Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/830

 672 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [April, CORRESPONDENCE. It must be distinctly understood that we do not hold ourselves accountable for the opinions of correspondents. Mr. Editor : I read each month the pages of your admirable Review with a pleasure which makes me hope that you may go on for many years to come, increasing in patronage, and sustaining the interest of the subject you have chosen. In an article on " Our Street Archi- tecture," you hinted at the convenience of an upper sidewalk, for the use of ladies and children. Now, it strikes me that would indeed be an admirable ar- rangement in our very crowded thor- oughfares, especially here in New York. But I fear the enormous value of prop- erty, especially on Broadway, where it might be most desirable, would stand as a stubborn obstacle in the way. Yet, if the proposition were fairly examined, it would be seen that the loss of front on the second floor, for say ten feet deep, would be more than compensated for by the fact that it would throw open a second tier of scores for fancy and light goods, which could not fail of at- tracting the ladies ; and would, there- fore, greatly enhance the value of prop- erty now comparatively unproductive on that story. And I would be inclined to suggest, that a continuous awning sheltering this upper sidewalk, or gal- lery, made uniform throughout, would add considerably to the advantages which such a construction would confer on the thoroughfares of our great city ; and, in fact, every other city where busi- ness and pleasure jostle each other, to the inconvenience of each, all the day long. What an improvement it would be to our streets to widen them thus, say even twenty feet ; and what an enliven- ing effect it would have on the sombre upper stories to see an elegant open balustrade running the whole length of a street, enclosing a perfect parterre of blooming beauty and fashion. Trusting this subject may not be allowed to die of inanition, I subscribe mj-self, JS'ew York. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED New Book on Architecture. — We hail with much pleasure the advent of a fresh effort to disseminate knowl- edge on the great and popular science of Building, enti- tled Principles and Practice of Architecture. By Sanford E. Loring and W. L. B. Jenney, Architects, of Chicago. Such a work, just now, is a most desirable auxiliary in the great effort to advance the knowledge, and consequent patronage, of our profession ; and it will give us very great satisfaction to review the work when it comes to us. Hearth and Home.— We look upon every fresh ap- pearance of such publications as this, with a feeling of pride, as well as of satisfaction. Pride for the increas. iug cultivation of our day, and satisfaction in the beauty and solidity of those aids to instruction which emanate from the press in steady progress, weekly. We have now a number of really useful, as well as interesting periodicals, whose columns are filled with talent, and are presided over by editorial ability of a high order. The Hearth and Hume is eminently one of these, and to say that Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe and Horace Greeley are contributors, is to speak assuredly of its success. The Scientific American. — We receive with pleasure the weekly visits of this admirable monitor of the work- ingman. The engravings which illustrate its able arti- cles are not to be excelled, and the labors of its editors and contributors are at once clear and decided. Many of its bold antagonisms to some brilliant theory or vision of the day, have marked its independence, when the popu- lar voice and the whole public press were loudly ad- verse to its well founded reasonings. But time proved the truth of the position it had taken ; and we have yet to see the first error of its decisions. The Chemical News.— This is a reproduction of a val- uable London journal, with American additions. It is full of subject-matter most desirable to the chemist, the druggist, and the general reader. The Trade Journal. — Always up to the wants of the times, and ever popular, this publication is ono of our fixed institutions. The Rural Gentleman. — Each number brings an ad- ditional claim to the attention of all who love Horticul- ture, Agriculture, aud Kural Economy.