The new Labor Exchange is soon to be inaugurated. We give herewith a
view of the entrance facade of the meeting hall. The buildings, which
are the work of Mr Bouvard, architect, of the city of Paris, are
comprised within the block of houses whose sharp angle forms upon
Place de la Republique, the intersection of Boulevard Magenta and
Bondy street. One of the entrances of the Exchange is on a level with
this street. The three others are on Chateau d'Eau street, where the
facade of the edifice extends for a length of one hundred feet. From
the facade and above the balcony that projects from the first story,
stand out in bold relief three heads surrounded by foliage and fruit
that dominate the three entrance doors. These sculptures represent the
Republic between Labor and Peace. The windows of the upper stories are
set within nine rows of columns, from between the capitals of which
stand out the names of the manufacturers, inventors, and statesmen
that have sprung from the laboring classes. Upon the same line, at the
two extremities of the facade, two modillions, traversed through their
center by palms, bear the devices "Labor" and "Peace." Above, there is
a dial surmounted by a shield bearing the device of the city of Paris.
The central door of the ground floor opens upon a large vestibule,
around which are arranged symmetrically the post, telegraph,
telephone, and intelligence offices, etc. Beyond the vestibule there
is a gallery that leads to the central court, upon the site of which
has been erected the grand assembly hall. This latter, which measures
20 meters in length, 22 in width, and 6 in height, is lighted by a
glazed ceiling, and contains ten rows of benches. These latter contain
900 seats, arranged in the form of circular steps, radiating around
the president's platform, which is one meter in height. A special
combination will permit of increasing the number of seats reserved for
the labor associations on occasions of grand reunions to 1,200. The
oak doors forming the lateral bays of the hall will open upon the two
large assembly rooms and the three waiting rooms constructed around
the faces of the large hall. In the assembly rooms forming one with
the central hall will take place the deliberations of the syndic
chambers. The walls of the hall will, ere long, receive decorative
paintings.--_L'Illustration._
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