Story. The black spaces indicate the parts with counters, fixtures, &o, necessary for a magnificent exhibition and sales- loom : tne narrow white spaces, the principal walks or passages, and W, the part passed through by Washing- ton Monument. .<4 >. FULTON MUNUMENT MADISON MONUMENT LAfAYEHE. MONUMENT V/ASaiNGTON^, ,^MONUMENT PILIAR. AND STATUE OF WASIiiNeTON PLAN OF MONUMENT PARK, Top ofi City Hall proposed. Showing the position of the Monuments, &c. 1ST SECTION OF PROPOSED NEWClTY^HAtl. ^40 FEET. ^5 i ^v.„->' NEW CITY HALL, r».OI»OSE!I> D. HOUGH, Jr. As a new City Hall can be built unequaled ia utility and architectural attractions, giving the City Authorities, without cost, all the rooms and cflfices they want, giving to the public opportunities for recreation at all sea- sons, greatly superior to those which the present Park afifords, and putting thousands of dollars into the City Treasury instead of taking millions out^ the undersigned respectfully presents for consideration the following outline of his plan for said City Hall, answering, he believes, the purposes aforesaid. Beginning on Chambers-Sireet, erect and complete by sections, all within four years, a fire proof, five story, marble, gothic block, extending entirely around the Park, removing the Hall of Records and the present buildings on Chambers Street at the commencement of the work on the 4th or last section hereinafter located and described, and, on the completion of said 4th section, removing the present City Hall to Madison Square, or some other up town location, for an up town Post Office, or other desired public use^ making by said removal the Park as a promenade superior in nearly every respect to what it would be by any of the plans of others. Build the afore- said block 100 feet wide and 100 feet high, or of sufficient height to com- mand from the top a full view of the B;iy, Harbor and City of New-York. Make the fronts of said block, a marble, gothic colonnade, or range 0£ columns 6 feet apart in the clear joining and making at the top, a range of pointed arches, upon the tops of which shall be placed statues of Continen- 6 tal officers and soldiers, distinguished patriots, orators, statesmen, discover- ers, inventors, philanthropists, and other decorations. Make each space between said columns a Gothic window with a heavy frame work of iron. — A street view of the belfry windows of Trinity Church will suggest, in part, a description, and also, the effect of the fronts proposed. The block described will leave a triangular space south of a line across the Park from Brick Church property to Park Place. Build on this space joining with the block aforesaid, making the front on the Park circular. — Build here, theatre like^ between the basement and 5th story, a Washington Hall extending to the passage halls hereinafter described, having the main entrance of said Washington Hall on the Park. Make the rear part of said Washington Hall a spacious arch in Washington Monument hereinafter de- scribed. Place upon a pedestal near the Washington Hall front of this arch, two Statues, one of George and one of Martha Washington, both in early middle life. Make two entrances to aforesaid aroh and Hall, one on Park Row and one on Broadway. Divide the 1st story and basement of the City Hall proposed into rooms for banks, stores, &c. allowing space to build through said 1st story in '^ets* three in a set, 21 arches each 21 ft wide, each side arch 16 ft high and each centre arch 25 feet high, the latter passing through a part of the 2d story. Build the 1st set aforesaid, in the center of the block on Chambers-Street; the 2d set on Centre-Street, 100 feet from Cbambers-Street : the 3d set on Park Row, opposite French's Hotel ; the 4th set on Park Row opposite Brick Church property ; the 5th set on Broadway, opposite Park Place ; the 6th set on Broadway, opposite Murray-Street, and the 7th set on Broad- way, 100 feet from Chambers-Street. Make 10 wide stairways from said 1st story to the top of aforesaid block around the Park: one at the junction of Park Row and Broadway ; one on Chambers-Street, 40 feet from Broadway ; one on Chumbers-Street, 40 feet from Centre-Street, and one commencing either side in each of the arches, 25 feet high. Make passage halls, 20 feet wide, through the centre and entire circuit of the 2d, 3d and 4th stories of aforesaid block around the Park. Divide, to the extent required, the space on the Park side of said passage halls into rooms and offices for the use of the City Authorities, the City, State and United States Courts, with allowance between these r^oras and offices, or suits of the same, for side passages leading from aforesaid passage halls. Place most of the main entrance doors to said rooms and offices on said side passages ; make two doors to all main entrances to said rooms and offices. On said passage halls and side passages, except the space for doors, make for aforesaid rooms and offices solid walls of marble or brick, or marble and brick. Make all the Court and City G overnment rooms and offices proposed, front both On the Park and on said passage halls. Thus all of ¥a\d rooms and offices, having every convenience, will be most attractively and pleasantly situated, away from the dust and noise of the surrounding streets, and from all annoyance or din of conversation of persons walking in the pas- sage halls. Divide the remaining space on the Park side of the passage halls aforesaid, into rooms for private offices. Divide all of the space on the street side of said passage halls, into rooms for private offices and places of business, making in this division a large number of windows to front on said passage halls. From these windows, from the stairways and side passages aforesaid, the passage halls in every part, will have ample light. Construct balconies of iron, wide for walks, on the street and inner fronts of the 2d and 3d stories of the block around the Park. On the fronts of said balconies, build an ornamental iron railing, with pedestals connected, and in line with this railing, upon which shall be placed statues, figures, and other appropriate representations. Make the whole of the 5th story one room, 33 feet high, to be called Park Hall ; said Park Hall to have a principal walk through the centre, 20 feet wide, to have on either side of said walk an endless gallery, with a walk 12 feet wide, along the front ot each gallery ; and to have in the galleries and on the main floor, a great number of counters and spaces, for the exhi- bition and sale of the finer articles of merchandize, and works of art and in- dustry of all nations. This Hail, designed to be the largest and most splen- did in the world, will be mainly 100 feet wide, will be in the widest part at the triangular space at the junction of Park Row and Broadway, 300 feet wide, will be in all parts 83 feet high, and will be full 2,400 feet, or, nearly half a mile in length. Make the whole top of the City Hall proposed, a promenade, to be called Monument Park. Make the top of the fronts aforesaid, answer for a rail- ing around said Monument Park. On the front of said Monument Park, connecting with Washington Monu- ment at the junction of Park Row and Broadway, construct a marble pillar (ascended by steps to an arch therein,) and place, in miiiorra, upon the top of said pillar, an equestrian statue of Washington. 8 Build eight Monuments : Washington Monument, oposite Barclay Street, making in part, the angle at junction of Park Row and Broadway — form octagon, base 150 foot ; height of walls, 540feet; dome and spire, (after St, Paul's, Londun) height 60 feet, entire height 600 feet ; structure, a succs- fcion of tiers of iron bound arches from basement to dome ; outer part above Monument Park aforesaid, so far as harmony of parts, solidity and strength will allow, like fronts aforesaid, with every 20 feet up to dome a balcony, thus 22 balconies, each in material and structure the same as before describ- ed ; inner part, from basement to dome, a^ railway ; stairway winding around railway ; rooms and passages between stairway and balconies, with doors al- lowing entrance and exit lo and from said rooms, passages, stairway and balconies; diameter of said monument, made 4 feet less at each balcony: — Hamilton Monument over arches opposite Park Place, height 194 feet ; Lafayette Monument over arches opposite Brick Church property, height 194 feet ; Jefferson Monument over arches opposite Murray-Street, height 260 feet ; Madison Monument over arches opposite French's Hotel, height 260 feet ; Clinton Monument over arches on Broadway 100 feet from Chambers-Street, height 1 94 feet ; Fulton Monument over arches on Cen tre 100 feet from Chambers-Street, height 194 feet, and Franklin Monu- mcQt over arches in the centre of the block on Chambers-Street, height 260 feet : — the seven Monuments last named, to have no railway, but in other respects above Monument Park, to be in style and strucutre mainly like Washington Monument. Upon a pedestal on the Park front, in the highest balcony on each monu- ment 194 feet high, in the balcony of the same range, on each monument 260 feet high, and m the balcony two balconies, higher than these on monu- ment 600 feet high, place a statue of the person for whom respectively, said monuments are named, representing thus in council, the greatest and best men in America. The monuments proposed, may if desired have less aver- age and different relative heights, without material architectural disadvant- age, making consequently the cost less. To warm the whole buildiug proposed, lay sufficiently and in the best manner in every room and hall, steam pipes, connecting with 4 boilers, in vaults under the Park, adjoining the block around the same, one each op podte Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Franklin monuments. Build- a chimney from each boiler vault, in connection with and through partition walls, to the base of the dome of each of said monuments. Extend said chim- neys thence to the top of the domes of said monuments, by means of ilat- tened arched pipes, which shall be a part of the framework of these domes. Place a hollow iron spire upon the top of each of said domes, which shall be the continuation and top ef said chiumeyes ; and place also like spires, upon each of the other domes — all or in part to be in the form of a plain tapering pipe with a globe top, or of a volcanic peak, or of an immense censer, sup- ported by two Indian chiefs on opposite sides of said censer. So lay afore- said steam pipes, that escape steam from the same, will go out of each of the spires or chimneys aforesaid. Stoves, pipes and chimaeys, made in the usual way, connecting with hol- low, cast iron spires, 12 feet high, and placed 21 feet apart upon the top of the fronts aforesaid, answering, thus, for the tops of chimneys and for orna- ments, shall, if decided best, be the substitute for the steam warming appa- ratus described. Make the basement floors of stone. Make all the other floors and the roof throughout, a succession of corrugated iron beams, calked water-tight, said beams to be either tubular, or shaped transversely, like the top part of the capital letter T. Build the block around the Park in 4 sections: — 1st section on Chambers Street, from the present new City Hall to Broadway, 2d section on Broad- way and Pack Row, opposite to and between Park Place and Brick Church property, 3d section on Broadway, between 1st and 2d sections, and the 4th section on Park Row, Centre and Chambers Streets, between 1st and 2d sections. ., My plan can be partly carried out to advantage by building the 1st sec- tion only, or the 1st and 2d sections, or the 1st, 2d and 3d sections above named. But first build and complete, within two years, the 1st section aforesaid, allowing all of the present buildings in the Park to remain as they are. This 1st section, by itself, would be an ornament to the city. Every part., like the whole structure contemplated, would have a practical use ; — the basement and 1st story being occupied by stores, offices, &c., the 2d, 3d and 4th stories by spacious stairways, passage halls, and rooms for the use of the Courts and City Authorities, and for private offices and places of business; the 5th story by one room, 33 feet high, 100 feet wide, and 400 feet long, the whole top by a promenade, and the fronts of the 2d and 3d stories on Chambers Street, Broadway and the Park, each by a balcony. If preferred, the Courts and City Authorities, could occupy, with every convenience, the whole of the Ist, 2d, 3d and 4th stories last named, and 10 thtes, with the nse of the present buildings in the Park, would hare excel- lent accommodatioae. I estimate the eutlr© cost of the 1st Bection at one million of dollarR. If the expenditure by the Corporation for tho whole work proposed, is deemed inexpedient, the undersigned ^vith others, for the right to hi or lease the stores, private offices, &c. before named, will agree to build and complete in four years, and thenceforth to keep in good I'epair, the new City Hall herein proposed, to furnish in said City Hall, rent free, all the rooms tind offices required for the use of the City Authorities, to give to the Pub- lic the free use of the walks, street front balconies, passage halls, 10 stair- ways and the promenade or Monument Park aforesaid, and to pay into the City Treasury not less than one hundred thousand dollars. Thus profitably and magnificently by private enterprise, or with equal re- sult by the Corporation, a new City Hall can be built, which, besides its other advantages, would in the building give employment to a large number of mechanics and laborers, and, when completed, would bring annually a great number of visitors within and upon its walls, thereby adding a new source of prosperity to our city. All know that numerous plans for a new City Hail have been proposed, all of which fail to answer the desired architectural effects and vast uses for which saidiCity Hall is wanted on that matchless plot, the New- York Park. The attempt, for instance, at " harmony and unity throughout," by the plan to build a three story building, enclosing more than half the sides and the whole rear of the present City Hall, a two story building, is spoken of hr another as an " architectural abortion." Two and three story buildings in the lower part of the City of New-York, whether singly or in attempted " harmony and unity," are certainly out of date. Four and five story build- ings, in the locality named, are now the rule. Why, then, should the new City Hall be an exception to this rule ? No good reason can be given. A five story building around the Park (present buildings removed,) with colon- nade fronts, with lines of statues and other decorations, with balconies both on the street and Park fronts, with ranges of stores and offices, with ranges of Court and City Government rooms and offices, with spacious passage halls, with a Park Hall occupying the whole of 5th story, with the wl.o'e top or roof a promenade, having, also, arches, domes, spires, a Washington Hall, Washington Monument and other mdhumcnts, all as before described, is the structure New- York now wants for public and private business use, for ornament to command the world's admiration, and for recreation for a million of inhabitants- 11 la the course of the discussion upon the merits of the different plans pro- posed for a new City Hall, the following inquiries, quite likely will be made : — What would be the Park left by Mr. Hough's plan ? What would be the Park left by the plan of Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & Stewart ? The plan of Messrs. G-ilbert, Jackson & Stewart, would cut up the Park beyond 40 feet north of the front line of the present City Hall, leaving it thus: side walk on Centre-Street 76 feet wide , side walk on Chambers-Street 61 feet wide, side walk on Broadway 55 feet wide, and court between the new building erected and the present City Hall 190 by 295 feet ; said walks and court making an area of about 125,000 square feet, but all comparatively useless as a promenade and part of the Park, by being used to a great ex- tent as a side walk, and also, by being mostly out of sight of the main body of the Park. Justly speaking, the Park left by the plan of Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & Stewart, would be the present Park south of the front line of the present City Hall, containing about 191,000 square feet. The Park left by the plan of the undersigned, would contain about 19T,000 square feet, and would be nearly the same in form as the present Park south of the front line of the present City Hall. Every part of the inner balco- nies aforesaid, would command every part of the Park made as I propose. As there would be free access to these balconies, except during court hours, I add their space to that of the Park left by my plan, making to- gether about 217,000 square feet, or nearly five acres. The area in all, of the Park, court and walks which we should have by the plan of Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & S!;ewart, would not exceed 7 acres ; whereas, the area of the Park (Court Park,) the aforesaid promenade (Monument Park} and the aforesaid balconies, walks and halls for recreation, which I propose, would be full 17 acres, or 10 acres more than by the plan of Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & Stewart, and nearly 7 acres more than the entire area of the present Park. Tlie Park by the plan of the undersigned, would be immediately a p- proached by 21 arches, surrounded by a most imposing marb'.e and crystal palace, overlooked br statues and monuments. The Park by other plans proposed, would be ofte-iest immediately approached in a cloud or irapalpa. blc mist of dust, immediately overlooked by nothing better than lamp posts, and surrounded, without doubt, in part by good flag stone and good railing, and in part by brok«a flag stone, old railing and no railing at all It is said that the erection of the new City Hall proposed by Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & Stewart, would cost the Corporation five millions of dollars. This or any snm less thus expended, would be so much lost to the city, because no adequate return in rents would be made. The new City Hall proposed by the undersigned, would probably cost seven millions of dollars, and would pay a good interest on this sum to the Corporation, or to individuals on the conditions aforesaid. In the fact that I propose to add one block only to all the blocks of buildings in the City of New- York, — height of proposed block 5 stories, entire street front about 2500 feet, cost $1,000,000. — I cannot, justly, be accused of novelty, or of a purpose to increase, at unheard of cost, the size of our city beyond due bounds. Except in unequal heights, all the objections herein mentioned to the plan of Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & Stewart, apply to the plan of Messrs. Buck- man. The Messrs. Buckman propose to add one story to the preseut City Hall, and then to erect three similar buildings: — one on the north-east cor- ner, one on the north-west corner, and one on the north side of the present City Hall, making, in a quadrangle, four City Halls, and, in all, scattered over the north end of the Park, eight buildings, namely : four City Halls afore said, Hall of Records, new building corner of Centre and Chainbers-Streets:, old Post Office and present now City Hall on Chambers-Street. Th.s odd collection of buildings, different styles, plots, dimensions, stories, old, new, brown stone, marble, brick, part with cupolas, part without, part in quad- rangle, and part scattering without regard to position, would no doubt be regarded, as a whole, as a standard model, presenting, in fairest view, the sublime beauties of patch work architecture. But the quadrangle. Well, would Phidias propose four Partbenons in a quadrangle? No. Would Michael Angelo propose four St. Peter's Cathedrals in a quadrangle ? No. Would Sir Christopher VVren propose four St. Paul's Cathedrals in a quadrangle ? No. Would the architect of the present City Hall propose four City Halls in a quadrangle ? Certainly not, because in this, as in the other instances given, a quadrangle of duplicates would violate the simplest rules of architecture, each building named, as designed by the architect, being in all material respects, complete without any addi- tions or alterations whatever. Evidently the Messrs. Buckman have not, of late, been in communication either with the spirit of the works, or with the spirits of the great departed named, and refered to aforesaid. Should the up-town interest compel the Corporation to remove the public offices to the upper part of the city, within twenty five or fifty years, then the building around the Park, which I now propose, would be just the building wanted, and, if now built, would then be just as good as a new one- whereas, in the event of the removal, as mentioned, of said public offi- 13 ces, the buildings which we should have in the Park by the plans, either of Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & Stewart, or of Messrs. Buckman, would be value- less. Remember that the space which I propose for recreation, would be more than three times larger than that which the plans of Messrs. Buckman, or Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & Stewart allow, and that unquestionably for every person going to the present Park for recreation and healthful exercise, a hundred for like purposes, would resort to the Parks and promenades pro- posed by the undersigned. I ask the special attention of those composing our Courts and City Gov- vernment, to the convenience, one with the other, and, also, to the seclusion and retirement of all the rooms and ofi&ces I propose for their use. By my plfju for a new City Hall, there will be a large number of lawyers oflBces. I ask the special attention of lawyers to the convenience of these offi- ces, in enabling occupants to go to all the principal courts and public offices in the city without going out of said building. The conveniences named and the general merits of plan for a new City Hall, will, I trust, bring to my aid the efficient support of the entire legal profession. I shall proba- bly need, to some extent, this aid and support with that of the Press, be- cause I well know that a great improvement, such as I propose, will encoun- ter more or less unscrupulous opposition from interested and short sighted persons. ' To build a suitable Washington Monument in the City of New- York has been the often expressed desire of our public spirited citizens. But no suit- able plan has been proposed. The undersigned offers a plan to which he asks the special attention of all New-Yorkers. Use is sought, A splendid yet practicable height is named The combination on a large scale, of monu- ments, arches, fronts, walls, domes, spires, rooms, halls, walks, galleries, balconies, promenades, statues and decorations," forming the structure before described, is the plan offered, revealing, it is believed, the long hidden secret of the full plan of a Washington Monument in our midst, such as our citzens desire. It has been the study of the undersigned that everything per- taining to the vast structure proposed, including even the smoke and steam (emblematic of worship) issuing from t,he spires upon the tops of the domes, though as a whole contrived to pay well in rents, should nevertheless, in all respects, answer as a whole, for a Washington Monument every way worthy of our great metropc-lis I ask the special attention of every New-Yorker, to what would be the magnificent display and capacity for use on public occasions of the Park, (Court Park,) and the new City Hall I propose. Court Park, Monument Park, and all the balconies aforesaid, thickly covered by a moving, waving. 14 mighty forest of persons of both sexes in holiday attire, would be the gor- geous spectacle, the picturesque scenery of humanity presented, the sight, I conceive, most magnificent in the world, produced by human ingenuity and labor. Consider, also, that the splendid views and cool fresh air to be had at all times iu every part of Monument Park, and in all the monument balconies, would be a source of enjoyment and just pride to the inhabitants of this great city for many generations. Lastly, I ask the attention of politicaus and all others who- desire an im- proved place for out door public speaking in the city, to the fact that at least a dozen different speakers standing with their particular friends in differ- ent places on the inaer 2d story balcony aforesaid, encircled and wholly protected by towering walls from the noise of the adjacent streets, could all at the same time without inconvenience one to the other, address at least two hundred thousund of their fellow citizens standing in the Park, (Court Park) and on the inner balconies aforesaid, while, in the intervals of speak- ing in this manner, numerous bands of music could play to great advantage on the inner 3d story balcony aforesaid. What a saving here, politicians, of the lungs of orators and of carpentry on platforms for an hour ! How greatly improved, party leaders, would be your accommodations to make converts to your respective principles I My plan for a new City Hall, after two years thought, lesearcb, obser- ving, planning and experimenting, answers, I find, so well so many desirable purposes, without any inconveniences or disadvantages, that I feel morally certain of its adoption under circumstances favorable or unfavorable to myself. I am without means and the influence which means give ; but I wish to have, and will have no connexion v;ith those, who, under any guise or pretence, intend to get money or property from the city, without ade- quate consideration In the part I am anxious to take in perfecting, com- pleting and in carrying out my plan aforesaid, I desire the association and direction of those of our well known, public spirited citizens, who will be simply jnst to me, just to the plan I propose, and just to the city, showing •hortly by complete plans, specifications and a full demonstration of facts, that a City Hall which would not pay a good interest on the cost in rents, should not be built, tliat the Buckmnn quadrangle of City flails, each like the present with an additional story, or of the Gilbert & Co. juxtaposition of two and three story buildings in the Park, would be inappropriate and unsuitable, that one five story building, the largest, the most useful and or namental in the world (outline herein given), should and can be built in the Park, and would pay a good interest on the cost in rents, and that the moaey nece33ary to erect said building, if not furnished by the C jrporation, 15 would be cheerfully by individuals, on the conditions before named, under the name and organization of " The Xcw-York City Hall Association." I desire that my plan with others for a new City Hall, shall have the closest examination, confident that in this trial, the plan I propose will present, over all, ten important advantages : first, architecural effects ; second, entirely fire proof ; third, a large number of rooms for stores, banks and private business offices, supplying in part, without the least disadvan- tage, the urgent wants of merchants anci business men in the locality ; fourth, more retired and convenient, and more splendidly built and situated Court and City Government rooms and offices ; fifth, a Park Hall, with walks, galleries, &c. the largest and most magnificent Hall in the world ; sixth, a Washington Hall, most elaborate in architecture and finish, con- taining statues ; one of George and one of Martha Washixgtox ; seventh, eight monuments, — Washington, Hamilton, Lafayette, Jefferson, Madison, Clinton, Fulton and Franklin. — Washington Monument 600 feet high, sur- rounded by 22 balconies, each commanding a full view of the Bay, Harbor and City of New-York ; eighth, promenades in halls, around balconies, over roof, and in Park (Court Park) vastly more attractive, and together, nearly three times larger than the present Park ; ninth, the Park encircled by aforesaid City Hall and Monuments, encircled, also, on the inner fronts of said City Hall, by balconies commanding, in every part, the entire view of said Park, and centh, the whole, if desired, built, not only without any tax or cost to the city, but with a bonus for the privilege, to the amount, at least, of one hundred thousand dollars. I desire to make direct and sufficient answer to the following objections : " Hough's plan for a new City Hall would destroy the present Park." — "The Park which we should have left by Hough's plan would be complete- ly encircled by an immense building, and this building, though having nu- merous arches through it, would, from said Park, almost wholly obstruct the view of the surrounding streets and buildings " " Hough's plan for a new City Hall would present to view from the surrounding streets, a mas- sive building in place of what is now, for the most part, a delightful pleasure ground." " Hough's plan for a new City Hall would lessen the value of property fronting on the Park." " Hough's plan for a new City Hall would increase the taxes and liabilities of the city too much." " Hough's plan for a new City Hall would be an undertaking which capitalists would shun." — " To carry out Hongli's plan to build Washington Monument 600 feet high, would require more money than could easily be obtained for the purpose, though a most laudable one." I remark, first, that, in this world of change and progress, one's loss is apt to be another's gain, and that the substitute for the thing destroyed is generally an improvement. I do not propose to destroy the Park in any fair meaning of these words. By somebody's plan a large City Hall must soon be built in the Park to meet the pressing requirements of the Courts and City Authorities. This City Hall wherever built in the Park, will stand wholly or mostly on ground now used for recresition. In one sense, then, the present Park must inevitably be destroyed. My plan may as well 16 do the work as any other. But in no legitimate sense, or fair construction of words, can it be said that my plan, or any other proposed for a City IJall, would destroy the present Park. I propose great alterations in the Park. The attractions of the Park, as I would have it, would be far diffe- rent, but, I maintain, would far surpass the attractions of the present Park, or the Park as we should have it by any of the plans of others. I have before shown that the Park by my plan for a City Hall, would have full as many square feet for recreation as any other proposed. The main question, then, to be settled, is one of difference in the advantages or disadvantages of the Park as I would have it, and the Park as some others would have it. If this difference is against me, and it is clear, as I affirm, that the desire- ableness, as a whole, of the halls, monuments, balconies, promenades, colon- nades, statues, decorations, rooms for courts, city authorities, stores, banks, private offices, &c, which I propose, will overcome and more than overcome aforesaid difference, then, us indisputable as any mathmatical demonstration, my plan for a City Hall will be proved the best. Looking about, sitting, standing or walking in tlie Park, as I would have it, what would you see ? You would see that you were surrounded by an immense building with numerous arches through it, and with fronts making a magnilicent circle and marble colonnade. Yuu would see lines of statues and decorations. You wonld see aforesaid eight monuments, each display- ing the skill of the best architects and mechanics ; some, at times, piercing the clouds, and again, their summits in golden hue by the first rays of the rising, or last of the setting sun. You would see persons walking in aforesaid inner balconies, along the inner front of aforesaid Monument Park and afore- said monument balconies. If the time was Summer, you would be convinced that Hough's Plan made the Park the coolest and best ventilated spot of ground in New-York, surrounded by buildings and streets. At any time yon would be satisfied that the dust and noise of the surrounding streets was effectually shut out. A little reflection, I think, will convince any one willing to be convinced, that the attractiveness of the views, in the Park, by ray plan, would far exceed the attractiveness of the views, from the pre- sent Park, of the surrounding streets and buildings. Standing or walking in Broadway or Park Row, in Centre or Chambers Streets, would looking in/o the present Park, or the Park remaining by the plans of others, excite as much interest and attention as looking at the new City Hall I propose with its marble colonnade fronts, its monuments, bal- conies, promenades, statues and decorations ? Certainly not, all, I think, will say giving the question put an unprejudiced and full consideration. Only property occupied by private residences is increased in value by fronting on open pleasure grounds or space open for recreation. The more compact and costly the buildings on streets in a business locality, the more valuable the real estate in that locality becomes. Therefore I maintain that the new City Hall I propose would add, at least, 25 per cent, to the value of property fronting on the Park, and would largely increase ihe valae of real estate in every direction in the neighborhood of the Park. Raise Sve millions of dollars, by tax, or by tax and credit of the city; and issue " City Hall Stock" for the balance required to build the City Hall pro- If posed, pledging the income from said City Hall, when completed, for the payment of said '' City Hall Stock;" and the five millions named would be the extent of my offense in "increasing the taxes and liabilities of the city too mnch," — a sum, not exceeding, and no doubt less than other j)lans pro- posed would require. The new City Hall, as I propose to have it, would stand upon the most valuable ground in the City of New- York. The Corporation offering to capitalists, on the conditions aforesaid, the privilege to carry out " Hough's plan for a new City Hall," all familiar with the energy and foresight of New-York capitalists, know that there would not be much time to say — "they shun the undertaking." If we Americans cannot easily build, in New- York, on solid earth, a monument iu honor of the great Washington, about in height the length of a now nearly completed British Steamship, calculated strong enough to weather the fiercest storms of the ocean, I think, as Americans, we ought to be ashamed of ourselves, and to distrust both our ability and our patriot- ism. But I believe we have the ability, liberality and patriotism to build the Washington Monument proposed. Away, theu, with misgivings, Coun- trymen of Washington, of Franklin, of Clinton and of Fulton! and soon make this monument a sign, a wonder, a mark in the sky, showing, at once, your enterprise, nationality and love of liberty. I desire to arrest the attention of architects, artists, builders, iron dealers, iron founders, machinests and mechanics, and laborers mainly or exclusively employed in the construction of buildings, to the fact, that the adoption of my plan for a uew City Hall, would, in comparison with other plans, be a personal advantage to much the largest number in the occupations and trades named. The appropriation required to build a new City Hall, must have the appro- val of our State Legislature. No plan for a City Hall can be carried out without that approval. Therefore, neither Messrs. Buckman's, or any other plan, though adopted by both branches of our Common Council and aprov- ed by our Mayor, can be a finality, until the requsite appropriation therefor, receives the ascent of the legislature aforesaid. The state, national, patri- otic, and public uses of the building herein proposed, would undoul)tedly autho- rize our State Legislature, to give to a company all the legal rights nescessary to erect, as described, and to own said building on conditions named afore- said, these conditions being the considerations or damages awarded to the city for the ground upon which said building would staud. But our City Government, it is belered, after full inquiry and discussion, will decide that the " Buckman Architecture" is not the best, that th? contemplated " Buck- man Tax" of five or six millions of dollars is a wholly unnacessary burthen from which the overtaxed citizens of New-York, may be very properly relieved, anH further, that all plans for a City Hail requiring money from, or which will not put money into the City Treasury, shall be reieated. I have a Model of the City Hall herein proposed. Substitute, if desired, in place in part of rooms aforesaid for Banks, Stores and OfiSces, Buitablo rooms for Custom House, Mint, ofiTico of Assistant Treasurer, &o. Let our new Post Office be situated, and occupy a'l the space required, in the lierein proposed City Hall on Chambers Street from Centre Street, towards Broadway, makinj^ suitable rooms for the purpose, iu place of aforesaid rooms for Banks, Stores and OtBces, and leaving out, if necessary, aforesaid Chambers Street Arches; or, if deemed tinally best, put. suitably constructed, said Post 0(Bce at the South end of the Park, in place of aforesaid Washington Hall and rooms for Stores and Offices adjoining. 18 And in case said Post Office shall be situated as last mentioned, com- mence at second story, the open inner or railway space aforesaid in Washington Monument. Thus said Post Office can have one room in first story in apartments as desired, fronting, north end, on arch under Lafayette Monument 100 feet, on arch under Hamilton Monument 100 feet, and on the Park 100 feet ; with front on Broadway and Park Row, each, at option, from 300 to 350 feet, and front on junction of Broadway and Park Row 100 feet, less 20 feet stairway to second story passage hall, making the open, or Street and Park front together, at option, from 780 to 880 feet, and, without deducting space occupied by walls of Wash- ington Monument, containing an area, at option, from 60 to 70,000 square feet. The City Hall of the City Hall Commissioners, appointed by our State Legislature, may be all that part of the City Hall I propose in rear of the present City Hall ; or that part on Centre Street, Chambers Street and Broadway, between and including Fulton and Clinton monuments ; or that part only embracing aforesaid 1st Section. On conditions iu substance before stated, and certain conditions of conveyance of a portion of the Park to the Government of the United States, with the consent of the City Hall Commissioners, aforesaid, the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New-York, can imme- diately least to a Company the necessary ground in the Park upon which to build the City Hall I propose, with a condition that the time of said lease may be extended for a specified period by our State Legislature, or a condition requiring our City Authorities, under certain forfeitures, to apply to said Legislature for authority, and obtaining it, to make to said Company a full conveyance by deed of aforesaid ground in the Park upon the terms and stipulations in substance aforesaid. Our City, State and United States Authorities, acting in concert, in a spirit of union and nationality, can, in this time of peace, obtain for them- selves, our city, state and nation, honor and distinction more to be de- sired than the laurels of a Marengo or Austerlitz. Said Authorities then, rising, as true Americans, above party, yet respecting party divi- sions and interests, will soon, it is hoped, agree, that the City Hall Com- missioners, aforesaid, shall direct and superintend the erection of all that part of the aforesaid proposed new City Hall, in rear of the present City Hall ; that in the building of the City Hall proposed from said limit to, and including Lafayette and Hamilton monuments, the City Autho- rities shall have oversight and direction ; and that the erection of the remaining part of said proposed City Hall, from Lafayette and Hamil- ton monuments to junction of Broadway and Park Row, including, of course, Washington Monument, shall be under the direction and super- intendence of the United States Authorities. Other influences being insufficient, the metropolitan and patriotic emulation, and direct interests of the great mass of our citizens, will un- doubtedly soon have the efflsct so far to harmonize conflicting political purposes and plans, as to allow our capitalists, with their money, and our architects, artists, contractors, mechanics and laborers, with their known energy, skill and industry, to build, without delay, the City Hall herein outlined — a City Hall with arches, colonnades, balconies, promenades, monuments, halls, rooms for courts, public and private offices, banks, stores, post office, &c., making, iu the hands of the capitalists, architects, artists, contractors, mechanics and laborers aforesaid, the most magnifi- 19 cent and desirable combination in the world for he purposes designed, namely : ornament, recreation, public and private business use. The above engraving of the City Hall I [propose, taken from the model before mentioned, and the best I can now afford, shows promi- nently Washington Monument and the fronts ou Park Row and Centre Street. All the smaller monuments should be more prominent. Madi- son. Jefferson and Franklin monuments should be nearly twice the height represented above Monument Park. All the balconies and the top of the fronts on Broadway and Chamber Street, should have the Gothic pointing and decoration which the top of the fronts on Park Row and Centre Street represent. I remark, in conclusion, that I have made the proposals, specifications and suggestions contained in this pamphlet without the advice, council or knowledge of any one, although not by occupation an architect ; and that my purpose is, and has been, through much effort and perseverance for now over three years, to propose a City Hall, worthy and certain to be built, and when built, having all the advantages and attractions aforesaid, to prove, directly and indirectly, a pecuniary benefit to all the inhabitants of this rising Metropolis of the New World. To perfect, complete, and fully present in detail before the public and City authorities my plan for a new City Hall, and if expedient, to form " The New-York City Hall Association," time and expense, which I cannot aflford gratis, will be required. Therefore, needing compensa- tion hereafter in an undertaking proved practical, and it is believed, highly desirable by what, without pay, I have already accomplished, I respectfully solicit subscriptions to the amount of one thousand dollars, assured that the public-spirited citizens of New- York will readily sub- scribe the amount named, to have complete before them, without delay, the plan of building promising to excel every other, ancient or modern, in utility, ornament and gigantic dimensions. D. HOUGH, Jr., 45 Liberty Street. LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 014 220 507 5# Conservation Resources Lig-Free® Type I Ph 8.5, Buffered