Tallest

The two tallest office buildings in the world were last week officially opened in Manhattan. They were the Chrysler Building, 1,046 ft. 1 1/2 in., at Lexington Ave. & 42nd Street, and the Bank of Manhattan Building, 927 ft. 1/2 in., at No. 40 Wall Street.*

To the Chrysler ceremonies went Citizen Alfred Emanuel Smith whose Empire Trust Building, now abuilding, will be higher than Mr. Chrysler's. To the Bank of Manhattan ceremonies went Mayor James J. Walker who, forsaking his custom of being late, arrived ahead of time.

In the Chrysler Building are 77 stories, a much-needed smart, uptown lunching place called Cloud Club, murals by Edward Trumbull (depicting "Energy and man's application of it to the solution of his problems"). In the Bank of Manhattan Building are 71 stories, an officer's club on the 55th floor, murals by Ezra Winter (depicting oldtime Wall Street scenes).

Most modern and rubiginous is the lobby of the Chrysler Building. Chaste in black and white marble is the first floor of the Bank of Manhattan Building. The Chrysler architect is William Van Alen, the builder Fred T. Ley. Architects of the Bank of Manhattan were H. Craig Severance and Yasuo Matsui, the builder Thompson-Starrett./-

A great gesture towards a fortune built by automobiles is the Chrysler Building. Oldtime Manhattanites recalled last week that 50 years ago its site was a goat pasture. Modern Manhattanites recognize it as the most desirable uptown office building, admire Texas Co. for having rented 14 of its floors, at an annual rental of $583,000.

On the site where the original bank stood in 1799, the Bank of Manhattan Building bears soaring tribute to the four men (Paul Moritz Warburg, chairman of Manhattan Co.,** James P. Warburg, president of International Manhattan Co., John Stewart Baker, chairman of the executive committee of Manhattan Co., Stephen Baker, chairman of Bank of Manhattan Trust Co.) whose energy and banking prowess have brought their house to its present prominence among other Manhattan banks.

Quiet and almost dull were the Chrysler ceremonies. The Warburg opening achieved drama by the presence of 50 armed policemen, a chain of armored trucks which delivered into the vaults of the bank $850,000,000 in cash and securities.

P: The Building Bureau of Manhattan last week officially ascertained the fact that only four private houses were built last year in Manhattan.

P: At No. 48 Wall Street (Bank of New York & Trust Co.), the Street's oldest cornerstone (laid 1797) last week cracked.

*The Eiffel Tower in Paris, 1,024 ft., 6 in., less tall than the Chrysler Building but taller than the Bank of Manhattan Building, has an observation point higher than that of either.

/-Financiers for the builders of the Manhattan Building were G. L. Ohrstrom & Co., Inc., who last week joined with J. G. White Co., Inc., to form International Public Service Corp. which will own and operate public utilities in South America.

**Not to be confused with his brother Felix, who last week was given a testimonial dinner in Manhattan.

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