The Sun from New York, New York • Page 33

FOURTH SECTION NEW YORK. SUNDAY. Ol inn sixteen yl: 1 IN-Jl 1 TH RIAL ZINE pictorial MAGAZINE I hy IhC JyylJ 'S Sun I'tinling and il ('S I'ubluhttfltjinoctatlon. -1 iff Vif.v i Z. ft-'' 5E3 R.

A. Cram, the Present Architect, Has Made Radical Changes in the Plans for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine Which if Carried Out Will Make the Structure the Most Notable Constructed in Any Country Since the Fifteenth Century RADICAL changes are proposed In i lie plans for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine by Us prea-' cnt architect, It. A.

Cram. Tho Uhcdr.il will be the most notable ructurf Its kind to be built In nny uuntry mce the fifteenth century. Ita mmaiui.im' position on Mornlngsldo flgh from which It will dominate if city adds still another responslbll-J for ri architect to meet. 1 niunned by Mr. Cram to build harm ni-nis Gothic structure which 1 '11 tak.

as place among the great ithcdr.ils of the world. The plans al-ady prepared are frankly tentatlvo wi.i doubtless undergo many 'wiikcs. It now possible, however, gain i general Impression for the "ri the outlines of the great ruu the genernl spirit of Its While there nro cathc-Crato neater height and depth, 6t. 'ohn's. tho sum of Its nm be the largest In tho world.

The ullng of the Cathedral will bo iTUv. rapidly In the future. It will course as quickly hb a mod-' t'tilldlng, since the structure Holld masonry throughout. Hon will also depend upon of the treasury. Tho next i irt of the work will be tho i the great nave, which from the present struc- 'rd to Amsterdam avenue.

iKs for the choir are now I and the actual work of be commenced not later 'Hy spring of 1915. will consist of five doublo Is planned to build one of units, a year. The main Cathedral will therefore, within the next five years. hp U'nrlr in tin nppnm. "Med nod the time taken In building mr great cathedrals.

thU time Is Ml Ml' -111 "he i le 1 npor in.it i III ire "he ,1 Hi ''illdim. i ine a. an. fortlon 'He wuiaer i comparatively short. It is estimated that each of these bays will cost to build about making a total for the nave of about 11,000,000.

The most radical change In the general design of the cathedral has been the elimination of the great central dome or tower. In the original plans the cathedral was dominated by a great central tower rising to a height of about COO feet. The present architect decided at once that the domo must go, since it was Inconsistent with the Gothic style. It has not been determined what will take Its place, and this Important detail may not be settled for years. In the tentative drawings of tho cathedral this problem, It will be seen, Is frankly evaded.

The tower or towers which will eventually dominate tho cathedral, whatever their position, will probably rise, however, to a height of about B00 feet, as originally planned. The problem of the central dome or tower Is extremely baffling. Thcro la no nri'hltectural precedent for a Gothic tower of such dimensions. The famous twin towers of the Cathedral of Notre Dame In Paris, which arc among the largest Gothic towers ever designed, are about forty feet In width. Tho central tower of St.

John's Cathedral to be kept 111 proportion to the structure would have to have a width of 110 feet. Such a tower has never been designed In this style. If the largest Oothlc tower were copied it would have to be multiplied three times in size, and the result would be an architectural monstrosity. It is pointed out by the present architect that such a tower would compare with other towers as the illnusauruH with Its exonerated neck compares with other animals. The central portion of the cathedral Is a very embarrassing Inheritance Even had the original designs for the cathodral been followed It Is believed 3 Hi if i -v.

Illli 31 3 31 Now Possible for First Time to Obtain a General Impression of the Outlines of Cathedral Great Dome, Found Inconsistent With Gothic Style, Has Been Eliminated, but Problem of Replacing It With Something Else Will Not Be Solved for Years Looking across the nave. Above General view of the cathedral as it will look if new plans are accepted. that the architects would have come to grief In building the great dome. Tho architectural problems encountered call for a man of genius In this particular stylo, and It Is a question If the present century has produced such an artist. There are many who believe that Itlch-nrdaon could have solved the problem, but lllchardson Is not living.

Were the cathedral of classic design, It Is pointed out, the problem would be comparatively simple, since the decorations could have been elalorated Indefinitely. The Gothic style, however, depends upon units. Its strength and delicacy depend upon Its structuro ns well as Its decorations. In the original design two great towers rose at the front of tho church on a line with Amsterdam avenue, Tho present architect will probably made a radical change In the arrangement. It Is now planned to place these towers well back and to raise two smaller towers at either side of the west facade.

Tho cathedral will thus havo four great towers. The smaller of theso towers will seem very large In comparison with those of ordinary churches. Tho great central towers, which will probably rlso to a height of S00 feet, will In a measure replace tho great central domo of the original design. It will bo seen that the plans are exceedingly elastic, Tho details of the decorations shown In the plans already prepared nro for the most part suggestive and will not bo definitely determined on for many years. The question of the materials to bo used Is also open.

The massive mn-sonry of the great arch which is now conspicuous for so great a dlstanco will ultimately be entirely covered. It seems highly probable, however, that the effects Kilned by the cathedral architect his other churches, notably St. Thonjas's, wllbe reproduced on more elaborate ecalo oh MornIngsde Heights. it-. The general color scheme of the entire cathedral group will be harmonious.

Several permanent buildings, Including the Bishop's mansion, arc already completed, so that the general effect of this group may be studied. It Is Interesting to note that although these buildings nre large according to ordinary standards they are already completely dwarfed by the great arch of the cathedral. It Is difficult to picture the Immense structure when Its towers will have risen to nearly three times the present height of the arch. The plans for the Interior of the cathedral are also undergoing many radical changes. The lofty arch In the accompanying Illustration shows an Interesting detail of the new treatment.

Some Idea of the size of the Interior may be gained from the statement that this arch measures 90 feet from the floor to the spring of the aroh, while the distance from the floor to the crown of the aroh will be 1-13 feet. The general tone of the Interior according to the new plans will be somewhat warmer than the portion now completed would suggest. A special feature will be made of the glass of the great windows of the cathedral. They will be extremely dob In color, reproducing with great fidelity tho famous cathedral windows of the Middle Ages. In order to reproduce mich effects the glass will be made after the ancient formulas followed In glass making centimes ago.

The kilns for making the glass will be set up ad-Joining the cuthedral and the work carried nn under the personal direction of the architects. The making of such glass Is commonly called one of the lost urts, but hh a matter of fact the ancient formulas have been preserved and It Is promised that th windows of St, John's shall rival In richness those of the fhavelle In Paris and medlicval cathcdrJl. tit.