Full text of "A half century of Chicago building : a practical reference guide : all building laws and ordinances brought to date : historical, technical and statistical review of the construction and material development of America's inland metropolis"

LIBRARY OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

AT URBANA-CHAMPAICN

q725
J718h

VAULT

Arch.

'^7

Half C^entur
of

Chica^-o Building;

A Half Century

Chicago Building

A PRJCTICAL
REFERENCE GUIDE

All Building Laws and Ordinances
Brought to Date

Historical, Tec/iuical inid Statistical Revic\jc of t/ic

Co)istrnctio)i and Material Development of

America's I?/ land Metropolis

CHICAGO... 1910

,wun LIBRARY OF ARCHITtClUKt

Ji/SK

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Edited by

Hon. John H. Jonks Hon. Frkd A. Britten

CHAIRMAN MKMIihR

ClTV ColNCIL BriLUlNG COMMIITEE CiTV COL'N'CU. BuiLDINCi CoMMinEK

A (iv ISO ry Co ;// /// i tt e c

E. R. GRAHAM . . D. H. Burnham & Co., Architects
CHAS. S. FROST .... P>ost & Granger, Architects
WILLIAM HOLABIRD . . Holabird & Roche, Architects
B. H. MARSHALL . . . Marshall & Fox, Architects
WM. A. M UN DIE . . . Jenney, Mundie & Jensen

N. S. PATTON .... Patton & Miller, Architects
RICHARD E. SCHMIDT, Schmidt, Garden & Martin, Architects
DWIGHT H. PERKINS . . Architect, Board of Education

JOHN E. ERICSSON City Engineer

JOHN M. McEWEN Consulting Engineer

E. C. SHANKLAND ..... Consulting Engineer
GEORGE W. JACKSON Engineer

Pub lie lit ion Office: Room 1010 Hartford l3llilcliIl^^ C'hica^o

5.*5r>41()

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

INTRODUCTION

HIS IS an era of construction, and no city in the world better typifies the age than Chicago.
The building of this great metropohs of two and a half million people, within the span of
less than half a century, stands as a marvel of constructive achievement.

For the Chicago of today, with its towering buildings reared on foundations laid deep
underground, with its miles of harbor frontage and inland docks, its great drainage canals, its tunnels
bored under the city and under the Lake, its countless factories and endless miles of modern homes, its
parks and circling suburbs, has practically all been builded since the great conflagration of 1871 cleared
the ground for the rebuilding of the modern metropolis.

By reason of its new start and the progressive character of its citizens, Chicago has been particularly
responsive to modern advances in the builder's craft and foremost to adopt and apply all improvements
and changes in structural materials and methods.

The most adverse conditions confronted Chicago's builders. The site lay on low, boggy ground
offering no secure foundation for buildings and no solid material in which to tunnel beneath the surface;
the level plain afforded no natural drainage, yet modern building science has set the great city securely
in its place, reached out beneath the surface of the bordering inland sea for water on the one side, and
connected its drainage system with the Gulf of Mexico on the other; a net-work of tunnels underlies its
streets, and the construction of adequate sub-ways to solve its pressing traffic problems waits only upon
capital.

The material accomplishments of the past are eloquent of the future. The great work of building
Chicago has only begun, yet the peculiar nature and great magnitude of the problems of construction
here encountered has brought correspondingly great advances in the adoption of improved materials and
methods. All true progress must proceed under law and the ever changing conditions in the building
world of Chicago have necessitated repeated revisions of the city's Building Code to keep it abreast with
the times.

A careful historical and critical study of these developments in modern building science, as typified
in Chicago, with a compilation of the legal regulations on the subject brought down to date, must be of
greatest interest, not only to those who are actually engaged in the field of construction, wherever it may
be, but also to every property owner and citizen whose interest lies in Chicago and its future devel-
opment.

The editors of this work have spared no effort to make it a complete and comprehensive treatment
of this subject in its broadest sense. To this end special articles by acknowledged authorities have been
secured treating the most important developments in modern materials and methods of construction, and
the great and peculiar problems yet awaiting the constructor in Chicago.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title

ICditors.

Advisory Committee.

Special Contributors.

Introduction.

Historical and Descriptive

Site of Chicago.

Geological, Physiological and 'rci]ii)t;;ra]iliic d
Features.

I-'rench Explorers.

l-'irst White Settlers.

I-"ort Dearborn Massacre.

\'illage of Chicago Incorporated.

Early Growth and Develo])nient.

Illinois and Michigan Canal.

The Civil War.

Social. Commercial, and .Architectural I'ealures
before the Great Fire.

The Great Fire of 1871.

Chicago .After the I-"ire.

Tlie Rebuilding begun.

The Panic of 1873.

Inc(>r|)uration under ( ieneral .\ct.
I'henonienal (irowth of City.
Commercial and Railroad Supremacy,
llaymarkct Riot and Railway Strikes.
Industrial Conditions.
WorMs i'air.
Drainage Canal.

Chicago Today

.Area and l^opulation.

Commerce and Industry.

Cioverimient.

Political Divisions.

Revenue Taxation and .Assessment.

Miuiiciiial Expenditures.

Transportation.

Water Sui)ply and Drainage.

Harbor and Docks.

Bridges.

Public lm])ri)venients.

Present lUiildiiig Conditions and .Advances

I^'uture Problems.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

INDEX

Contributors

CiiAS. S. Frost
William llnLAiuun

r,KN II. Maksuai.l

XclKM AND S. PaTTON

Ku iiAUii F. Schmidt
Dwicin 1 1. rKKKINS

John E. Ericsson

1(111 N M. E\vi:n-

E. C. SlIANKLANl)

(. Maiiison Pack

I-RANK G. HoVNE

IIknrv G. Zaniucr
Edgar M. Snow
Ali-.lrt G. \\hi:eli:r
H ERIUCRT Darli NtnoN
J. B. Strau-ss
G. P.. F. Owen
Geo. T. Goodrow

Subjects

Railway TcniiinaN

l)cvcloi)nK'iU of l-ii-L' Risi^tint,' .Mali-rial for
P)iiil<linf,'s

Theatres

( Libraries
I Museuins

Reinforced Concrete

School Unililins^s

(Subway Water Works
Intercepting- Sewers
Bridges

1 1 arbors

Foundations

Problem of Traffic Congestion

Real Estate

Real E>tate

Real Estate

Cliicago l-'reiglit Subways

The Relation of Insurance to Substantial Bldfi

P.ascule Bridges

Mechanical Cleaning

The Use of Wall l-"inish.

Chicago's Street Railways

Chicago Railways Co.

Chicago City Railways Co.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Chicago = Historical

PH^ SICAL environment has marked effect
upon the structural growth and development
of cities, as well as upon the character of their
peoples. In the case of Chicago, located upon a
strikingly level marshy plain, bordering the head and
scarcely raised above the level of Lake Michigan,
and traversed by sluggish streams, its unusual situa-
tion has had peculiar influence upon the city's growth
and development. The flat, boggy land bordering
the Lake offered no natural drainage, afforded no se-
cure foundation for building, and provided very lim-
ited harbor facilities. In the erection of a gigantic
city upon this unfavorable site, it has been necessary
to solve the most difficult problems in building con-
struction, especially in the matter of providing foun-
dations for modern skyscrapers, by engineering
works of immense magnitude to provide adequate
drainage and water supply for the city, while, to
make Chicago a port, it has been necessary to con-
struct an artificial harbor and make the shallow
Nvinding streams threading the site of the city navi-
gable for the largest vessels.

In view of the building and engineering problems
which these physical conditions have occasioned, a
brief description of the geological and topographical
formation of the site of Chicago will be of interest.
The plain on which Chicago now stands was at one
time the bottom of an ancient lake, sometimes called
by geologists. Lake Chicago, which, at its highest
state, seems to have stood about sixty feet above the
present level of Lake Michigan, and extended west
to the ridges, bordering the level land in the vicinity
of LaGrange. Out of this lake, at its various stages,
rose as islands those elevations, now known as Blue
Island, Stony Island, Mt. Forest, etc., names which
suggest the early condition of these places. The
various sandy ridges which here and there seam the
plain, represent bars or spits formed by the action of
the waters of the ancient Lake Chicago.

This lake was formed when the immense fields
of glacial ice, that once covered the surface of this
part of the country, began slowly to melt, and retreat
to the north. By the diversion of the waters of the
Chicago plain into the Mississippi basin, through the

building of the present Drainage Canal, the former
drainage of this section is re-established, for the wa-
ters of Lake Chicago found their outlet to the south-
west through the present valley of the Des Plaines
and the Sag, following the course of the modern ca-
nal. To the north, any outlet for the waters of the
lake was blocked by barriers of ice. At its highest
stage the discharge of the waters of Lake Chicago
through the valley now containing the Des Plaines
River and the Drainage Canal was comparable to
the present flow of water in the Niagara River, and
below Lemont, where the floor of the valley de-
scends rather steeply, must have been imposing
rapids.

When the ice which co\ered the Chicago plain
had retreated and allowed the waters of the former
lake to subside from the site of the modern city, they
left behind them a loose, level, unconsolidated de-
posit of soil, overlying the pre-glacial surface of the
country. This deposit varies considerably in thick-
ness over the bed-rock, showing that the land where
Chicago now stands was formerly of a broken and
undulating character. At its deepest point, along
the North Branch of the Chicago River about a half
mile above the forks, the bed rock is 1 24 feet below
the level of Lake Michigan; at other points it crops
above the surface of the Chicago plain. On this un-
inviting flat of loose spongy soil, deposited by the
action of glaciers and lake, and intersected by slug-
gish water courses, was to be built the great city and
port of Chicago.

The French, who came by the Great Lakes, were
the first white people to arrive in the Illinois country.
Father Marquette, a Jesuit missionary, and Louis
Joliet, who represented the French government at
Quebec, together explored the Mississippi River in
I 673, and, early in the Fall of that year, on their re-
turn trip, ascended the Illinois and Des Plaines Riv-
ers, and portaged to the Chicago River, thus being
the first white people to visit the present site of Chi-
cago. After them came by the Lakes French trad-
ers and adventurers, most noted among them La
Salle and Tonty. These early French explorers
must have visited the site of Chicago, and possibly

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

built there a temporary fort, but the place offered
few attractions to them and they established their
first settlement farther to the south along the Illinois
and Mississippi Rivers.

Not for a century and a quarter after the first
French came was any settlement of which we have
certain knowledge made where the city of Chicago
now stands. August 1 7, 1 803, Captain John Whist-
ler and a company of soldiers arrived on the site of
Chicago, where he found three or four Canadian
French traders, and began the construction of Fort
Dearborn. This was the beginning of building con-
struction in Chicago. The fort was named for
Henry Dearborn, then Secretary of War, and con-

by the Indians. Capt. Nathan Heald, then in con-
mand, abandoning the Fort on orders sent by Gen.
Hull, was attacked by overwhelmmg numbers of In-
dians, who massacred the garrison and most of the
accompanying women and children. Fifty-nine per-
sons, including officers, two women and twelve chil-
dren, were slain. The next mornmg the Indians
burned the Fort, and with it every vestige of Amer-
ican authority disappeared from the region around
Lake Michigan. Four years later, after the conclu-
sion of the war with Great Britain, Fort Dearborn
was rebuilt, but for many years thereafter only a
trading post composed of scattered uninviting cabins
occupied the site of the present city.

sion Chicago Historical Socict-

RESIDENCE (i. .

The first house built

.\ RIXZIE, ESO.
Chicago.

sisted of four log houses and two block houses, the
whole surrounded by a twelve foot palisade sur-
mounted by pointed iron. In 1804, John Kinzie,
then residing near Niles, Michigan, moved to Chi-
cago having purchased the property of one of the
four French traders then here. His house was on
the north side of the river, and, for many years, was
the only house of an English speaking settler where
Chicago now stands. The chronicle of the life ad-
ventures of John Kinzie, Chicago's first settler,
would rival in excitement those of Capt. John Smith.
Nine years after its construction had begun, on the
1 5th of August, 1812, Fort Dearborn was destroyed

In 1818, legislation of immense importance to the
future city of Chicago was enacted by the Congress
of the United States. The Ordinance of I 787, re-
lating to the Northwest Territory, had provided that
either one or two states might be formed out of the
territory lying north of a line drawn through the
southerly bend of Lake Michigan. Had this pro-
vision been acted upon in its original form, Chicago
would have been located in some other state than
Illinois. On January 16, 1818, Nathaniel Pope,
the delegate in Congress from Illinois, presented to
the House of Representatives a petition from the
Territorial Legislature praying the admission of Illi-

HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

no's as a state of the Union. Shortly thereafter a
bill enabling Illinois to become a state was passed by-
Congress which contained an amendment vital to
Chicago proposed by Mr. Pope himself. By that
amendment the northern boundary of the new state
of Illinois was fixed at its present line 42 30'. dis-
regarding the Ordinance of I 787, and bringing the
present site of Chicago within the state so formed.
TTie reasons advanced by Mr. Pope in support of
his amendment were prophetic of the city's future: —
that in this way more attention would be drawn to

the Winter of 1833-4 amusements of any kind were
few and far between. One fine moonlight night,
when the ice was good, the whole of Chicago turned
out for a skate and a frolic, and we had it. There
must have been at least a hundred persons on the
River between Wells Street and the forks." In
June, 1834. the first steamer, the Michigan, entered
the Chicago River. Population began now to in-
crease more rapidly, and, four years after its incor-
poration as a village, Chicago was granted a char-
ter as a city, March 4, 1837.

COURT IlOU.Sli .\XU .I.\1L, 18^8.
After painting owned by Chicago Historical Society.

the plan for a canal between Lake Michigan and the
Illinois River and for improving the harbor of
Chicago.

Between the years 1818 and 1830 Chicago ad-
vanced very slowly. In 1 83 1 -2 occurred the Black
Hawk War. This had little direct effect upon the
eastern part of the State, but is important as marking
the last stand of the Indian against the white man
in Illinois.

In 1833, while still a small straggling trading
post, Chicago was incorporated as a village. Charles
Cleaver, who came to Chicago in 1833, wrote: "In

TTie original city of Chicago contained a popula-
tion of about 4000, and embraced about ten square
miles of territory, extending from North Avenue to
Twenty-second Street and from the Lake to Wood
Street. There were six wards, two to each division,
and the assessed valuation of its property was $236.-
842. That portion of the city now embraced within
the 2 1 st Ward began from the start to furnish may-
ors for the city; William Butler Ogden, Democrat,
representing the north diMsion, was elected first
Mayor of Chicago, May 2, 1837, over John H.
Kinzie, Whig.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Construction problems in Chicago early assumed
a political aspect. The first bridge over the Chicago
River, at Dearborn Street, had been demolished and
communication between the north and south sides
was maintained by ferries at Clark and Dearborn
Streets. Public sentiment was opposed to a bridge
so far down the River as Dearborn Street, and the
people of the south side were opposed to bridging the
river at all and thus bringing the north side merchants
into easier communication with visiting traders, who
came in mainly from the South. After a close con-
test the north side won, and a bridge was built,
1840, at Clark Street, the expense of which was met
largely by private subscriptions of the interested
north side merchants. This bridge was a floating
swing bridge, the first of the kind to be built in the
West. The next year a similar bridge was estab-
lished at Wells Street. By 1 849 there were bridges
at Clark, Wells, Randolph and Kinzie Streets, all
of which were swept away by the great flood of
1849.

The building of Chicago had an inauspicious be-
ginning. The panic of 1837 came on and business
was at a standstill; many merchants abandoned the
city and returned to the East, but many dauntless
settlers remained, putting full faith in the future of
the city, and reaped their reward when the period of
depression at last was over. Northern Illinois was
steadily filling with settlers; the completion of the
Erie Canal opened easy communication with the
East, and Chicago began to assume importance as a
lake port. By 1 850 it had a population of 30,000.
In 1848 the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
ran the first train out of Chicago; by 1850 this road
had been completed as far west as Elgin. In 1853
the feasibility of connecting the North and South
Sides with a tunnel was discussed at a public
meeting.

Another important constructive achievement dur-
ing this period, the building of the Illinois and Mich-
igan Canal, opened a water way between Chicago
and the older settlements along the Illinois River,
and first linked together the commerce of the Great
Lakes and the Mississippi River. The project of a
canal connecting Lake Michigan with the Illinois
River had been talked of for years. As has been
seen, it was already in contemplation when Illinois
was admitted as a state, in 1818, with its boundary

pushed north to include Chicago. In 1835 the
State Legislature finally authorized a lean for the
construction of the canal. By 1 848 the work was
completed, following closely the course of the pres-
ent Drainage Canal, and for twenty years thereafter
formed an important highway of commerce. To-
day agitation for a deep waterway to the Gulf has
supplanted thoughts of the old canal.

At the half-century mark, 1850, the phenomenal
growth of Chicago may be said to have begun.
From 30,000 in 1850, the city had increased to
I 1 0,000 in 1 860, and to nearly 200,000 at the close
of the War. This remarkable growth was mainly
due to the tide of immigration now setting toward
Chicago. Manufacturing industries sprang up, rail-
roads were built, and commerce grew apace. The
Illinois Central Railroad, encouraged by the State,
was built, 1851-56, giving the whole interior of the
state an outlet at Chicago. February 20, 1852, the
first through train from the East entered Chicago
over the Michigan Southern Railway. During the
decade, 1850-1860, Illinois did more railroad build-
ing than any state in the Union, and by 1 870 ranked
first among the states in the total number of miles of
railway.

Various public improvements were undertaken,
but capital was still very scarce. There were no
paved streets up to 1 849, and the principal thorough-
fares of the city were often impassable. In 1 849-50
about three miles of plank road was laid. Plank
and cobble stones, both of which proved very unsat-
isfactory and ill adapted to physical conditions in
Chicago, remained the only pavements for several
years; not until 1857 was macadam used and plank
and cobble discarded. In 1 852 the city secured a
loan of $250,000 in the East to be used for the con-
struction of a new system of water-works. The
greater part of the city was but a few feet above the
level of the Lake and drainage early became one of
the great problems. In 1855 the legal level of the
city was raised seven feet, not without loud protest
on the part of property owners affected, making the
established level of the city about fourteen feet above
Lake Michigan.

Still the remarkable growth of the city continued.
The Civil War made heavy drains upon its people
and the tide of immigration temporarily slackened,
but, with the close of the War, the city grew again

X■'"^^,^^^i^'"

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

l..\K.E AND STATIC STREETS, Ls
From original print ozcncil by Chicago Historical Society.

CirAJIBKR OF COMMEKlE. \»i>:
t-'rom original /riiw otcncJ by Chicago Historical Society.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

with unprecedented rapidity. In 1871, on the eve
of the great fire, Chicago was a city of nearly 350,-
000 inhabitants, one of the leading manufacturing
and railroad centers of the country, and a port of the
first importance. Numerous spacious hotels afforded
ample accommodation for the many transients, and
Chicago was already famed as a "convention city."
It was up to this period that Chicago deserved the
name "Garden City," or "Urbs in Horto," which it
had adopted as its motto at its incorporation in 1 837.
Most of its houses were of frame, many scattered in
open cultivated lots, and surrounded with shade
trees and flowers.

The rebuilding of Chicago was begun under new
laws and new conditions. The constitution of 1 870
had expressly forbidden the granting of special char-
ters or privileges to cities, and had limited cities in
the amount of taxes they could raise, and the amount
of money they could borrow. Just as the old city of
Chicago encountered a financial panic at its birth, so
the new city was confronted by the panic of 1 873.
But fire and panic could not daunt the Chicago spirit
nor check the growth of the young metropolis.
\^hen Chicago was finally incorporated under the
General Cities and Villages Act, in 1875, the city
contained about 400,000 inhabitants. From the

iion Chicago Historical Society

CHICAGO IN I-LA.MES.

October 9, 1 871 , the Great Fire broke out, and
burned for three days. All but the outskirts of the
great city that had been built at the head of Lake
Michigan was devoured by flames. Over 1 7,000
buildings were destroyed. But the faith in its cit-
izens in the future of Chicago, which had prevailed
over financial disaster in 1837, was manifested in
still greater degree in 1871, and was to accomplish
the physical regeneration of the city. It has been the
task and triumph of Chicago's builders, in less than
forty years, to raise, as if by magic art, an imperial
towering city of two and a half million people upon
the ruins of its former self.

great fire to the present day, the phenomenal growth
of Chicago has received no serious interruption. In
1870 Cook County contained about one seventh of
the population of the state; in 1900 the proportion
was nearly two fifths. In these thirty years the state
outside Cook County gained only 36 per cent, but
Chicago gained over 500 per cent.

Naturally, however, the extremely rapid growth
and material development of Chicago brought with
them unsettled conditions and friction — particularly
friction between Capital and Labor. In 1 886, the
Anarchist riots startled the city and the whole coun-
try. In 1 894, the year after the magnificent cele-

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

miKT IK^USK IX 1S(.5. WIIKX I.IXCOLX'S UEMAIXS I. W IX STATK TIIKKK
Original photo taken from south, showing procession entering south tUior.
Chicago Historical Society.

Chicago Historical Society.

CITY HALL AND COUNTY BUILDING.
Kaze<l to make room for present structure.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

bration of the triumph of the arts and sciences, Chi-
cago, which had become the greatest railroad center
in the world, became the focus of the tremendous
railway strike of that year.

Many other industrial troubles have arisen in the
growing, seething metropolis, but it is believed that
the age of arbitration is practically here, and that
Chicago will take the lead, as in other things, in pro-
viding wise means to bring about the speedy and just
settlement of these dispute?

With the opening of the Drainage Canal, the vi-
tal problem of drainage for Chicago was finally
solved. The Sanitary District of Chicago was or-
ganized under an act of the Legislature passed in
1 889, in order to provide for the construction of a
drainage canal, to carry the sewage of the city
from Lake Michigan and the Chicago River down
into the Illinois River. By 1900 this monumental
work was completed at a cost of $60,000,000, and
once more the Lake and the waters of the Chicago
basin found an outlet to the Mississippi. The canal
has not only provided drainage for Chicago and
saved further contamination of the Lake, whence the
city draws its water supply, but it has completed the
first link of another great project of immense import-
ance to the future Chicago — a Deepwaterway from
Lake Michigan to the Gulf.

We have seen how, in the early days of its history,
the commerce of Chicago was stimulated by the
opening of the comparatively insignificant Ilhnois and
Michigan Canal; in like manner, the future of
America's great inland metropolis, commanding the
vantage point on the Great Lakes, is today indissolu-
bly linked with the construction of a deep-water
route which shall give free passage from the Lakes
to the Mississippi, the Gulf, and the Panama Canal.

We have traced in brief outline the unprecedent-
edly rapid growth of the little trading post, organ-
ized as a village in 1 833, into the present metropolis
of the West, the fourth city of the World. The fu-
ture of Chicago IS hardly less secure than its past.
The most conservative statisticians place the popu-
lation of Chicago at between five and six millions in
1950.

The territory now embraced within the city limits
has an area of 190.6 square miles, and extends twen-
ty-six miles from North to South and fourteen and
one-half miles from East to West at its widest point.

The harbor jurisdiction of the city extends three
miles into the Lake along the entire water front.
The geographical center of Chicago is near the in-
tersection of Wood and 35 th Street, and the center
of population in the vicinity of 1 2th Street and Cen-
tre Avenue. The city now contains at least 2,250,-
000 persons, and nearly 300,000 dwellings. It has
4,227 miles of streets and alleys, 300 public schools,
and 1 ,077 churches; there are 1 ,350 miles of surface
and elevated roads, which carry a daily average of
1,354,000 passengers. The daily clearings of Chi-
cago's banks are $35,000,000, and manufactured
goods to the value of nearly one billion dollars are
produced annually in over 4,000 plants. The Union
Stock Yards embrace five hundred acres of ground,
in which are contained 25 miles of streets and 300
miles of track; 300,000 persons are directly or in-
directly dependent upon the labor at the Yards. An
average of 1 ,000 cars of stock are received daily,
and the annual volume of business connected with
the stock and packing industry is $600,000,000.
Chicago is the largest grain market, the largest lum-
ber mraket, and the largest wholesale dry goods mar-
ket in the world, but its aggregate business as a live
stock market exceeds the total of these three.

The Mayor, who now holds office for four
years, is the chief executive officer of the city of Chi-
cago. He presides over the Council, and, with its
consent, appoints the heads of nearly all the import-
ant city departments, including the General Super-
intendent of Police, the Fire Marshal, the Corpor-
ation Coutisel, Commissioner of Public Works,
Commissioner of Health, Building Commissioner,
and numerous other officials. Aside from the
Mayor, only the City Clerk and City Treasurer,
among the city's executives, are elected. The legis-
lative body for Chicago is the Common Council,
composed of seventy aldermen, two from each of
the thirty-five wards. The Act of the State Legis-
lature, known as "The Cities and Villages Act,"
under which Chicago holds its charter, gives to the
city certain enumerated powers, and, acting within
these powers so granted, the Council passes ordi-
nances for the regulation of the city's internal affairs.

The Cities and Villages Act also limits very
strictly the taxing and borrowing power of all munici-
palities organized under its provisions. In the case
of Chicago, where so many public improvements are

A HALF CENTURY OK CHICAGO BUILDING

By fcrmission Chuti,o Hislorunl .S.-

IIIC.\i;0, AS SEEN AI-TER THE (.KEAT O )\l'I.Ai;KATIOX.
View north frnm Harrison Slrccl.

From ori£iitol fl'otografll olvixcii by Chicago Historical Society.

HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

essential to its full development and to enable it to
keep pace with its unprecedented growth in popula-
tion, these restrictions upon its power to raise money
have been particularly felt. The modest limit of
the city's borrowing power was long ago reached,
and meanwhile permanent public improvements,
such as new bridges, new police stations, and many
other badly needed public works have remained un-
built because the city was forbidden by law to
pledge its credit further in order to raise the neces-
sary funds for beginning their construction. The
necessities of Chicago in this respect had become so
apparent that the last legislature passed certain Acts
which will enable the city by the issuance of bonds
to borrow in all a further sum of about sixteen mil-
lion dollars, or six millions less than the ordinary an-
nual running expenses of the city. This power, how-
ever, is limited by a referendum act which requires
the question of issuing any of these bonds to be first
submitted to the people of the city for their approval.
By reason of Chicago's inability to provide funds
for the purpose, public improvements in the past
have not kept pace with the city's material growth
and development. On the other hand, as pointed
out in the Mayor's last annual message, the city of
Chicago has come to its present proud position with
the expenditure of less money, and with the creation
of less debt in proportion to its area, population, and
wealth, than any other large city in the country.
The bonded debt of Chicago, which is less than
$29,000,000, is only about one third that of Phila-
delphia, and one quarter that of Boston. The city
of New York pays annually as interest on its debt
a sum practically equal to the bonded debt of
Chicago.

In spite of its financial limitations, the city of
Chicago under its present efficient administration,
has found the means to provide adequately for the
running expenses of the municipality, to pay its debts
as they have fallen due, to begin the construction of
a magnificent new City Hall to cost about $5,000,-
000.00, and to provide other minor pressing im-
provements. The long vexed traction question has
been settled and excellent transportation facilities
provided, while the city is more than an equal part-
ner in the financial returns therefrom. A special
fund has been provided for street improvements, and
a general tone of financial soundness is seen and felt

in all departments of the city government. The
city is now able to borrow money at an exceedingly
low rate of interest, and judgments against the city,
for the first time in its history, are sold at par. A
commission of experts m municipal affairs has re-
cently been appointed by the Mayor to examine the
whole field of the city's expenditures and make rec-
ommendations looking to economy along that line.
The project for a great Chicago Harbor is receiv-
ing attention. Since 1 889 the volume of shipping
at the Chicago Harbor has been decreasing, while
the volume at the Calumet has been growing. A
special commission is making a careful study of Chi-
cago's needs in the way of harbor and navigation
facilities, with the view to the adoption of a definite
course of action regarding this question by the city.
A wise authorization to the city by the voters to use
its credit, within the restrictions of the recent law, to
raise money for needed permanent improvements
will go far to make Chicago what destiny decreed it
should be, the first city of the Western Hemisphere.
One of the pressing needs of Chicago is an in-
crease in its park facilities. On becoming a city,
Chicago chose as its motto "Urbs in Horto," al-
though in 1 839 the entire park system of Chicago
consisted of a half square where the Public Library
now stands. At various intervals a number of small
parks were added, mainly through the public spirit
of private citizens. In 1 864 the City Council se-
cured a portion of the land that came to be named
Lincoln Park and appropriated $10,000 for park
improvement. In 1 869 the movement for the con-
necting chain of parks surrounding the city started.
This movement succeeded and Chicago soon became
the second city in America in respect of park area.
But the movement for parks stopped practically
there, forty years ago, and the city is now seventh
so far as park area is concerned, and, when relative
density of poulation is considered, Chicago is thir-
ty-second among American cities in its park facili-
ties. There are here 590 persons for each acre of
park space. The movement for parks has, however,
again been started. State authority for certain park
improvements has been granted, and it is not believed
that Chicago, whose greatness has largely been
founded in the public spirit of her citizens, will long
lag behind in this important development.

A HALF CENTURY O? CHICAGO BUILDING

The city was never more prosperous and flourish-
ing than today. This is particularly manifest in the
building line. Four of the largest and costliest pri-
vate structures ever built in the city, involving an out-
lay of $12,000,000.00. are at present under con-
struction, while new ones are about to be com-
menced. In the year 1908 there were built within
the city a total of 10,771 buildings, representing a
value of over $68,000,000.00 and an increase of
more than 15 per cent over the preceding year. If
the buildings constructed during 1 908 were placed
in one continuous row, they would present a solid
frontage of 55.23 miles. For the first eight months
of the present year, 1909, the figures are even more
impressive. In those eight months building permits
have been taken out representing a proposed outlay
of over $61,000,000.00, practically equalling the
total of building operations during 1 892, the year
before the World's Fair. The total for 1909

should approach $90,000,000.00, exceeding by
many millions the total of building operations dur-
ing any previous year in Chicago's history. Real
Estate transfers for the same period show a corre-
spondingly vigorous increase. By whatever stand-
ard it be measured, it is evident that the permanent
substantial growth of Chicago is proceeding more
rapidly than ever before, and the most enthusiastic
predictions for its future are fast being realized.

Many constructive problems of vast magnitude
still await solution — foremost among them, the open-
ing of a waterway for the commerce of Chicago
to the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico, and the
solution of the local traffic problem through the con-
struction of an adequate system of subways. To the
solution of these great undertakings, however. Chi-
cago, as ever in the past, will bring to bear the united
support of its citizens and meet them in the spirit of
its motto "I Will."

liolJl5ira)•A^lD•RochE•ARffl^IIC^5^

«m

mil

1 ■ H'!

*'^4i"".*3''«*$n:

i:V\\ HAM..

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

HALF CENTURY

CHICAGO BUILDING

HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

A HALF

CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILD". N 3

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

A RADICAL departure in apartment construc-
tion and one which marks a distinct advance
in this character of improvement is the
apartment being erected at No. 5825 Washington
Avenue by Marshall & Fox for Mr. Frederick Bode.

The history of this apartment is rather interesting,
inasmuch as it shows a broad minded business man's
solution of the apartment house encroachment into a
residence neighborhood. Mr. Bode, in order to
protect the residence character of this block on
Washington Avenue, entered into a combination
with a number of other property owners to control
100 feet of vacant property on the east side of the
street, adjoining on the north a residence occupied
by himself. The death of the holder of one of the-
pieces of property in this vacant stretch threw the
property into the market, and the association woke
up to find an apartment building in the course of
construction in the conserved district.

The die having been cast, Mr. Bode decided that
the thing to do was to set an example in apartment
construction which, instead of detracting from the
value of the property, would materially add to and
increase the attractiveness and beauty of the block.

With this end in view, he has constructed a three-
story fireproof building, designed in the modern
French Renaissance style, which in design, material
and construction probably surpasses anything of the
kind which has been attempted in Chicago.

Each floor is occupied by a single apartment of
twelve rooms, an exposure of I 1 4 feet of south front-
age, with 50 feet frontage on the street. Each
chamber is provided with a bath and equipped with
all the modern conveniences of telephone, vacuum
cleaners, etc. An automatic push-button elevator
serves the various apartments. The apartments are
arranged so that each is divided into three sections :
The main or living portion of the apartment con-
sists of living room, dining room, reception hall and
entrance hall, occupying the west or street frontage
portion of the building; the service portion of the
house, consisting of pantries, servants' hall, servants'
chambers, etc., occupying the north or court side;
the chambers, four in number, occupy the south
side of the building. Each of these sections is dis-
tinct and separate, being isolated from the remaining
portion of the house; so that while each apartment
is spread over a single level, all the privacy of a
residence is afforded to its occupants.

The facade of the building is finished in Bedford
stone and red pressed brick, with slate-covered man-
sard, making a most attractive exterior. The en-
trance to the building is on the ground level, the
entire first or ground Hoor being given over to jani-
tor's apartments, storerooms, laundries, heating plant,
etc., corresponding to the ordinary below-ground
construction. By this arrangement the first apart-
ment is located at a height of 1 feet above the side-
walk, giving a privacy which is entirely lacking in the
first floor apartment when the standard Chicago ar-
rangement of apartment building construction is fol-
lowed.

This beautiful building will be ready for occu-
pancy March 1st, 1910.

.\PARTMEXT BUILDING OWXED BY FREDERICK BODE,
5825 Washington Avenue.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDIN^

SIMONUS MFG. CO.'S SAW WORKS, K.NIKK FACTORY AND CKUCIBLE STEEL PLANT, AT CHICAGO ILL.

7hat. .(. Comiikcy, /'resident.

S\M IK. Ml-; (lll(A(;i) ■WIHIK S(i\- mask I!AI.I, CLl'M,
Thiilyl'iflh Sirci-t aiu! WinHvoi Ih Avi-mu-.

HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Chicago Stock Exchange Building

This building stands on the southwest corner of La Salle and Washington Streets on property 1 80
by 100 feet. The site is an historical one, as in 1837 on the corner was erected a large brick dwelling,
said to be the first brick building constructed in Chicago and at that time the finest residence in the
City. Subsequent to the fire of 1 87 1 , the Union Building, five stories and basement, was erected on the
corner. In 1893 the new Chicago Stock Exchange Building \vas built, thirteen stories high, with 410
rooms, twelve stores, and two large Banking Rooms. This building is of steel construction, with terra
cotta exterior, finished throughout in marble, mosaic, mahogany and oak. Ten elevators carry the 1 ,280
occupants to and from their offices. As the life of a modern steel constructed building has not yet been
determined, under normal conditions the present building should continue its services for many years to
come.

It IS interesting to note that in 1836 the land on which the building stands was valued by the City
Valuators at $3,937.50. In 1908 the Board of Review valued the same ground at $1,290,000. This
shows an increase in value of the ground since 1836 of 32,700 per cent, or 448 per cent per annum,
and is a convincing demonstration of the marvelous appreciation of Chicago Real Estate.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

MARSHALL FIELD & CO.'S STORES (old and new)

D. H. Burnham & Co., Architects

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILD

ING

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

PLANT OF CHICAGO RAILWAY EQUIPMENT CO.

46th. ROBEY AND LINCOLN

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Columbus ]y[emorial Building

THE year 1892 vsas one of inspiration to the
city of Chicago. The atmosphere was
charged with the enthusiasm that conceived
and constructed that marvel of beauty and art, the
White City, or Columbian Exposition. Nor was
it limited to the White City alone. A new era
had set in. The materialism represented by brick
and mortar at so much a cubic yard gave way to
interpretations of architecture as art. Nowhere was
this more excellently illustrated than in the Columbus
Memorial Building, built and named in honor of
the historic event then celebrated. . Located at State
and Washington Streets, it stands a monument to the
public spirit of its projector, the genius of its archi-
tect, and the sincerity of its builders. It is one of
the first of steel structures to rear its towering height
fourteen stones skyward. The first two floors are of
solid bronze, specially designed for this use, and
are richly ornamented with bas-reliefs. The en-
trance to the building, two stories in height, is orna-
mented with a frieze of eleven panels, being pictures
in bronze bas-relief of the life of Columbus, and
above the entrance, extending through another story,
is a niche containing the colossal statue of that his-
toric character. Then, for twelve stories, specially
designed brown terra cotta carry lines of great beauty
to a roof of tile surmounted by an imposing tower.
The tower is capped with a great globe to typify the
round world of Columbus, and from the front cor-
nice a colossal American Eagle, with out-stretched
wings, ornaments and symbolizes the building. * The
corridor is entirely of rich Sienna marbles, built in
columns, and with panels of mosaic containing the
narrative of the principal events in the life of Colum-
bus, and from this corridor a marble staircase and
five elevators, surrounded by bronze grills, lead to the
floors above. The floors and ceilings are of ex-
quisite patterns of mosaic, of such delicate shades of
colors that they seem mere like oriental rugs. The
lighting effect, with incandescent lamps in bronze
fixtures, is a part of the decorative scheme. There
is evidence everywhere of that co-operation of inter-
est in constructive architecture, of that wise foresight
in regard to real needs, that give the building an air

of having grown to perfection. The basement was
set apart for safety deposit vaults. Rare marbles,
beautiful furniture, and comfortable fittings were in-
stalled to make them attractive. There are sections
set apart for men and for women. Divans, rugs, and
other creature comforts make these vaults a Mecca
for busy women, and many organizations constantly
avail themselves of their hospitality. Marble and
bronze statuary, real works of art, help to add the
sense of luxury to comfort. There are twenty-five
hundred safety deposit boxes, and any number of
small private rooms, where one can undisturbedly
attend to his own affairs. The ground floor is de-
voted to business purposes. The corner, a jewelry
store, decorated and furnished by the projector of
the building, is probably the most beautiful and ex-
travagantly furnished of any in America. Its walls
are mostly of marbles from the Pyranees. in dove
color, with ceilings and coves of mosaic in tones of
blue, with gold bronze trimmings. Incandescent
lamps set in festoons of gold bronze are set in these
coves of mosaic, while colunmns of verde antique
marble surrounded by electric lights and with pen-
dants of Malachite, Lapis-lazula, and other semi-
precious stones meet the eye. The furniture and
fixtures are of heavy, rich mahogany, ornamented
with gold bronze, all designed by the artist design-
ing the interior decoration of the building, and in
color and tone suited to set off the rich displays usu-
ally exhibited m fine jewelry establishments. The
second and third stores, the former a confectionery
shop, and the latter a children's outfitting establish-
ment, are equally excellent in their appointments.
The rear walls of these establishments are covered
with two rare mosaic pictures by a master artist.
The pictures were painted and done in mosaic in
Italy, and assembled on these walls. They are life-
sized human figures representing Columbus' discov-
ery of America and the raising of the Spanish stand-
ard, and his return with gifts and friendly Indians
to the court of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.
The colors are rich and beautiful, and being of
mosaic are perpetual memorials rarely or never used
as a commercial asset, and fit ultimately to find their

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Columbus Memorial Building
COLUIVIBUS SAFE DEPOSIT CO.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

way in some public or national museum. A constant
stream of people pays homage to these works of art.
Mounting the marble staircases for a leisurely exam-
ination of details, one is struck by the fact that every-
where the corridors are of marble, the floors and
ceilings are of mosaic, and what little wood-work on
doors and jambs is of the finest of mahogany. The
second, third, fourth and fifth floors are devoted to
commercial pursuits. From the sixth up, the medical
profession fairly monopolize the space, and a splen-
did room on the fourteenth floor is devoted to a

medical library and reading room. The appoint-
ments throughout are perfectly conceived and exe-
cuted, and the standard set has been many times
imitated in the last sixteen years, but never excelled.
In the rush of business and because it is a commer-
cial building, the merits of the Columbus Memorial
Building may be overlooked, but it will richly repay
anyone who is at all interested in the subject to de-
vote himself, without stint, to exploring its nooks and
corners from the medallions on the outside columns
to the tracery of the roof. The result will be joy.

CIIICAnO Pr.AXT of the NATI0X.\L .MALLE.\nLE CASTINGS CO.,
Twenty-sixth and Rockwell Streets.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Problem of Traffic Congestion

and J. Madison Pace's Relief Plan by Boulevard Connection
Between the North and South Sides

"Proposed July llth, 1908, by
J. MADISON PACE, WM. H. PRUYN, JR.

Real Estate Appraiser, Chicago, 111. Architect, Chicago, 111.

IT IS stated from careful estimates based upon act-
ual count that there are over 237 pedestrians and
102 vehicles traversmg the streets m the limited
space betv\^een Randolph Street and Rush Street
bridge on Michigan Avenue and its intersecting
streets, every minute of the day between the hours
of 7:00 A. M. and 6:00 P. M.

It IS almost beyond comprehension how the resi-
dents of the North Side could have tolerated so
great an inconvenience for more than 25 years.

The suffering from the haitus — the rough and hid-
eous blank that exists between the North and South
Side Boulevards is by no means confined to the
North Side Residents; it is borne by a great major-
ity of the business people in communicating with
their places of business.

All Chicago agree that some plan for a Connect-
ing Boulevard, should be developed and executed;
what the people demand is an adequate uninterrupted
means of communication that can be expeditiously

executed at the least possible cost to the Citizens of
our Great Metropolis. It therefore behooves us to
bring before you a possible and expedient measure
of relief.

Look at the picture of Grant Park, and the Lake
Front Parkway, as shown opposite, with their at-
tractive and practical connections with Michigan Av-
enue, by artistically designed viaducts over the Illi-
nois Central Railroad Tracks (which railroad we
hope will be electrified in the near future) at 12th
Street, Peck Court, Harrison, Van Buren, Monroe
and Randolph Streets, in order to fix clearly in your
mind the relation as embodied in the plan, which pre-
sents one of the most magnificent highways in the
world.

Outlet for Grant Park

Note particularly also, that the design here shown
furnishes an inexpugnable, permanent, simple, eco-
nomical and highly efficient connection between the

1 !

■UUD

l^KEr r!lC-HIC:/ld

Pl^m «r gpj^mt

-SHOWiftG-COHrfdCTioM btTWf:fn'riOF:TH-S*-VHvTH-R«i?Kv3T5Tfrri5 ■ Bf -

Proposed TunriELjBouLEVARD Linic

■5uBni''""^ErD-B'r-J-f^'flD!50H-PflCI^- or- PflCt -^-Ca-
97 iViASHlriGTOri 5t VwZRUO

u AU ..est

n.npnn

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

North and South Park Systems, possesses innumer-
able artistic possibihties with its practical utility pre-
eminent, and secures results for the people without
legal delays, or needless procrastination.

\ ou will also see that without the connection as
shown in this plan; Grant Park entirely excluded
from Park Boulevard Systems, and the attractive
and expensive (Ohio Street) Lake Shore Drive ex-
tension of the Lincoln Park Boulevard Systems is
left inaccessible and without an outlet to the South.

The plan provides an adequate front door to Lin-
coln and Grant Parks and eliminates entirely the in-
felicitous hinderance of light traffic which now so
commonly occurs by open bridges and traffic conges-
tion in the vicinity of Rush Street Bridge.

Chicago's Best Opportunity

This plan opens up and develops a permanent and
much needed public improvement which has for
many years past been neglected and is the most prac-
tical, economical and feasible opportunity that Chi-
cago possesses for this purpose.

Two Thirty Foot Driveways

The design contemplates a double tunnel 76 feet
in width, commencing a little south of Randolph
Street, and receding northward at a grade of 2 per
cent and emerging on Lake Shore Drive near Ohio
Street on the North Side at a like grade, each bore
to contain a separate dirveway of 30 feet each in
width and 20 feet in height, with a 6 foot sidewalk
for the accommodation of pedestrians. The two
bores to be connected by a series of arches between
them, separated by piers 4 feet in diameter.

Reinforced Concrete Construction

In the construction of the boulevard as shown the
author recommends the use of reinforced concrete
as structural material, and white glazed terra cotta
for lining and finishing; and cresote blocks for pav-
ing driveways.

Perfect Lighting System

The lighting as planned throughout will be after
the style of the Reverse Lighting System, composed
of numerous clusters of electric lights artistically ar-
ranged throughout the driveways so as to throw the
light toward the ceiling, which will act as a reflector,
thus giving a diffused effect. This will also be re-

inforced with large light shafts situated 300 feet
apart and lined with white glazed terra cotta, thereby
giving an abundance of light and ventilation and
making the bore absolutely sanitary.

The plan also contemplates a railing between the
driveway and sidewalks and between the piers sep-
arating the driveways throughout the tunnel boule-
vard, and around the approaches at the grade level,
all of white glazed terra cotta with balustrade ef-
fect. A grade of less than 2 per cent is made pos-
sible by reason of the unobstructed route.

Architecturally Beautiful

The architectural problem is so thoroughly and
satisfactorily worked out that it makes the tunnel ab-
solutely sanitary and gives proper light and ventila-
tion, and so attractively ornaments the interior that it
will make the traversing of the bore safe and pleas-
ant. Continuous traffic would not be interfered with
as in the case of a bascule bridge.

No Condemnation Necessary

Note particularly that the plan as shown here does
not require the condemnation of valuable property,
as IS necessary for the completion of other plans here-
tofore submitted.

It does not obstruct the proposed widening and
deepening of the Chicago River, but is in line with
such an improvement as the roof of the bore is 40
feet below the surface and the airshafts are so ar-
ranged that the river could be widened to a width of
250 feet and a depth of 40 feet, should the future
developments demand it.

Freight Traffic Increasing

The Boulevard will not retard traffic en route to
the proposed outer harbor system, but is the only
plan yet submitted that eliminates the congestion of
pleasure traffic at the cross streets connecting with
the Lake Front, thus leaving the East and West
Streets clear for so called, heavy teaming.

It does not obstruct the street crossing between the
loop district and the railroad freight houses, the docks
and large ware and storage houses. To the careful
student of industrial conditions it is clear that heavy
teaming can not be dispensed with on any of the
East and West Streets between Randolph and Ohio
Streets or at the crossings of the East and West

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Streets on Michigan Avenue or Pine Street, with the
factory district developing on the North Side, and
the immense railroad terminals with more than 100
acres of freight cars, both east of Michigan Avenue,
and these conditions being permanent ones, with a
healthy increase in traffic, and the rapid building up
of Michigan Avenue, with office buildings, clubs,
hotels, retail stores, public institutions, etc., renders
the Grant Park and Ohio Street connection a most
possible and practical plan of relief.

It is closely estimated that over 2,500,000 tons of
freight in and out bound, are handled at these freight
houses east of Michigan Avenue annually. At two
tons per wagon would mean 1 ,250,000 loads, most
of which must cross Michigan Avenue. In addition
to the immense traffic in this vicinity it is closely esti-
mated that there are 3,500,000 so called pleasure
and light business vehicles, that traverse Michigan
Avenue and its intersecting streets between Ran-
dolph and Kinzie Streets; 80 per cent of which
could conveniently and profitably use the tunnel bou-
levard shown here, thereby relieving the congestion
on Michigan Avenue to a very large degree. The
extra distance caused by the deflection of traffic to
the East would be more than offset by the ease and
speed with which the business district could be
reached by the North Siders.

Anyone engaged in lake traffic, and located some
distance up the Chicago River will readily appre-
ciate the importance of dispensing with bridges as
far as possible and the development of subway con-
nections between the North, South, East and West
Sides.

Cost Less Than Other Plans

The construction of this Boulevard if adopted can
be commenced at once and rushed to completion
without condemnation suits (which would necessar-
ily take place in the carrying out of any other plan
yet submitted to the Board of Local Improvements).
This is the only plan that is in strict harmony with
the improvement of Grant Park, the proposed Pas- .
senger and Freight Subway, and with the future
Outer Harbor, River and Deep Waterway Devel-
opment. By the addition of large conduits on the
west side of the bore, (which could be used for tele-
phone, electric light, cables also water mains) would
no doubt earn a sufficient revenue to meet the charges

of maintenance. It stands last but not least, hand in
hand, with the making of a Greater Chicago.

Surface Boulevard Connection

The Author of the Tunnel Boulevard, also has
under consideration two other possible relief plans
of which space here would not permit the printing of
sketches.

First the connection of Michigan Avenue with
Pine Street by the construction of single decked
bridge with a 240 foot span (either bascule or lift
type) diagonally from the end of Michigan Avenue
at its present width (Plus the accretion attainable by
narrowing the sidewalks on each side of Michigan
Avenue sufficient to give a 40 foot driveway) north-
easterly to connect with the south end of Pine Street
extended at its present width. The grades and other
engineering details to be worked out in accordance
with the engineer's requirements.

Rush Street Bridge Remains

Rush Street Bridge is to be left as it is for heavy
traffic as the new bridge will not in any way inter-
fere with its operation.

Condemnation Cost Small

Taxpayers will be relieved of the enormous cost
of condemnation of property and the unwarranted
delay that would necessarily follow any of the other
plans. This plan contemplates an inexpensive con-
nection, the total cost will not exceed $750,000, as
there is no condemnation of property, (except a small
piece of property joining the River) . Michigan Av-
enue and Pine Street can be boulevarded so as to
get a forty foot driveway without any expense what-
soever, (with the exception of paving) to the tax-
payers. By the adoption of this plan, work can be
commenced at once. The result will be the rehabit-
ulation of an old shabby quarter of the city, thereby,
resulting in the conversion of the street to retail uses
and accruing great benefit at a minimum expense to
the people at large.

Grant Park Surface Connection

The other plan not illustrated here is a surface
boulevard, connecting Grant Park with the new Ex-
tension of Lake Shore Drive at Ohio Street, via the
same route as proposed for the tunnel connection.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

iw>

B1KI)SEM<; MEW OF tiKANT I'AKK AND I'KOPOSEU TUNNEL.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

This connection can be accomplished at about the
same expense as the proposed tunnel boulevard as
shown in the picture.

We give preference, however, to the Tunnel Con-
nection, which we believe will provide for the peo-
ple that which they are continually demanding, "An
uninterrupted connection at a minimum expense."

We respectfully submit that it is conceded by the
Commercial Club Plan Committee, the Michigan
Avenue Improvement Association, and a great many
property owners and business people, that a connect-
ing Boulevard at the Lake Front, connecting Grant
Park with Lake Shore Drive Extension on the North
Side is inevitable.

Die

Confusion of True Basis of
Land Values

3«/ Edgar M. Snow

A COMMON error is made by confusing the
value of land with the value of the landlord's
estate in land. Thus, conveyances of re-
versions carrying with them ground rents are fre-
quently referred to as establishing a present market
value of the land. This is a mistake. Such trans-
actions simply show the value of the landlord's
estate in the land thus conveyed.

For example, a conveyance was made some time
since, at $125,000, of IO51/2X 171 feet m Michi-
gan Avenue, 38 feet north of Jackson Boulevard,
subject to a long term ground lease, made years ago,
at a fixed annual rental which, on the basis of present
value, is too low. This transaction did not mean
that land at that point was worth less than $1,200
a foot at that time, as indicated by this transfer — it
was, in fact, worth several thousand dollars a foot,
— but it meant merely that $1,200 a foot was the
value of the landlord's estate in the land, incum-
bered by such lease, and ascertained by capitalizing
the yearly ground rental upon a percentage basis
satisfactory to the investor, and acceptable to the
seller.

On the other hand, it is sometimes found that land
is leased for a long term of years, upon a basis con-
siderably in excess of its present value, but because
the lessee of the land has erected thereon valuable
buildings, affording an abundant security for the
ground rent, the owner of this "fee" (that is, this
land and the lease) is able to find a purchaser at a
price determined upon the basis of the ground

rental. This price, thus secured, is not the value of
the land, but is the value of the land and the lease,
and is in excess of the value of the land alone, and
affords no proper criterion thereof. It is merely the
value of the landlord's estate in the land and the
lease. Nor, in fact, does the landlord's title to the
land itself without the lease — that is, the probable
value of the land at the end of the lease — cut much
figure in a transaction where the ground lease has,
say, fifty years or more to run. It is really the
secured lease which is the landlord's asset. Without
the ground rent, the present value of such land
alone, (that is, the reversion, the possession of it at
the end of 99 years) is merely a nominal speculative
sum.

The difference between the value of the land-
lord's estate in a "fee" and the true, or market, value
of such land is represented by a profit or loss, as
the case may be, to the lessee of the land. Certainly
no appraiser, asked to give the value of land, con-
siders that this means other than its market value
upon a free and clear basis, and this only is the true
value.

There can obviously be no such thing as various
values at the same time for adjoining land of equal
desirability. Hence, to quote "ground rent" trans-
actions as proper cntenons of actual values of land,
is clearly wrong, as it is apparent that the market
value of land may be in excess of, or may be below,
that shown by the sale of a "ground rent."

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Taxation

Si/ Frank G. Hoyne

OCTOBER 9th. 1871. the Great Chicago
Fire laid in waste the entire business district
and the territory from Harrison Street on
the South to Lincoln Park on the North. Chicago
in ruins, property gone, insurance companies
bankrupt, left with nothing but that un-
quenchable spirit I WILL burnt upon her
virgin breast. Had Chicago citizens not been pos-
sessed of that spirit I WILL. Chicago would not
have risen from its ashes and become the Great Me-
tropolis she is today. With this same spirit she over-
came the panic of 1873 and was able in 1893 to
bring to her shores that glorious Exposition which
has never been equalled and in my opinion never will
be equalled, and for all ages will be known as the
WORLD'S FAIR. Chicago's growth and prog-
ress has been phenomenal and has today the smallest
bond issue outstanding of any of the large cities of
this country. And do you know why Chicago has
such a small bond issue? It is because Chicago cit-
izens know what a mortgage the paying of interest
and providing a sinking fund means. After the fire
of 1871 the owners of property with practically no
insurance money to rebuild were obliged to mortgage
their holdings to put their property in shape to earn
incomes and it is not so very long ago that these mort-
gages and debts were liquidated and their properties
cleared. ^ ou can not convince an old Chicago cit-
izen that he is in a better financial condition with a
mortgage upon his property than he would be with-
out the incumbrance, or that a city is more prosper-
ous because of a large bond issue. America is the
greatest country on the face of the globe not because
she has the largest national debt, but because she has
the smallest national debt. Bond issues are a drain
upon the income of an individual as well as upon the
revenue of a municipality. I am decidedly opposed
to shifting upon the next generation an indebtedness
you had not the courage or honesty to meet. I call
it contemptible and cowardly; pay your bills as you
go; if you have not the money on hand for pressing
needs, get it in hand before you spend it; keep your
City in repair by revenue only and impress upon the

officials whose duty it is to provide and collect reve-
nue that they secure all the revenue the law contem-
plates and from the sources you know to be equitable
and fair. My theory is, a city should as carefully
avoid bond issues as an individual endeavors to avoid
mortgaging his holdings; revenue and income is what
a city and the individual needs, not bond issues (a la
Yerkes) to eat into and reduce net incomes.

The Chicago citizen, generally speaking, is prac-
tical and upon most propositions he votes wisely and
well. The citizens of Chicago have overcome many
obstacles; the City is gradually but surely growing
better every year. There are many reforms and im-
provements yet to be made and I am optimistic
enough to believe that they will be made. Our
method of taxation is constantly improving and if
politics could only be eliminated when this question
is being considered it would make much faster strides
forward. Still we have made some little headway,
for Chicago has outlived and overcome the vicious
system of Town assessment boards and is now trying
to impro\e upon her improved system of taxation.
Taxation is a necessary evil and has been such from
the first formation of recognized governmental organ-
ization. The great problem is and always has been
how can this evil be best regulated and made least
burdensome and most equitable. Unjust taxation
and the rapacious greed and methods of tax gather-
ers was one of the principal causes of the downfall
of the Roman Empire, the same causes brought
about the American Revolution. In every country
and at all times it has been the cause of much tur-
moil, violent uprisings and has brought ruin and de-
struction to whole communities. A just tax would
be hard to prescribe and to levy and collect such a
tax during the present generation would be almost
the impossible.

An absolutely fair tariff act (and I have had prac-
tical experience in administering the law under four
different acts) has never been placed upon the stat-
ute books and in my opinion never will be. A rev-
enue system for our local government equitable and
satisfactory to all interests has not yet been found.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

for in all communities it has been opposed by the
spirit of aggression, oppression, self-interest and m-
justice. Marcus Licinius Crassus, the great friend
of Caesar and the wealthiest Roman of his day, Plu-
tarch tells us accumulated the greater part of his for-
tune from war and fines, making public misfortunes
the source of his wealth. "Observmg the accidents
that were indigenous and familiar at Roman confla-
grations and tumbling down of houses owing to their
weight and crowded state, he bought slaves who were
architects and builders. Having got these slaves to
the number of more than five hundred it was his prac-
tice to buy up houses on fire, for the owner owing to
fear and uncertainty would sell them at a low price,
the slaves would set to work and extmguish the fire
and Crassus at small cost would repair the damage,
and thus the greatest part of Rome fell into the
hands of Crassus."

I am sorry to say that the spirit of Crassus is not
entirely extinct today. If he were alive he would be
one of the many asking that taxes be assessed upon
the amount he paid the owner of the burning build-
ings. While this character of citizen still exists who
seeks to escape paying his just share of governmental
cost, I sincerely believe it to be true that the great ma-
jority of objections made is not because of the tax
nor the amount but because the individual thinks his
share proportionally is greater than his neighbor. I
am sure the large majority of our citizens are willing
to pay their share of the taxes to maintain our City,
but with some justice do they rebel against paying
$200.00 when their neighbor with probably double
the value and more elegant furnishings is taxed but
$100.00. How can the Board of Assessors equal-
ize the assessment throughout Chicago unless some
plan IS adopted for comparison of all assessments
which is not possible under the present system and
within the time taken to make assessments? Under
the present custom the Board of Review can give
but slight consideration to the whole assessment
and the inequalities still remain. As the late
Mr. Galloway truly said, as now conducted
the Assessors and Board of Review are like
football teams, kept on the rush for a short season
and then laid off for the next year. The Assessors
rush the ball one way and the Reviewers the other,
neither giving heed to the other while the great body
of taxpayers stand on the side lines yelling and gen-

erally ignorant of the rules of the game though they
pay the bills.

Still with this great handicap and even under this
old habit of rushing the assessment each year and
the wear and tear upon the grey matter of the mem-
bers of the Board of Review we have progressed.
The increase in assessed value of personal property
since the passage of the Juul law in 1 898 from thirty
millions to one hundred millions shows that we have
made headway and I would like to ask the oppo-
nents of the personal property tax what system can
they advocate to take its place and produce a like
revenue. If the advance we have made can be done
under this rushing process, what an advance could
be made if it was discontinued ; the law was designed
expressly to avoid this trouble; why not follow the
intent of the law?

To bring about a fair assessment of realty is a dif-
ficult proposition and to search out the amount of
personal property which should be assessed and then
fairly assess it under our present system is much more
difficult, but the greatest difficulty of all is to suggest
a remedy that will cure and there are as many dif-
ferent prescriptions for our ills as there are M. D.'s
in the community.

In lieu of a personal property tax the "habitation
tax" certainly has some merit. This tax suggested
by Professor Taussig of Harvard University to the
Massachusetts Tax Commission, provided for the
levying of a tax on all persons occupying dwellings
of an annual rental of more than $400, at the rate
of ten per cent on the excess of rental value over that
sum. The act of the Province of Ontario providing
for a "business assessment" of 25 to 75 per cent on
the value of the property occupied or used for bus-
iness purposes, such assessment to be computed by
reference to the assessed value of the land so occu-
pied. This IS irrespective of any assessment of land;
this also has some strong features, and recommenda-
tion, but in both of these methods the correct rentals
and honest values must be ascertained and the ques-
tion is here as with our method, will the law be con-
scientiously carried out and will honest values be re-
turned and made.

I am sure that every one will admit that the basis
of a fair and equal assessment must be the correct
and complete listing of property subject to taxa-
tion. Under our present system more or less prop-

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

erty escapes taxation; although the law requires the
scheduling of personal property, the law is not en-
forced as the only penalty of disobeying the law is
an increased assessment, a small penalty and not car-
ried out to any great extent. In my opinion every
resident should be required to furnish the Assessors
with a complete list of all his property, personal and
real. Failure to file such a list should be punished by
a heavy fine or some other more stringent method used
to compel the filing of a complete list of all taxable
property. If this could be brought about and all the
personal and real property of the residents of Chi-
cago were properly listed and taxed and the City
received only its share and a fair compensation from
the companies enjoying or asking franchises from
the City, and the Legislature brought to see the in-
justice of exempting from taxation by the City of
Chicago of all the valuable railroad termi-
nals within the City, or in other words to give
Chicago what properly and fairly belongs to
her, the amount of revenue would be increased to
such an extent that there could be no cry for an in-
creased bond issue and lack of revenue, but instead
the City would be so overburdened with riches that
every street and alley could be paved with the most
extravagent pavement at the City's expense and spe-
cial assessments abolished. Even under the present
mode and this year's assessments, Chicago should be,
can be and I am sure will be made a City beautiful.

Now in closing I will say I heartily endorse Prof.
Merriam's suggestion for a Central Body of Control
to insure unity of action in regard to revenue and ex-
penditure but I think you will agree with me, admit-
ting our laws are not perfect and in many ways can
be improved, still the fault does not wholly lie there
but also to a large extent with a spirit uppermost in
many minds to evade or overcome the real meaning
and intent of our laws and I will say further that no
greater work can be done than to preach strict ob-
servance of the law and then be sure to practice what
you preach.

The first suggestion I think on record by any man
for the establishment in each or our collegiate insti-
tutions of a professorship to occupy a chair of integ-
rity for the teaching of that ancient and important ac-
complishment HONESTY, was contained in an
address by the late Hon. Wm. B. Ogden, an old and
respected citizen of Chicago before the Trustees of
the Old Chicago University. I know of no such
chair in any of our present day colleges and I heart-
ily second his suggestion. Such a professorship
might be able to impress upon the rising generation,
using some of the recent exposures in the Insurance
world and other lines, that no matter what walk of
life a young man may choose to follow, that honesty,
pure and unadulterated, is the only SAFE and sure
principle to follow if he anticipates to pass the clos-
ing years of his life in a SAFE and contented man-
ner and free from all regrets.

3UC

Subdivisions and Their Development

Henry G. Zander of Koester & Zander

THE subdivision is the first step in the expansion
of the city. From the time when the first plat
of our city was filed, until the present day,
the subdivider has been the pioneer in its expansion,
buying the vacant area on the outskirts of the grow-
ing city and developing same according to the de-
mand of the growing population and not infrequently
far beyond the immediate necessity.

The first Chicago subdivision (Kinzie's Addi-
tion) was filed for record February 22, 1833, over

four years before the map of the "Town of Chicago"
was filed on May 30, 1837. The canal commission-
ers were authorized to lay out subdivisions m canal
lands in 1829, and either in the fall of that year or
in the spring of 1 830 the original town was platted.
The earliest sale of lots was in 1 830 but it was not
until 1837 that the plat was recorded. In the mean-
time three subdivisions or additions had been laid
out — Kinzie's in 1833, Russell, Mather & Roberts'
was filed on January 22, 1 835 and Wolcott's on

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

July 2, 1835. The official record therefore shows
the subdivider to have preceded even the official
platting of the original town.

The development of the city may well be traced
by the recorded history of its subdivisions. The
carefully planned residence district of a few years
ago is the business or factory section of today. The
spirit of progress has driven the residences further and
further from the center of the city, giving the subdi-
vider full opportunity for the display of his ingenu-
ity. The treeless prairie, sand hills and swamps sur-
rounding original Chicago had very little of natural
beauty. The homey park-like appearance had to be
created from a barren waste.

To the credit of the early subdivider be it said
that his first thought was trees, and this is true to the
present day. The nursery man nearly invariably fol-
lows the surveyor. When it is decided that the farm
is ready to be turned into a subdivision and the pre-
liminary steps of determining width of streets and al-
leys, size and frontage of lots, have been completed ;
trees and shrubs are set out and the plowed fields
sowed in grass. Streets are graded, side-walks laid
and in very many instances all of the underground
work, such as sewer, water and gas mains, are laid,
"stubbed" into the lots and the streets paved. Ex-
perience has taught the subdivider to safeguard his
interests by prescribing building lines and m many in-
stances restricting the occupancy, in fact very few
subdivisions are filed today without restrictions of
some kind. In recent years the subdivider has
sought to establish the character of the neighbor-
hood by erecting the first buildings, and conveying
the vacant only upon conditions prescribing the cost
and nature of the improvements.

Subdivision building is divided into two classes,
that which is done with the view of developing the
land and that which is done with the view of profit
on the building only.

The larger operator in subdivisions today confines
himself mainly to building with the view of develop-
ing the land, and makes his profit out of the en-
hanced value of the remaining vacant. This plan
is feasible only with a tract of considerable size, pref-
erably in an undeveloped district where the establish-
ment of desirable surroundings, will not only make
the subdivision easily marketable but largely enhance
its value. There have been many pronounced suc-
cesses in this line of work and more failures. In
building a house for sale a number of things must be
taken into consideration. First an attractive exterior
is absolutely necessary. The interior must be so ar-
ranged as to suit the greatest number of people.
While it IS important that the builder and architect
work as much of their individuality as possible into
each building, great care is necessary to avoid any-
thing bordering upon the eccentric.

If an interior is worked out that seems to meet the
requirements of the greatest number of people in the
locality being developed, great care must be taken
to avoid duplication of exterior design and this is by
no means an easy matter. It does not require a build-
ing expert to pick out the work of the same architect
in a row of houses. No matter how competent he
may be or how different his plans look upon paper,
there is a similarity in little things which must be
avoided. For that reason several architects are em-
ployed to design exteriors, which confine them to the
same general floor plan.

Articles in magazines and newspapers, "plan-
books," sold at a moderate price, and particularly
the opportunity to examine a great many buildings
offered for sale, has made the average home seeker
an excellent judge. He or she, and generally the
wife is the best posted, have learned of the pitfalls of
poor construction. They inquire and examine
closely and woe to the continued prosperity of the
builder who attempts to cover up, with paint or
fresco, defective or shoddy construction.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Deals Halted by Taxes

^y Edgar M. Snow

IN the multiplicity of details that constitute the
various elements in real estate transactions, no
one item, other than the price, contributes to the
upsettmg of real estate sales so much as the matter
of taxes.

The usual procedure is to leave this important
matter unadjusted until the last moment, after weeks,
or perhaps months, have been spent by the buyer and
seller in getting together upon the other features of
the transaction.

This is due, perhaps, to the thought of each that
the other will not let "the little matter of taxes"
break the deal, after all other matters have been un-
derstood and agreed to, or perhaps it is because each,
being in doubt as to how to approach the matter, in
the absence of a correct understanding of the sub-
ject, procrastinates until a time ^\'hen the subject
must be met.

Taxes becomes a hen upon the first day of April.
They are assessed in June, and are acted upon by the
board of review in September, and by the board of
equalization at Springfield in October. The col-
lector's books are then made up in November and
December and are turned over to the county col-
lector in December or January, and taxes may be
paid without penalty to May 1 following, but be-
come in default from May 1 , and are advertised in
May or June, and judgment thereon is taken in the
county court in July. The tax sale commences thirty
days after judgment, which is around August 15,
and the tax sale continues until all the property
delinquent is disposed of — either sold or forfeited.

Now, the occasion of the disagreement which the
matter of taxes causes is more particularly because
there is no uniformity' of understanding as to the
period for which any year's taxes apply, and there
IS, perhaps, no specific law fixing it.

Many persons suppose that they apply from May
I of the year in which they are assessed to May 1
of the following year; first, for the reason that until
a comparatively recent date taxes became a lien
upon May 1 : and, second, because they may be paid
without penalty until May I the following year; and.

thud, because leases more generally run from May
to May.

Others suppose that taxes apply from April I to
April I on the theory that April I is the date upon
which taxes becomes a lien.

But the consensus of opinion among lawyers and
and real estate men is that taxes apply from Jan. I
of the year in which they become a lien, to Jan. I
of the following year.

It IS to this confusion as to what period taxes
apply that the difficulty exists in getting buyer and
seller together on the matter of taxes.

Generally speaking, it might be said to be the
custom that if a sale is negotiated earlier in the year
than July I , the purchaser assumes the general taxes
for that year, but even prior to that date, it is fre-
quently difficult or impossible to induce buyers to
do so.

After July I , and for a period of perhaps three
months thereafter, buyers usually urge that the seller
shall pay all the way from one-half the taxes to all
the taxes for the year, and after Oct. 1 buyers are
disposed to insist that the seller shall pay the whole
tax for the year, though this latter is by no means
always conceded by the seller.

Such, in a general way, might be said to be the
practice, though the experience and observation of
different brokers may vary some in this regard.

If it were universally conceded that the taxes of
any given year apply from January to January, it
would appear that little difficulty would be experi-
enced to establish a custom that the seller shall pay
the taxes for that proportion of the year during
which he recenes the income from the property, and
that the purchaser shall pay for the remainder of
the year.

In the absence of this definite undertsandmg as to
just what period taxes apply, and with the various
contentions that they apply from January, April, or
May, sellers making a sale prior, for example, to
July I, often contend either that the purchaser shall
assume the taxes for the whole year, or, in any event,
that the seller should be called upon to pay the taxes
for but two or three months, depending upon the

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

seller's notion as to whether taxes apply from April 1
or May 1 . The purchaser, claiming, perhaps, that
they apply from Jan. 1 , demands that the seller pay
for SIX months.

In the case of vacant property the seller should
pay the taxes for that proportion of the year that
applies prior to the date of the contract of sale — that
is, from the date the bargain is made — and the pur-
chaser the proportion of the year thereafter.

The difficulty in having adjudicated how taxes
apply is, perhaps, m part due to the fact that the
fiscal year of the different taxing bodies whose levies
go to make up the total taxes is from different dates,
whereas the fiscal year of all taxing bodies should be
uniform and correspond to the calendar year. This
lack of uniformity of dates of the various taxing
bodies is one of the many arguments in favor of their
consolidation.

The Relation of Insurance to
Substantial Building

^y Herbert Darlington

NOWHERE is the relative value of an ounce
of prevention greater than in the precautions
taken to protect our modern buildings and
their contents from the ever-present danger of de-
struction by fire; and it is an essential function of
a properly equipped insurance office to co-operate
with property owners and their representatives to
this end. The average life of a Chicago building
can no longer be estimated at twenty years; but
we cannot build for permanency unless we safeguard
our structures against the most destructive of the
elements.

And nowhere is the high class of trained expert
advice available without expense as in the matter of
fire protection. The evolution of modern industrial
activities requires the constant adaptation of build-
ings to conditions forever changing; new processes
are being introduced, new hazards are created, and
new safety devices are brought forward daily. The
Underwriters' Laboratories maintain a paid force
to investigate these hazards and these devices, and
thoroughness and impartiality give scientific value to
their conclusions. No architect and no underwriter,
personally, can always keep abreast of the very latest
knowledge, during the present period of substantial
progress in so many of these lines ; but a modern in-
surance office, if properly equipped for its ultimate
purpose, will have experts in the different branches,
and be able to give every possible assistance to build-
ers, to the end that our modern structures shall be as ,

free from the danger of fire as human foresight can
provide; and be ready to promote and encourage
every device for safety, to the end that the cost of
indemnity shall be as small a tax on the community
as the financial permanency of the Insurance Com-
panies will warrant. The wise are always alert to
learn from any source, and the competent architect
of today is not deterred by a misplaced professional
pride from availing himself of the valuable assist-
ance of the Underwriter, whose practical experi-
ence in his own broad field is at his service, gratuit-
ously.

The theory, once boldly announced, that the
underwriter should charge for the hazard as he
finds it, that he has no responsibility for dangerous
conditions — no concern about the conservation of
this important part of the wealth of the country — is
as shocking today as would be a parallel claim by
the medical profession, that they should deal only
with cures, and not interest themselves m causes and
prevention of disease. Like the physician, the un-
derwriter owes a duty to his country and to human-
ity which he cannot avoid, and which he does not
seek to evade.

The frank co-operation between the architect and
the underwriter, which is such a gratifying feature
of present construction work, affords grounds for
sincere faith that the Chicago of the future will be
not only the City Beautiful, but also the Beautiful
City Permanent.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Libraries and lyfuseums

^y NORMAND S. PaTTON

IN the development of a new community, the
foundmg of libraries and museums is not to be
expected in the early years, and the erection of
suitable buildings for such institutions must await the
growth of the institutions and the accumulation of a
certain amount of public and private wealth. It is
not surprising, therefore, that all the library and mu-
seum buildings of note in Chicago have been erected
within the past twenty years and, that some of the
most notable exist as yet only in the architects' de-
signs.

Previous to the great fire of 1 87 1 there were only
two libraries open to the public in Chicago. One of
these was that of the Young Men's Christian Asso-
ciation organized in 1841. The other was the Chi-
cago Historical Society library, founded in 1 856.
The latter institution had its collection of 100,000
books, manuscripts and pamphlets, destroyed by the
great fire of 1871, and the beginnings of a second

collection burned in the fire of 1874. A third col-
lection was begun in 1877, which in 1890 was
placed in the fireproof building on the corner of
Dearborn Avenue and Ontario Street. This build-
ing, designed by Architect Henry Ives Cobb, has an
exterior of Aberdeen red granite in the Romanesque
style, and an interior in which there is no combustible
material either in construction or furniture. The cost
of the building was $190,000.

The Chicago Historical Society was organized
"to collect and preserve the materials of history, and
to spread historical information especially concerning
the Northwestern States." This purpose has been
extended to cover the Mississippi Valley.

The main hall of the building, two stories in
height, IS devoted to portraits and relics of the rep-
resentatives of the French regime in the Mississippi
Valley. Here is a fireplace built of relics of the
great fire — stones taken from the old Illinois Cen-

CHlC.XCiO IllbToKIC.M- SOCIKTN

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

tral Depot, Cook County Court House, and the
Nixon Building. On the right of the entrance is the
John Crerar Hall, the lecture room of the society.
The library contains manuscripts, books, maps and
newspapers relating to the early history of the Mis-
sissippi Valley, and other historical relics, now placed
beyond all peril from fire and made accessible to the
public.

The Chicago Public Library

There is no telling how long the founding of the
Chicago Public Library might have been delayed
had not the calamity of the great fire aroused the
sympathy of Thomas Hughes of England, the fa-
mous author of "Tom Brown's School Days." Mr.
Hughes and those associated with him made an ap-
peal to authors, publishers, scientific societies, and
literary institutions of Great Britain, which resulted
in the donation of about 7,000 volumes. These
books, each of which bore a book plate stating that it
was presented to the City of Chicago toward the for-
mation of a free library after the great fire of 1 87 1 —
as a mark of English sympathy, formed the nucleus
of the Chicago Public Library. For a period of
twenty-five years, the library occupied various quar-
ters meanwhile increasing rapidly in size and repu-
tation. In September, 1897, it moved into its present
magnificent building, which occupies the entire front-
age on Michigan Avenue, from Washington to Ran-
dolph Streets, and extending back to Garland Court
on the west. The extreme dimensions are 3521/2 x
146 1-3 ft., and the height from the sidewalk to the
top of the cornice is 90 feet.

The design is in a renaissance style of markedly
Greek character by Sh epley, Rut^n and Coolidge,
Architects. The exterior is of Bedford limestone
with a granite base and the foundation rests on piles
driven to a depth of 74 feet below the sidewalk.

The entrances are on the ends of the building.
That on Washington Street, leads directly to the
main staircase hall of nearly white statuary Carrara
marble, illummated by sparkhng mlays and panels
of glass mosaic, mother of pearl and shells. The
mosaic floors are of marble. A magnificent marble
stairway leads to the upper floors.

The delivery room on the second floor, and ex-
tending across the whole width of the building, is
1 34 by 48 feet in size, with a vaulted ceiling and a
central dome of stained glass.

The books, which on January 1, 1909, numbered
355,000 volumes, and 60,000 unbound pamphlets,
are stored in steel book stacks with glass floors.
These stacks open direcdy from the delivery room.

The floor above the stacks is occupied by the ref-
erence and reading rooms. The former, 1 38 feet
long, 38 feet wide and 30 feet high, with accommo-
dations for 225 readers, is situated on the east front
of the building and directly connected with the stack
below by means of automatic electric lifts.

The north entrance, from Randolph Street, leads
to the Grand Army Memorial Hall on the second
floor, and to the great Periodical and Newspaper
Reading Rocm on the fourth floor. This reading
room IS 1 42 feet long and 55 feet wide, seating 450
readers. It occupies the entire north front of the
building and adjoins the reading and reference room,
previously mentioned.

In addition to these main rooms, there are ample
rooms for administrative purposes, storage of public
documents, books for the blind, etc.

In a room on the upper floor, almost unknown to
the public, IS one of the most significant evidences of
the growing national position of Chicago. The geo-
graphical location of this city, which marks it as the
national center of trade and manufactures, marks it
also as a center of art and learning and in some de-
partments as The National Center. In the matter of
libraries, Chicago is already the National Head-
quarters, for the room referred to on the upper floor
of the Public Library is the headquarters of the
American Library Association, removed here from
Boston in September, 1909.

The construction of the Chicago Public Library
building IS strictly fireproof, and the total cost was
about $2,125,000. A description of this building
IS not complete without a comment upon the interior
decorations which mark an epoch in Chicago archi-
tecture by their rich and permanent character. The
main material is white marble, which has become the
standard finish for our down-town buildings where
light is of the utmost importance. The special inno-
vation in this library is the inlaying of the marble
with designs in mosaic of colored glass, mother of
pearl and semi-precious stones, that add richness and
brilliance of effect without detracting from the gen-
eral lightness of the marble.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDINi

Till-: (iinAco rriu.R- i.inRAin

■\&H1

T I!. I'.I.Al KSIDNK MKMOKI \|. I.1I•.U\K^

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

In Europe the use of marble and mosaic for in-
terior decoration has been common from the days of
ancient Greece and Rome to the present time. In
this country such materials have only come into gen-
eral use in connection with the development of fire-
proof buildings. The earlier use of marble in the
United States could best be described under the title
of "the abuse of marble." Therefore it is a matter
of interest to learn the impression made by our later
Chicago buildings on a European observer familiar
with the best work of the old world.

Dr. A. B. Meyer, the distinguished director of
The Royal Museum in Dresden, Germany, com-
ments thus on the general arrangement, construction
and decoration of the Chicago Public Library:

"In Modern Europe, I would not know where to
find anything similar in this line. The new German
library buildings certamly cannot compare with it.
I am quite unable, within the limits of this report, to
give a description of the lavish magnificence here dis-
played. I must curtail myself with saying that as
a whole whatever might be said of single portions,
the structure is an imposing artistic creation, to which
justice cannot be done in a few words."

The T. B. Blackstone Memorial Branch
Library

This building, erected as a memorial to T. B.
Blackstone and presented to the city by his widow,
is said to be the most beautiful and costly library
building of its size in the world. It is notable also
as marking the beginning of a series of branch libra-
ries which are to be built in various sections of the
city so as to bring the great collection of books into
closer touch with the people.

This branch library, located at the intersection of
Lake and Washington Avenues, and 49th Street, is
100 by 45 feet in size. It is constructed of white
granite in pure Grecian Ionic style, from the designs
by S. S. Beman, Achitect.

The interior contains a book room on the left, with
a capacity of 20,000 volumes, a reading room on the
right, and a small reading room at the rear, all open-
ing from a rotunda which is finished in Italian stat-
uary marble.

The interior finish is of the finest mahogany and
marble and the book stacks are of bronze with
shelves of mahogany.

Newberry Library

On the "North Side" of the city, between Clark
Street and Dearborn Avenue, and three-quarters of
a mile north of the river, is Washington Square.
Facing this square on the north stands a build-
ing of pink Milford, Conn., granite, Romanesque in
style, massive, dignified, and yet graceful in design.
This is the Newberry Library, the gift to the city of
one of its citizens, Walter Loomis Newberry.

Mr. Newberry died in 1 868, leaving by his will
one-half of his property, after the death of his direct
heirs, for a free public library in the northern part of
the city. After the direct heir died in 1885, the
property amounted to over two million dollars.

The Newberry Library is solely for works of ref-
erence. In 1896, a scheme of co-operation was en-
tered into with the John Crerar Library, by which the
Newberry books on science and the useful arts were
transferred to the Crerar Library and the two
libraries arranged to cover the field jointly.

The arrangement of the building is somewhat un-
usual, in that the books on each subject are placed in
a separate room, with space for the readers immedi-
ately adjacent. This scheme was laid out by the
librarian, Mr. W. F. Poole, and the design of the
building by Henry Ives Cobb, Architect.

The present building, erected in 1 890, and which
is but one wing of the ultimate design, cost $545,000
and has a shelving capacity of a million volumes.

The John Crerar Library

The latest established of the free public libraries
of Chicago owes its existence to the bequest of the
late John Crerar, for many years a prominent citi-
zen of this city.

Mr. Crerar died in 1 889, leaving a fund estimated
at $2,500,000, for the erection of a library building
that shall be "tasteful, substantial and fireproof,"
and a collection of "books and periodicals selected
with a view to create and sustain a healthy, moral
and Christian sentiment m the community." The
fund has increased in value until it is now estimated
at $3,400,000.

The directors of the library adopted at the outset
the policy that the whole of the bequest was not too
great for an endowment fund, and therefore the en-
dowment should not be encroached upon either for

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

land, buildings, or books. A building fund was
started that now amounts to $900,000. Because of
this conservative policy of the directors, the building
for the John Crerar Library cannot be chronicled
among the achievements of the past half century; but
if a site shall be secured on the Lake Front Park,
the building will follow not long after the publication
of this book.

Meanwhile, the library has been started in the
Marshall Field Building, as a reference library to
cover such departments of knowledge as are not fully
covered by the other great libraries. The books now
number about 260,000 volumes.

The Chicago Academy of Sciences

In the year 1857, an association, "to promote sci-
ence," was organized under the name of "The Chi-
cago Academy of Natural Sciences." It began at
once to make collections, but in the great fire of 1871
their building, supposed to be fireproof, was de-
stroyed. In 1891. a gift was obtained of $75,000
from Mr. Matthew Laflin, of Chicago, to which the
Lincoln Park Board added $25,000, and gave a
site in Lincoln Park.

The $100,000 thus obtained was put into the
building that now stands in Lincoln Park, facing
Center Street. The architects chosen were the Chi-
cago firm of Patton & Fisher (now Patton & Mil-

ler). The small amount of money available was
sufficient only to erect the present building 133 feet
long, 61 feet wide and 70 feet high, planned so that
it may form part of a larger structure.

The exterior is designed in the Renaissance style
of Bedford limestone, with cornice of terra cotta and
a roof of red tile. The construction is strictly fire-
proof.

In spite of its small style, compared with the mu-
seums in other cities, this building has received spe-
cial commendation from Dr. Meyer, director of the
Dresden Museum, on account of the rational plan-
ning by the architects to meet the needs of a museum.
Dr. Meyer remarks: "Examples are odious, but it
would be really hard to mention a museum at the
erection of which the proceedings were as judicious
as at the erection of the Academy of Sciences in
Chicago."

The first floor contains the library at one end and
the offices of the Lincoln Park Commissioners at the
other end. The museum proper occupies the whole
of the second floor and consists of a central hall, two
stories in height, surmounted by a domed ceiling and
lighted from above. Surrounding this hall on all
sides IS a gallery supported by columns spaced to cor-
respond with the exhibit cases, which run from each
column to the outer wall, thus dividing the space be-
low the gallery into alcoves, each of which is lighted
by a broad window.

NEWBERRY LIBR.\RY.
61

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

The space in the gallery is similarly divided by
low cases and a graceful colonnade supports the
domed ceiling of the central hall. The gallery rail-
ing is designed to carry, as a part of its structure,
cases in the form of a counter.

The essential feature of this museum design is that
the architects first determined the proper length and
depth of the exhibit cases, and the most economical
spacing of such cases. Then with these dimensions
as a unit of measure, the windows on the exterior
were spaced to correspond with the alcoves formed

erected on the Lake Front opposite the end of Ad-
ams Street. This building was constructed in con-
nection with the "World's Fair," which contributed
$200,000, that it might have a central location for
the holding of Congresses. The Art Institute gave
$500,000 for the building and the city furnished the
site.

The building was designed by Shepley, Rutan &
Coolidge, Architects, in the Italian Renaissance
style, and as originally built was 350 feet long and
225 feet wide.

THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO— JIAIN ENTRANCE.

by these cases, and the columns placed opposite the
end of the case. Thus the exhibits and the archi-
tecture are blended into one design, and the exhibits
accentuate the architectural details. In this way the
exhibits are not only interesting individually but help
to decorate the interior.

Art Institute

The "Art Institute of Chicago," beginning with
an art school founded in 1866, received its present
name in 1883. In 1886 it erected a museum build-
ing which soon became too small, and in 1 893 it was
sold to the Chicago Club and the present building

The exterior is of Bedford limestone. The broad
steps of the entrance are flanked by magnificent
bronze lions by E. Kemeys. The building contains
two lofty stories of galleries for paintings, sculpture
and other works of art, above a lofty basement de-
voted to the art school. The galleries on the first
floor, devoted to sculpture, are lighted by windows,
while those for paintings on the second floor are
lighted from the roof.

Of special interest from an architectural point of
view are the Fullerton Memorial Hall, which seats
500 and IS used for lectures, and the Ryerson

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

M \l.\ K.\ IK

.- I I I I II-, II \l I I I I' MsiXi . MM III

INTKRIOK \1K\V UK KVKKSON LIltKAUI. ART INSTITITK. lllUA(;o.

r.3

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Library, which contains a splendid collection of
books on art.

Another notable room is the Blackstone Hall for
architectural casts, 208 feet long, 58 feet wide, and
33 feet high, where are displayed full size casts of
many interesting details of European buildings.

This collection of casts, the gift of Mr. and Mrs.
T. B. Blackstone, is unique in this country. Some
of the casts are 35 feet long and more than 30 feet

the building and will cost probably not less than
$80,000.

The Art School, maintained in connection with
the Art Institute, is the most comprehensive and prob
ably the largest fine art school in the United States.

In concluding this description of the Libraries and
Museums of Chicago, we quote again from Prof.
Meyer of Dresden. He says of Chicago: "Its
architecture exhibits more evidence of an American

MAIN STAIRWAY, ART IXSTITLITE.

high. The largest pieces are portals of the cathedrals
of Bordeaux, Charlieu, and St. Gilles, and the choir
gallery of Limoges.

The various additions to the building have brought
the present cost up to over a million dollars and the
value of the art collections is estimated at an equal
amount. There remains to be built the monumental
staircase of marble, which will occupy the center of

national style than is seen in the other great cities of
the eastern part of the country. In originality, in
youthful vigor, and in the astonishing rapidity of its
development Chicago excels all, with a prospect of
a yet greater future. The motto 'I will' is often
found on the allegorical figure of the city, and the
words appear to me most suitable to indicate the en-
ergetic, aspiring character of its citizens."

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

The Proposed Field Museum
Grant Park, Chicago

The Field Museum of Natural History was
founded at the close of the World's Columbian Ex-
position and from that time until his death, Marshall
Field was one of its chief supporters.

For a number of years before his death occurred,
the question of a new building had been under con-
sideration as the Museum had grown far beyond its
present quarters in the old Art Building of the Ex-
position — quarters which had never been suitable for

Front, where it would serve as the culminating feat-
ure of the decoration of Grant Park and at the same
time, be the pivot or center of the whole park and
boulevard system of the city. It was thought that
a very high standard should be set m the design of
the new building in order to influence the design of
all the buildings overlooking the park, so that the final
appearance of the park and its surroundings should
be as noble and monumental as is possible under our
lax methods of regulating these matters. The col-
lections of the Museum being educational in their

CALI.ERY OF KRF.XCII Srrr.PTURF.— ART TN'STITUTE.

the exhibition of Natural History collections. The
temporary character of the building and its non-fire-
proof construction were also strong reasons for pro-
viding safer and more permanent quarters.

In the discussion of the new building with the
architects, D. H. Burnham & Company, it was de-
cided that the building should be made primarily to
house, exhibit and protect the great collections in the
best possible manner, and according to the latest
ideas in Museum practice — in addition to this, the
building was to be made monumental in character as
would benefit its probable location on the Lake

effect on the people, it was thought that the designers
of the building should also help in this educational
work by creating a monumental work of art at the
same time they fulfilled adequately all the needs of
a modern, up-to-date museum.

The building was planned to be erected in Grant
Park, with its principal entrance on the center of
Congress Street prolonged beyond the Illinois Cen-
tral tracks — the west elevation to be about 1,000
feet from the buildings on Michigan Avenue. The
length of this elevation is approximately 1 ,000 feet
and consists of a great central pavilion, two end pa-

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

vilions, each one on the center of Van Buren and
Harrison Streets, respectively, and two great colon-
nades connecting these pavilions with the central one.

The central pavilion consists of a portico of monu-
mental proportions, forming the main entrance to the
museum — this portico is crowned by an attic, decor-
ated with heroic figures above the Ionic columns, and
by a pediment — two flanking stair pavilions com-
plete the central pavilion as a whole, and a great
flight of steps takes up the height of the stylobate on
which the orders of the central and side colonnades
are placed. The side colonnades consist of free
standing Ionic columns placed very close to the wall
so that the light will not be barred from entering the
great windows between them. In height these col-
umns mark the two public floors of the museum, it
being the intention to use the third and ground floors
for working floors. In length, these colonnades mark
the long exhibition halls of the interior, side-lighted
and placed with their long axes lying north and south
as best for side-lighting in this latitude.

The central pavilion is carried back into the build-
ing to the center in the form of a great interior nave —
another hall of similar proportions is carried through
the building from north to south and at the intersec-
tion of these great interior halls or naves, a dome is
placed as the crowning feature of the whole com-
position — in dimensions this dome will be compara-
ble with the greatest domes in the world and com-
bines the elements of several of them.

The elevation of the building toward the east is
similar to that toward the west and the two end ele-
vations are alike, consisting of a great colonnade
with a central pavilion marking the center. The ma-
terial of these elevations will be granite, with two
roofs of terra cotta tile matching the granite.

The cost of the building will be cared for by the
bequest of Marshall Field of $4,000,000 with the

interest which has since accrued. A sum of $4,000,-
000 was also left for the maintenance of the build-
ing and for carrying on the museum work.

It IS the intention to connect the museum and its
setting of terraces, balustrades, etc., with Michigan
Avenue by a great plaza, similar to the Place de la
Concorde and others in Europe. This is to be done
by covering over the Illinois Central tracks for a
space of several blocks and appropriately framing
in the great space so created, by walks, balustrades,
planting, etc., and forming a composition of museum,
plaza, boulevard and park which will be worthy of
its location in the heart of the city.

In the interior the building consists of the great
cross, formed by the two naves and dome and in the
four corners left, are placed the long exhibition halls.
These halls are so designed that the cases fit in be-
tween the windows and form alcoves on each side of
the hall, leaving a broad aisle down the center — in
each alcove is a large window throwing light into the
cases — these halls are separated by light courts, and
are connected at the ends by transverse halls, similar
in width and arrangement to them.

The elevators and main stairways are placed near
the entrance and smaller stairways are conveniently
located at the ends of the long exhibition halls. The
Directors' offices are placed near the main entrance
— the Curators' offices are on the third floor, in con-
nection with the working forces of the different de-
partments.

Several lecture halls are placed in the building,
the two principal ones, seating 600 and 1 ,200 each,
being on the ground floor, with a separate exterior
vestibule and entrances at the south end of the
building.

The rest of the ground floor is given up to work-
shops for the rough work of the departments, for
storage and for the heating plant.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Chicago Theatres

fiy Benjamin H. Marshall

THE first public entertainment in Chicago for
which an admission fee was charged and of
which any record has been preserved occurred
shortly after the village was incorporated. Febru-
ary 18,1834, the Chicago Democrat announced the
coming appearance of Mr. Bowers, Professor "de
Tours Amusant" in a series of fire-eating feats, ven-

l()\ KI<-UL\M1'U

triloquism and legerdemain. This performance was
to commence at "early candle light," "tickets to be
had at the bar," and was given at the Mansion
House on Lake Street.

Following this early public offering, at brief in-
tervals we find mention of other similar entertain-
ments, concerts and diminutive circus, and church
fairs, but not until after Chicago was incorporated as
a city was any attempt made to open a theatre or pre-
sent a dramatic production. The first attempt, how-
ever, failed. May 29, 1837, Messrs. Dean & Mc-
Kinney, well known in theatrical circles in the East,
applied to the Common Council for a license "to
open a theatre in some suitable building for the term
of one or more months as business may answer."
The council, however, apparently saw no reason to
greatly encourage the project and named $100.00 as
the license fee. Evidently the promoters considered
this too much to pay, and they left the city without
giving a performance.

But in the fall of that year a license to produce
plays in Chicago was finally secured. Witness the
following petition:

"Chicago, October 17, 1837. The subscribers
respectfully petition the Honorable the Mayor and
Council of the City of Chicago for a license to per-
form plays in said city. They respectfully represent
that this establishment is intended to afford instruction
as well as amusement; that they are encouraged and
patronized by the leading portion of the inhabitants
of the city who are interested in their success; that
they propose to remain here during the Winter, and
that they make no calculation to receive more in the
city than what they will expend during their stay,
and, therefore, they trust that in offering a rate for
license these facts may be taken into consideration.
Isherwood & McKenzie. the Petitioners, request this
license for six months, if agreeable to the Board."

The license fee was fixed at $125.00, and after
protest by the petitioners, it was finally paid. Isher-
wood & McKenzie now needed only a suitable place
and they were ready to begin their theatrical
ventures.

l-OVKk Mt\KK!:R'S Tl I i:.\Tui:.

The place selected for the first dramatic produc-
ticn in Chicago was the then deserted Sauganash Ho-

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

tel, which stood on the lot where was erected in 1 860
the "Wigwam" in which Abraham Lincoln was first
nominated for the presidency of the United States.
Mark Beaubien had erected a log house on the East
side of Market Street, about 1 00 feet south of Lake
Street, which he afterward converted into a tavern
and called the "Sauganash" after a famous Indian
chief of that name. Messrs. Isherwood & McKen-
zie secured the Sauganash and converted the din-
ing room into a theatre seating about 200 persons.
The opening production in Chicago's first theatre

on the American stage, William Warren, afterward
the favorite of the Boston public, and a flaxen haired
boy of nine, who was destmed to become the dean
and greatest favorite of the American stage, Joseph
Jefferson. September 23, 1903, when Chicago was
celebrating her centennial, Joseph Jefferson stepped
before the curtain at Powers' Theatre and said "I
played in Chicago sixty-five years ago."

In 1 838 the Sauganash was abandoned as a thea-
tre and the place of production transferred to the
"Rialto" at 8 and 1 South Dearborn Street, nearer

PRINCESS THEATRE.

bore the extremely melodramatic title — "The Idiot
Witness of a Tale of Blood," to which an admission
fee of seventy-five cents was charged. It is worthy
of remark that Alexander McKenzie, the junior
partner in this first enterprise, was an uncle of Joseph
Jefferson.

The company which played in Chicago during the
first season was an excellent one, but no complete rec-
ord of the plays presented has been found. In 1 838
the company returned. Among its members were
two who afterward achieved the highest distinction

the center of Chicago. The casts in these early plays
were of exceptional quality, but the returns were
small. Among the players of this period was I. M.
Singer, afterward famous as the inventor of the
Singer Sewing Machine.

August 31,1 839, the third theatrical season was
opened by Joseph Jefferson (father of "Rip") who
had become the partner of McKenzie in the enter-
prise. During this season the first presentation of a
Shakespearean play was given in Chicago, October
7, 1 839. "Romeo and Juliet" was the play se-

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

lected, Mrs. McCIure appearing as Juliet and Mr.
Charles Kemble Mason as Romeo. This was fol-
lowed by "Macbeth, " "Hamlet," and "The Mer-
chant of Venice." October 30, 1839, "The Ri-
vals" was first produced in Chicago. A glance at
the cast in the play will show how greatly the dram-
atic art in the early days of Chicago was indebted

Rialto passed through various vicissitudes and
changes of name and finally burned February 1 ,
1847.

The year 1847, however, that saw the destruction
of the Rialto, was also to see the building of the first
actual theatre in Chicago. The city then contained
15,000 inhabitants; the dire effects of the panic had

PRIXCKSS TIIICATRE.

to the Jefferson family — it included Joseph Jeffer-
son, senior, his wife, his two sisters, his niece, his
stepson, his cousin and his niece's husband.

But the results of the panic of 1837 were now
making themselves painfully felt in Chicago. The-
atrical ventures as well as other business enterprises
languished, and no dramatic company of special re-
pute appeared in the city for several years. The old

passed and it was the year of the great River and
Harbor Convention which would bring here thou-
sands of people from all over the country. Under
these conditions Mr. John B. Rice, later destined to
become the mayor of this city, came to Chicago from
Buffalo and entered into a contract for the erection of
a building to be used as a theatre. Mr. Rice received
local support in his project and a theatre building

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

costing $4,000.00 was completed in less than two
months and formally opened June 28, 1847. It
was a very plain wooden structure, two stories high,
and stood where the Unity building now is. But at
least it was arranged like a theatre and every part
of the house afforded a good view of the stage.

Many actors well known to the American stage
trod the boards of Rice's Theatre in those early
days. Edwin Forrest and Junius Brutus Booth both
appeared there in 1848, also Mr. James H. Mc-

This period saw the opening of another theatre
in Chicago which deserves more than passing men-
tion. November 5, 1857, McVicker's Theatre was
opened. No other theatre has so long preserved its
name and popularity. All the great actors of the
day played at McVicker's. Joseph Jefferson pro-
duced "Rip Van Winkle" for the first time here at
this theatre in 1 868. In 1871, McVicker's was en-
tirely remodeled at an expense of $90,000.00 and
six weeks later destroyed by the great fire. Again

INTERIOR OF THE BEAUTIFUL CORT THEATRE,
ing mural painting on steel curtain. Dearborn, near Randolph.

Vicker. But the career of the theatre was short; in
1 850 it was destroyed by fire. However, the theatre
was now an established institution in Chicago.
Early in 1 85 1 Mr. Rice had completed a new and
more pretentious play house on practically the same
spot as the old one. An innovation was made in this
new Rice's Theatre by abolishing the pit with its
noisy occupants, and providing a gallery at the top
of the house. In 1861 this theatre was converted
into a business house.

the theatre was rebuilt and reopened August 15,
1872; again remodeled in 1885 and again destroyed
by fire, August 26, 1890. The present McVick-
er's Theatre was opened March 31, 1 892, when
Joseph Jefferson, William J. Florence, Mrs. John
Drew, Miss Viola Allen, and Frederick Paulding
appeared in "The Rivals." On many occasions Mr.
McVicker appeared in his own theatre, either at the
head of his company, or in support of some of the
visiting stars.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

.\i.\.ii..->i II i 111-;. \ IKE.
71

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Many theatres were built in Chicago during the
decade before the fire; Wood's Museum on Ran-
dolph Street, Aiken's Theatre on Dearborn Street,
Crosby's Opera House, famous in its day, on the
north side of Washington Street between Dearborn
and State Streets, Bryan Hall, 87-89 Clark Street,
transposed by Mr. Hooley into Hooley's Opera
House in 1870. After the fire this theatre was re-
built, and after being called the Coliseum and Ham-
lin's Theatre, was remodeled in 1 880, and leased to
Mr. John A. Hamlin as the Grand Opera House
with Mr. Will J. Davis as active manager. Other
places of amusement opened during this period were
the first Academy of Music and the first Olympic
Theatre. The Globe Theatre on Desplaines Street
between Madison and Washington Streets, a frame
structure was the only theatre in Chicago to escape
destruction by fire.

Of the more prominent theatres built after the
fire, Hooley's was opened October 1 7, 1 872. In
1876 and 1877 it was known as Haverly's. It then
became Hooley's again and so remained until it
passed into the hands of Mr. Harry J. Powers in
1 898. The theatre was then reconstructed in ac-
cordance with the designs of Mr. Benjamin H. Mar-
shall, afterward architect of the Illinois and Colon-
ial Theatres, and was reopened as Powers' Theatre.
Haverly's Theatre was built in 1875, the walls of
the old postoffice destroyed in the fire, being used in
its construction. This theatre was demolished in
1880. In 1881 another theatre was built on Monroe
Street between Dearborn and Clark and called Hav-
erly's. January 31, 1885, during the engagement
of Irving and Terry, Ellen Terry rechristened this
theatre the "Columbia." Mr. Will J. Davis, for-
merly connected with the old Haverly's and the
Grand Opera House, became the lessee of this theatre
in 1 889 and remained in control of it until March 30.
1900, when it was destroyed by fire.

The Chicago Opera House was opened in 1 883 ;
the new Chicago Theatre in 1875, which became
the Olympic in 1 885 ; the Haymarket in 1 887 ; the
Auditorium in 1889, the Schiller, later the Dear-
born and now the Garrick Theatre in 1892; the
Great Northern Theatre in 1 896 ; the Studebaker in
1898.

The opening of the Illinois Theatre October 15,
1900, marked a new era in theatre building, inas-
much as this was the first building in Chicago to be
constructed and employed solely for theatrical pur-
poses. Hyman & Davis Company were the builders
of the new theatre and Will J. Davis the manager.
On the suggestion of Mr. Charles Frohman it was
called the Illinois. Like Chicago's first theatre this
twentieth century theatrical temple bore an Indian
name. The Iroquois was the third Chicago theatre
with an Indian name. The unfortunate calamity
which befell this house so soon after its opening is
alas, too well remembered. That it was properly
constructed and meant by its owners, builders and
architects to be a model theatre, is attested in the
fact that its structural and decorative equipment was
scarcely injured by the fire which was confined to the
scenic investitures of the spectacle which occupied
the stage. The loss of life was occasioned by the
spontaneity of the fire which consumed all the oxy-
gen m the upper tiers of the theatre.

And as the year 1910 approaches, Chicago has
in the last year built something like twenty-five first
class, modern neighborhood theatres, besides com-
pleting the New Cort Theatre on Dearborn Street,
the American Music Hall on Wabash Avenue and
Peck Court and the new Blackstone Theatre on
Hubbard Court and Wabash Avenue, just starting,
and which will open September 1 , 1 9 1 0, as the finest
theatre architecturally west of New York.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

< «

U E
S S

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Chicago School Buildings

3t/ DwiGHT H. Perkins

ONE may observe progress of various kinds by
studying Chicago elementary school build-
mgs. The growth of the city, the changes m
buildmg methods and materials, the development of
educational requirements and the increase in size as
well as expenditure have been constant from year to
year are clearly apparent to anyone who studies the

(18) schools in Chicago; today, there are two hun-
dred and seventy-eight (278) elementary schools.
The first high school was built in 1855-1856 and
served for the entire city until 1875, while today
there are seventeen (17) high schools and one Nor-
mal School for the training of teachers for the pub-
lic school system.

MOSKLKV SCHOOL.

schools of today, reflecting the expansion of the
community as they do.

It is possible to make a survey practically com-
plete from existing buildings. But few have been
burned or razed and such as ha\e been may be
studied by their counterparts still standing.

The north building of the Moseley School was
built in 1856. At that time there were eighteen

To give a fairly complete history of Chicago pub-
lic school buildings, one would have to describe the
following twenty-six schools in the order named:

1, Moseley; 2, Jones; 3, Goldsmith; 4, Skinner;
5, Sexton; 6, Raymond; 7, McLaren; 8, Haven;
9, Van Vlissingen; 10, Tennyson; II, Franklin;
12, Yates; 13, Willard; 14, Dewey; 15, Coonley;
16, Armour; 17, Hamilton; 18, Fiske; 19, Graham;

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

20, Harvard; 21, Hayt; Tl, Penn; 23, Rogers;
24, Moos; 25, Tilton; 26, Nobel. Each of these is
typical or a duplicate of many others and the list
represents the entire city.

No reference will be made to school buildings m
annexed portions of the city, as none of these is dis-
tinctive or valuable and they are being torn down as
rapidly as circumstances permit.

As it is not feasible within the limits of such an
article as this to describe all these buildings, the
writer will compare the Moseley and the completed
Tilton School without showing all of the gradual
steps by which the latter was developed from the

former. The Nobel is later than the Tilton, but is
in construction at this time, (October, 1909), and
cannot be photographed.

The five views of elementary schools other than
the Moseley and Tilton — shown herewith of the
Jones, McLaren, Willard, Graham, and Hamilton
schools, fairly represent the twenty-six listed above
and illustrate the various kinds and styles of schools
as well as the work of the different Chicago School
Architects.

There are also shown three views of high schools.
The original "Chicago" High School on West Mon-
roe Street contained a few ordinary class rooms only.
They were for "academic" studies and no provision

was made for laboratory work in the sciences nor for
technical work, such as is common now. Nor were
there any provisions for physical culture then, while
gymnasiums are considered essential now.

It would be interesting to illustrate the Normal
School, but as there is but one such institution in Chi-
cago, no comparative exposition can be made.

The comparison of the Moseley and Tilton
schools, above referred to, is presented in the follow-
ing parallel columns. It is also given by the illus-
trations which include cuts of the plans. The en-
deavor has been made to reproduce the plans at sim-
ilar scales so that their differences in size are prac-
tically proportional to the differences in the dimen-
sions of the actual buildings:

MOSELE Y SCHOOL

Common Combustible

Construction

TILTON SCHOOL

( when completed)
Fireproof Throughout

Cost $40,000.00 $320,000.00.

Cubic contents 307,600 cu. ft 2,125,000 cu. tt.

Cost per room $3,333.00 $8,400.00.

Cost per pupil $66.00 $168.00.

Breadth 58 teet 146 ft., 6 in.

Length 78 feet 258 ft., in.

Height 3 stories and basement . . 4 stories and no basement.

Number of rooms 12 40.

Number of pupils 600 2,000.

Assembly hall None 700 seats.

Gymnasium None One.

Manual training dept. . . . None One.

Domestic science dept. . . None One.

Library None One.

Construction room None One.

Teachers' rooms None Six.

Principal's office None One.

Assistant principal's

office None One.

Heating Direct steam Indirect steam.

Ventilation None Mechanical system.

Ejrterior Brick Brick.

Floors Wood throughout Wood top surface in class

rooms. Asphalt for all
corridors, stairs and toilets,
all on fire clay tile arches.

Toilet rooms 2 basement toilets Tower toilets, one for each

sex in each story.

Toilet room walls Plaster Enamel brick.

Flexibility of plan None May be 20, 30, or 40 class

rooms.

Playgrounds Not described as not being a part of the buildmg.

The modern practice is to provide large playgrounds
for every school.

Stair capacity 800 pupils 2.200 pupils.

Size of class rooms 27 ft. x 32 ft 26 ft.. 6 in. x 33 ft.

Window glass area in

each class room 126 sq. ft 160 sq. feet.

Unilateral light in class

rooms None All rooms.

Cross light in class rooms . All rooms None.

Wardrobes Large Area Small area.

Not ventilated Ventilated.

Accessible from halls . . . Accessible from rooms
only.

Blackboards Composition Natural slate.

Corridor wainscot Wood ceiling Glazed brick.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

These columns show not only the increased cost
due to changes in building methods and cost of la-
bor and material, but they also show the very great
change in educational demands. Formerly, the
class room was everything; now, it is only a little
more than half of the facilities demanded for the
pupils.

and planned originally and wholly for high school
purposes. The development is best shown by the
two photographs of the Wendell Phillips, and Al-
bert G. Lane high schools. These schools show
the absence and the presence of technical or man-
ual training courses for two, three or four years
in addition to the usual academic courses. In manv

D. H. Perkins, ArcUiU-ct.

TILTOX SCHOOL.

A comparison of "yard improvements" would also
be interesting although not strictly a part of school
building. Formerly an ordinary yard with a wood
fence was sufficient. Now it must be paved and
then fenced with concrete and iron. Provision must
also be made for planting and for gardening, but, as
all of these relate to "education" rather than to
"building," they are not included here.

There are seventeen high schools m Chicago at
this date. Of these but seven were built at one time

particulars the differences in construction pointed out
between the Moseley and Tilton Schools apply to
the early and late high schools.

A type of school not referred to above nor shown
in the illustrations has been developed by the con-
struction of additions to existing buildings. It has
been found advisable to modernize a large number
of old buildings while increasing their class room ca-
pacity. This has been done by constructing fireproof
extensions including assembly halls, gymnasiums.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

manual training and domestic science rooms with the
class rooms. Typical instances are the Jackson,
Brentano, Cornell and Farragut schools. In each
of these cases — while making a complete modern
plan — the exterior design has been made to conform
exactly to the old building, becoming a natural or
corresponding extension of the original structure.

Viewing all the photographs will give the differ-
ences and the development in exterior effect or arch-
itectural design. Similar study would reveal in like
manner the changes m construction and the greater
requirements of the later buildings and all would il-
lustrate clearly and typically "A Half Century of
Chicago Building," as well as a half century of mu-
nicipal change and growth.

■FIE5T FLOOK I'L.AM

TfLTON SCHOOL.

TlLTOri SCHOOL.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

ASSEMIiLV HALL. TILTOX SCHOOL.

W. B. Mutidie. Architect.

AI.KXANDKR MAMILTOX SCHOOL.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

JONES SCHOOL.

Norman,/ S. Palton, Architect.

FRANCES WILLARD SCHOOL.

^J^^L^Burunv or CHICAGO bu.ldi

CKAil \,\l SCHOOL.

McLAREX SCHOOL.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

WOOD-WORKING SHOP, ALBERT G. LANE TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

MACHINE SHOP, ALBERT G. LANE TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

\vi-:ni)1-:ll piiii.i.ips iiici: siik.x)!..

m5m' mw?mw-m

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Railway Terminals

3i/ Charles S. Frost

THE first railroad chartered from Chicago to
the West was the Galena & Chicago Union
Railroad.
On October 10, 1848, the brig "Buffalo" arrived
at Chicago with the first locomotive "The Pioneer."
One month later the road then extended 10 miles
west and its rolling stock consisted of 6 freight cars,
one passenger coach and the "Pioneer."

In 1 867 one through passenger train each way
daily furnished ample accommodations for passen-
gers travelling between Chicago and Council Bluffs.
From this nucleus the present great system has been

Union Railroad in 1848. It stood on what is now
a triangular piece of vacant ground west of Canal
Street south of Kinzie and but a short distance west
of the west abutment of the City bridge that crosses
the north branch of the Chicago River at Kinzie
Street.

In those days there was a narrow street named
West Water Street that ran close along the north
branch of the Chicago River at the east of what is
now Canal Street. This depot ran east and west
and its east end was entered from this West Water
Street. Building faced the railroad tracks which

GALENA & CHICAGO UiMUX DEFUT. CANAL AND KINZIE STREETS. CHICAGO.

developed, which for the year ending June 30, 1909,
had about 900 passenger trains a day and carried
over its rails more than 27,000,000 passengers.

It IS not my purpose to give here the history of the
development of a railway system, neither to discuss
or even touch the railway terminal problem, but
rather to trace briefly the growth of the terminal pas-
senger station in Chicago of this one system which is
typical in many ways of the numerous other systems
having terminals in Chicago. From a history of the
road published in 1905 entitled "Yesterday and To-
day" I am able to quote description of the early
buildings, and to give here a few illustrations.

The first railroad station that was built in Chicago
was a one story wooden affair built by the Galena &

were south of the station. Whatever package freight
the railroad had to handle in Chicago at this time
was handled at this place.

In 1 849 this building was enlarged and a portion
of it was set aside for freight, while the original east
end was still used for passengers. The second story
was added to the structure and that was surmounted
with a sort of observatory. The second story was
used by the officers of the road as its general office
and m it John D. Turner, the president of the road
and his associates planned the extension of the road
and controlled its destiny. West of the station was
what was substantially an open praine and from the
observatory Mr. Turner often watched for the in-
coming of his trains with the aid of a long old fash-

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

ioned marine telescope that he possessed and thus
could annnounce the coming of a tram while it was
yet as far away as Austm, 6 miles. In those days the
use of the telegraph was not even dreamed of on any
western railroad.

In 1851 the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad
began to purchase station ground east of the north
branch of the Chicago River and in 1852 and 1833
built a pontoon or floating bridge across the river on
practically the same ground where the Chicago &
Northwestern Railway bridge now stands. In those
days a street ran along and not far north of the main

other story and in the room so made a portion of the
general offices of the company were located. This
building remained in use until destroyed by the Chi-
cago fire in 1871 .

The third station scarcely deserves to be named
but to make this history full it must be referred to.
In 1851 this road bought land east of the north
branch of the Chicago River and on part of this pur-
chase, erected on the east side of North Dearborn
Street and south of Kinzie Street a two story build-
ing, the lower story of which was intended for freight
purposes, while in the upper rooms some of the Gen-

WELLS STREET STATION.

n,-slroyi-d iii tliu Gr.-at Fir,-. Octoh.-r. IS71.

Chicago River and was named North Water Street.
The second passenger station was built in 1852 and
1853, east and west along this North Water Street
with its east end on Wells Street. It was built of
brick and was two stories high. The passenger en-
trance was from Wells Street but a sort of private al-
ley or perhaps a vacant lot ran south from Kinzie
Street and this was used to reach the station through
the baggage room.

After the building had been occupied for some
time Wells Street was filled in and raised about eight
feet, and this caused the Galena Company to add an-

eral Officers of the road were to have their offices.
For some time, but for reasons now not known, the
passenger trains of the Galena Road ran to and
from this building and while this was done neither of
the first or second depots were used. The records of
the company that were burned in the great fire of
1871 doubtless contained a full explanation of these
facts. That this building was used as the road's pas-
senger station is established beyond any question.

The next passenger station of the Chicago &
Northwestern Railway, which now had become the
successor of the Galena Company, was the one that

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

was built on the then North Wells Street in the late
fall of 1871 to take the place of the one that was
burned in the great fire. It was a modern wooden
structure and faced south with an entrance from
Wells Street.

What is now a portion of the Chicago & North-
western Railway in Chicago was begun under the
corporate name of the Illinois & Wisconsin Railway
Company. This afterward by consolidation with the
Rock River Valley Union Railroad became the
Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Railroad and that
by bankruptcy and reorganization became the Chi-
cago & Northwestern Railway. This railroad while
under the second of the corporate titles built in 1 854
and occupied a passenger station in Chicago. It
stood with its gable end to Kinzie Street and its
greatest length west of and quite close to and parallel
with the north branch of the Chicago River. It was
quite a pretentious structure of wood and had a large
train shed that was shut off from Kinzie Street by

slatted gates. After the Chicago & Milwaukee and
the Milwaukee & Chicago Railroads were consoli-
dated and ultimately those, together with the Galena
& Chicago Union Railroad became the present Chi-
cago & Northwestern Railway. This building was
known as the Kinzie Street depot and was used until
it was abandoned on the occupation of the present
Wells Street station in 1 882.

The next passenger building of the road is the
present structure that stands on the corner of Wells
and Kmzie Streets on the site of the old Galena de-
pot. The planning of this building was for that time
on broad lines and was thought would anticipate the
requirements far into the future. It was to be the
largest and finest passenger station in Chicago built
on the headhouse type with a shed covering the
tracks. It was begun in 1 880 and occupied in 1 882.

The building was planned a few years too early
to show in its general effect much result of the arch-
itectural awakening, which about this time began to

WELLS STREET STATION.
Main portion finished in 1SS2, .Annex 1902.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

gain strength and which has since gone steadily for-
ward. About this time ihe railways having con-
quered in the struggle for existence and slackened
somewhat their expansion into new territory; some
portions of an available surplus was used in many
kinds of improvements, notably the right of way,
suburban and way stations and their surroundings.
And now corporations and the people generally rec-
ognize the fact that beauty has actual value. In a
comparatively few years the rapid growth of this city
and the more rapid development of the great North-
west country, this railway system, always in the van-
guard of progress, found the Wells Street station too
small and the property lying between it and the
river was purchased and preliminary studies prepared
for a great terminal and office building. This study
of the problem developed numerous limitations of the
site, the north branch of the Chicago River being no
small factor. This and the new conditions due to
the general elevation of the railroad tracks from I 2
to I 5 feet above the street level led to search for a
new site and to meet the temporary requirements the
annex to the Wells Street station was built and occu-
pied in 1^02. As the result of the search for an ade-
quate site, the railway company undertook the gigan-
tic task of acquiring by purchase practically four city
blocks in the heart of Chicago for a terminal build-
ing, train shed and power house, and in addition to
this, the purchase of a new right of way wide enough
for four tracks for each of the two divisions extending
both west and north about one mile, thus securing for
the passenger service of the road a complete elevated

system eight tracks wide into the center of the city,
eliminating all dangers and delays due to freight ob-
structions, grade crossings and open bridges. The
last piece of the property was secured and the work
of building commenced in the fall of 1 908 .

The Terminal building proper will be of granite
and front on Madison Street, will be used for sta-
tion purposes only, and will occupy the greater por-
tion of the city block bounded by Madison, Canal
and Clinton Streets, extending north nearly to Wash-
ington Boulevard.

The track floor covered by the train shed is ap-
proximately 18 feet above the general street level.
The tracks approaching the station therefore pass over
Lake, Randolph Streets and Washington Boulevard
and the trains are screened from view from the street
by curtained walls about 48 feet high, extending
from the main building north on Clinton and Canal
Streets as far as Lake Street with special treatment
where passing over the street and Washington Bou-
levard.

The high shed, so objectionable from many points
of view, both external and internal, has been aban-
doned and a low form of shed substituted covering
entire space excepting for openings directly above the
locomotive stack so that all smoke and gas are ex-
hausted directly into the open air above the shed.
The shed will contain sixteen tracks, each with a ca-
pacity of 1 3 Pullman coaches or 1 6 day coaches.
This terminal will have ample facilities for handling
250,000 passengers daily.

iTTOT'"

•'lng»"ijl f Ij"

C. & N. \V. KV, CO.'S TKRMINAI N( i\\ ruil IHM, \I\n!<(>\ ( .\N.\I. WD CI.lNTdN STKEF.TS.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Chicago Freight Sub\vays

^y Albert G. Wheeler

CHICAGO was incorporated as a city at the
time of the earhest development of steam rail-
roads in the United States for transportation.
Its importance was fully realized by the earlier pio-
neers in transportation, as all steam railroads in this
section of the country either started or terminated at
this point.

At that time, the city being young, these transpor-
tation lines acquired property for their terminals in
what has since turned out to be the heart of the city
and today in an area of two miles square in the cen-
ter of the city the important freight yards of rail-
roads, representing over forty-seven per cent of the
entire mileage of the United States, are located.

The rapid growth of the city South, West and
North so encircled these freight yards that as the
Western country developed the railroads found that
the city had grown so much faster it was impossible
to acquire more property m its business center and
the value of this real estate they had acquired made
these freight terminals the highest priced real estate
occupied by freight yards m the world.

To relieve this situation and to enable the rail-
roads to increase their facilities for handling freight
in the future without acquiring additional property
in this business center, the tunnels of the Illinois Tun-
nel Company were constructed.

To lay out a system of tunnels to make delivery
in any and every building m this business center,
several important points had to be considered: —

1st. That such tunnel system should not require
the remodelling of buildings to put it in operation;

2nd. That the tunnels, when constructed, should
permit curves at all street intersections to be built and
not necessitate building under private property to
get the proper radius for such curves ;

3rd. To prevent congestion in the tunnels, no
freight should be loaded or unloaded in them;

4th. That increased traffic could not congest the
tunnels.

To carry out plan No. 1 , it was necessary to es-
tablish a car unit, that any car could be hoisted to
any floor of any building without overloading the
floor or necessitating strengthening the building, and
that the size of the car when established could han-
dle any size package that would pass through a rail-
road car door.

No. 2. The size of the car established, the tun-
nel need not be any larger than to accommodate the
car, and with a small tunnel curves could be made
at street intersections in the streets and thus avoid go-
ing under private property. Also with a small tun-
nel, sidings could be built in each block to hold cars
of the shippers without blocking the main track.

Srd. Had the tunnel been built larger and the
cars too large to enter the buildings, it would have
been necessary to load and unload cars in the tunnels
and the tunnels would have been blocked up at all
such points during the time.

No. 4. All cars being switched on side tracks or
being elevated in the buildings keeps the main track
open and no congestion occurs m the tunnels.

Twenty miles of tunnels were completed in 1904
and the Company purchased a terminal property
at West Taylor Street and the Chicago river, intend-
ing to put it in operation early in 1905, when parties
largely in control of the railroads entering Chicago
were attracted to it and business arrangements were
made with such parties to fully develop the property
and make it more of a railroad terminal before it was
put in operation. The Company had secured the
mail contract from the Government, which was oper-
ated to show the tunnels' efficiency. This contract
required a close schedule as to time of delivery be-
tween the railroads and the postoffice. Its service
required one thousand train movements a day and
heavy fines for failures to make deliveries on time.
During the last year of this contract the service was
operated 99.98 per cent perfect, an unknown high
rate of service, and fully demonstrated the practica-
bility of the capacity of the tunnels as well as the
low cost of operation which justified carrying out the
future plans of extension of the property. When the

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

contract expired with the Government the price was
so low that the Company felt it should be compen-
sated for such service to the extent of at least one
dollar per train load, but the Government was not
willing to pay this, and as a car movement of one
thousand trams each day for other freight was so
much more, the Company could not continue the
service.

The new interests in the property fully convinced
and satisfied from the operation of the mail service
that the size of the car and the size of the tunnel
were correct, laid out plans increasing the scope of
the tunnels to reach all points in the railroad freight
yards and to complete its transportation before it was
put in full operation. This necessitated building for-
ty-two miles additional of tunnels, requiring fully
three years. At the time of completion of the six-
ty-two miles of tunnels, before the property had been
put in full operation, the death of one of the principal
owners of the property caused a change in the Com-
pany's plans, necessitating a reorganization of the
property. The large parties in interest holding the
Company's securities have agreed to such plans and
when carried out the Company will be prepared to
operate the property on the broad scope for which
it was built.

The tunnels of this Company and the purpose for
which they were built has been little understood by
the people of Chicago. To realize the importance
of them as to the future of Chicago, they must be
looked upon as a railroad terminal. The growth of
the great railroad transportation systems entering
Chicago necessitates provision for future terminals
here, and the fact that the railroads own practically
all the real estate they can acquire in the center of
the city, forces their increased facilities for handling
freight to be moved several miles from the city's bus-
iness center where they can acquire land at fifty cents
to one dollar per square foot as against twelve dollars

to thirty dollars per square foot in the center of the
city. To establish such new freight yards means that
the railroads should have them connected with the
center of the city. To extend the tunnels of this
Company to such new yards is not to increase the
cost of delivery or receiving goods to any extent, as
the haul through the tunnels, whether one mile or
seven, is an unimportant matter. When such im-
provements are made by the railroads it will greatly
reduce the number of locomotives entering the city
and therefore greatly reduce the smoke made by
them.

When the full idea for which these tunnels were
planned is carried out, from a public standpoint it
will prove to be as beneficial to the public's interest
as any public improvement ever made.

To undertake to operate this as an independent
property is to dwarf its real use to the community and
make it only an ordinary success. To make it a
railroad freight terminal is to make it the greatest
freight terminal property in the United States.

Terminals for railroads are as important as any part
of a railroad system. The great earnings of the rail-
roads are produced from freight, in many cases the
passenger traffic being operated with very small prof-
its: yet the terminals for passenger traffic were im-
portant enough for the New York Central lines and
the Pennsylvania lines to each expend over one hun-
dred million dollars in New York City for passenger
terminals, while here in Chicago, the Chicago and
Northwestern Railway is building a terminal for
passengers at an enormous cost.

When one realizes and compares in the way of
earnings of freight to passenger traffic of the steam
railroads, and that it is necessary to make such ex-
penditures for passenger terminals, then one can bet-
ter appreciate the great importance of the Chicago
Subway Company's great freight terminal for the
many railroads terminating in Chicago.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Subway's Telephone Department

[By Albert G. Wheeler

THE originators of this SUBWAY construc-
tion believed that the telephone was becoming
more everyday the main method of transact-
ing business, and business men were compelled to
transact their business through the telephone in the
hearing of their own private switch-board operators
as well as of those of the several switch-board opera-
tors of the Telephone Exchange Company. They
realized that business men do not want to transact
business in the hearing of employees or disinterested
parties, but were compelled to by existing circum-
stances. To improve on these conditions they de-
cided to have their Telephone Department equipped
with devices to prevent anyone breaking in on, or
overhearing any conversation over the telephone. To
this end the Automatic Telephone devices were per-
fected.

The first equipment of its Telephone Department
provided for an exchange giving service to 10,000
subscribers. It was installed with a view of com-
pleting an extensive telephone plant to cover the
whole city. The Company's plan at the time of the
installation of the exchange was to have its trans-

portation department in operation in 1905 and then
proceed to complete its Telephone Department, but
as stated, at this time a change of ownership and pol-
icy compelled it to develop its transportation depart-
ment on such a broad scope that the telephone plans
had to be deferred until its traffic department had
been completed.

Fortunately this delay will prove of great value to
the subscribers of this Company, for, in the mean-
time over one hundred cities have equipped their ex-
changes with these Automatic devices which have
proved very successful and to the entire satisfaction
of their subscribers. This Company can now install
its new plant with all of the Automatic improvements
up to date, giving its subscribers the most modern and
improved telephone system installed in any city in
the world.

The Company's plan of reorganization includes
the immediate installation of a comprehensive tele-
phone exchange, the first section of which will pro-
vide for 20,000 subscribers having connection
through long-distance service with the whole adja-
cent country to Chicago.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

The Bascule Bridge in Chicago

^y J. B. Strauss, C. E.

CI lie AGO is, among other things, a city of
bridges. Perhaps nowhere in the United
States is there a larger number and variety of
bridge structures and there certainly is no smgle
city where these structures play a more important
or conspicuous part in the city's every day existence.
In Chicago all the main arteries of communication
in the city proper, are cut through by the Chicago
River and its two branches and in the outlying dis-
tricts, the Calumet River, the Drainage Canal and its
feeders, together with the minor streams and canals,
present multiplied opportunities for bridge construc-
tion of every kind and degree.

With but few exceptions, Chicago bridges are
movable and despite the heavy traffic on both land
and water, these movable bridges serve the com-
munity so well that the effect of the withdrawal, dur-
ing the past few years, of the three old tunnels from
service has been scarcely, if at all, noticeable. With-
out attempting to enter into a discussion of the rela-
tive merits of tunnels and draw bridges, this experi-
ence clearly indicates the sufficiency of the above-
surface methods of transit for heavy traffic, and
throws some doubt upon the wisdom of general sub-
surface transportation.

Up to the years 1893 or 1894 all the movable
bridges of Chicago were the ordinary type of draw
or swing bridges, the earlier structures being com-
bination wood and iron, and the latter steel. Some
of the former are still in service on the South and
North branches and a considerable number of the
latter are also in use at the principal crossings of the
main river. There were also two or three deviations
from the draw bridge, such as the folding lift
bridges at Weed and Canal Streets over the North
Branch and the vertical lift bridge over the South
Branch, representing the first halting steps towards
the supremacy of Chicago in the practice and use of
the modern bascule bridge.

At the present time Chicago is the acknowledged
bascule center of the world; it is here that this type
of movable bridges has reached its greatest develop-
ment; with but few exceptions, all the recent designs
originated or were recreated or exploited here and

almost all the bascule patentees and going bascule
bridge companies are located in Chicago. The most
successful work in this field has been conceived and
executed in Chicago and the largest number of these
bridges in any one spot is found within its environs.

The term "bascule " is derived from the French,
and specifically means a rocking bridge. It has,
however, been extended to cover all types of bridges
moving in a vertical plane, and about a center,
being thus distinguished from the bridge which is
simply hoisted up bodily and which is designated as
a lift or hoist bridge. The vertical lift over the
South Branch or the Halsted Street bridge already
referred to, is an example of the latter. Contrary
to general opinion, this particular design is not a
novelty in bridge construction, except in that the size
of span and height of lift are greater than in other
bridges of this type. The lift bridge is not a bascule
and is not comparable to the bascule, as is evidenced
by the amazing rapidity with which the latter has
multiplied since the completion of the Halsted Street
bridge in 1893, while the lift bridge still counts but
very few structures of any size.

The first of the modern types of bascule bridge in
this country was built for the Metropolitan West
Side Elevated R. R. near Van Buren Street, Chi-
cago, in 1894. It was designed by William
Scherzer, then engineer for the Metropolitan Ele-
vated, and was patterned after a small bridge of the
same general type built at Havre, France. A sec-
ond bridge was built at Van Buren Street in 1895
and a third at North Halsted Street in 1897, both
constructed for the City of Chicago. William
Scherzer died before the completion of the Metro-
politan bridge and this design remained simply the
occasional design for special conditions until Albert
Scherzer undertook its commercial development un-
der the name of the Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge
Co., but the Van Buren and North Halsted Street
bridges are still the only Scherzer bridges used by
the municipality of Chicago.

The greatest impulse to the Scherzer bridge and
to the bascule bridge in general was given by its
adoption by the Sanitary District of Chicago, in

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

pursuance of a policy adopted in connection with the
water flow and calhng for the ehmination of center
pier bridges. In all ten Scherzer bridges, consti-
tuting, with the exception of the three above men-
tioned, the full total in the city of Chicago, were
built under the direction of the Sanitary District and
subsequently turned over by it to the City of Chi-
cago to be maintained and operated. From its in-
ception and up to 1902 the Scherzer Bridge Co.
occupied the field entirely alone and with the impetus
given by the Sanitary District, succeeded in introduc-
ing its bridges at numerous other points. In 1902,
however, the first hint of future competition came
in the construction of the Page bridge at Ashland
Avenue, also a result of the policy of the Sanitary
District, and in 1906 a second Page bridge, this
time ordered by the C. & A. R. R., was built for
this company over the South Fork of the South
Branch of the Chicago River, near Archer Avenue.
The Page bridge is unlike the Scherzer, an original
design, the particular aim of the inventor being the
elimination of the deep pits required in the usual form
of the Scherzer highway bridge.

A small bridge designed by William Rail, of Chi-
cago, was built at Delphos, Ohio, in 1901. The
right for this type has since been acquired by the
Strobel Steel Construction Co., and three bridges
have been built by this company for the Pennsyl-
vania, the Baltimore & Ohio and the Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern Rys. jointly where their lines
parallel each other in the crossing of the East Chi-
cago Canal at Indiana Harbor, a few miles from
Chicago. The canal is not in service as yet and the
bridges therefore are not operative. The design is a
different and distinct type from any of the other
Chicago bridges and is a development of a design
originated by W. L. Worden, of Milwaukee, in
1895, but never reduced by him to practice.

The Chicago design of trunnion bascule bridges
first became a reality in the Clybourn Place bridge
built in 1902. The design is an adaptation of the
standard trunnion bridge of Europe to American
practice and Chicago conditions, and so well has the
work been done by the Chicago Bridge Department
that this type has been adopted, in more or less
modified form, by the cities of Milwaukee, Phila-
delphia and others, as well as by the District of
Columbia and by the State of New York in con-

nection with its Barge Canal. About nine bridges
of that type in all have been constructed in Chicago
to date.

In 1905 the Strauss Trunnion Bascule Bridge,
following its successful construction and operation
in a half dozen other cities, was adopted by the Chi-
cago & Northwestern R. R. for its crossing of the
North Branch of the Chicago River near Kinzie
Street.

A second bridge of this type is under construction
at Polk Street for the city of Chicago, being the
first deviation of the city authorities from the city
type of trunnion bridge. The Chicago & North-
western bridge holds the record for the longest
double track single leaf bascule bridge in the world
and the most heavily trafficked and frequently oper-
ated, but it will be exceeded by the Strauss bridge
now under construction for the C. & W. I. R. R.
across the Grand Calumet River.

The above five types represent practically all those
which have passed beyond the stage of a single
initial installation, so that we have here in Chicago
examples of every design which has experienced
commercial development. And it is in Chicago
therefore that the true rating and standing of these
types will be determined. The highway bridges
whether built by the city or the sanitary district, are
all operated and maintained by the city, and the
bridge department has put into practice an excel-
lent system of performance and maintenance records,
covering the different types, which records are prov-
ing of incalculable value, in arriving at an accurate
idea of their efficiency.

From these records it has become evident that
bascule bridges naturally fall into two groups,
namely, those with rolling contacts and those without.
The trunnion bridge, which include the City Trun-
nion and the Strauss Trunnion, belong to the latter
group; the remaining three types belong to the roll-
ing contact group. The rolling contact bridges have
given evidence of elemental weakness in the tracks
and threads which in two or three structures have
resulted in fracture, throwing grave doubt upon the
suitability of the rolling contact principle for such
usage. On the other hand, the trunnion has proven
here as it has during a period of fifty years or so in
Europe, that it is a highly efficient and absolutely
reliable device under all conditions of service and for
all limits of size and weight.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

TYPE OF STR \l>-

At the present time Chicago faces the necessity
for further advance in bascule bridge design in con-
nection with the proposed increase in the clear width
of channel in the main river. The existing bascules
provide a clear waterway of 1 40 feet between fen-
der lines, cutting off approximately 60 feet of the
river width because of the projecting abutments.
The new harbor commissioner appointed by the
mayor to improve and develop the harbor and river
and which commission is headed by John M. Ewen
as harbor engineer, has recommended a clear chan-
nel width equal to the full width of the river or ap-
proximately 200 feet, and it seems more than likely
that the future bascule bridges of Chicago will be
required to provide this clear width.

Since the building line in almost all cases extends
to the dock, and since the dock will be the new
fender line, it becomes rather a knotty problem to

1IK;E ()\F.R CHICAGO RIVF.R.

develop a design which shall not encroach on either,
or interfere with the full utility of the river or the
value of abutting property. The present depth of
counterweight pit is also close to the maximum limit
and it will be necessary for the new design to exceed
this limit but little. Last but not least, the cost
must not amount much above the cost of the present
city standard, all of which means a bascule bridge
of still greater efficiency and greater capacity, and
it is safe, therefore, to expect still further Chicago
contributions to the bridge builder's art in the future
than have been given in the past.

What the Chicago engineers have already accom-
plished is the firm establishment of the bascule,
throughout the world, as the most advanced type of
movable bridge, and in so doing they have con-
tributed in no small degree to the present remarkable
development of our internal waterways.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Chicago's Water Supply System

St/ John E. Ericsson

Introduction

IN the transition of the world from chaos to cosmos
water formed one of the early stages, and ever
since the formation of the organic world it has
been one of the essential necessities for progress and
development.

The life of the little unobserved herb in the crevice
on the mountain side is as dependent thereon as is
man, the crowning glory of God's creation.

After performing its life giving functions to ani-
mal life, it IS taken into the earth and is passed by
natural forces to the arteries of all organic growth or
percolates to the streams or oceans that float the com-
merce between nations.

Straggling veins extract the medicinal qualities
from organic substance or dissolve equally valuable
elements from inorganic matter and emerge as springs
to relieve the ailments of afflicted man.

All unseen it ascends to the clouds in its invisible
purity and descends, scouring, cleansing and absorb-
ing the impurities in the air we breathe, ready to re-
peat indefinitely the cycle of its functions.

Ever since man came upon earth his life and hap-
piness have depended on a sufficient and pure supply
of water.

The lonely settler, whose cabin was located by the
everlasting spring or brook, had no necessity for any
mechanical device for the collection or storage of the
commodity, but as the race increased and people
commenced to live in communities, smaller or larger,
the earliest method of artificially obtaining a water
supply was undoubtedly by the digging of wells.

As communities grew larger, many collected the
water through aqueducts, some several miles in
length, to cisterns and reservoirs, where the inhabi-
tants secured their supply and carried it to their
homes.

Among such ancient constructions the Aqua Ap-
pia of Rome, built about 312 B. C. and which had
a length of eleven miles, may be mentioned.

The development of modern water works in Eu-
rope was slow, up to the eighteenth and nineteenth

centuries, and was confined principally to London
and Paris.

With the application of steam to the pumping of
water, a great impetus was given to the development
of water works constructions.

In the United States the progress in the develop-
ment of such works, especially in the improvements
in the making of cast iron pipe and the perfection of
pumping machinery, has been marked since 1 850.
Today there is not a city, and hardly a village of
some two thousand inhabitants, that has not its own
water supply system.

Early Development of the Water
Supply System of Chicago

The town of Chicago was incorporated in 1833
and the city of Chicago in 1837. In those early
days the little group of citizens with their homes
located on the shore of one of the largest natural fresh
water reservoirs in the world, and not being used to
the luxury of having the supply delivered by gravity
or machinery through pipes into their homes, gave
but little thought to water works development, se-
curing their supply in buckets and barrels as it was
needed, from wells, river or lake.

An enterprising corporation, the Chicago Hy-
draulic Company, however, came into existence in
1836. By the construction of a reservoir at Lake
Street and Michigan Avenue the supply was brought
nearer to the homes of the citizens, and a part of the
new city obtained its supply therefrom. It was not
until 1840, however, that a pumping engine was
constructed, and thereafter the water was brought
still nearer to the consumers through bored out logs,
of which two miles were then laid. The supply was
obtained from Lake Michigan through an iron pipe
running out into the lake about 1 50 feet.

The young city grew rapidly in population, the
services rendered by the private water company were
unsatisfactory, and in 1 85 1 , by legislative act, the
city was given power to establish its own water
works, and the franchise of the Chicago Hydraulic
Company were taken over by the city.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

From this time a new era in the development of
water supply system of Chicago was initiated.

The Beginning of the Half Century

With these preliminary remarks, we will take a
glance at the system at the termination of the year
1858, or the beginning of the semi-centennial period,
which is the object of this sketch.

Chicago had now grown to be a city with about
100.000 inhabitants. Its people were supplied with
water by means of two pumping engines and four
boilers, located in a pumping station at the foot of
Chicago Avenue near the lake; the supply being ob-
tained through a 30 inch wooden pipe reaching about
600 feet out into the lake.

The total nominal capacity of the plant was 21,-
000,000 gallons per 24 hours and the average daily
pumpage in 1859 was at the rate of 3,877,1 19 gal-
lons per 24 hours. The water was distributed through
72 miles of mains with which 272 fire hydrants were
connected. The area of the city at that time was
about 18 square miles, and the daily consumption of
water per capita was only about 39 gallons.

Contamination of the Supply

While the capacity of the new pumping station
with the low per capita consumption was more than
ample for some years, the rapid increase in popula-
tion of the city, its increasing commerce and trade,
and the construction of miles of sewers which dis-
charged their foul contents into the waters of the lake
and river, brought about a condition as regards pur-
ity of the water supply that soon became well nigh
unbearable, and made Chicago a butt for jokes all
over the country.

The Chicago River, ordinarily more like a cur-
rentless bayou, became a cesspool of filth, which the
spring floods carried out into the lake, contaminating
its water for a considerable area and rendering the
water supply extremely impure. Small fish that
sought the shallow water near the shore were drawn
into the water intake pipe, and after passing through
the pumps were disseminated through the water pipes
of the city.

Owing to the War, which absorbed the attention
of engineers and others all over the country, this
state of affairs was endured until 1863, when the

limit of endurance was reached, and the citizens be-
gan to show a determination to have the conditions
changed.

Many schemes were proposed to purify the Chi-
cago River, all more or less extreme and impractical.
Even at this early date the suggestion to construct a
series of intercepting sewers was made, but the ex-
pense and the time required would be so great and
the entire matter so much of an experiment that the
scheme was abandoned.

The Ship Canal idea was also under considera-
tion, but a bill introduced in Congress for this pur-
pose was killed, and deprived the citizens of Chicago
of all hope of relief in that manner.

With an inexhaustible reservoir of pure water lo-
cated at their outer door, requiring only some means
whereby the crystal fluid could be brought from a
sufficient distance from shore, the authorities were
bordering on a state of desperation.

The First Water Tunnel

The idea of constructing a tunnel under the bed
of the lake, which was now brought forward, was
a new one and was by many engineers declared im-
practicable.

To the forethought, skill and determination of the
City Engineer at that time, Mr. E. S. Chesbrough,
IS due the adoption and consummation of this idea
of securing for the coming metropolis an improved
water supply, which method has since added so much
to the growth, health and happiness of the city, and
made the later problems of extensions comparatively
easy. This first lake tunnel, five feet in internal di-
ameter and two miles long, was completed in 1867,
and the water supply problem was solved for the
time being.

The increase in area of the city through annexa-
tion of adjoining territory and the rapid increase in
population soon brought up another problem as re-
gards the water supply situation.

The pumping station located at the lake on the
eastern margin of the city could not deliver sufficient
water at the required pressure to distant inland por-
tions of the city, and it became apparent that a pump-
ing station must be located and constructed so as to
provide an effective service to those districts. The
successful completion and operation of the first tun-

HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

DIAGRAM SHOWING GROWTH OF

CHICAGO WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

DURING 50 YEARS

1858 — 1908

COMPLETED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF

JOHN ERICSON

CITY ENGINEER

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

.— -.^^

CAKIKK li. II AKklSD.N (Kll!.

ComniciiccU 1SS7.

KUUU-.Mll.K ( UIi:. I irV 111 LUlcAuO.

l\.iii|)lclc<l 18V4.

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

nel solved the engineering problem of delivering
water by gravity to such an inland pumping station.
If funds were available, the construction of tunnels
of any length could now be undertaken without ap-
prehension as to the success of such a venture.

A new seven foot tunnel, extending from the Chi-
cago Avenue pumping station, in a northeasterly di-
rection under the lake to the original crib and ex-
tended across the city to a new pumping station lo-
cated about four miles southwest of Chicago Avenue
station at Twenty-second Street and Ashland Av-
enue, was completed, and two new pumping engines
of a capacity of 15,000,000 gallons each put into
operation in 1876. In the meantime, an additional
pumping engine with a capacity of 36,000,000 gal-
lons per 24 hours had been installed at the Chicago
Avenue pumping station and put in operation in
1872.

Thus the second important step in the develop-
ment of the water supply system had been conceived
and successfully executed.

These two stations, by the addition of some new
pumping engines, served the city for about a decade,
when it became apparent that the demand for water
was rapidly approaching the existing tunnel capacity
and that new tunnels and additional pumping sta-
tions must be constructed.

The new additional system which was commenced
in 1 887 embraces the Harrison Street and the Four-
teenth Street pumping stations and the tunnels con-
necting said stations with the Four Mile Crib. A
part of this system consists of tunnels eight feet in in-
ternal diameter. This system, which added 90 mil-
lion gallons per day to the nominal pumping capac-
ity, was ready for operation in 1 890 and 1 89 1 . In
the meantime large areas were added to the city by
the annexation of the towns of Lake View, Hyde
Park and Lake in 1889.

Complications as Regards the Water
Supply System

Each one of these annexed communities had water
supply systems of their own, but they, of course,
formed no part of the original Chicago system, but
were entirely detached and independent. Each sys-
tem also needed immediate improvements and exten-
sions, and some scheme for the unification of the vari-
ous systems soon appeared to be a necessity. New

pumping stations with additional machinery were al-
most immediately planned for Lake View and Hyde
Park.

In 1 890 the Washington Heights district and in
1 893 Norwood Park were added, both of which
had to be given immediate attention in the way of
water supply improvements, including new water
tunnels for other stations.

Meanwhile other territory was added to the west-
ern and the northern part of the city, the population
increased at a phenomenal rate, and the cry for more
water went up from nearly all the outlying districts.

Another large system of tunnels and pumping sta-
tions was, therefore, planned. This system embraces
the Central Park Avenue and the Springfield Av-
enue pumping stations with a capacity of 1 00 million
gallons per 24 hours each, together with the system
of tunnels which terminate at the Carter H. Harrison
Crib. This system was put in operation in 1 900 and
I90L The total pumping capacity at each of these
stations was, however, not reached until some years
later.

The city now had ten pumping stations widely
separated, and in order to obtain as elastic a system
as possible it was deemed necessary to inter-connect
the various systems with large mains. This work
was commenced in 1 893, when some 50 miles of
these main arteries were laid. This work has since
been continued until the entire water supply system
of Chicago today represents a fairly well connected
whole.

Diversion of Sewage

As the length to which Lake tunnels can be built
is limited by the increasing depth of water at greater
distances from shore, some means of preserving the
purity of the water supply within tunnel limits be-
came necessary. This resulted in the construction of
the great Drainage Canal to reverse the direction of
flow in the Chicago River, and the Intercepting
Sewer Systems to divert the discharge of sewage
from the lake to the Drainage Canal, at a cost of
some 60 million dollars.

A satisfactory supply as regards quality of water
was thus obtained, but, although only a decade has
passed since the opening of this great drainage sys-
tem, serious problems regarding the preservation of
the purity of the water supply again confront us in

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

the general use of the lake for disposal of wastes by
cities along its shores, and much work and great ex-
penditures will be necessary in the immediate future
to otherwise dispose of this contaminating material,
and later for the adoption of some method of sewage
purification.

Additions Now Under Construction

There is under construction at the present time an-
other addition to the water supply system in the
southern part of the city, which when fully completed
will include about 1 I miles of tunnels and three
pumping stations, the lake portion of tunnel having
an internal diameter of 1 4 feet. One of these pump-
ing stations is now under construction.

The System Today

A large addition to the Lake View pumping sta-
tion is also under construction and about completed.

The water system of Chicago today consists of 1 I
pumping stations in operation, containing 42 large
pumping engines and 12 boilers. There are 38 miles
of water tunnels and five intake cribs in use, and
about 16 miles of tunnels under construction. There
are 2.189 miles of water mains with 18,782 stop
valves and 22,696 fire hydrants. The area of the
city is 190.64 square miles.

Concluding Remarks

The above brief description will give some idea
of the progress and development of the water supply
system during the past 50 years. The table and dia-
gram accompanying this article will more satisfac-
torily show its successive growth. Its rapid growth
has truly been phenomenal, and yet has hardly fully
met all the requirements at any time.

Not only has the population of this city increased
at a rate that stands alone in the history of the world.

SPRINGFIELD AVENUE PU.MPING ST.XTION.
• 99

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

but the increase in the consumption of water per cap-
ita per day has also been so great that if these in-
creases are allowed to continue at the same rate in
the future pumping stations will be as numerous as
school houses and the lake bottom will be honey-
combed with tunnels.

While the population in 50 years has increased
from 100,000 to 2,500,000, the pumpage has in-
creased from 39 gallons per inhabitant to 204 gallons
per inhabitant per day.

A recent analysis made of the water supply situ-
ation in the business district of the city indicates
clearly that the requirements for water in this dis-
trict will at least be quadrupled in about 30 years,
even if the per capita consumption can by energetic
methods be brought down to about one-half of what
it is at present, it having been well demonstrated that
a great percentage of the water pumped is lost
through leakage and waste.

The writer some years ago after some examination
asserted that about 75 per cent of the water pumped
is lost through leakage and waste. As a result of
this preliminary investigation a system of water sur-
veys was inaugurated in 1907 for the purpose of dis-
covering and checking this enormous waste. The
following brief description of the results of this work
fully bear out the conclusions formerly arrived at.

The water consumption of the city of Chicago in-
creased from 126 gallons per capita m 1890 to 204
gallons per capita per day in 1907, when the total
pumpage was 450,000,000 gallons per day.

The Water Survey Division, organized for the
purpose of decreasing the waste and leakage, sur-
veyed ten square miles of the central portion of the
city. The results of these surveys show that there is
a heavy plumbing leakage throughout the city, which
is due to the neglect of owners and tenants in making
repairs, and which causes a loss of from 35 to 45
per cent of the total supply. In one square mile on
the west side, bounded by Madison Street, 1 2th
Street, Halsted Street and Ashland Avenue, a total
saving of 5,700,000 gallons per day, or 48 per cent
of the supply, was effected by repairing faulty
plumbmg fixtures.

In addition to the plumbmg waste, there is an ex-
cessive underground leakage, due to defective street
mains and old service pipes, principally the latter;

which waste from 25 to 35 per cent of the total sup-
ply. In Districts Nos. 21 , 22 and 23, having a com-
bined area of 750 acres and located between 3 1 st
Street, Princeton Avenue and the Chicago River,
the underground leakage was found to be approxi-
mately 2,850,000 gallons per day, or 47J/2 per cent
of the total supply.

These are the principal sources of loss of water.
There are other forms of losses, however, that affect
the total supply, and which amount to a total of
from 5 to 1 per cent of the supply.

About 35 districts, ranging from 75 to 300 acres,
have been surveyed, which show high night rates of
consumption, indicating neglectful waste and under-
ground leakage. The total loss amounts to from 70
to 80 per cent of the total supply. The net con-
sumption in the districts where house to house inspec-
tions were made show that from 40 to 60 gallons per
capita IS ample for domestic consumption, and in
some districts it is as low as 30 gallons per capita.

The average daily pumpage for 1908 was 467,-
000,000 gallons per day. Fifteen per cent of this
supply was metered. The total number of metered
services in Chicago is less than 5 per cent. At the
present time the city receives less than two cents per
1 000 gallons for the unmetered supply, which is less
than actual cost to the city. More meters are neces-
sary to restrict the wilful waste common everywhere.
The increase in revenue or decrease in cost of plant
and operation from the general use of meters would
insure the city large returns on the investment.

A total of 1 4,000,000 gallons per day was saved
during the past nine months by district surveys.
Most of this water was saved by eliminating the
plumbing leakage. This volume of water at 2.9
cents per 1000 gallons amounted to a saving of
$148,000 per annum.

While some of the above may not be considered
as belonging to a pleasant history of "A Half Cen-
tury of Chicago's Water Supply System," the writer
thinks he should not neglect this opportunity of bring-
ing home to the Chicago readers of this article the
fact that a serious condition confronts us, and that
there should be no let up in the planning and con-
struction of additions to this system, as well as to a
restriction of the waste.

100

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

The Chicago Harbor

^y John M. Ewen

SPFXIAL HARBOR COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO

WATER transportation has played a much
larger part m the development of Chicago
than most persons realize. While the im-
portance of water traffic for Chicago has seemed to
be ebbing during the past decade, I believe a revival
is in sight and that water transportation in the future
is to contribute more to the progress of Chicago and
the community tributary to it even than it has in the
past.

Chicago, Buffalo and Duluth occupy the three
positions of greatest strategic advantage with refer-
ence to water transportation upon the Great Lakes.
Buffalo stands at the point of transfer between the
Great Lakes and the canal and rail lines to the East.
Duluth, besides being at the northwest terminus of
water transportation, is surrounded by immense de-
posits of iron ore. Chicago, located at the foot of
Lake Michigan, is possessed of a far richer hinter-
land than Duluth can ever expect to have. It has
exceptional opportunities as a distributing and manu-
facturing center. The region about Chicago is in
agricultural resources one of the richest in the world.
Abundant coal supplies are not far away and the
iron ore of the Lake Superior region can be brought
to this area so cheaply by water transportation as to
make Chicago the natural meeting place for the coal
and the iron ore.

With the development of the Erie canal Chicago
became the western terminus of water transportation.
It thus became the greatest grain shipping center of
the West. The presence of immense timber supplies
in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada ad-
jacent to the Great Lakes made possible the utiliza-
tion of water transportation for lumber. It was be-
cause of its location that Chicago became the great-
est lumber center in the world and the bringing in of
lumber in large quantities naturally contributed to the
development of manufacturing in lines in \vhich lum-
ber IS the principal raw material.

It was the commerce and industry developed by
location on the water which made Chicago the
Mecca for the railroads so that today this city is the

greatest railroad center in the world. Chicago s su-
premacy as a railroad center, in other words, is in-
directly due to its earlier supremacy as a water trans-
portation center.

Even the despised Illinois and Michigan canal —
the "tadpole ditch" — has played in the past a more
important part than is commonly realized. This
canal in earlier days carried a large volume of traffic
and was an important factor in maintaining low rail-
road rates to and from Chicago.

When the Lakes-to-the-Gulf Waterway shall
have been completed and when the improved water
routes from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean
shall be a reality — whether by an enlarged Erie
canal, by the St. Lawrence route, or by the proposed
Georgian Bay ship canal, or all three — Chicago will
be in a position again to profit tremendously by its
advantageous location with reference to water trans-
portation.

In order to derive the benefit which is its due, how-
ever, Chicago must be prepared to take advantage of
the opportunities open to it. This involves tremen-
dous development in the way of harbor and dock
improvements.

In the early days of water transportation the craft
navigating the Great Lakes and even more those nav-
igating the Illinois and Michigan canal, were small
in size. The did not require deep water nor expen-
sive dock facilities. Moderate improvement of the
river sufficed to attract to this location tremendous
volumes of traffic. The improvements of earlier days
were sufficient to the needs of those days.

It is interesting to note that more than forty years
ago the authorities were planning elaborate harbor
developments. Government engineers in the 60's
recommended the building of a harbor on the lake
front and in furtherance of that recommendation pro-
tecting breakwaters were built. In the controversy
and litigation between the public and the Illinois
Central railroad over the question as to who should
control the proposed harbor, the improvement was
blocked. A few docks were built on the lake front.

101

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

HIGHWAY AND ELECTRIC RAILWAY SCHERZER ROLLING LIFT BRIDGE ACROSS THE NORTH BRANCH OF THE CHICAGO RU'ER

AT NORTH HALSTED STREET, CHICAGO.
In a partly opened position.

HIGHWAY AND ELECTRIC RAILWAY SCHERZER ROLLING LIFT BRIDGE ACROSS THE NORTH BRANCH OF THE CHICAGO RIVER

AT NORTH HALSTED STREET, CHICAGO.
In the closed position.

102

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

IIUJUWAV A.NIi i:i,i;( TKIC

RAILWAV SCIIEKZKR ROLLIXC, LIl-T lilUUGE ACROSS THE illliACiO RIVKR \T TWKXTV SKCOVD
STREET. CHICAGO, FOR THE SANITARY DISTRICT OF CHICUJO. ' ' '

In a partly opened position.

IIIGIIWAY AND ELECTRIC RAILWAY SCHER2ER ROLLI.VG LIFT BRIDGE .\CRO.SS THE CHICAGO RIVER \T TWFXTYSECOND

STREET. CHICAGO. FOR THE SA.NITARY DISTRICT OF CHIC.\(;0.

In the closed position.

103

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

fl!ii?{MHiP»'H>'»n'^*"'

HIGHWAY AND ELECTRIC RAILWAY SCHERZER ROLLING LIFT BRIDGE ACROSS THE CHICAGO RIVER AT MAIN STREET,
CHICAGO, FOR THE SANITARY DISTRICT OF CHICAGO.

In the open position.

HIGHWAY AND KLKCTKIC KAILW.W SCHERZER ROLLING LIFT F.RIDGE ACROSS THE CIIIC.VCO RI\ ER AT MAIN STREET,

CHICAGO, FOR THE SANITARY DISTRICT OF CHICAGO.

In the closed position.

104

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

IIIilllWAV AM) EI.ECTKK kAIL\\A\ >U 1 1- K/:h/< K.u.i.l.N.. ).ll-l l;Kll",K Ai R( >SS TIIECIIICAnO kivhk \1 MAIK mkm-.i.

CmCAdO, EOR THE SAXITARV DISTRICT OK CHICAIIU.

\'iew showing bridge in the open m>silion. This bridge is the tirst bascule briilge on the route of the

Deep Waterway from the C;reat Lakes to the (iulf of Mexico and Panama Canal.

llIi;llWAV AM) EI.El TKU KAII.W A'l SlllEKZER ROM. INC. LIFT ItRIIH.E ACROSS THE (IIICAC.O RI\ ER AT STATE STREET.

(IIICAC.O. FOR THE SANITARY DISTRICT OF IHIi ACo.

In the closed position.

105

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

but in the main the project of forty years ago has
been abandoned and the area m question is now de-
voted to park purposes.

Chicago in recent years has been losing its lake
commerce. Perhaps if the development of earlier
years had been carried out as planned the story might
have been different. While to some extent the com-
merce of Chicago has declined because of the natural
falling off of the supply of some of the commodities
of lake commerce — notably lumber — it is undoubt-
edly true that better facilities would have meant more
water traffic. It is significant that the Chicago river
harbor is the only one showing decline of water traf-
fic. The movement of freight on the Great Lakes
has increased tremendously in the past decade. Mil-
waukee, Duluth, Cleveland and Buffalo all show
large increase in tonnage. The port of Chicago has
just about held its own during the past ten years.
Chicago proper shows a large decline. The water
traffic for the port as a whole has remained constant
because the commerce of South Chicago has in-
creased by about the same amount that that of Chi-
cago proper has fallen off.

There are signs that the city is awakening to the
importance of water transportation. The vessel men
and the dealers in the few commodities of heavy
lake traffic, who heretofore have been waging the
battle for river improvements practically alone, are
now receiving the support of the public authorities
and of public opinion. The appointment by Mayor
Busse of the Harbor Commission was one evidence
of this reawakening. The Harbor Commission after
more than a year of work upon the subject, submitted
to the Council on March I , last, a report recommend-
ing a comprehensive plan of harbor development.
The city administration and the Council Committee
on Harbors, Wharves and Bridges are now dealing
with these various recommendations with a view to
carrying them into effect as speedily as possible.

The subjects first to receive attention are those of
center pier bridges and the developments of docks
north of the mouth of the river.

For years the street car tunnels under the river
were serious obstacles to navigation, and prevented
vessels entering the river loaded to their full capac-
ity. After years of agitation, these obstacles to
navigation were removed. The center pier bridges.

however, remained. The agitation for their removal,
and the substitution for them of bridges of the bas-
cule type has been carried on for a number of years.
Recently some of these old bridges have been taken
out and new bridges of the bascule type having a
clear span of 1 40 feet at the water line have been
substituted in their place.

The Harbor Commission was of the opinion that
the bridges, instead of being 140 feet in the clear,
should be 200 feet. The problem confronting the
city at this time is, not only to do away with the cen-
ter pier structures, but to get in their place bridges ad-
equate for the needs of the future. The War De-
partment has already fixed a date within which the
bridges at Lake Street and Indiana Street must be
removed. The city administration and the Council
Committee on Harbors, Wharves and Bridges are
now dealing with this matter with a view to making
arrangements for the best type of structure that can
be devised. Within a few years the policy of har-
bor improvement should make it possible for the larg-
est vessels navigating the lakes to enter the main river
and its branches and traverse them for as great a dis-
tance as the interests of shipping call for.

The Harbor Commission, created by resolution of
the City Council and appointed by Mayor Busse,
was directed primarily to consider the question as to
how much of the lake front should be reserved for
future harbor uses. The commission was of the opin-
ion that extensive reservations should be made south
of Grant Park, but it did not recommend the immedi-
ate construction of harbors m that vicinity. Its sug-
gestion was, that the contemplated park improve-
ments for that area be so carried out as to permit of
later adaption for harbor uses, if found necessary.

The commission was of the opinion, however, that
piers projecting into Lake Michigan north of the
mouth of the river should be constructed as speedily
as possible. These piers would be intended primari-
ly for the accommodation of passengers and package
freight boats. The passenger-carrying vessels are
now doing business in the port of Chicago under very
great difficulties. It is important that the facilities
for these boats be increased. With the construction
of a street car line running to the piers the location
north of the mouth of the river would be well
adapted to passenger boat purposes.

106

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

HIGHWAY AND ELECTRIC RAILWAY SCUERZER ROLLING LIFT BRIDGE ACROSS THE CHICAGO RIVER AT RANDOLPH
STREET, CHICAGO, FOR THE SANITARY DISTRICT OF CHICAGO.
Open for navigation.

lIli.UU W \xn F.LECTRIC RAILW.W ?Cin"RZER ROLLING LIFT nUIDGE ACROSS THE CHICAGO RIXKR AT KAXnoU'lL
STREET, CHICAGO, FOR THE SANITARY DISTRICT OF CHICAGO.
In the closed position.

107

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

The package freight boats now have their docks
at various places in the Chicago River. Most of
them have insufficient room for the proper transac-
tion of their business. New boats that might desire
terminal facilities in the port of Chicago, whether for
the passenger or package freight business, would find
serious difficulty in securing the desired accommoda-
tions. With the construction of piers north of the
mouth of the river, adequate facilities could be pro-
vided for the passenger and package freight boats
now doing busmess m Chicago. This location prob-
ably will not provide facilities sufficient for all time to
come. But the thing to do now is to provide these
facilities as soon as possible, and then take up for
consideration the question as to what shall be done
when these piers shall be utilized to their limit of
capacity.

The Council Committee on Harbors, Wharves
and Bridges is now considering the questions of pol-
icy involved in the carrying out of this project. The
mam question is as to whether the city itself shall
build and own the docks, or whether it shall allow a
private corporation to construct and manage them.

While removal of center pier bridges and the con-
struction of docks north of the mouth of the river are
the two problems of most pressing importance in con-
nection with dock matters, they are by no means the
only ones demanding attention. Harbors are classi-
fied as of two kinds, Commercial and Industrial.
The harbor north of the mouth of the river would be
a commercial harbor. For Chicago and the area
tributary therto, what is known as Industrial Harbor

Development is quite as important as Commercial
Harbor Development. The branches of the Chicago
River, the Sanitary District canal, the Calumet
River and its branches and Lake Calumet all afford
many excellent factory sites in locations having both
water and rail transportation. In some cases the
channels need widening and dredging. In particu-
lar, there is a project on foot for deepening and im-
proving Lake Calumet, filling in large portions
thereof, and thus providing a system of docks within
a landlocked harbor that shall afford exceptional op-
portunities for industrial development.

The new steel plant at Gary, Indiana, means that
cheap iron and steel will be available in the Chicago
district for manufacturing concerns that use those
products as raw materials. This should signify much
for the future of Chicago as a manufacturing center.

The Harbor Commission in its report took the po-
sition that the entire area from Waukegan on the
north to Gary on the south should be regarded as a
single industrial community, with Chicago as its nat-
ural center. No development can take place in any
part of this area without benefiting the whole. The
Harbor Commission, therefore, very properly recom-
mended that Chicago should take the leadership of
the movement for improving the water transportation
facilities, both commercial and industrial, of this en-
tire area.

If the recommendations of the Harbor Commis-
sion be carried out, and if the water terminal facilities
of the community be speedily improved, it is unques-
tionable that the public will gain much thereby.

108

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Foundations

^y Edward C. Shankland

THE development of the foundations support-
ing the buildings in Chicago has kept pace
with the evolution of the skyscraper, which
originated in Chicago, but which on account of the
restrictions imposed by the City has not been carried
to the heights reached elsewhere.

The illustration on following page is a record of
borings and caissons from 1 2th Street on the South,
to Chicago Avenue on the North, and gives a com-
prehensive and accurate representation of the soil
supporting Chicago's high buildings.

The following is a brief description of the loca-
tion of the different borings.

Boring No. I — Brand building now being erected
at 1223-27 Wabash Avenue.

Boring No. 2 — Addition to Fisher building.
Dearborn and Van Buren Streets.

Boring No. 3 — Chicago & Northwestern Rail-
way Company's Office building, Franklin Street and
Jackson Boulevard.

Boring No. 4 — Northern Trust Bank building.
La Salle and Monroe Streets.

Boring No. 5 — Chicago & Northwestern Ter-
minal Station now being erected at Lake and Clin-
ton Streets.

Boring No. 6 — Steele Wedeles building. Dear-
born Avenue and Chicago River.

Boring No. 7 — Montgomery Ward & Co., Chi-
cago Avenue and Chicago River.

Boring No. 8 — IS submitted as a matter of inter-
est. It is a record of an artesian well at Franklin
Street and Jackson Boulevard for the Chicago and
Northwestern Office Building and shows the strati-
fication of the rock down to a depth of 1 400 feet.

TTie soil underlying the business district of Chi-
cago does not vary greatly down to a depth of about
75 feet below street level. Below this level and es-
pecially from about 1 00 feet below street level down
to bed rock, great variations are found sometimes
within a radius of only a few feet.

East and south of the Chicago river, and as far
south as 12th street, the upper stratum was originally
a yellow, sandy loam extending 12 to 15 feet below
the street level. The material is very fine, more or
less inclined to run and is subject to considerable
shrinkage when the water is removed, so that it is
not at all a satisfactory material upon which to build.
Below this sandy loam is usually found a tough, blue
clay, containing considerable quantities of yellow,
sandy loam often giving the appearance of yellow
clay. This stratum usually contains but little water
and is hard digging with a shovel. It is hardest on
top and gradually merges into a soft blue clay at 4
to 8 feet below the hard clay. This soft blue clay
contains considerable fine gravel mixed through it,
with numerous sand or gravel pockets from a few
inches to several feet in diameter, and occasional
granite or other hard boulders. This stratum usu-
ally extends to a depth of 50 to 60 feet below street
level, where it gradually merges into a tough blue
clay, of the same general nature as the soft clay
above. This clay becomes harder and harder as the
depth into it increases and becomes a hard, dry, blue
clay that cannot be dug into with a shovel but must
be grubbed. This hard clay stratum is found
throughout the down town district of the city but var-
ies greatly in thickness, 5 feet in some localities, 15 or
20 feet in others. In places it merges into the hard
pan stratum, in other places it may change into al-
ternating layers of hard, dry, blue clay and thin
seams of compact loam or silt. In places it is found
to overlay seams of tough, blue clay, from a few
inches to several feet in thickness.

After passing through the upper 6 or 8 feet of
hard, dry, blue clay the stratification becomes very
irregular and the material found at one point cannot
be taken as an indication of what may be expected
a few hundred feet distant. Below the hard, dry,
blue clay is often found 5 to 10 feet of hard, dry,
flaky clay, which usually lays in thin seams 2 to 8
inches thick and separated by thin layers of silt. In
other localities thick beds of compact, dry loam or
silt occurs under the hard, dry, blue clay — this mate-

109

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

110

HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

rial is often so compact that it must be loosened up
with a grub, though, if dry it falls to pieces immedi-
ately upon being loosened up.

The hard pan stratum consists of fine and coarse
gravel, stones and occasional boulders cemented with
a hard, dry. blue clay, and varies greatly in hard-
ness — often it is no harder than the hard, dry clay
found above — m other places it is so hard that but
slow progress can be made in it with railroad picks.
This hard pan in places extends to rock; in other
places it may overlay beds of fine sand, loam or
gravel and boulders, with a second layer of hard pan
on the rock.

Wherever rock lies below I 10 feet below street
grade with sand, gravel or loam immediately above,
water usually occurs, rising in places 1 5 feet or more
above the rock.

The distribution of boulders above rock is also
very irregular; caissons have been put down to rock
without striking a gravel bed or boulder, while less
than 40 feet from the same caisson another put down
where 12 feet of boulders were encountered, rock
in both cases being at practically the same elevation.

The compressible nature of the soil makes the
proper designing of the foundations a complex and
somewhat difficult problem. The plain truth,
pointed out by Mr. Frederick Baumann, who is
known as the father of the isolated pier foundation,
and which is described by him in a little book pub-
lished in 1 873, that a flat body resting on a yielding
soil must be centrally loaded in order to settle evenly
was not observed in the early days. As a conse-
quence the settlement of those buildings was very un-
even and their walls were apt to be considerably out
"of plumb. Before Mr. Baumann brought out his
method of isolated foundations some improvements
had been attempted from time to time, but not al-
ways with success.

One new architect introduced inverted arches in
the foundations with the result that the posts were
thrown out of plumb so badly, that extra anchors had
to be provided to prevent the buildings from toppling
over.

The most notable example of this was in the case
of three water reservoirs built by the City of Chicago
in 1854. Each one was 60 feet in diameter and 30
feet high, resting partly on the foundations under the

outside walls and partly on inverted arches sprung
between them. The exterior was pressed brick with
a good deal of cut stone. When finished and one
was being filled with water the arch shoved out the
foundations of the walls, and there would have been
a total collapse had not the water been immediately
drawn off.

The old buildings, from three to six stories in
height to be found on Adams, Monroe and other
streets are typical of the class of buildings first put up
after the fire. In these buildings the foundations
vary in size according to the number of stories in the
building. As a consequence the load per square
foot on the soil under these buildings is often very
great and averages much greater than those under
buildings erected later. There are buildings of this
type where the pressure on the soil from the dead
weight of the building is from 14,000 to 15,000
pounds per square foot.

These excessive loads caused very great and very
uneven settlement, but the buildings, being of brick
and wood could withstand the distortion produced
by the great variations in settlement, variations which
would not be allowed in the more recent steel frame
buildings.

Then too the settlement was not noticed because
the street grades varied so much. Only a few years
ago it was common to have steps in the sidewalk
caused by the different grades of adjoining buildings
and several such sets of steps would be found in the
same block. Where the street varied in height sev-
eral feet in the same block, the settlements of build-
ings however great, would attract little attention.

Some of these foundations rested on the blue clay
spoken of above as being about 14 feet below street
grade, but very often they rest on the filled ground,
one foot or even two or three feet above the clay.
This makes these buildings unstable when adjoining
buildings are removed, and they have to be handled
carefully when new buildings are erected as the
foundations of the latter are carried down to a much
greater depth. However, these buildings in the
down town district are being replaced so rapidly that
they are really not an important factor in the subway
problem.

The next type is the spread foundation made of
steel rails or I beams embedded in concrete. The

111

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

TEST MADE AT SOUTH END OF IIAXUFACTURERS AXn Lir.ERAL ARTS BUILDIXG.

CAISSON, AMERICAN TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK BUILDING.

112

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Rand McNally on Adams Street, the Royal Insur-
ance on Jackson Boulevard, the Rookery, the Illinois
Trust and Savings Bank, the Temple, and Home In-
surance on La Salle Street, and the Marquette, on
Dearborn Street are of this class. Buildings resting
on spread foolmgs are among the highest and costliest
in the city and include besides those mentioned, the
Marshall Field wholesale, the Masonic Temple, Ta-
coma, Monadnock Block, Great Northern buildings,
Ashland Block and others.

In this type the load carried by each column or
pier was accurately calculated and the area of its
foundation determined by dividing this load by the
assumed pressure per square foot. This pressure was
commonly taken 3,000 pounds although in some
cases it was taken as high as 4,000. Thus the areas
and therefore the depths of the footings varied ac-
cording to the loads. In the most successful build-
ings, the dead weight of the structures was alone con-
sidered in proportioning the area of the footing, for
when the live load \vas taken into account the varia-
tions in settlement were greater. In erection the
foundations were set up higher than they were ulti-
mately intended to be in order to allow for the set-
tlement sure to take place and which is all the way
from 9 inches to over 20 inches. This necessitates
also raising the inside line of the sidewalks and ac-
counts for the steep slope of some sidewalks now to
be found, where the assumed settlement did not take
place.

When the construction plans of the World's Col-
umbian Exposition buildings were begun in March,
1 89 1 , the bearing value of the soil at Jackson Park
was an unknown quantity.

Over 200 borings were made on the sites of the
main buildings, and the soil was found to average 1
foot black soil, I 3 feet sand, the lower portion being
saturated with water, 1 3 feet soft clay, hard pan be-
ing found at an average depth of 27 feet.

Loading tests were also made to determine the safe
load to put upon the soil, also whether it would
squeeze out under pressure, as most of the large build-
ings were to be placed on the banks of the lagoons.

The accompanying photograph of the test at the
south end of Manufacturers and Liberal Arts Build-
ing is interesting. The load was 3161 pounds per

square foot on a base 3 feet by 3 feet one inch which
caused a settlement of 8 inches while load was being
put in place and in 90 hours the settlement was 3 feet
2 inches. The test was then discontinued; although
the settlement had not ceased.

Pile foundations have always been used along the
liver and to some extent in the business center. The
Medinah Temple, on Jackson Boulevard, The Fed-
eral building, on the block bounded by Jackson,
Clark, Adams and Dearborn, and the Merchants
Loan and Trust building, Clark and Adams Streets,
are built on piles. In the latter building concrete
walls were used on the west wall where the building
adjoins the Chicago Edison building.

The latest type of foundations and the one used
almost exclusively now for the high steel buildings is
the concrete well or caisson. The word well is a
better definition as it describes the method more ac-
curately, but "caisson" has come into universal use
and it will be used hereafter in this report. These
caissons are preferably carried down to and rest
upon bed rock which is found as stated previously at
from 105 to 120 feet below street level. Sometimes,
however, they stop at hard pan about 70 feet below
street level and are belled out, that is the diameter
of the caisson is increased at the bottom in order to re-
duce the pressure per square foot on the clay. The
Corn Exchange shown on caissons going down to the
rock. The west wall of Merchants Loan and Trust
Company and the Chicago National Bank, and the
Rector building, are supported on caissons which rest
on the hard pan and are belled out.

The accompanying photograph shows bed rock in
the bottom of one of the caissons supporting the
American Trust and Savings Bank building, corner
of Monroe and Clark Streets, at a depth of 105 feet
below street level.

The use of compressed air in sinking caissons has
been used for the first time on a large scale in putting
down the caissons for the Chicago and Northwestern
Railway Company's Terminal Station at Madison
and Canal Streets. These caissons were completed
a few months ago. They were dug down about 80
feet in the ordinary manner and then air locks were
put in the shafts and the rest of the work down to
rock about 120 feet was done under a pressure of 15
pounds.

113

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Development of Fire Resisting IVEaterial

for Buildings

Sp William Holabird

EACH passing year contains accounts of many
fires, large and small, mvolvmg complete or
partial destruction of valuable property and
losses due to necessary rebuildmg or extensive re-
pairs, including the consequent loss in time and
money before the business is again in running order.
Such disasters as the Baltimore fire and the San
Francisco conflagration have shown the unreliabil-
ity of many classes of construction previously con-
sidered fireproof. Engineers, architects and build-
ers throughout the country have been spurred to re-
newed efforts toward the finding of a material which
will, in the highest degree possible, assure protection
against the destructive effects of fire.

An article in "Insurance Engineering" several
years ago by J. S. Sewell, then Captain of Engin-
eers, U. S. A., gives the following conditions under
which a material may be considered as fireproof,
viz:

"It shall be incombustible.

It shall undergo no molecular change in a
fire that will impair its strength or change its
form.

It shall be possessed of considerable strength
and shall be so applied that the expansion and
contraction stresses due to rapid heating and
sudden cooling will not destroy it or impair its
usefulness.

It shall be a poor conductor of heat."

Other authorities have added further requirements,
namely :

That the material shall be of such a nature
as to make it adaptable not only as a protective
covering, but also as a structural part of a
building.

That it shall be economical in construction
and require only a minimum amount of repair
in case of damage by fire.

That it shall possess a rate of expansion
nearly equal to that of the steel which it is de-
signed to protect, so that at no time will the

metal be exposed to the heat of the fire through
a cracking or falling away of the protective
coating, or be liable to rust through contact with
moisture.

Upon examination of the different fireproofing ma-
terials now available, it seems that the above condi-
tions are most nearly fulfilled by two, brick and con-
crete. The former, when made of good quality,
hard burned clay, either in the form of common or
pressed brick, is indeed an excellent fireproofing ma-
terial; but its extensive use as a protective covering
for steel and its employment in any structural parts
of the building is largely prohibited by the necessary
massiveness of the construction and the resulting
heavy cost of erection.

Concrete, however, meets the requirements more
fully ; hence it is used more and more in the construc-
tion of fireproof buildings. In the form of cement
blocks it is being extensively used in the building of
smaller business structures and private dwellings.
Reinforced concrete is adaptable not only for the
construction of the floors and partitions of steel skel-
eton buildings and for the protection of interior col-
umns, beams and girders, but also, and most success-
fully, for the entire structural work of offices, ware-
houses, mills, factories, public buildings, etc.

Reinforced concrete, besides best fulfilling the
conditions for a fireproof structure, has several other
distinct advantages. Chief among these may be
mentioned, continual improvement with age instead
of deterioration, absence of vibration (an important
factor in the construction of mills and factories), easy
production of any desired architectural effects, and
decrease in insurance and maintenance charges. It
also permits a type of construction with a flat ceiling,
thus decreasing the height of the outside walls, while
preserving the same interior head room, lessening the
cost of the building, making easier the installation
and operation of sprinkler systems, and giving assur-
ance that a stream of water from a fire hose against
the ceiling will spread over the maximum area and

114

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

will not be deflected by intervening beams and
girders.

Concrete, when tested in the laboratory in the
form of cubes and exposed to high temperatures,
showed a tendency to decrease in strength, and was
therefore thought by many to be a poor fireproof ma-
terial; but fire tests of floors and partitions and of
buildings actually constructed showed no such dis-
couraging results, as the concrete appeared to be lit-
tle affected by the fire. Prof. Ira A. Woolson of
Columbia University discovered the solution of this
apparent contradiction in the fact that concrete was
a remarkably poor conductor of heat, and hence the
heat penetrated the thinner cubes more rapidly than
the thicker concrete used in the floors tested and in
the structural parts of the buildings actually erected.
This IS an item of the greatest importance in the selec-
tion of a fireproof material.

Several authorities state that when concrete is
heated to a high temperature — say between 700
and 1 ,000 Fahrenheit — the moisture present in the
form of water of crystallization is evaporated, and
upon further application of heat is driven off. This
process requires a considerable length of time during
which the concrete is affected to the depth of only a
quarter of an inch. To disintegrate the material un-
derneath the heat must first pass through the dried-
out upper portion, \vhich is now a better non-conduc-
tor than before. This involves a period of time con-
siderably longer than that of the severest fire to which
any structure might be subjected, without consider-
ing the presence of apparatus for quenching the
flames.

Because of this peculiarity of concrete it is found
that a covering of two or three inches will amply pro-
tect from fire structural steel work; and the density
of concrete preserves it from moisture and the for-
mation of rust, while necessary repairs after the fire
generally involve a mere resurfacing because of the
spalling or chipping of the concrete at exposed cor-
ners, or the breaking away of the finish from the
body of the concrete floor.

Since with all materials angular surfaces are more
liable to damage by fire than flat or rounded surfaces,
and with concrete a sharp corner is more liable to
damage by water, it has been suggested as a remedy
that all exposed corners should be rounded. With

a material like concrete this is very easily accom-
plished.

In many cases of floor construction time elapses
between the placing of the concrete proper and the
wearing surface or finish; thus the bond between the
two is often imperfect. A better bond can be ob-
tained by applying the finish coat immediately after
the structural concrete of the floor is laid. This
would probably prevent the scaling of the surface un-
der fire.

In reinforced concrete construction some authori-
ties think it best to place an additional coating around
columns and girders in order that the danger of fire
exposing the reinforcing steel and causing a weaken-
ing or possible collapse of the structure may be re-
duced to a minimum.

For fireproofing, and for partitions or other parts
where no heavy loads are to be sustained, numerous
tests and actual experiences have shown that the best
material is concrete made with cement, sand and
cinders; but in order to give the most efficient results
the cinders should be of the best quality and contain
a minimum amount of unburned coal, and the con-
crete must be well proportioned and mixed, and must
form a dense compact mass. For floors and other
structural parLs of the building the most efficient fire-
proof material is concrete, made of gravel, trap rock,
granite or limestone. Though fire may cause a cal-
cination of the limestone concrete this rarely extends
more than three-quarters of an inch below the sur-
face, even after the severest fire.

Concrete has not lacked convincing proofs of its
practicability and fireproofing qualities as the reports
of experts and commissions, and the results of tests
and actual experience have shown. Recent tests
made by the U. S. Geological Survey at the Under-
writers' Laboratories in Chicago were more severe
than any possible conflagration and demonstrate
clearly the efficiency of concrete as a fireproof
material.

No one has forgotten the fires at Baltimore and
San Francisco and the lessons taught. At the time
of the Baltimore fire concrete was not so well known
as it is today. In the area devasted there were only
two buildings of four stories in which the floor sys-
tems were constructed throughout of reinforced con-
crete. In other cases where concrete was employed

11;

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

it was used for floor panels in place of hollow tile,
and as a covering for columns and girders. Yet,
even at this stage in the history of concrete, the re-
sults of the severe tests of fire upon these earlier types
of construction greatly encouraged those who be-
lieved in its fireproofing qualities. Experts and scien-
tists in their reports spoke favorably of its value as a
protective material.

In one instance the banking floor of a building was
saved from injury by a floor immediately above it,
which was of concrete construction; yet this floor
was subjected to the falling debris of the floors and
roof above which were of inflammable material and
were completely destroyed.

Another interesting incident was the case of a four
story brick building, with attic and basement, in
which the original wooden floor system had been re-
placed by reinforced concrete, the floor panels being
cantilevered to recesses cut in the brick walls. After
the fire it was found that, as there was no real connec-
tion between the side walls and floors, portions of the
side walls fell away leaving the upper floors exposed,
while the front and rear walls of the building bulged
outward. An examination of the floor system re-
vealed the fact that although the concrete had spalled
or chipped away from the edges of the beams and
columns, and on wide flat surfaces had calcined in
some places to a depth of % inches, still the con-
struction was otherwise apparently sound; further-
more, a test load of 300 pounds per square foot on a
panel of the second floor gave a deflection under ^
inch, though the total load for which the floor was
designed was only 1 50 pounds per square foot. A

cantilevered section of the floor, subjected to a test
load of 1 50 pounds per square foot, showed no seri-
ous deflection.

Again, in the San Francisco disaster, though there
was not a single instance of modern reinforced con-
crete construction in the section of the city traversed
by the fire, concrete was used extensively in floor con-
struction and in covering steel columns and girders.
Here also it demonstrated its fire-resisting qualities
and its ability to effectively protect the metal and pre-
vent buckling or collapse. A proof of the confidence
which the people of San Francisco place in concrete
is found in the fact that it has been extensively em-
ployed in the rebuilding of the city.

Fires such as those at the Dayton Motor Car
Works and at the Huyler Building in New York
City also reveal the ability of reinforced concrete,
when properly constructed, to confine a severe fire
to one floor or section of a building with little or no
damage to floors above and below, and to allow the
portions affected by the fire to be reoccupied in a few
days' time.

It is therefore evident from the characteristics of
concrete, as proven by tests and actual experience,
that it IS a most efficient fireproof material. To give
the best results, however, it must be of good work-
manship, well proportioned and mixed, and, where
reinforcement is used, the steel must be so placed as
to guarantee a sufficient amount of concrete protect-
ing the metal. Observing these precautions there
would seem to be no reason why concrete should not
be universally used for this purpose. In the years to
come it is bound to grow in favor in the minds of en-
gineers, architects, builders and the general public.

116

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Fireproofing Chicago's Buildings

By J. J. Rockwell

CHICAGO has been one of the leading cities of
the country in developing the art of fireproof-
ing buildings from the time of the construction
of the Home Insurance Building, which it is gener-
ally believed was the first steel skeleton fireproof
building ever erected, down to the present day when
this type of building has become comparatively
common.

What IS know as the Standard Type of Fireproof
Construction is that in which a building is constructed
of a steel frame and the steel is then protected with
a covering of Terra Cotta Hollow Tile Blocks,
which also form the fireproof floors carried between
the steel floor beams.

These blocks are, essentially, merely a modern de-
velopment of brick, one of the oldest construction
materials known. They are of clay, which in a plas-
tic condition is molded into the various shapes and
sizes necessary for purposes of fireproof construction,
and the resulting blocks are then burned in kilns, as
bricks are burned, under a temperature of two thou-
sand degrees and upward.

Few persons, even in the building industry, recog-
nize the tremendously important part which hollow
tile blocks have played in modern fireproof construc-
tion. Indeed, it is doubtful whether the steel frame
construction of buildings could ever have reached
its present tremendous popularity, without the use of
Terra Cotta Hollow Tile as a protection against
fire, and as a means of constructing fireproof floor
spans of sufficiently light weight to permit of the
floors being carried to any desired height on a steel
frame composed of members so light and of dimen-
sions so small as to make the entire investment com-
mercially economical.

The first function of fire proofing in a steel frame
building is to protect the steel from fire. As an in-
cidental fact, in performing this duty, it also protects
the steel from corrosion and rust.

In connection with this duty it spans the spaces be-
tween the steel floor beams, thus forming fire proof
floor arches which carry the loads placed on the

floors of the building in use, and at the same time ef-
fectually prevent the spread of fire from one floor to
another.

In roof construction. Terra Cotta Hollow Tile
answers the same purposes as in floor construction,
but as roof loads are naturally much lighter, usually,
than floor loads, the steel construction, and conse-
quently the fire proof construction, are much lighter
than in floor arches, and the methods of application
are frequently different.

The next extremely important use of Terra Cotta
Hollow Tile is for the construction of fire proof par-
titions for subdividing floor area as may be desired in
the occupancy of the building, or as may be required
for the division of large floor areas to prevent the
spread of fire on a single floor. Under the classifi-
cation of partitions are, of course, included closet and
vault walls, enclosures for elevator shafts, et cetera.

The exterior walls of steel frame buildings are usu-
ally of brick or stone, through which moisture easily
penetrates. To prevent this moisture from reaching
and destroying the plaster on the interior Terra Cotta
Hollow Tile Furring Blocks are used. TThese
blocks provide a dead air space through \\'hich the
dampness cannot go, and the plastering is applied di-
rect to the inner side of these blocks without neces-
sity for any additional furring.

It will be seen from the above that Hollow Tile
Blocks act not only as a protective covering for the
structural steel of a building, but they, at the same
time, perform important structural functions. The
few years just past have seen, of course, a great many
developments of Fireproofing with Hollow Tile
Blocks, chiefly along the line of recognition of the
great structural value which this material has in ad-
dition to its fireproofing qualities.

Its structural value is seen most frequently in the
development of what are known as Long Span Floor
Construction Systems in which the Hollow Tile, with
certain methods of reinforcing, is utilized to its great-
est capacity as a means of economizing the amount of
steel necessary in the construction.

117

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

It still remains true, however, that Hollow Tile
finds its greatest use in the fireproofing of Standard
Type Buildings, as spoken of above, and which rep-
resent the typical monumental buildings of Chicago,
such as the La Salle Hotel, The Cook County Court
House, The City Hall now in process of erection.

The Commercial National Bank Building, The
First National Bank Building, the great new Black-
stone Hotel, The Rookery Building, and practically
all of the great monumental buildmgs of the city
which give to the commercial center of the city its
present architectural character.

Reinforced Concrete

By Richard E. Schmidt

THE latter half of the last century were years of
triumph for steel and iron, but the universal
reign of these is past and we are building
largely with an artificial stone, i. e. cement, sand,
stone and steel.

The use of mass concrete dates from very early
times and has been used for centuries for founda-
tions, fortifications and other structures where great
strength was required. There are several examples
of comparatively old mass concrete in Chicago,
which have successfully withstood the ravages of
smoke and the elements, namely, the old Staats Zeit-
ung Building on Washington Street, the Farwell
Block on Monroe Street, Lyon & Healy's building,
and the Farwell home in Lake Forest, concrete rein-
forced with steel in the sense of its present day use,
probably dates back only half a century.

Twenty-five years ago, probably nothing was
taught of this form of construction in many of the
Technical Institutions of the country, and the sub-
ject was not included in the curriculum of the Insti-
tute of Technology at Boston.

Monier, and the water tanks, drain pipes and
jardinieres which he built of beton and wire netting
in France, were mentioned in the Architectural
magazines from time to time, but such work was not
recognized as a system of construction, and appeared
to be more a kind of jugglery of materials.

Only a few more years passed and Mr. Ransome
addressed one of the monthly dinners of the Illinois
Chapter of A. I. A. and described his work in
California. His description awakened some of the
local architects to the comparatively unknown con-
struction. Some were ready to grasp its importance

and at once apply themselves to the study, the in-
vestigation and the application of the new medium.

They were considered with pity and looked upon
as cranks and harmless experimenters. The others
were very skeptical and did not consider the new
style of work as useful.

In June, 1900, the "American Architect and
Building News" contained one of its earliest refer-
ences to Reinforced Concrete, and printed an article,
as a special fresh news item with the title, "The
Proposed Building of a Seven-Story Building to be
built of Concrete, in Connection with which large
Twisted Iron Rods are to be used." The same
volume of the "American Architect" contains a long
article expounding on the great strengths, resistance
to fire and comparative cheapness of solid concrete
floors used in connection with steel beams spaced
comparatively close together, and used m a number
of contemporaneous English buildings.

When considering the present position of rein-
forced concrete in the art of building, it is almost
impossible to conceive that a paper on such a prim-
itive and costly method of using concrete and steel
was read to a Society of Architects less than ten
years ago, but notwithstanding its obscurity, a good
number of buildings of reinforced concrete construc-
tion were built around the year 1 900.

Inasmuch as new inventions and new methods
usually appeal to the inexperienced and are practiced
by them before the experienced man is willing to
make expensive experiments on permanent structures,
and as laymen do not recognize the difficulties and
dangers as quickly as trained men, they are very
often ready to adopt something new and make good

118

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

use of it before the trained men make their mvesti-
gations and are wiHing to accept it. Consequently
rem forced concrete \vork was practiced by the inex-
perienced and especially by men conversant only
with sidewalk concrete work, who were without
engineering knowledge and without any conception
of the principles of reinforced concrete. The result
was that a number of buildings collapsed, through
the ignorance or haste of these people. The failures
were probably not due to scamping, but to a lack of
knowledge on the part of the principals and also
from the lack of instructive knowledge of the con-
struction on the part of the mechanics and laborers.
The actual accidents, also untruthful reports of
the impending collapse of reinforced concrete build-
ings were noised about, and a wave of deprecation
and opposition temporarily checked the advance of
the new form of construction, which was to be ex-
pected, for such opposition to new inventions is the
usual course. It was so when the first mills equipped
with Arkwright's weaving machine were fired by
incendiaries; when the coach owners went to Parlia-
ment to prevent the issuing of a charter for a railroad,
and \\hen the mobs drove off the surveyors of the
first English railroad, but all of the attempted hind-
rances have had little effect. Most of the opponents
finally saw "a light" and saved themselves by em-
bracing one of the "systems." Only now and then
is a lonesome bark heard, and today, if you ask
architects, contractors, engineers and men of affairs
for their opinion as to the most significant develop-
men of the day in construction work, they will tell
you, almost to a man, that it is the tendency to make
concrete the universal building material. The pos-
sible exception will be a man who has been trained
in the older forms of construction and is too old to
learn. Few people realize the great number of uses
to which concrete may be put and to which it is put
in Chicago and throughout the world. It is used in
the construction of the great bridges, viaducts, tun-
nels and subways. The forces of rivers and seas
are defied by it. The largest engines, turbines,
boilers and chimneys of immense power stations and
skyscrapers stand on foundations of concrete. Boats,
pontoons, telephone poles, railroad ties, electroliers,
chimneys, vaults, prison cells, plumbing fixtures and
even furniture are made of concrete.

When the antagonism to reinforced concrete from
the few who are left and who were trained in the
design and use of steel and masonry ceases altogether
and everyone in the building world has more knowl-
edge of reinforced concrete, the labor learns its use
in the same instinctive manner in which it works
wood and masonry, and organized research will
have established high safe unit stresses in the same
manner in which the Federal Government has fixed
the allowable stresses in timber under different con-
ditions in recent years, the use of reinforced concrete
will be increased still more for reasons of economy.

Methods will be standardized and simplified, the
cumbersome and expensive form work will disap-
pear. Edison's scheme or some other will take their
place, so that variety can be obtained, monotony and
repetition avoided, and satisfactory interior and ex-
terior finish obtained in one operation, doing away
with furring, plastering and exterior trimmings.

Texture and modelling of the walls will be ob-
tained at but little additional expense, so that bald
buildings will be avoided; shade and form will be
obtained by simple and expedient means.

The unfortunate color of Chicago common brick
has been one of the city's misfortunes; in other cities
the common brick is usually red so that the sides,
rear and party walls appear as pleasing in color as
the street elevation, whereas most of our buildings
have only "fronts."

The salmon color of our common brick is soon
dingy, weather beaten and finally blackened. Con-
crete, if it does become blackened and streaked, has
an original color better able to bear it, so that its
use will tend to better the general appearance of the
city, and with the increased use of concrete, chemists
will find new and pleasing cement colors, so that it
will not always be gray.

The quality of cement will be improved so that
the useful particles will be in the majority and the
inert in the minority, permitting even lighter and
more graceful construction. Methods will be found
for retarding or accelerating the setting as will be
desired.

Surface finish will be improved; new methods will
be found to overcome the well known objections. It
will be frankly treated as concrete and not as stone.

119

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

It will be used as a plastic material should be used,
if the block form survives; the joints which are
thereby an essential will become an essential element
of good design, accentuated rather than hidden,
recognized as they were in the Renaissance.

Inasmuch as concrete is built with shovel and
trowel, and its proper ornamentation is cast in molds,
it is evident that this method ought to depart from
classic forms, that it means something new, and that
precedent is only a stepping stone. Opening in the
walls must be built and it is to be expected that they
will vary from those used in an architecture of arches,
vaults and lintels.

Chicago is leading the country in this method of
construction as it did in steel construction, and the
cause for the leadership is easily discovered.

In the first place our builders have always been
pioneers, and inasmuch as unfinished reinforced con-
crete work is suitable for industrial plants and ware-
houses, Chicago capitalists were very quick to per-
ceive the cheapness and advantage of this form of
construction, consequently there are now innumerable
very large buildings, bridges and viaducts, all of
reinforced concrete, among them, a building which
probably contains a greater floor area under one
roof than any other building in the world, built of
reinforced concrete from the foundations to the roof.

Inasmuch as a good hard rock suitable for rein-
forced concrete is so close to the surface of the
ground in many places within the confines of the

city, in some instances, it may be crushed and used
on the same property in which it was quarried, the
cost of such construction is at a minimum, and fur-
ther, nature has given Chicago such bountiful de-
posits of good building sand in the Lake, on its
beaches, and in the enormous glacial deposits of the
best of materials for fire resisting concrete, that is,
gravel, all within the limits of cheap transportation,
the raw material for Portland Cement being also at
hand in large quantities in the confines of the city
and the surrounding states, Chicago is indeed favor-
ably located, in the economic center of activity of
reinforced concrete construction.

The expansion in steel industries on the lower end
of Lake Michigan, very close to Chicago, will pro-
duce the steel required by reinforced concrete at the
lowest prices. Possessing the ingenuity of trained
engineering skill, also all of the components of rein-
forced concrete, this material will lead all other
forms of construction used in the city.

We will live to see it increase in use until wood is
not used for structural purposes, if not actually pro-
hibited. Its volume will increase in an ever increas-
ing ratio and its uses in an increasing number of ap-
plications; some may be only ephemeral but the per-
manent uses will increase continually.

All other trades will remain and bloom ; each will
follow the line of least resistance and all humanity
will benefit by better and more beautiful dwellings
and structures of all kinds.

120

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Chicago's Street Railways

THE earliest public transportation in the streets
of Chicago was afforded by omnibuses. In
1853. Frank Parmelee & Co. and M. O. &
S. B. Walker established bus lines in Chicago, and
these remained the only means of public conveyance
down to 1 859.

In the year 1859 charters for street railroads were
obtained for each of the three divisions of the city.
February 14, 1859, the Legislature granted charters
to the Chicago City Railway Company, and to the
North Chicago Railway Company, and one week
later a further charter was granted to the Chicago
West Division Railway Company.

The Chicago City Railway Company at once be-
gan the construction of a steet railroad under its char-
ter, and, early in the Spring of 1 859, the first horse
cars ran on the streets of Chicago. The first line built
was a single track road in State Street from Lake to
1 2th Street, and the equipment of the road consisted
of 5 two-horse cars and 1 one-horse car. This line
was soon extended to 22nd Street, thence to Cottage
Grove Avenue and down Cottage Grove Avenue to
3 I st Street. The following year double track was
laid from Adams Street to Cottage Grove Avenue.
Lines were next extended by the Chicago City Rail-
way Company on the West Side, along Madison
and Randolph Streets to Ogden Avenue, and, in
1864, a branch was extended on Archer Avenue.
By the close of the year 1 867, the company operated
1 7'/4 miles of track and its average daily receipts
were about $837.

The North Chicago Railway Company, like the
City Railway Company, began the construction of
lines immediately upon the granting of its charter.
Within a short time tracks had been laid in North
Clark Street from North Water Street to North Av-
enue, on Division Street to Clybourn Avenue, and
thence to the then city limits, and in Wells Street to
Division Street. Other lines were rapidly extended
on the principal North Side streets. By 1867 the
company owned 20 cars and operated about ten
miles of road.

August 1 , 1863, the Chicago West Division Rail-
way Company, which had been incorporated more

than four years before, purchased the lines of the
Chicago City Railway Company on Madison and
Randolph Streets, paying $200,000 therefor. In
1867 the West Division Company owned 20 miles
of track and 65 cars; its average daily receipts were
$868.

These three principal traction companies, and
their successors, reaching from the down town district
to the North, South and West Sides, have always
afforded by far the greater part of Chicago's surface
transportation, and are the underlying companies
with which Chicago's great traction problem has
been mainly concerned. With the growth of the
city a number of minor outlying companies have been
formed reaching the outskirts of the city and its sur-
rounding suburbs.

The early operation of street railways in Chicago
was beset with many difficulties. The down town
streets were paved with cobble stones and elsewhere
wUh plank, which formed a very yielding and inse-
cure road bed. The great fire of 1871 temporarily
wiped out the greater part of Chicago's traction sys-
tem. The West Division Company suffered least
from its effects, but the track, rolling stock and barns
of the North Chicago Company were entirely de-
stroyed. However, the lines were quickly restored,
and extensions were yearly added.

With the growing extensions of Chicago's street
railways, the old horse cars became too slow. The
cable had been successfully used in San Francisco,
and January 17, 1881, the City Council granted the
Chicago City Railway Company the right to con-
struct and operate a cable system. The first cable
cars ran on State Street to 39th, January 28, 1 882.

The North Chicago Street Railroad Company
was organized. May 18, 1886, by Charles T. Yer-
kes, then of Philadelphia, and acquired a controlling
interest in the North Chicago Railway Company.
The new company became the lessee of the old one
and the operator of its lines. By agreement made by
Yerkes with the city, utilization of the La Salle
Street tunnel began in 1 887. The cable system was
adopted on all the principal lines of the North Side
Company, June 7, 1888. Similarly, the West Chi-

121

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

cago Street Railroad Company, organized by
Yerkes, acquired, in 1 887, the control of all the
lines of the Chicago West Division Railway Com-
pany, and became its lessee and operator. The next
year the West Chicago Company began the installa-
tion of cables on its lines.

In 1893 the use of the overhead trolley was be-
gun, and within the next few years, as fast as it was
practicable to make the changes, this system was ex-
tended to all of Chicago's traction service.

In 1 899 another great change in the management
of the city's traction system took place. The com-
panies on the North and West Sides were joined and
the operation of all their lines was undertaken by the
Union Traction Company.

The campaign for the betterment of Chicago's
traction system was now fairly on, and raged fiercely
until the final passage of the present Traction Ordi-
nance by the City Council in February, 1 907, and its
ratification by the people in the April elections of that
year. The Ordinance was promptly accepted by
the Chicago City Railway Company, and in Janu-
ary, 1908, the Chicago Railways Company took
over all the lines of the Union Traction Company,
together with a number of subordinate lines and be-
gan the work of rehabilitation under the Ordinance.

The transformation of Chicago's wornout dilap-
idated street car service into an up-to-date superbly
equipped traction system, without a superior any-
where, within the short space of time that has elapsed
since the passage of the Traction Ordinance, is a ver-
itable marvel of constructive achievement and has ex-
ceeded in realization the most sanguine hopes of the
supporters of that measure.

Under the terms of the Traction Ordinance the
Chicago Railways Company, operating the lines on
the North and West Sides, and the Chicago City
Railway Company, operating the South Side lines,
have already expended on the work of rehabilitation
over $43,000,000. The work has all been done and
the contracts let under the supervision of the Board
of Supervising Engineers created by the Ordinance,
and full value obtained for every dollar expended.
In this labor an average of 6000 men have been daily
employed; over 300 miles of new steel, grooved 129-
pound rails have been laid in the most perfect road

bed that could be devised. The right of way of the
companies along the lines has been repaved with new
granite blocks, many hundreds of miles of conduit
laid, and trolley renewed and erected. More than
300 miles of trolley poles have been set back from
the street curb, and twenty-two new buildings and
car barns have been constructed. The Chicago
Railways Company has let contracts for the con-
struction of the La Salle and Washington Street tun-
nels, on which work is now progressing. The Chi-
cago Railways Company has 850 pay-as-you-enter
cars in operation on its lines, while on the North and
West Sides the Chicago Railways Company will
shortly have in service 1 ,000 of these new pay-as-you-
enter cars, and, in addition is remodeling 300 double
truck cars into cars of the latest type. The city of
Chicago receives 55 per cent of the net profits derived
from the operation of these lines, and the patronage
IS rapidly increasing with the improved service.

With the final establishment of the through routes
mapped out in the Traction Ordinance, Chicago's
system of surface transportation will be as perfect as
could be devised under existing conditions. Physical
conditions, such as low subways, lack of bridges, in-
sufficient equipment of connecting roads, etc., have
caused delay in the establishment of most of these
routes, and considerable public disappointment has
been occasioned thereby. It is the belief, however,
of the supervising engineers and traction officials that
all the prescribed through routes will be in operation
within another year.

Great progress is also being made toward the im-
provement of the traction service of the connecting
companies operating outside the territory reached by
the City Railway Company and the Chicago Rail-
ways Company. The former company already has
an agreement with the Calumet and South Chicago
Railway Company under which that road is operated
under the supervision of the City Railway Company.
Similar arrangments will doubtless soon be made be-
tween the Chicago Railways Company and the Con-
solidated Traction Company, operating lines as far
as Evanston on the north and Lyons on the west.
With such arrangements carried into effect the resi-
dents of the outlying districts will enjoy the benefits
of a traction service unsurpassed in the world.

122

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Chicago Railways Company

Remarkable Record in Work
of Rehabilitation

UPON the formal acceptance of the present
Traction Ordinance, January 28, 1908, the
Chicago Railways Company took over the
lines then operated by the Union Traction Company
on the North and West Sides, together with a num-
ber of subordinate lines, comprising a traction system
extending from 26th Street and Fortieth Avenue on
the south and west to Devon Avenue on the north,
and serving a population of 1 ,600,000 people. This
new company is strictly a Chicago company, its
stockholders and directors are Chicagoans, and, with
characteristic Chicago energy, the company set
about the work of complete rehabilitation of its vast
network of lines. The transformation of Chicago's
old street car service, familiarly known as "the worst
in the world," into a modern traction system, "the
best in the world," within the space of two years, is
one of the marvels of modern constructive enterprise.
The Chicago Railways Company has voluntarily
far exceeded the requirements of the Traction Ord-
inance. The best cars and the best track that money
will buy have been provided ; 1 11 miles of modern
steel grooved rails, weighing 1 29 pounds to the yard,
imbedded in concrete, with electrically welded
joints, and costing about $50,000 to the mile, have
been laid. Six hundred and fifty new pay-as-you-

enter cars have been placed in operation on twenty
different lines of this company. Three hundred and
fifty additional cars of the same type are under con-
struction at Pullman, which will soon be ready for
use, and, further, over three hundred double track
cars are being remodelled and converted into cars
of the most modern style. Ten miles of extensions
have been built, and new stations constructed. On
this colossal work an average of 3,000 men have
been daily employed, and already over $22,000,000
have been expended in the undertaking.

The work of betterment, however, has not ceased.
During the past year contracts have been let by the
Chicago Railways Company for the construction
of the La Salle and Washington Street tunnels, and
\sork on them is now progressing. Orders have been
placed by the company for thousands of new forged
steel wheels, which will greatly diminish the noise
and jar of the cars. With the establishment of fur-
ther through routes as soon as operating conditions
will permit, and with the completion of the tunnels,
Chicago will have in every part of the city served by
the Chicago Railways Company as nearly perfect a
system of surface transportation as is physically pos-
sible.

123

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Chicago City Railway Company

Work of Rehabilitation of This Company

Far Exceeds Requirements of

Traction Ordinance

THE Chicago City Railway Company, which
provides surface transportation for the South
Side, was in a position to accept immediately
the Traction Ordinance passed by the City Council
in February, 1907, and the work of rehabilitation
along all its lines was forthwith begun. By the
terms of the Ordinance the company had three years
within which to complete the work of rehabilitation;
the Chicago City Railway Co., however, has not
waited upon the letter of the agreement, but has
pushed the work on its lines to practical completion
far in advance of the time fixed in the Ordinance.

On this work thousands of men have been con-
stantly employed, by day or by night, as conditions
required. By November 1 , 1 909, the City Railway
Co. had replaced old tracks with 109 miles of new
1 29-pound steel grooved rails, had provided the lat-
est and best equipment throughout, and had trans-
formed the old street car service into a modern trac-
tion system without a superior in the world. On this
work of rehabilitation the City Railway Co. has ex-
pended over $19,000,000.

Eight hundred and fifty modern pay-as-you-enter
cars are now in operation over the Imes of this com-
pany, riding over the heavy rails with the ease of a
Pullman coach. Four new car barns with a capacity
of 1 05 1 modern cars have been completed. By the

terms of the Traction Ordinance, the street railway
companies are to keep paved the sixteen feet of their
right of way, and the Chicago City Railway Com-
pany alone, since the passage of the Ordinance, has
laid 520,000 square yards of new granite paving.
The company receives its power from the Common-
wealth Edison Company, and maintains two storage
batteries with sufficient power to operate all its cars
for twenty minutes in case of breakdown.

On December 1 , 1 909, when the time granted the
company by the Traction Ordinance for the work
of rehabilitation had still over four months to run,
the Chicago City Railway Company had completed
98 per cent of the work required by the terms of the
Ordinance.

The company has earnestly endeavored to bring
home to the people the fact that the city of Chicago
is more than an equal partner in the net profits earned
by the company, and to enlist the co-operation of the
public in bringing its service to the highest possible
degree of perfection. That the public appreciates
the unexcelled service afforded by the Chicago City
Railway Company is evidenced by the fact that its
patronage has grown during the past year 1 5 per
cent over that of the year before, and is still rapidly
increasing.

124

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

lyfechanical Cleaning

Bi; G. B. F. Owen

ALF a Century of Chicago" could be no
more "cribbed, cabined and confined"
within the covers of a book than could the
history of the world be compressed within the limits
of a present-day telegram. Hence, in this neces-
sarily brief and rapid retrospect it is only possible to
touch the high spots and much has been omitted that
is well worthy of notice if time and space would
permit.

A moment's consideration will convince us that
the fifty years now closing form an epoch probably
unmatched in history as regards progress and devel-
opment of every kind. Overlapping as it does two
centuries, both remarkable for their discoveries, the
best of both is at our command and it is peculiarly
fitting that this great city, with her marvelous growth
since the days of Fort Dearborn, should present a
record of achievement that will be an inspiration for
all generations and for all time.

Notable among the advances made, is the science
and art of building. From the log cabin of the pio-
neer to the new Chicago City Hall is a far cry but
every step has been the logical and legitimate out-
come of study and experiment by specialists in their
respective lines of endeavor, and who shall say that
we have reached the ultimate? Yet, if human effort
could no further go, we have numerous monuments
to the skill and ability of those who have so bravely
and generously blazed the way. And what a lib-
eral education this has been to those privileged to
see it. Was it not Pericles, the builder and beauti-
fier of Athens, who said, "I found her mud and left
her marble"? Even Moses, the greatest sanitarian of
ancient times, has been passed by modern improve-
ments. Opening a door or window is not now consid-
ered ventilation, nor is the making of a fire on the
ground considered the proper way to heat a build-
ing. Drawing water from a well, or carrying it
from the creek has been entirely superseded, and
even modern water works are equipped with filtra-
tion plants. Daylight is "on tap" by a twist of the
wrist. Cooking is done by gas, and the general
trend of all improvements has been toward simplic-
ity and the saving of time and labor.

One of the more important developments and one
of the latest in this history-making epoch is Mechan-
ical Cleaning. With the advent of larger, more
beautiful, more complex and more expensive build-
ings came the problem of peeping them clean, not so
much from an economic point as to meet the physical
difficulties presented. As the best ideas are fre-
quently of humble origin, so this great industry had
a very modest beginning. It was a railroad car
"hostler," or cleaner who, after spending many
years in the effort to dislodge dust and dirt from
car cushions and other furniture in the ordinary way,
conceived the idea that it might be possible to use
compressed air, which is a common adjunct to every
railroad yard; to blow this dust and dirt from his
cushions instead of beating and brushing them.
Greatly to his surprise the work was much better
done and in much less time. A patent was taken out
in the early 80's, since which time over twelve hun-
dred patents have been allowed, all pertaining to
this great modern industry. For many years after
the issue of this first patent intelligent effort was made
to popularize the subject, but it was not until more
recently that it became a commercially valuable
proposition. A striking evidence of this is the fact
that less than four years ago the architect who would
consider Mechanical Cleaning was a rarity, the opin-
ion seeming to obtain that even the most improved
and scientifically perfected system now known the
world over under the name of "Vacuum Cleaning,"
was a fad, or a toy, or an experiment, or something
for the very wealthy, but not worthy of serious con-
sideration. Today, however, the architect is still
more rare who does not provide for Vacuum Clean-
ing in his plans and specifications for any building,
from a residence to the State Capitol. Following
the development of a crude idea through all the
stages of experiment, elaboration and simplification
into the position it now occupies among the world's
utilities, and which is daily becoming a greater neces-
sity, is a most interesting page of history. As
soon as it was proven a success, capital and brains
vied with each other to participate in the opening of
a new field. As in all such cases an immense variety

125

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

of ideas was put forth and more or less elaborately
and intelligently exploited, until the market became
flooded with everything that could be suggested
from the original system of high efficiency and rapid
operation, adapted to every class of building and ev-
ery character of interior surface and furnishing,
down to the exaggerated hand syringe, which even in
this day of enlightenment is offered to an unsuspect-
ing public.

As no chain can be stronger than its weakest link,
so no Vacuum Cleaning System can be better than
its least efficient part. Such a System properly de-
signed may be said to consist of five distinct ele-
ments, each of which must be scientifically adapted
not only to its own function, but to every other part
of the System. These elements may be considered
as follows:

1 . Vacuum Producer.

2. System of Dust Separation.

3. System of Automatic Control.

4. Vacuum Conduits.

5. Cleaning Tools.

In addition to the structural features above named
there are several vitally important matters that must
not be overlooked, for instance: — Automatic Con-
trol, without which no System today is tolerable.
Until the perfection of this device the engine and
pump were started by the engineer and ran continu-
ously whether sweeping were being done or not, un-
til he stopped them. Vacuum consumes power: —
power costs money, and the only control available
was such as is known as "engine regulation," which
governs its speed to a certain extent, but at no time
shuts off the power completely. Automatic Control
on the other hand enables the operator of the tool at
any distance from the plant to absolutely and auto-
matically open and close the steam supply in exact
proportion to power needed for the actual work
done. In a word, when actually sweeping, power is
used and is automatically supplied, but during any
intervals of inaction, whether momentary or of longer
duration the steam is automatically shut off, while at
the same time a predetermined maximum vacuum
is available at the tool at all times, whether power be
shut off or not. It also preserves a uniform degree of
vacuum per tool regardless of the number of tools
in use, shutting off power in a 6-sweeper plant 5-6
of the time if but one tool be in use, and automatic-

ally supplying power as more tools are added. This
will average a saving in cost of operation of about
50 per cent as aginst the types lacking this important
feature.

Dust separation in many cases is accomplished by
drawing the dust-laden air through a body of water,
or past a spray nozzle. Modern refinement in the
art seems to show that this water separation is both
unnecessary and undesirable; unnecessary, because
dust can be separated and is being separated from
the air without any water whatever; undesirable, be-
cause it takes about one-fourth more vacuum than is
necessary to do perfect cleaning, to pull this dust-
laden air through a body of water, and vacuum costs
money.

Keeping in view the important fact that vacuum
costs money because it requires power, it is easy to
see that every inch of Vacuum Conduit from tool to
tank should be smooth and unobstructed throughout.
This means something better than ordinary pipe fit-
tings, or even than drainage fittings, neither of which
type was primarily intended for vacuum work, and
for this reason special fittings had to be designed and
made for this service.

Cleaning Tools of every conceivable shape and
material have been offered. Many of them seem
totally unfit in design and operation for the work ex-
pected of them. It is really a fine art to differentiate
between the good and the bad in the matter of clean-
ing tools. Experience in this as in most others is the
best, though sometimes most expensive, teacher.

Until recent years mechanical cleaning has never
been accomplished without the use of more or less
cumbersome and costly machinery. Either a vac-
uum pump or an air compressor, operated directly
or by steam or indirectly by electricity, was a part of
every such equipment. These complications, trans-
lations, transmissions and deviations in the use of
power cause losses in all directions, aggregating 80
to 90 per cent. This in itself was very costly. The
machinery and installation were necessarily expen-
sive.

The wear and tear on machinery in the old-style
Vacuum System is very great, especially in the
valves and cylinders of the vacuum pump, where the
entrained dirt-laden air soon cuts the sliding parts
and utterly ruins it. It is safe to say that no old-

126

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

style vacuum cleaning plant in use in any part of the
country has maintained its full efficiency for six
months after installation. The modern System has
neither engine nor pump, and maintains its highest
efficiency indefinitely.

Outside the question of price of plant and main-
tenance comes the cost of operation. The real ques-
tion should be "How much will it cost to operate a
one-sweeper plant one hour?" Or, "How much
coal will be needed to produce a sufficient vacuum
to operate a one-sweeper plant one hour?" (A one-
sweeper plant means a one-man operated plant, and
"Sufficient vacuum" would mean a vacuum of suf-
ficient intensity to operate the largest cleaning tool
properly.) Answering this question would say that
with steam at a hundred pounds pressure the maxi-
mum cost per sweeper hour should not exceed bYz
cents. This, under very ordinary conditions of fuel
cost and boiler performance, will enable a man, wo-
man or boy to sweep and clean four times the surface
ten times better and in a hundred fold more sanitary
manner than is possible with brooms and carpet
sweepers.

By a strange coincidence the year that gave us
the first U. S. Patent on mechanical cleaning de-
vices, also marked the period at which the scientific
world first published the result of its work in tracing
the origin of many infectious diseases, and today it
is a scientifically demonstrated fact that dust is the
most prolific source of disease and death among
mankind. Sweeping with broom or brush and more
particularly the process known as "dusting" gets rid
of only such matter as is large and heavy enough to
be classed as "dirt" while most of the finer and more
dangerous "dust" is merely raised into the air, held
for a time in suspension, and then settles back on
walls, furniture, books and floor.

In-doors dust contains a far larger proportion of
germs than does the air out-of-doors, for the reason
that the large volumes of air out-of-doors, which are
more or less constantly moving, so dilute the germ-
laden air that the actual number of living organisms
in a given volume is on the average very small, while
in a recent test made in a school room in one of our
principal cities, the dust that settled on 100 square
feet of surface was collected and weighed, and the
number of germs or living micro-organisms found

in this amount of dust, 22 100 of an ounce, was thir-
ty-eight and one-quarter millions!

From the original desire to clean car seats evolved
the ability to clean carpets, rugs and upholstery.
Mechanical ingenuity, never willing to stand still,
saw that its sphere must be extended to uncovered
floors, walls, ceilings, draperies, and in fact the
whole interior of a building, and practical tools were
designed for each of these uses, so that the same sys-
tem with an almost instantaneous change of cleaning
tools can perform equally good work on any surface
and in the most inaccessible places, and we find this
great utility has earned its way all over the civilized
world and into practically every class of building
that is kept clean. Its source of power may be al-
most any form of kinetic energy, of which the usual
commercial types are steam, electricity, gasoline, or
even water.

In its development from the work in a railroad car
to that of a large building new problems constantly
presented themselves, and had to be met. This fact,
perhaps more than any other, called forth persistent
effort to adapt the appliance to new conditions, so
that today we have buildings containing one million
square feet of floor space to be cleaned, and there
are tools with which to do it, tools that sweep in both
directions and also at both ends, while sweeping a
swath 36 inches wide and about 4 feet long at each
motion, and 6,000 square feet of floor space an hour
sanitarily and completely cleaned by one man is
neither impossible, nor even unusual. The inevitable
result was that architects, contractors, and owners
became deeply interested in the subject. Inquiries
from all parts of the country became so numerous
and showed such a dearth of tabulated information
as to what should be demanded in a vacuum cleaning
system that a sort of standardization of specifications
became necessary, that the busy architect might have
in his reference library a concise form suggesting the
points to be covered in drawing his plans. So we
see that vacuum cleaning has assumed its place in the
commercial world, not only as a 20th Century neces-
sity, but has evolved into the dignity of an indus-
try with its own specifications, and in this as in many
other lines of endeavor the "I will" spirit of Chicago
has produced results that are the admiration of the
world.

127

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

The Use of Wall Finish

By George T. Goodrow

THE term Wall Finish includes all classes of
water color preparations used for the whiten-
ing, tinting or decorating of walls and ceilings,
the material in common use for such purpose being
kalsomine, distemper colors and the various brands
of prepared wall finishes found on the market.

Wall finish is employed more extensively in the
treatment of interior wall surfaces than wall paper
or any other class of material, for although in the
average dwelling wall paper is still used to a large
extent, almost all office buildings, hotels, churches,
theaters, schools, and large public buildings are
treated throughout with wall finish.

The necessity for frequent refinishing of walls and
ceilings, due to the accumulation of smoke and dirt,
or for the purpose of changing the color to suit dif-
ferent tastes and requirements, or last, but not least,
for the maintaining of strictly sanitary conditions, is
what renders the use of a water color wall finish
more highly desirable for this work than any other
material, for it can, if properly made, be entirely
removed with sponge and water when desired, even
though a number of coats have accumulated, the
walls being thus kept in the most perfect and sanitary
condition with the least possible cost.

It must be borne in mind that no matter what ma-
terial IS applied to walls, be it wall paper, wall finish
or other covering, coat after coat can not be applied
indefinitely without removing the old material. The
time will come when it is desirable, if not necessary,
to get down to the bare walls and take a fresh start,
therefore a material that can be removed with the
least labor and without damage to the wall surface
is the most practical, satisfactory and economical.

From an artistic standpoint as regards interior wall
decorating, the plain solid harmonious tints and col-
ors obtained through the use of wall finish are most
appropriate and desirable. The soft, dead-flat effect
produced gives an air of repose and delicate richness
with which no other treatment compares, and there is
the great advantage of being able to tone up the
shades to harmonize with any furnishings.

Many beautiful interiors are rendered common-
place and vulgar by the application of figured wall

paper to the rooms. Architectural lines are de-
stroyed, and the walls brought into such prominence
that the most elaborate furnishings are often rendered
dull and inconspicuous. The effect is oppressive,
tiresome to the eye and distracting to persons of re-
finement and good taste.

The average household contains a multitude of
furnishings in the way of furniture, pictures, draper-
ies, bric-a-brac, etc., for which the walls form a back-
ground, and this background should be a perfectly
plain harmonious shade if it is desirable to have these
furnishings show up to the best advantage. If any
ornamentation is desired it should be brought in at the
ceiling line, in the form of a stenciled or hand painted
border or frieze, but a cove or room moulding suit-
ably colored is generally sufficient.

That the above facts are becoming known to the
householder, and the many advantages of wall finish
over other decorative materials more generally appre-
ciated by the public, is evidenced by the rapidly in-
creasing use of this material, as indicated by the
government statistics covering its manufacture. Ar-
chitects, superintendents of public and private insti-
tutions, school boards and sanitary officials indorse
its use and specify some reliable brand of wall finish
for work in their charge.

The leading brands of wall finish in the market
can be obtained in any shade required, and are far
more reliable and satisfactory in service than the old
style kalsomine made from whiting, common dry
colors and glue, as the binding ingredients used are
more permanent and are adjusted to just the right
point so that chalking and peeling never occurs;
also, the colors being made expressly for water color
work and thoroughly milled together with the white
base, are free from grit or sediment, resulting in su-
perior working and covering properties, freedom from
spotting or clouding, and give greater clearness of
tone and permanency.

These advantages, however, apply only to the
better class of wall finishes, that require boiling
water for mixing, the finishes soluble in cold water
having been found lacking in the most essential
features.

128

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Electric Protection in IVIodern Bank,
Safe and Vault Construction

IN view of the large number of new bank and trust
company buildmgs recently completed, or in
course of construction, special interest attaches
to the prevailing systems employed in safe and vault
construction. The Baltimore conflagration, the San
Francisco earthquake and other recent disasters have
served to exhibit the durable and surviving qualities
of modern safe and vault construction in contending
against the elements. The most scientific methods
and most patient labor has been bestowed by safe and
vault constructors and experts upon the subject of
resisting the clever tactics of the professional safe
burglar.

The attention of bank and trust company officials,
interested in modern safe construction, has been di-
rected of late to the successful achievement credited
to a Chicago company. The American Trust and
Savings Bank of Chicago adopted this system of
electric protection which has thus far withstood the
severe tests of government officials and has proven
itself to be invulnerable against attack. Before in-
stalling a system of safe and vault construction the
American Trust and Savings Bank employed engi-
neers to investigate the subject and finally adopted
the electric protective system devised by James W.
Donnell, president of the Donnell Safe Company.

Trust companies are among the foremost to en-
courage and accept improvements in safe and vault
construction because of the large sums of money,
negotiable instruments, bonds and securities and
valuables held in trust. Moreover, the average bank
or trust company official prefers to leave the bank
knowing that his institution is equipped with the most
advanced and proved system of safe construction.

The report of J. G. Carlisle, as secretary of the
U. S. Treasury Department, which was published
September 29, 1893, in book form, showing how
easily safes were blown by explosives, made quite a
stir among bankers, as well as safe men. It led to a
new construction of burglar-proof vaults and safes
by the making of heavy solid plates of armor metal
and also casting safes made of manganese metal and

also constructing vaults of steel rails, laid up in con-
crete, and also steel and electric linings.

Most of the safe manufacturers having only the
machinery for constructing old style laminated plates
paid but very little attention to it, as the book was
not generally distributed among bankers and the
public. However, the parties making their safes out
of solid castings and those using the laminated plates
had them blown in a short time. Burglars also reaped
a harvest by opening this class of laminated construc-
tion.

A few years ago the Government's attention was
called to the easy manner by which both the lam-
inated plate safes and solid casting safes could be
opened in a few minutes by the electric arc or com-
pound blow pipes. Holes were put through 6 inches
of metal in less than one-half hour. This led to a
further investigation by the Government and their
engineer made the following report :

First: That the best types of safes or vaults are
not invulnerable to the attacks of the expert burglar.

Second : That the ordinary or obsolete types of
safes or vaults, constructed relatively a few years
ago, are not invulnerable to the attacks of the tyro
or amateur burglar.

Third : That if, by any combination of circum-
stances, sufficient opportunity be afforded the expert
cracksmen, any safe or vault can be opened.

Fourth: That a satisfactory form of electric
protection is both obtainable and desirable for all
safes and vaults wherever applicable, and constitutes
a form of protection superior to that afforded by the
construction of the safes and vaults themselves.

In 1893 Jas. W. Donnell of Chicago, who is an
old safe expert, became convinced that any safe
made of either laminated plates of steel or solid cast-
ing steel could not stand the test of burglars for one-
half the time they had to work. His experience with
the electric arc and compound blow-pipe made it
very evident that the security afforded by any of them
was but for a few hours' time and some of them for
a fc\v minutes' time. This led to a new departure

129

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

in the construction of burglar work, which has proven
successful and is endorsed by both electrical experts
and engineers throughout the country.

This construction consists of steel rails fastened in
solid steel corners so shaped as to take the form of
the rail in snugly. Between the head of the rails
there is a steel rod held in position by a steel key
block in such a manner that it makes it impossible to
pull the rails apart unless the heads of the rails are
sheared off. This steel key bar and lugs extend all
around the vault on top, bottom, sides, front and back.
On the inside of this rail lining there is a steel lining
composed of two plates of steel. Between these
two plates there are placed electric envelopes, made
of four layers of tin foil, each insulated and separate
from the others. These electric envelopes are con-
nected up in series throughout the vault and are
thoroughly insulated. On the outside of the vault
lining there is a housed alarm box electrically lined
same as the vault. This alarm box contains two
large 1 8-inch steel gongs, which notify the public
of any tampering with the system for a great distance
around. It is impossible to tamper with these bells
without creating an alarm. This electric system is
also connected by wires to the police station so that

if an alarm is given at the bank the police will be noti-
fied at the same time. This system is under full con-
trol of the officers of the bank and works automat-
ically, governed by a chronometric time lock for the
number of hours it is desired to be locked out. This
system at all times can be tested, and the vault
entrance can also be made to connect with the electric
system. The doors cannot be opened without an
alarm being sounded. These doors are also made
of heavy construction, and the plates of the door are
insulated so that they cannot be drilled with the
electric arc.

These doors have double the security of any solid
door, and are sold subject to a test of this character.
The rails of the vault are placed two inches from
the inside lining. The outer walls are made of
concrete and quartz, thus imbedding the rails in a
solid concrete wall in a manner that they are safe
against explosives and the electric arc, or other appli-
ances now known to burglars.

The security these rails afford is thoroughly recog-
nized by the bankers of Chicago, as they have put in
over eighteen of them within the past two years.
They are not as expensive as the old laminated and
solid plates are, but afford more security.

130

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

The Wonderful Durability of
Wood Paving

THE bulletin issued by the Forest Service in the
U. S. Department of Agriculture cites the
following instances of the great durability of
creosoted wood block pavements.

The first two were U. S. Wood Blocks laid by
this Company and the blocks in the third instance
were very similar to ours.

"In Baltimore, Md., in the summer of 1901,
there were laid several adjacent strips of experi-
mental pavements, including sheet asphalt, creosoted
wood, and several kinds of brick. After five years'
service, and after passing through the great fire, the
wood was in better condition than any of the others.

"In 1902 the Metropolitan Street Railway Com-
pany, of New York City, decided to experiment
with creosoted wooden blocks for paving between its
tracks. A small area of longleaf pine was laid on
Hudson Street, the wood being flanked at either end
by granite, the material hitherto used. At the point
selected there is a very heavy trucking traffic from

the North River wharves, and the stresses on the
pavement, where the trucks run with one wheel just
outside the car rail, are so great that the granite
begins to show a rut in six months, and is renewed
almost annually. At the end of four years the
wood, though showing a heavy rut, was still sound
and in position and good for at least one more year.
The granite on either side had been renewed three
times during the four years.

"In front of the Auditorium Hotel, on Michigan
Avenue, Chicago, is a creosoted longleaf pine pave-
ment, laid in the year 1900. Adjoining it an area
of asphalt block was laid at the same time. In 1905
the asphalt blocks were removed and replaced with
wood. In the five years the asphalt had worn down
on an average one inch, but very unevenly, so that
ruts had formed and the blocks were badly rounded.
The wooden blocks during this time had worn off
only one-eighth of an inch, and the surface, except
for a badly constructed gutter at one point, was still
perfectly smooth and of even grade."

Z\ m C

The IMetal Weather Strip

THERE is perhaps no problem so annoying to
the householder as that of windows and doors
with their manifold difficulties, and in order
to overcome it the metal weather-strip has been a
serious study for over twenty years and numerous
complicated styles have been patented, but were gen-
erally pronounced unsatisfactory. Within the past
five or six years more simple and practical metal
strips have been patented and are extensively used
and the results are decidedly successful. They are
gradually superseding the storm sash which in a few
years will be considered antiquated.

French and casement windows, so commonly in-
stalled in residences at the present time, have been a
source of worry to Architects and Owners until the
modern metal weather-strips have made them air-
tight and water-proof.

Formerly the greatest drawback to metal strips
was that it was necessary to install them before the
building was completed or remove the sash in com-
pleted buildings to apply them, but no\v the windows
and stops can be in place and the metal strips fitted
without removing the sash; furthermore, some of
the patents are made of a material that makes no
allowance for contraction and expansion of the sash
as the modern strip does. In addition to being
weather-proof the latest strip is a dust shield as well
as a window-slide.

Lack of space will not permit of the enumeration
of all the articles that can be improved by the appli-
cation of the metal strip. We will mention a few
besides windows and doors: refrigerators, book-
cases, show-cases, show windows, clothes closets, in
fact any articles, or openings closed by a window or
door, which are to be kept air-tight or dust-proof.

1.^1

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

BUILDING
ORDINANCES

of the

City of Chicago

As contained in Chapter X\^ of the revised Municipal Code

of Chicatro (passed March 20, 1905, pubhshed April

15, 1905), together with all amendments

up to and includinor July 18, 1910

\^^

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ARTICI.l': I.
OFFICKRS— I'OWKHS AND 1)L TIKS.

Section 199. Department of Buildings Established — Officers.
— There is hereby establislied an executive department of the
municipal government of the city, which shall he known as
the Department of BuiUlings, and shall embrace a Conunis-
sioner of Buildings, a Deputy Commissioner of Ruilthngs. an
Assistant Deputy Conunissioner of Buildings, a Civil Engi-
neer, a Secretary to the Commissioner, a Cliief Building
Inspector, and such Inspectors of Elevators, Inspectors of
Stand Pipes and Fire Escapes, and Inspectors of Buildings,
and sucli other assistants and employes as the City Coiuicil
may by ordinance provide.

Sec. 200. Buitdins Commissioner — Office Created — .lr>t<oint-
nieiit — Bond. — There is liereby created tlie office of Commis-
sioner of Buihhngs. He shall be the head of said Departnuiu
of Buildings, and shall be an experienced .ircliitecl, civil
engineer, builder, or competent building mechanic, and sliall
have been engaged in the city as an architect, civil engineer,
builder or building mechanic for a period of ten years, and
during his term of office as Conunissioncr of Buildings, he
shall not be engaged in any other business.

He shall be appointed by the Mayor, by and willi llu- .idvice
and consent of the City Council.

The Commissioner of Buildings, befure enlering upon llic
duties of his office, sliall exeeule a liond to the City in the
sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, with such sureties as
the City Council shall approve, conditioned for the faithful
performance of his duties as the Conimissoiner of Buildings.

As amended by ordinance Feb. 3, 1908.

Sec. 201. Powers — Appointment of Subordinates — Bonds —
Duties of Commissioner. — He shall have the management and
control of all matters and things pertaining to the Depart-
ment of Buildings, and shall appoint, according to law, all
subordinate officers and assistants in his department and may
remove them according to law. All subordinate ofticers,
assistants, clerks and employes in said Department shall be
subject to such rules and regulations as shall bo prescribed
from time to time by said Commissioner.

It shall be the duty of said Commissioner to enforce all
ordinances relating to the erection, construction, alteration.
repair, removal or the safety "f buildings.

Sec. 202. Precautions in Hrluilf of Public Safely— .May
Require Repair or Alteration in Such Cases. — .Amended by
ordinance Feb. 3, 1908, to read as follows :

It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Buildings, when
any citizen represents that ashes or combustible materials
are kept in any place in the City in an insecure manner, or
that the doors, stairways, corridors, exits, or fire escapes in
any factory or workshop or other place of employment are
insufficient for the escape of employes in case of fire, panic,
or accident, or do not comply with the provisions of this
chapter or that the funnels, flues, fire boxes, or heating ap-
paratus in any building in the City are insecure or dangerous,
or that any part of any building in the City is in an unsafe
or dangerous condition, or in ,iny wise in contravention of
this chapter, to make an e\amin,ilion of such pl.ue or build-

ing, and if such representation is found to be true, said Com-
missioner shall give notice in writing to the owner, occupant,
lessee or person in possession, charge or control of such
place or building to make such changes, alterations or repairs
■IS public safety or the ordinance of the City may require.

L'pon failure of parties so notified to comply with said
notice, the matter shall be placed in the Law Department for
prosecution.

Sec. 203. .Iccess to all Buildings for the purpose of Investi-
gating Complaints— Interpretation of this Chapter.— .\mcr\AQA
by ordinance Feb. 3, 1908, to read as follows :

The Commissioner of Buildings, or his representatives, shall
have access to all public school buildings, public halls,
churches, theaters, and all buildings used either for manu-
facturing or commercial purposes, also all hotels, apartment
bouses and other buildings occupied by large mimbers of
peoi)le, where any complaint is made concerning the safety
of such buildings, or any parts or appliances or equipment
thereof: for the purpose of investigating and determining the
sufficiency of their doors, passageways, aisles, stairways, cor-
ridors, exits, or lire escapes, and generally their facilities for
egress in case of fire or other accident, and the strength of
their floors, and shall make return of all violations of several
provisions of this chapter to the Law Department for prose-
cution.

The Commissioner of Buildings shall have full ])ower to
pass upon any i|uestion arising under the provision of lliis
chapter subject to llu- cniulilions, modifications and Hniitalinus
contained therein.

See. 2(14. Inspection of l-.levators — Poz^'crs to Stop Use of
Same. — The Conunissioncr of Buildings shall have power to
prohibit and stop the use of any passenger or freight elevator
when any Inspector of Elevators shall report to him that
such elevator or the hoistway in which it is used is in a
dangerous or unsafe condition. Such prohibition of use shall
continue in force until such hoistway or elevator, or both,
shall have been put in a safe condition, and certified to be
safe after a proper inspection thereof by the Inspector of
I-:ievalors.

Sec. 205. Buildings Juiund in I'nsafe Condition — .\otice to
Owner — Authority of Commissioner. — If the Commissioner of
Buildings shall lind in the city any building or structure or
part thereof in such an unsafe condition as to endanger life,
)int so that, by the immedi;ile .ipplication of precautionary
measures such danger m.iy be averted, he shall have authority,
and it shall be his duty to forthwith notify in writing, the
owner, agent, or person in possession, charge or control of
such building or structure or part thereof to adopt and put
iiUo eflfect such precautionary measures as may be necessary
or advisable in order to place such Iniilding or structure or
jiart thereof in a safe condition. Such notice shall state briefly
the nature of the work required to be done, and said Com-
missioner shall specify in such notice a time within wdiich the
work required to be done shall be completed by the person
notified, such time to be fixed by said Commissioner upon
taking into consideration the condition of such building or
structure, or part thereof, and the danger to life or property
which m.iv result from its uns;ifr condition.

\y?

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

If the owner, agent or person in possession, cliarge or
control of such building or structure, or part thereof, when
so notified, shall fail, neglect or refuse to place such building
or structure, or part thereof, in a safe condition, and to adopt
such precautionary measures as shall have been specified by
said Commissioner within the time specified in such notice.
in such case, at the expiration of such time, it shall be the
duty of said Commissioner to proceed forthwith to do, or
cause to be done, any and all work necessary to place such
building or structure, or part thereof, in a safe condition.

If the said Commissioner shall be unable to find the owner
of such building, structure, or part thereof, or any agent or
person in possession, charge or control thereof, upon whom
such notice may be served, he shall place or cause to be
placed the notice herein provided for, upon such building at
or near its principal entrance, and if, at the expiration of
the time specified in such notice for the completion of the
work required to be done the terms of such notice shall not
have been complied with, it shall be tlie duty of the Com-
missioner to thereupon proceed and do such work in the
same manner as has hereinbefore been provided in cases of
refusal, neglect or failure on the part of the owner, agent
or person in possession, charge or control of any such build-
ing, structure or part thereof, when so notified.

If, in accordance with the provisions of this section, the
work of placing any building, structure, or part thereof in a-
safe condition shall devolve upon the said commissioner, and
it shall appear that such bviilding. structure or part thereof
is in such a condition as not to warrant the expenditure
thereon of a sufficient sum of money to make such repairs
or to do such work as is necessary to put it in a safe condi-
tion, the said Commissioner shall have authority to tear down
or destroy such building or structure or part thereof, and the
expense of tearing down and destroying any such building or
structure or part thereof, and the expense of making any
repairs or doing any work thereon shall be charged to the
person owning or in possession, charge or control of sucli
building or structure or part thereof, and the Commissioner
shall recover or cause to be recovered from such owner or
person in possession, cliarge or control the cost to tlie city
of doing such work.

Sec. 206. Btiildiiig or Part of Building Constniclcd in
Violation of Chapter — Authority of Commissioner to Tear
Doivn. — If it shall be found that any building or structure or
part thereof is being or shall have been constructed or built
in violation of any of the pi-ovisions of this chapter, the
Commissioner of Buildings shall forthwith notify the owner,
agent, superintendent or achitect of. or the contractor engaged
in erecting such building or structure, or part thereof, of the
fact that such building or structure, or part thereof, has been,
or is being, constructed or erected contrary to the provisions
of this chapter, and shall specify briefly in such notice in
what manner the provisions of this chapter, or any of them,
have been violated, and shall require the person so notified
to forthwith make such building, structure, or part thereof.
conform to and comply with the provisions of this chapter,
specifying in such notice the time within which such work
shall be done.

If, at the expiration of the time set forth in such notice,
the person so notified shall have refused, neglected or failed
to comply with the request made in such notice and tn have
such building or structure, or part thereof, concerning which
notice was sent, changed so as to conform to and comply
with the provisions of this chapter, the Commissioner of
Buildings shall have the authority, and it shall be his duty,
to proceed forthwith to tear down or cause to be torn down

such building or structure, or such part thereof as shall or
may have been erected and constructed in violation of the
provisions or any of the provisions of this chapter, and the
cost of such work shall be charged to and recovered from
the owner of such building or structure or from the person
for whom such building or structure is being erected.

Sec. 207. May Direct Fire Department to Remove. — The
Commissioner of Buildings shall also have authority to direct
the Fire Department, after written notice has been served
upon the owner, lessee, occupant, agent or person in posses-
sion, charge or control, personally, to tear down any defective
or dangerous wall or any building or any part thereof which
may be constructed in violation of the terms of this chapter.
In case of the destruction, or partial destruction, of buildings
by fire or by the action of the elements, when any department
of the city government, pursuant to the ordinances of the
city, shall make any outlay of money or incur any liability
for the payment of any expense on behalf of the city in an
effort to preserve or prevent the destruction of any such
building or liuildings. or for the preservation of the life or
health of its citizens, it shall be the duty of the Commissioner
of Buildings to ascertain the amount of such outlay or ex-
penditure and present a bill therefor to the owner or owners
of any such building or buildings, or his or their agent or
agents, and it shall be the duty of the said Commissioner of
Buildings to refuse to issue a permit for the reconstruction,
alteration or repair of any such building or buildings by such
owner or owners until such outlay or expenditure shall be
repaid to the city by the owner or owners of such building
or buildings so totally or partially destroyed in the manner
aforesaid. Said Commissioner shall also proceed forthwitli
to collect from such owner or owners, by appropriate pro-
ceedings, the amount of such bill.

Sec. 208. .!/<(;' Make Rules for Construetion of Buildings
and Control of Employes. — The Commissioner of Buildings
shall institute such measures and prescribe such rules and
regulations for the control and guidance of his subordinate
officers and employes as shall secure the careful inspection of
all buildings while in process of construction, alteration, repair
or removal and the strict enforcement of the several pro-
visions of this chapter.

Sec. 209. .May Stop Construetion and Wrecking of Build-
ings. — Amended by ordinance Dec. 11. 1905, to read as fol-
lows :

Said Connnissioner shall have power to stop the construc-
tion of any building or the making of any alterations or
repairs of any building within said city when the same is
being done in a reckless or careless manner or in violation
of any ordinance, and to order, in writing, or by parole, any
and all persons in any way or manner whatever engaged in
so constructing, altering or repairing any such building, to
stop and desist therefrom.

And the said Commissioner shall have power to stop the
wrecking or tearing down of any building or structure within
said city when the same is being done in a reckless or careless
manner or in violation of any ordinance or in such a manner
as to endanger life or property, and to order any and all
persons engaged in said work to stop and desist therefrom.
When such work has been stopped by the order of said Com-
missioner, it shall not be resumed until said Commissioner
shall be satisfied that adequate precautions will be taken for
the protection of life and property, and that said work will
be prosecuted carefully and in conformity with the ordinances
of the city.

136

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

(TIk' pcn.-iltiis prcvcriWi-d by Section 73H. for violiilions,
shall apply with fi|iial forci' and i-ff>ot lo violations of this
section. )

Sec. ill). .Irhilrolioii .//>/>€•«/ from Di-cisioii.—]n cases
where discretionary power to estimate damage to frame build
ings is given the Commissioner of Buildings, as also in ques-
tions relating to the security or insecurity of any building
or buildings, or parts thereof, and in all other cases where
discretionary powers are, by ordinance, given to the Com-
missioner of Buildings, an appeal to arbitration shall be
allowed to parties believing themselves injured or wronged
by the decisions of the Commissioner of Buildings, as follows,
to-wit :

Sec. 211. .l/>/ii'ii/ — Limit of Time Of. — .\ny person wisliiuK
lo make such appeal shall do so within live days after written
notice of the decision or order of the Commissioner of Build-
ings has been given him. .An appeal made later than live
days after the serving of the notice of the Commissioner of
Buildings shall not entille llu- appellant to an arbitration.
The request for arbitration shall be in writing and shall state
the object of the proposed arbitratii>n and tlie name of the
person who is to represent the appell.int as aibitr.ilor.

See. 212. .Il>fi\il — Cost Of. — The Commissioner of Build-
ings shall thereupon state lo the appellant the cost of such
•irbitration, and such appellant shall, within twenty-four hours
from the time of tiling the original request for arbitration,
ileposit with the Comiuissioner of Buildings the sum of
money require<l for defraying the expenses of the same, which
sum shall in each case be lixed by said Conmiissioner in
proportion to Ihe difliculty anil importance of the case, but
shall in no case be more than the cost of similar service in
the course of ordinary business of private individuals or
corporations. As soon as such sum of money shall have Ikcti
deposited with him the Commissioner of Buildings sliall
appoint an arbitrator to represent the city, and the two arbi-
trators thus appointed shall, if they cannot agree, select ;i
third arbitrator, and Ihe decision of any two of these arbi-
trators shall, after investigation of the matter in question, be
linal and binding on the appellant as well as upon the city.

Sec. 213. Arbitrators to Take Oath — Power to E.vaiiiiiie
H'iliiesses. — The arbitrators shall themselves, before entering
upon the <lischarge of their duties, be placed under oath to
the effect that they are unprejudiced as to the matter in
question and that they will faithfully discharge Ihe duties
of their position. They shall have the power to call witnesses
and place them under oath, and their decision or award shall
be rendered in writing both to the Commissioner of Buildings
and to the appellant from his decision. The fee deposited
by the appellant with the Commissioner of Buildings shall be
paid by the Cotmnissioner of Buildings to the arbitrators
upon the rendering of their report, and shall be in full of
all costs incident to the arbitration : but should Ihe decision
of said board of arbitration be rendered against the Com-
inissioner of Buildings, then the money deposited 1)y the
aforesaid appellant shall be returned to him, and the eiuire
cost of such arbitration shall be paid by the city.

Sec. 214. In Irf^eiit Case.'! — Comiiiissioiier's I'ozuer Final. —
Whenever Ihe decision of the Commissioner of Buildings
upon the safely of any building or any part thereof is made
in a case so urgent that failure lo properly carry out his
orders to demolish or strengthen such building or pari thereof
may endanger life and limb, Ihe decision and order of the
Commissioner of Buildings shall he absolute and final.

Sec. 215. Piily of I'oliee to .IssisI Commissioner in Enfore-
ina Provisions of This Chapter. — Whenever it shall be neces-
sary, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Buildings, lo call
upon the Department of Police for aid or assistance in carry-
ing out or enforcing any of the provisions of this chapter,
he shall have Ihe authority so to do, and it shall be Ihe duty
of ihc Department of Police, or of any member of said
Department, when called upon by said Conmiissioner, to act
according lo the instructions of, and to perform such duties
as may be required by. said Conmiissioner in order to enforce
or put into effect the provisions of this chapter.

Sec. 216. Cerlijieates— Notices— Register.— Thi: Commis-
sioner of Buildings shall sign or cause to be signed all cer-
lilicales and notices required to lie issued from said Depart-
ment, and keep a record of the same, and issue or cause to
be issued all permits authorized herein, lie shall also keep
in proper books for that purpose a register of all transactions
of the Department of Buildings, which such books shall he
open to the inspection of the Mayor. Comptroller, Superin-
tendent of Police. I'ire Marshal and nienibers of the City
Council at all times.

Sec. 217. Musi Keep .-lecount of fees I'aiil — Annual Re-
ports and Estimates.— Said Commissioner shall keep, in proper
books for that purpose, an accurate account of all fees paid,
,^'iving the name of the person paying same, date of payment
and amount of each such fee. He shall also annually on or
liefore the first day of February, in each year, prepare and
])rescnt to the City Council a report showing the receipts and
expenditures and entire work of his Department during the
previous fiscal year, and lie shall at the same time send to
the Comptroller a full and comprehensive statement of all
matters pertaining to his Department, together with an esti-
mate in detail of the appropriations nqiiirid by the Dcpart-
nuiu clnrins; tlie current fiscal year.

Sec. 218. Deputy Commissioner of liuiUtnitis. — Ibert: is
hereby created the office of Deputy Commissioner of Build-
ings. He shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Build-
ings according to law. Whenever the Commissioner of Build-
ings shall make requisition upon the Civil Service Commission
of the city for a person to fill the oflice of Deputy Commis-
sioner of Buildings, he shall notify the Civil Service Com-
mission that the person certified to fill said office should be
a competent civil engineer, architect or builder.

Sec. 219. Duties — /?(>»</.— Said Deputy Commissioner shall
pass upon all questions relating to the strength and durability
of buildings: shall examine and approve all plans before a
Imilding permit is issued for the construction of any building
or structure ; .shall supervise and have charge of all books
and records and the various Inspectors employed in the De-
partment of Buildings; shall receive, examine and file all
reports made by them, and shall, under the direction and
supervision of the Commissioner of Buildings, assign to such
Inspectors the work they are to perform. He shall have a
book or books in which shall be recorded the location and
character of every building for which a permit is issued, and
a copy of every report of inspection made for such building,
so arranged that the full history of the various inspections of
Ihe building shall appear therein in consecutive order, with
the name of each Inspector making the inspection thereof
and the date of his report. He shall cause lo be kept a
record of all complaints of violations of the building ordi-
nances, shall report the same to the Commissioner of Build-
ings, and shall cause all such complaints to be investigated.
He shall act as Commissioner of Buildings in the absence of

1,^;

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

the Commissioner of Buildings from his office, and while so
acting shall discharge all the duties and possess all the powers
invested in or imposed upon the Commissioner of Buildings.
He shall before entering upon the duties of his office
execute a bond to the city in the sum of ten thousand
($10,000) dollars, with such sureties as the City Council shall
approve, conditioned for the faithful performance of the
duties of his office.

Sec. 220. Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Buildings —
Bond. — There is hereby created the office of Assistant Deputy
Commissioner of Buildings. He shall be appointed by the
Commissioner of Buildings according to law. Whenever the
Commissioner of Buildings shall make requisition upon the
Civil Service Commission of the city for a person to fill the
office of Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Buildings, he
shall notify the Civil Service Commission that the person
certified to fill said office should be a competent civil engi-
neer, architect or builder.

The Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Buildings shall,
under the direction of the Commissioner of Buildings or the
Deputy Commissioner of Buildings, assist and aid the Deputy
Commissioner in the performance of his duties.

The Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Buildings, before
entering upon his duties of his office, shall execute a bond
to the city in the sum of five thousand ($5,000) dollars, with
such sureties as the City Council shall approve, conditioned
for the faithful performance of the duties of his office.

Sec. 221. Secretary — Duties. — The Commissioner of Build-
ings shall appoint a Secretary, according to law, whose duty
it shall be to preserve and keep, under the supervision and
direction of the Deputy Commissioner of Buildings, all books,
records and papers belonging to said office or which are
required by law to be filed therein. The Secretary shall
deliver to the City Council and to the respective departments
all communications from said Commissioner, in writing, and
perform such services as may be required by said Commis-
sioner or Deputy Commissioner of Buildings.

Sec. 222. Chief Building Inspector — Bond. — There is hereby
created the office of Chief Building Inspector. He shall be
appointed by the Commissioner of Buildings according to
law. Whenever the Commissioner of Buildings shall make
requisition upon the Civil Service Commission of the city
for a person to fill the office of Chief Building Inspector he
shall notify the Civil Service Commission that the person
certified to fill said office should be a competent civil engineer,
architect or builder.

The Chief Building Inspector shall, under the direction of
the Commissioner of Buildings, inspect and examine special
cases of violations of the provisions of this chapter, dam-
ages to buildings by fire, the elements or accident of any kind
whatsoever, and shall perform such other duties as may be
required by the Commissioner of Buildings or the Deputy
Commissioner of Buildings. The Chief Building Inspector,
before entering upon the duties of his office, shall execute a
bond to the city in the sum of five thousand ($5,000) dollars,
with such sureties as the City Council shall approve, condi-
tioned for the faithful performance of the duties of his
office.

Sec. 223. Inspectors — Xot to Engage in Business. — The In-
spectors of Buildings, after their appointment to office, shall
not be engaged in any other business or vocation.

Sec. 224. Inspectors — Duties — Reports — Ho7i.' Made. — The
said Inspectors shall under the direction of the Commissioner

of Buildings, examine all buildings in the course of erection,
alteration, repair or removal throughout the city at least once
a week, or as often as may be required for securing efficient
supervision, and shall make written reports to said Coinmis-
sioner as to all violations of any ordinance of the city which
the Department of Buildings is required to enforce, together
with the street and number where such violations are found,
the names of the owner, agent, or lessee, or occupant thereof,
and of the architect, contractor and master mechanic, engaged
in or about the construction of such building, and all other
matters relative thereto as far as they can ascertain them.

Inspectors of Buildings shall file daily reports of their work
of inspection, which shall be entered in the books to be kept
for that purpose, and which shall be open to official inspection
at all times.

Sec. 225. Inspection— Record Of—Hozv Made.— The said
Inspectors shall examine all buildings and walls reported
dangerous or damaged by fire or accident and make a record
of such examinations, with the name of the street and num-
ber of the building and of the names of the owner, agent,
lessee and occupant thereof.

Sec. 226. Alteration, Enlargement or Raising — Inspection
Of — Other Duties. — The Inspectors of Buildings shall examine
all buildings for which an application to raise, enlarge or
alter has been made, and shall make a written report upon
the condition of the same to the Commissioner of Buildings
before the permit is granted. Said Inspectors shall perform
such other duties as luay be required of them by said Com-
missioner of Buildings, the rules and regulations of the
Department of Buildings, or the ordinances of the city.

Sec. 227. Powers — Other. — The Commissioner and Deputy
Commissioner of Buildings, as well as the Inspectors of
Buildings and of Elevators, are empowered to enter any
building, whetlier completed or in process of erection for
the purpose of determining whether the same has been or is
being constructed in accordance with the terms of this chap-
ter, and it shall not be lawful to exclude them from such
buildings.

Sec. 228. Elevator Inspectors — Xot to Engage in Business
— Duties. — The Inspectors of Elevators shall not, after their
appointment to office, be emploj'ed or engaged in any other
business or vocation.

The Inspectors of Elevators shall perform such duties as
may be required of them by the Commissioner of Buildings,
the rules and regulations of the Department of Buildings or
the ordinances of the city.

ARTICLE II.
PERMITS, PLANS AND FEES.

Sec. 229. Permits — When Required — Limitations of Time
For. — Amended by ordinance Feb. 26. 1906, to read as fol-
lows :

Before proceeding with the erection, enlargement, alteration,
repair or removal of any building in the city, a permit for
such erection, enlargement, alteration, repair or removal shall
first be obtained by the owner or his agent from the Com-
missioner of Buildings, and it shall be unlawful to proceed
with the erection, enlargement, alteration, repair, or removal
of any building or of any structural part thereof within the
city unless such permit shall first have been obtained from
the Commissioner of Buildings. And, if after such permit
shall have been granted, the operations called for by the said
permit shall not be begun within six months after the date

138

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

tlicrcof, or if such operations aro not coinpktctl witliiii a
rcasoiiahle time, then such permit shall be void, and no
operations thereunder shall be begun or completed until a
new permit shall be taken out by the owner or his agent, and
fees as herein fixed for the original permit shall be paid for
such new permit.

Sec. 2X). .It<ti"~-"l of AnhUccIs /'Aiii.t.— .Xmended by
ordinance Feb. 26. 1906. to read as follows :

In all cases where a licensed architect shall have completed.
signed and afhxed bis seal to plans, drawings or specilications
for any building designed to be erected witliin the corporate
limits of the city, or any structural part thereof, for which
a building permit must be procured before the same may be
erected, the architect making such plans, drawings, or speci-
lications, shall submit same to the Commissioner of Huildings
for examination and approval; and, if the same shall comply
with the i)rovisions of this chapter the .said Conmiissioncr
shall stamp such plans, drawings or specilications in such a
manner as to indicate that same have been examined and
approved, and the date of such approval, and such stamp
shall be preliminary to the final stamp hereinafter provided
for.

Said preliminary stamp shall be so .ifiixed liefore any
contnct or contracts shall be entered into on behalf of said
owner in regard to the construction of said building or
buildings on the part of .said .architect or other person or
persons.

Sec. 231. Pcniiits—.ttHi'iilioii l-or—Ho:c Madc—Hoz^' Re-
corded — Slaiiit>cd Plans — Hozi' Cared For — Return of Same. —
.Aiuended by ordinance Feb. 26, 1506, to read as follows :

-Application for such permits shall be made liy tlie mvncr
or his agent to the Commissioner of Buildings. When sucli
application is made, plans and specifications in conformity
with the provisions of this chapter, which have been exam-
ined and approved by said Connnissioner as hereinbefore
provided for, shall be filed with the Commissioner of Build-
ings, who shall then issue a permit and shall file sucli appli-
cation, and shall apply to such plans and specifications a final
official stamp, stating that the drawings and specifications to
which the same have been applied comply with the terms of
this chapter. The plans and specifications so stamped shall
then be returned to such applicant. True copies of so much
of such plans and specifications as may be required in the
opinion of the Commissioner of Buildings to illustrate the
features of construction and equipment of the building re-
ferred to, shall be filed with the Commissioner of Buildings
and shall remain on file in his office until the completion or
occupation of such building, after which such drawings and
specifications shall be returned by the Cotnmissioner of Build-
ings to the person by whom they have been deposited with
him upon demand. It shall not be obligatory upon the Com-
missioner of Buildings to retain such drawings in bis custody
for more than three months after the completion or occupa-
tion of the building to which they relate.

Sec. 232. Plans — lissenlials Of. — .Ml such plans ;ind draw-
ings shall be drawn to a scale of not less than one-eighth
of an inch to the foot, on paper or cloth, in ink, or by some
process that will not fade or obliterate. .Ml distances and
dimensions shall be accurately figured, and drawings made
explicit and complete, showing the entire sewerage and drain
pipes and location of all plumbing fixtures within such build-
ing. Each set of plans presented shall be accompanied by a
set of specifications describing all materials to he used in
the proposed building, and both the plans and specifications

shall be approved by the Cuinmissioner of Buildings before
a pertuit will be granted. No permit shall be granted or
plans approved unless such plans shall be signed and sealed
by a licensed architect, as provided in ".An act to provide for
the licensing of architects and regulating the practice of
architecture as a i)rofession in the State of Illinois," approved
Jiuie 3. 1897, provided, that permits may be granted for tlie
erection of buildings of Class III., as hereinafter defined, if
such building shall not be more than two stories in height
and shall have a superficial area of not more than 1,250
square feel outside dimensions, on plans approved by the
Commissioner of Buildings, wdiich plans nee<l not be signed
by a licensed architect.

Sec. 2ii. Plans — .Uleraliiins I fun .Stamped Plans Mot
Permitted Without Permission — Certain Alterations Exeepted.
— It shall he unlawful to erase, alter or modify any lines,
ligures or coloring contained upon such drawings or specifi-
calinns so si.iniped liy the Commissioner of Buildings or
liled with him for riference. If. during the progress of the
execution of such work, it is desired to deviate in any manner
affecting the construction or other essentials of the building
from the terms of the application, drawing or specification,
notice of such intention to alter or deviate shall be given
to the Commissioner of Buildings, and his written assent
shall first be obtained before such alteration, or deviation
may be made. .Alterations in buildings which do not involve
any change in their structural parts or of their stairways,
elevator.s, fire escapes or other means of comnuinication or
ingress or egress and that arc not in violation of any of the
provisions of this chapter may be made without the perinis-
sion of the Commissioner of Buildings.

Sec. IM. Deposit ll'ith Water Department—How Made-
Indemnifying Bond — Fees for Water Used. — Before the Com-
missioner of Buildings issues a permit as aforesaid he shall
require evidence from the applicant that payment has been
made to the Bureau of Water of the city for the water to be
used or for a water meter for measuring all the water to be
used in the construction of such building, under the regula-
tions of the Bureau of Water. Such applicant shall produce
evidence that he has filed with and had approved by the
Commissioner of Public Works of the City an indemnifying
bond protecting the city against any and all damage that may
arise to the streets or alleys upon which such building abuts,
and to the city and to any person in consequence or by reason
of the proposed operations to be authorized by such permit,
or by reason of any obstruction or occupation of any street
or sidewalk in and about such building operations.

The fees to be paid for water used in connection with the
erection of buildings shall be as follows, to-wit :

For water to be used in connection therewith at the rate
of five cents for every one thousand bricks, wall measure,
used in the construction of a building.

-At the rate of six cents for every one hundred cubic feet
of rubble stone used in connection therewith.

.\t the rate of eight cents for every one hundred cubic feet
of concrete used in connection therewith.

-At the rate of fifteen cents for every one hundred yards
of plastering used in connection therewith.

.At the rate of five cents for every one hundred cubic feet
of hollow tire arch, partition or fireproof covering use<l in
any building.

-Sec. 2.^5. Permits — Cost Of. — The fees to be charged for
building permits shall he as follows: For sheds not exceeding
three hundred square feet in area, two dollars; for open
shelter sheds, at the rate of fifty cents for each one thousand

139

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

cubic fett or part thereof; but iu uo case shall a permit be
issued for a less fee than two dollars.

For all buildings *or structures other than slieds and open
shelter sheds, as hereinbefore described, the fee for the
permit shall be at the rate of ten cents for every one thou-
sand cubic feet or fractional part thereof contained therein,
the cubic contents being measured to include every part of
the building from the basement floor to the highest point of
the roof and to include all bay windows and other projec-
tions ; but in no case shall any permit be issued for a less
fee than two dollars, except that for a permit for shingling a
roof of any building the fee shall not exceed one dollar.

As amended by ordinance of June S. 1906.

*As amended Nov. 25. 1907.

Section 1. That Section 235 of the Revised Municipal Code
of Chicago of 1905, as amended June 5, 1906, be and the
same is hereby amended by inserting in line 6 of said section,
after the word "buildings," the words "or structures."

Section 2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect from
and after its passage.

As amended Nov. 25, 1907.

Sec. 236. Permit for Alterations and Repairs — Cost Of. —
The fee to be charged for permits issued for alterations and
repairs in or to any building or structure shall be as follows :

Where such alteration or repair shall equal fifty per cent,
or more of the original building or structure to be altered
or repaired, or of such part or portion of such wiilding or
structure to be altered or repaired, the same fees shall be
charged as if such permit were for the construction of a
new building.

Where such work of alteration or repair shall be less than
fifty per cent, of the original building or structure or of the
part or portion to be altered or repaired, the fee to be charged
for a permit for such work shall be half that charged for the
issuance of a permit for new work.

Sec. 237. The fee for a permit to raise a frame building
shall be one dollar.

Sec. 238. Perniils for Raising or Moving Buildings Other
Than Frame. — The fee for a permit to raise or move a build-
ing other than a frame building shall be two ($2) dollars for
every twenty-five (25) feet, or fractional part thereof, of
frontage, and when such building is to be moved from one
location to another it shall be altered or reconstructed so as
to conform to the ordinances governing the construction of
such building at the time of moving the same.

Sec. 238a. Permit for Wrecking Building. — Amended by
ordinance of Dec. 2, 1907 (Superseding amendatory ordinance
of Dec. 11, 1905), to read as follows:

Before proceeding with the wrecking or tearing down of
any building or structure, a permit for such wrecking or tear-
ing down shall first be obtained by the owner or his agent
from the Commissioner of Buildings, and it shall be unlawful
to proceed with the wrecking or tearing down of any build-
ing or structure or any structural part thereof within the
City unless such permit shall first have been obtained. Appli-
cation for such permit shall be made by such owner or his
agent to the Commissioner of Buildings, who shall issue such
permit upon such application and the payment of the fee
herein provided for. Such application shall state the location
and describe the building which it is proposed to wreck or
tear down. The fee for such permit shall be two dollars for
every twenty-five feet, or fractional part thereof, of frontage.
Upon the issuance of such permit such building may be

wrecked or torn down, provided that all the work done
thereunder shall be subject to the supervision of the Com-
missioner of Buildings, and shall be performed under the
same restrictions as govern the erection of buildings.

Any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business
of wrecking buildings within the City limits shall file with the
City Clerk of the City of Chicago an approved bond in the
sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) to indemnify the
City against any lawsuits brought or judgments obtained
against the City of Chicago, or any of its officers, resulting
from accidents to persons or property during wrecking opera-
tions, and shall also procure a contractor's license.

(The penalties prescribed by Section 738, for violations,
shall apply with equal force and effect to violations of this
section. )

Sec. 239. Permit — Revocation Of. — If work in, upon or
about any building shall be conducted in violation of any of
the provisions of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the
Commissioner of Buildings to revoke the permit for the
building operation in connection with which such violation
shall have taken place. It shall be unlawful, after the revo-
cation of such permit, to proceed with such building opera-
tions unless such permit sliall first have been reinstated or
reissued by the Commissioner of Buildings. Before a permit
so revoked may be lawfully reissued or reinstated the entire
building and building site shall first be put into condition
corresponding with the requirements of this chapter, and any
work or material applied to the same in violation of any of
the provisions of this chapter shall be first removed from
such building.

ARTICLE III.

CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDINGS.

Sec. 240. Buildings — Classes Of. — All buildings (other than
sheds and shelter sheds, as hereinafter described) now
existing or hereafter constructed, altered or enlarged within
the city, shall be classified as follows :

Sec. 241. Class /. — In Class I shall be included every build-
ing used for the sale, storage or manufacture of merchandise,
other than department stores, as described in Section 247 of
this chapter, and all stables covering or occupying a ground
area of over five hundred square feet.

Sec. 242. Class II. — In Class II shall be included every
office building, hospital and every building used for hotel
purposes or for boarding or lodging house purposes where
such building so used for hotel or boarding or lodging house
purposes is occupied by twenty or more persons.

Sec. 243. Class III. — In Class III shall be included every
building used as a family residence, also every building used
for stabling purposes where such building so used shall
occupy a ground area of less than five hundred square feet.

Sec. 244. Class IV. — In Class IV shall be included every
building used as an assembly hall, whether such hall is used
for the purpose of worship, instruction or entertainment,
luiless such building is used for any of the purposes for
which buildings of Class V or Class VIII are used.

Sec. 245. Class V. — In Class V shall be included every
building which is used as a public theater where an admission
fee is charged and in which movable scenery is used ; pro-

140

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

vi(U<l, howeviT, that piiMic lialls and club halls with a sealing
capacity of less than six hundred, although occasionally used
for theatrical representations, shall not be construed to be
public theaters within the meaning of the term as used in
this section, notwithstanding the fact that movable scenery
is used upon the stage thereof on such occasions, and such
public halls and club halls shall not be considered as build-
ings of Class V as herein defined. Such jniblic halls and
club lialls shall Ik- included in Class IV. as iKlined in Section
244 of this chapter.

Sec. 246. Class 11.— lu Class VI shall be included every
tenement and apartment house : that is to say. any house or
building or portion thereof which is used as a home or
residence for two or more families living in separate apart-

nuMits.

Sec. 247. Class ///.— In Class VII shall be included all
buildings used for the sale at retail of dry goods and other
articles of general merchandise and commonly known and
described as "department stores."

Sec. 248. Class 17//.— In Class VIII shall be included
every building used exclusively for school purposes.

Sec. 249. Buildings I'si-d for the I'urposcs of More Than
One Class. — Where any building is used for the purposes of
two or more classes as herein specified and defined, such por-
tion of any such building as is devoted to the uses and pur-
poses of any particular class shall be constructed, operated
and maintained in accordance with the requirements of this
chapter relating to such class, unless such construction shall
prove impracticable or unless there would be a conflict be-
tween the provisions of this chapter relating to tlie construc-
tion of buildings : in either of which such cases the provisions
relating to and governing the construction of buildings of the
class requiring the best and safest form of constructioM shall
govern.

Sec. 250. Conflict Between Sf<eeio! and Genera! Proz'isions.
— Whenever any provision or requirement of this chapter
relating specifically to the construction, equipment, main-
tenance or operation of any building or part of a building
used for the purposes of any specified class shall conflict with
the general provisions of this chapter relating to the con-
struction, operation and equipment of buildings generally, the
special provisions shall govern in each case, except in the
case of Section 634, which .shall govern in all cases coming
within its provisions.

ARTICLE 1\'.

PROVISIONS REL\T1XG SOLELY TO CLASS 1.

In Class I shall be included every building used for the
sale, storage or manufacture of merchandise other than
department stores, as described in Sections 60 and 700, and
all stables covering or occupying a ground area of over five
hundred square feet.

Sec. 251. Walls of Class I— Thickness O/.— The thickness
<il surrounding walls and of all dividing walls in every build-
ing used wholly or in part for the purposes of Class I shall
be made as indicated in the following table, to-wit :

SroHncs

Uasement. 1 2 . 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 111 1 1 1.'

One-story 12 12

Two-story 16 12 12

Three-story 16 16 12 12

Four-story 20 20 16 16 12

Five-story 24 20 20 16 16 16

Six-story 24 20 20 20 16 16 16

Seven-story 24 20 20 20 20 16 16 16

l-:ight-story 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 16

Xine-story 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 16

Ten-story 28 28 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16

lileven-story 28 28 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 16

Twelve-story 32 28 28 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 16

Provided, however, in buildings of steel skeleton fireproof
construction thickness of walls shall be governed by Section
510 of this chapter.

Sec. 252. liuildiniis—Heifiht and Construction O/.— Build-
ings i>f Class I which are one hundred feet or more in height
sh.ill be built entirely of fireproof construction.

Buildings of Class I less than one hundred feel and more
tlian sixty feet in height shall 1)e built entirely of slow-burn-
ing, mill or fireproof construction.

No building of Class I more than five stories in luigbl shall
be permitted to be built of ordinary construction.

Sec. 253. Walls— E.rcet'tion to Table of Thickness Of.—
If buildings of Class I are erected of less depth than 100
feet from front to rear or between cross walls, or if the
walls supporting their floors and roofs are less than twenty-
five feet apart, the thickness of the walls given in the afore-
said table may be reduced by four inches, excepting only that
no wall in such buildings shall l)c less than twelve inches
tliick.

Sec. 254. Walls — Metol Lath, and Solid Cement Plaster
Cotr/id.i;. — .\ one or two-story building used for the purposes
of Class I, no part of which is within twenty feet of any
lot line, alley line or street line, having a complete self-
supporting steel frame consisting of wall columns supporting
steel trusses, with steel trusses and steel diagonals designed
to resist safely within the safe limits of stress provided by
tliis chapter a wind pressure of thirty pounds per square foot
for each and every exterior surface exposed to the win<l, in
addition to the dead weight of the completed structure and
in addition to the live load of one hundred pounds per square
foot provided for by this chapter and any other live loads
which may be imposed on said structure, may have exterior
walls measuring not less than one and one-third inches thick
of metal, lath or metal fabric plastered on both sides with a
mortar consisting only of Portland cement and torpedo sand.
A complete reinforced concrete framework built in every
manner equally as strong and as safe as provided for a steel
frame in this section may have exterior walls built in the
same manner of the same materials and of the same thickness.

Sec. 255. Door Openings at .9/rcv/ Level— Class /.—The
aggregate width of door openings at the street level in build-
ings of Class I shall be equal to the aggregate width <>f stair-
ways, as specified in Section 265 of this chapter, and such
doors shall not be locked during business hours or while
such buildings are occupied by a number of persons for any
purpose. Revolving doors shall not be considered as comply-

141

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

ing with this section, unless the revolving wings of said re-
volving doors are so arranged that hy the application of a
force slightly more than necessary to revolve said doors and
which one person of ordinary strength is capable of exerting,
all the wings of said doors fold flat on each other and in an
outward direction, and unless each side, or the half circles of
such revolving doors, are hinged and fastened so as to like-
wise swing backwards on application of force slightly beyond
the normal, and which will permit of exit space for two
ordinary persons on either side of the collapsed w-ings of
said revolving doors and their inclosing half circles.
As amended by ordinance March 30, 1906.

Sec. 256. Buildings of Class I— Increasing Height Of.— In
all cases where buildings of Class I, of ordinary construction,
already built, are to be increased in height above the height
of sixty feet or above the height of one hundred feet, the
additional parts of such buildings shall be constructed as
herein provided for buildings over sixty feet high or over
one hundred feet high, respectively, and shall be made to
conform in all respects and throughout their entire extent to
the requirements for buildings of this class more than sixty
feet or more than one hundred feet high, respectively, before
it shall be lawful to occupy them.

Sec. 257. Ceilings and Roof of Class I— Space Between.—
In buildings of Class I, if the inclosed space between the
ceiling and the roof is of greater average height than two
feet, easy and convenient means of access, satisfactory to the
fire marshal, shall be given to such space.

Sec. 258. Fire Walls— In Buildings of Class /.—Buildings
occupied by more than one person or corporation, or for
more than one business enterprise conducted by the same
person or corporation, in separate inclosures on any one floor,
shall have a brick dividing wall for every fifty (50) feet of
street frontage if of ordinary construction, or for every
eighty (80) feet of street frontage if of slow-burning or
mill construction, and such dividing walls shall extend from
the front to the rear wall, and such dividing walls, and the
doors therein shall be built as dividing wafls, and the doors
therein are required to be built by the provisions of this
chapter.

All of the partitions between the parts of such buildings,
occupied by different persons or corporations shall be built
of incombustible material from the floor to the floor boards
or roof boards next above such story or stories so occupied.

Only metal framed windows glazed with one-quarter inch
thick fire-resisting glass may be used in such partitions.

Sec. 259. Dividing Walls— When Required in Class I.—
Dividing walls wil be required in buildings of Class I as
follows : For buildings of ordinary construction if their floor
area exceeds nine thousand square feet ; for buildings of
slow-burning or mill construction more than one story in
height if their area exceeds twelve thousand square feet ; for
fireproof buildings more than two stories in height, if their
area exceeds twenty-five thousand square feet. In each of
the before mentioned cases such buildings shall be subdivided
by brick walls built of the thickness given in the table for
the thickness of inclosing walls, and all doors and other
openings in such walls shall have iron doors or shutters at
each side of same. The buildings so subdivided shall be
treated as regards stairs and fire escapes the same as two or
more separate buildings, provided, however, one-story build-
ings of ordinary, mill or slow-burning construction or two-
story buildings of fireproof construction of any size, used as
one store, room or workshop and occupied by only one person
or corporation, may be erected without any dividing walls.

Sec. 260. Dividing Walls and Iron Doors — Openings In-
serted In. — If openings are to be inserted in dividing walls,
as before described, or in dividing walls between non-fireproof
and fireproof buildings or parts of either of such buildings,
they shall be made as follows ;

They shall have doors placed on each side of each opening
in such walls, which doors shall be made of No. 12 plate iron
with a continuous 2 by 2 by one-half-inch angle iron frame
extending all around the same and the plate riveted thereto
with one-half-inch rivets, placed four inches between centers.
If such doors are made double they shall have cross bars,
levers and hooks so arranged that when the doors are closed
they will be of strength equal to that of a single door. All
doors shall be hung on frames made of three-quarter by
4-inch iron stiffened with an angle iron extending all around
the same and fitting up snug to the wall. The frames shall
be fastened to each other by bolts extending through the
wall, such bolts being not more than two feet apart, and
such doors shall swing on three hinges and shall be made to
fit closely to the frame all around. The sills between the
doors shall be of brick, iron, stone or concrete and shall rise
at least two inches above the floor on each side of each
opening. The lintel over the door shall be made of brick or
iron, and the wall between the two door frames shall be
covered with a coat of plaster at least one-half inch thick.

Sec. 261. Elevator Buildings — Bins Of. — Elevator buildings
( which term shall be interpreted as including all buildings
intended solely for the receipt, storage and delivery of grain
in bulk) may be constructed with the bin walls, both ex-
ternally and internally, made entirely of wood; provided such
walls are made solid and without cellular open spaces within
them. The external bin walls shall have a covering of brick
or hollow tile not less than twelve inches thick, which shall
be united to the bin walls by anchors, in the construction and
arrangement of which due allowance is made for the varia-
tions of shrinkage of the inclosing wall and of the wooden
bin wall. If the weight of the bins is independently carried
on a skeleton construction of timber, steel or iron, the first-
story walls shall be of brick not less than twenty inches thick.
If the outer walls of the outside bins and their facing are
not carried on a skeleton construction, then the first-story
wall shall not be less than twenty-eight inches thick, or as
much thicker as may be required to keep the load upon the
brickwork within the limits of stress elsewhere specified in
this chapter. Elevator buildings may be built of reinforced
concrete and in such case they shall be built according to the
provisions of Section 554 of this chapter.

Sec. 262. Cupola — Inclosing Walls Of — Openings. — The in-
closing walls of cupolas on elevator buildings, if constructed
of wood, shall be covered with corrugated iron or other in-
combustible material.

The outside openings in elevator buildings shall have pro-
tections of wire netting made of No. 14 wire, with meshes
not over one-half by one-half inch.

All openings in the body of the first story of elevator build-
ings and the openings in the engine and boiler houses of the
same and between these and the main building shall have iron
doors made in accordance with the provisions of Section 260
of this chapter.

Sec. 263. I'entilating Duets — Chutes — Walls Surrounding.
— Walls surrounding ventilating ducts and rubbish and ash
chutes shall be considered in accordance with the regulations
governing the construction of smoke flues elsewhere herein
contained. Walls around ventilating ducts shall not be less
than four inches thick, and when the ventilating duct is larger

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

tlum 260 square inclu'S llu- walls >liall In- mil
inclic-s thick.

than eight

Sec. 264. Store l-'roiils — Coliiiniis iiiid Lintels Siift""'l'"li- —
The colunins and lintel.'; supporliuK store fronts in buildings
within the lire limits of more than one story in height shall
be made of incombustible material.

Sec. 265. Stairs in Buildings of Class I — Xiintbcr and
Width t)/.— .Vmended by ordinance .\ov. 25, 1907, to read as
follows :

There shall be in all buildings of Class I of ordinary con-
structions two flights of stairs not less than three feet wide
each. For buildings of ordinary construction of Class I and
of greater floor area than three thousand square feet, there
shall be six inches added to the width of each such flight of
stairs for eacli additional one thousand s(|uari' feet of floor
area or fractional part thereof up In nine thcmsand square
feet of floor area.

Every Class I building of sluw-lnniiiiig or mill construction
less than 4,000 square feet floor area sliall have two llighls
of stairs, not less than three feet wide each, and there shall
be si.x inches added to the width of each such flight of stairs
for each additional one thousand square feet of floor area,
or fractional part thereof, up to twelve thousand .square feet.
Provided, however, that additional flights of stairs may be
used to make the aggregate width re<inired, instead of widen-
ing the two flights above mentioned. It is further provided,
however, that such stairs may be reduced one foot in width
for each four stories in height or fractional part thereof,
above the fourth story of such building, but such stairs shall
in no case be of less width than three feet.

For fireproof buildings there shall be required two flights
of stairs not less than three feet wide for the first three
thousand square feet of floor area, or fractional part thereof.
For buildings of more than three thousand square feet and
not exceeding five thousand square feet of floor area, there
shall be required two flights of stairs each not less than three
feet six inches in width. For more than five thousand square
feet and less than ten thousand square feet of floor area,
there shall be an additional flight of stairs not less than three
feet in width. For more than ten thousand square feet and
less than fifteen thousand square feet of floor area, each of
such stairs shall be of not less width than five feet. For more
than fifteen thousand square feet and less than twenty-five
thousand square feet of floor area there shall l)c not less
than three stairways of an aggregate width of fifteen feet;
none of such stairs shall be of less width than three feet.

The width of the different stairways need not be alike.
The width of each stairway in the fiflh. sixth, seventh and
eighth stories may be six inches less in the clear than the
width of the stairways in the first In tin- fourtli stories,
inclusive.

The width of each stairway in the ninth, tenth, eleventh and
twelfth stories may be twelve inches less in the clear than
the width of the stairways in the first of the fourth stories,
inclusive.

The width of each stairw.iy in llit lliiileentli, fdinteenth,
fifteenth and si.xicenth stories may be eighteen inches less
in the clear than the width of the stairways in the first to
the fourth stories, inclusive, and this reduction in width may
he continued in the same ratio in each additional four stories
added to the height of the building : provided, however, that
no stairways shall have a less clear width than three feet.

All stairways in buildings of Class I shall have a hand
rail on each side thereof. an<l where there is more than one
stairway in any building nf Class 1. such stairways shall be

located at each end of the building, or as f.ir apart from
each other as is practicable.

The width of the difTereiil stairways need not be alike. The
width of each stairway in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth
stories may be six (6) inches less in the clear than the width
of the stairways in the first to the fourth stories, inclusive.

The width of each stairway in the ninth, tenth, eleventh
and twelfth stories may be twelve (12) inches less in the
clear than the width of the stairways in the first to the fourth
stories, inclusive.

The width of each stairway in the thirteenth, fourteenth,
fifteenth and sixteenth stories may be eighteen (18) inches
less in the clear than the width of the stairways in the first
to the fourth stories, inclusive, and this reduction in width
may be continued in the same ratio in each additional four
(4) stories added to the height of the building; provided,
however, that no stairway shall have a less clear width than
three (3) feet.

All si.iirways in buildings of Class I shall have a hand rail
nil e.uh side thereof, and where there is more than one stair-
way in any building of Class I such stairways shall be located
at each end of the building, or as far apart from each other
as is practicable.

Doors and ll'indoii's. — When required to be clased, fire-
resisting glass. See Section 632.

Limitations in Changing Class of Buildings. — See Sec-
tion 633.

Buildings I srd for the Piir/>oses of More Than One Class.
— See Section 249.

See. 266. Courts, Light Shafts and Well Holes. — Courts,
light shafts and well holes shall be built in accordance with

tlie provisions of Section 455 of this chapter.

Sec. 267. Loads — .Uhncanee for Live Loads in Conslrue-
tion of Floors of Class /. — The floors of all buihlings of
Class I shall be designed and constructed in such a manner
as to be capable of bearing in all their parts, in addition to
the weight of floor construction, of partitions and permanent
fixtures and nuch.misms that may be set upon the same, a live
load of niu- liuiidred pounds for every square foot of surface
in such fiiinr: and the strength of such building shall be
increased al)ove the capacity to carry each a live load of one
hundred pounds per square foot of floor surface when the
uses to which such building or part thereof is to be applied
involve greater stress.

Sec. 268. Floors — Dis/<lay of Plaeard Indieating Strength
Of. — Tt shall be the duty "f the owner of every building of
Class I already constructed, or hereafter to be constructed,
or of his agent, or of tlie occupant or person in possession,
charge or control of the same, to affix and display con-
spicuously on each floor of such building a placard stating
the load |)er square foot of floor surface wliich may with
safety be applied to that particular floor, or if the strength
of different parts of any floor varies, then there shall be such
placards for each varying part of such floor. It shall be
unlawful to load any such floors, or any part thereof, to a
greater extent than the load indicated upon .such placards.
It shall be the duty of occupants of buildings to maintain
such placards during their occupation of the premises, and
the owners of buildings, or their agents, to cause the same
to be properly aflixed with each change of occupation. It
shall be part of the duty of architects of all buildings to
calculate the figures for such placards, which are to be
verified and approved by the Commissioner of Buihlings be-
fore they are aflixed upon the respective floors of the different
buildings.

143

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

JValls—Lcdgcs.—See Section 588.

PV alls.— Around Stairs, Elevators and Shafts. See Sec-
tion 588.

Walls. — Reinforced concrete. See Section SS4.
Tozvcrs — Domes — Spires. — See Section 613.

ARTICLE V.

PROVISIONS RELATING SOLELY TO CLASS II.

In Class II shall be included every oflice building; every
liospital and every building used for hotel purposes, or for
boarding or lodging house purposes, where such building so
used for hotel, hospital or boarding or lodging house pur-
poses is occupied by twenty or more persons.

Sec. 269. Walls of Class //.—The thickness of the walls
of buildings of Class II shall conform to the following re-
quirements :

The thickness of the enclosing walls of buildings of this
class shall be made in accordance with the following table,
to-wit :

STORIES

Basement. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Basement and 12 8

Two-story 12 12 8

Three-story 16 12 12 12

Four-story 20 16 16 12 12

Five-story 20 16 16 16 12 12

Six-story 20 20 16 16 16 12 12

Seven-story 24 24 20 20 16 16 12 12

Eight-story 24 24 24 20 20 16 16 12 12

Nine-story 28 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Ten-story 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Eleven-story 28 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Twelve-story 32 28 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Provided, however, in buildings of steel skeleton fireproof
construction, thickness of walls shall be governed liy the
provisions of Section 510 of this chapter.

Sec. 270. Buildings— Constntetion Of— Height Of.— .
Buildings of Class II which are one hundred feet or more in
height shall be built entirely of fireproof construction.

Buildings of Class II less than one hundred feet and more
than sixty feet in height shall be built entirely of slow-
Inirning, or mill or lireproof construction. Buildings of Class
II not exceeding four stories in height and less than sixty
feet in height may be built of ordinary construction.

Sec. 271. Walls — Division and Partitions in Boarding or
Lodging Houses and Hotels. — In buildings used wholly or in
part for boarding houses, lodging houses or hotels, sixty feet
or less in height, there shall be for every eight rooms in any
one story dividing walls or partitions of incombustible mater-
ial, separating such eight rooms for the contiguous spaces.
Partitions surrounding stairs and corridors shall 1)e made of
fireproof material.

Sec. 272. Stairs in Buildings of Class //. — Stairs in Build-
ings of Class II shall be adapted, in number and width, to the
area, height and to the uses to be made of the liuikling in
which they occur.

For office buildings, by which shall be understood buildings
divded into apartments intended for business uses only, and in
which there shall be no sleeping apartments whatever, there
shall be in buildings of ordinary construction and of less
ground area than three thousand square feet, two flights of
stairs not less than three feet wide each ; for office build-
ings of ordinary construction and of greater floor area than

three thousand square feet, llicru shall Ijc six inches added
to the width of each such flight of stairs for each additional
one thousand feet of floor area, or fractional part thereof,
up to six thousand square feet of floor area ; for office build-
ings of ordinary construction and of greater floor area than
six thousand square feet, there shall be an additional flight of
stairs not less than three feet wide for each additional three
thousand square feet of floor area, or fractional part there-
of.

For office buildings of slow-burning or mill construction
there shall be at least two flights of stairs three feet wide
each for the first four thousand square feet of floor area,
and there shall be six inches added to the width of each such
flight of stairs for each additional one thousand square feet of
floor area, or fractional part thereof, up to eight thousand
square feet of floor area ; and an additional flight of stairs not
less than three feet wide shall be required for each addition-
al four thousand square feet of floor area, or fractional part
thereof, above eight thousand square feet.

For fireproof ofiice buildings there shall lie required one
flight of stairs not less than four feet in width for the first
three thousand square feet of floor area, or fractional part
thereof.

Fore fireproof oifice buildings more than three thousand,
and not exceeding five thousand square feet of floor area,
there shall be required one flight of stairs not less than five
feet in width.

' For more than five thousand and less than ten thousand,
square feet of floor area there shall be required an addi-
tional flight of stairs not less than three (3) feet in width.

For more than ten thousand and less than twenty thousand
square feet of floor area there shall be required two flights of
stairs of not less width than five (5) feet each; provided, that
for each and every fireproof office building of more than ten
thousand square feet floor area there shall be at least two
stairway fire escapes, placed as far apart as practicable, on
such buildings, in addition to the standpipe and platform fire
escape required by this chapter and the statutes of this state.

An additional flight of stairs shall be required for each
additional ten thousand sc^uare feet of floor area; provided,
that for each additional five thousand scjuare feet of floor
area such stairway shall be not less than three feet wide.

And for additional floor areas between five thousand and
ten thousand square feet such stairway shall be not less than
five feet in width. The width of the different stairways
need not be tlic same.

Sec. 273. Hospitals, Hotels. Boarding or Lodging Houses
— Stairways — Fire Stops. — For all buildings of Class II of or-
dinary construction used as hotels, boarding or lodging
houses, or hospitals, there shall be required for each building
at least two flights of stairs, which, for buildings of three
thousand square feet or less in floor area, shall be of not less
width than three feet each, with an increase of six inches in
width for each additional one thousand square feet of floor
area, or fractional part tliereof, up to a floor area of five
thousand square feet : and after that there shall be an addi-
tional flight of stairs not less than three feet wide for each
additional two thousand feet of floor area, or fractional part
thereof.

For all buildings of Class II of slow -burning or mill con-
struction used as hospitals, hotels, boarding or lodging houses
there shall be required for each building at least two flights
of stairs, which, for buildings of four thousand square feet
or less in floor area, shall be of not less width than three
feet each, with an increase of six inches in width for each ad-
ditional one thousand square feet of floor area, or fractional

144

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

pan tlicTi-ol, up to a floor area of six thousand square feci ;
anil afli-r thai there shall he an a<lditi<>nal flight of stairs not
less than three feet wide for each additional three thousand
feet of floor area, or fractional part thereof.

For all hnildings of Class II of fireproof construction used
as hospitals, hotels, hoarding or lodging houses, there shall
he required for each building at least two flights of stairs,
which, for huildings of live thousand square feet or less in
floor area, shall he of not less width than three feet each,
with an increase of live inches in width for each additional
one thousand square feet of floor area up to a floor area of
ten thousand square feet, and there shall be required an addi-
tional flight of stairs not less than three feet wide for each
additional four thousand square feet of floor area, or frac-
tional part thereof.

Each stairway in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth stories
may be built six (6) inches less in width in the clear than
the stairways in the first to the fourth stories, inclusive.

Each stairway in the ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth stor-
ies may be built twelve (12) inches less in width in the clear
than the stairways in the first to the fourth stories, inclusive.

Each .stairway in the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and
sixteenth stories may be built eighteen (18) inches less in
width in the clear than the stairways in the first to the fourth
stories inclusive, and this reduction in width may be contin-
ued in the same ratio in each additional four (4) stories add-
ed to the height of the building; provided, however, that
no stairways shall have a less clear width than three (3)-
feet.

.Ml stairways in buildings of Class II shall have a hand
rail on each side thereof, and where there is more than one
flight of stairs in any building of Class II such stairways
shall be located at each end of the building, or as far apart
from each other as is practicable.

In hotels, hospitals, lodging houses or boarding houses, of
other than fireproof construction, there shall be a fire stop of
brick, concrete or tile, between the ceiling and floor in each
floor of joists for each twenty-five feet, or fractional part
thereof, measured in the direction of the length of the joists.

Sec. 274. Air — Means of Communication With Outer Air
in Buildings of Class II. — .Vmended by ordinance of Oct. 22,
1906, to read as follows :

In all buildings of this class, the fire escape, stairs, stair
halls, entrance halls, bay windows, vent shafts, courts, lights
in halls, porches, windows in public halls, shall be of the
size and dimensions as are prescribed in Sections 392, 400,
402, 404. 412. 415. 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, and 423 of
this chapter relating to buildings of Class VI.

Where vent shafts as defined in Section 389 of this ordi-
nance, are used to ventilate water closet compartments, bath
rooms, or pantries, of hotels, oflice buildings, or club houses,
they shall be of the following dimensions :

Square Least
Ruilding feet width

2 stories 22;^ 3 feet

3 stories 27 3 feet

4 stories 36 3 feet

5 stories 48 5 feet

6 stories 72 6 feet

7 stories 96 8 feet

8 stories 120 8 feet

In every hotel, ofiice building, or club house, hereafter
erected, and every hotel. oflSce building, or club house, which
shall be increased or diminished in size, nr otherwise altered
after its erection, and in every building, now or hereafter in

existence, not now used as a hotel, office building or club
house, but hereafter constructed or altered to such use, and
every habitable room, excepting water closet compartments,
bathrooms and pantries, shall have at least one window open-
ing directly upon a street, alley, yard, or court. The total
area of the windows opening from any such room (other
than water closet compartments, bathrooms an<l pantries),
shall be, at least one-tenth the floor area of that room, and
the top of, at least, one window shall be not less than seven
feet above the floor, ami the upi)er h.ilf of that window shall
be made so as to open its full width. .\o window in any
such room (other than pantries, water closet compartments
and bath rooms), shall have less than ten square feet of
glass area. Every such water closet compartment, bathroom
or pantry, shall have a window not less than one foot wide
and of an area of, at least, four square feet for a floor area
of forty-five square feet or less, opening directly into the
outer air, or special light or air shafts, into which no other
rooms, or compartments, other than toilet compartments,
bathrooms, or pantries, arc ventilated. For upwards of forty-
five square feet of floor area there shall be a window area of
at least one-tenth of the floor area. The windows in all cases
shall l)e arranged so as to admit of their being opened at
least one-half of their height. The urinal, bath or water
closet compartments on the top floor of any building may be
lighted and ventilated by means of a skylight and ventilator.
The area of the skylight shall conform to the above specified
areas for windows.

It is provided that in hotels, oflice buildings and club houses,
the bathroom, water closet and urinal compartments, may be
ventilated by exhausting the air from the same at the rate of
at least six complete changes of air from each room per hour
by approved positive mechanical means through special air
ducts to the outer air. The special ventilating duct or ducts,
together with tlieir branches, shall be of such size or sizes as
to provide for the required chan.ges of air from each of .such
rooms.

It shall be the duty of the owner, agent, architect, or of
the party in possession or control of the same to notify the
Commissioner of Health in writing twenty-four hours in ad-
vance when any such system is completed, for the supervision
of the test.

When the installation of the mechanical ventilating system
for toilet and bathrooms is complete, and the ventilating ap-
pliances are l)eing operated at their normal capacities, they
sliall be tested by the party notifying for test for volumetric
efficiency in the presence of, and under the direction of, the
Chief Sanitary Inspector of the Department of Health.

The mechanical ventilating system shall at all times be
kept in good repair and in operation to insure the required
ventilation during the hours when the above specified build-
ings are used for human occupancy.

.Ml such toilet or bathrooms as mentioned in this section,
shall have a fi.xed window, or windows, having a gross glass
area and equal to at least one-eighth of the floor area of
rooms. The windows are to be provided and placed in the
dividing or enclosing partitions, and shall be suitably ar-
ranged so as to admit of natural light from an adjoining
room which has direct communication to the outside air. All
such rooms or compartments shall have proper means for ar-
tificially lighting the same, and they shall be properly and
adequately lighted by natural or artificial means during the
occupancy of the building.

Sec. 275. Joists — Su/'I'orls For. — If in buildings of Class
II the distance between the enclosing walls is more than
twenty-four feet in the clear, there shall be intermediate sup-

143

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

ports for tlie joists, which supports shall be either brick walls
or iron or steel columns and beams or trusses or girders. If
brick walls are used for this purpose, they may, in all cases
where the thickness of walls is given in the table as sixteen
inches or more, be made four inches less in thickness than
the dimensions stated in the talkie.

Sec. 276. Loads — Allcrwancc for Lire Loads in Cousinic-
tion of Floors of Class //.—For all buildings of Class II the
floors shall be designed and constructed in such manner as
to be capable of bearing in all their parts, in addition to the
weight of the floor construction, partitions and permanent
fixtures and mechanisms that may be set upon the same, a live
load of fifty pounds for every square foot of surface in such
floors.

Sec. 277. Stalls or Rooms of Class II— When Considered
Habitable. — In buildings of Class II no room shall be con-
sidered habitable or used as a habitation unless it has at
least one window of an area equal to one-tenth of the super-
ficial area of such room, opening into the external air. Pro-
vided, however, that no stall or compartment used as a sleep-
ing room in a building, the walls of which stall or compart-
ment do not extend within a distance of two and one-half
feet from the ceiling thereof, shall be regarded and consid-
ered to be a room within the intent and meaning of the pro-
visions hereof, but the walls of every such stall or compart-
ment shall be of incombustible material.

Sec. 278. Hospitals—Construetion— Height Of— Permits
—Special Consents. — It shall be unlawful for any person or
corporation to build, construct, maintain, conduct or manage
in any block, if two-thirds of the buildings fronting upon
both sides of the streets bounding such block or square are
devoted chiefly to residence purposes, any hospital for the
care, treatment or nursing of three or more insane persons ;
or any hospital for the care, treatment or nursing
of three or more inebriates ; or persons suffering from the
effect of the excessive use of alcoholic liquors ; or
any hospital for the care, treatment or nursing of
three or more epileptics ; or any hospital for the care, treat-
ment or nursing of three or more persons addicted to, or
suffering from, the excessive use of morphine, cocaine,
or other similar drugs or narcotics ; or any hos-
pital for the care, treatment or nursing of any
person affected with any infectious or contagious disease,
unless the owners of a majority of the frontage in such block
or square, and in addition thereto the owners of a majority
of the frontage on the opposite sides of the streets bounding
such block or square, consent in writing to the building, con-
structing, maintaining, managing or conducting of any such
hospital in such block or square. Such written consents of
the majorities of such property owners shall be filed with the
Commissioner of Buildings, and an exact copy of same shall
be filed with the Commissioner of Health before a permit
shall be granted for the building or constructing, or a license
issued for the maintaining, conducting or managing of any
such hospital. Provided, that any building that may be used
for hospital purposes which is over two stories in height
shall be of fireproof construction throughout, and no hospital
shall be built to exceed six stories in height.

Sec. 279. Hospitals — Location of iVear School Honses. —
No hospital of any kind or description hereafter erected or
established shall be erected or established within four hundred
feet of property used for school purposes. (Note: This
section is repealed by ordinance of June 1. 1908, page 509.
governing hospitals, [Sections 1102, etc.])

Walls — Ledges — .loist Supports. — All ledges in walls shall
be as specified in Section 588 of this chapter.
Walls. — Reinforced concrete. See Section 554.

Sec. 280. Roofs — Strength Of. — The roofs of buildings
of Class II shall be designed and constructed as is required
in Section 610.

Roofs — Shingle. — See Section 609.

Toivers, Domes and Spires — Construction Of — See Section
613.

Skylights — Construction, Glass In. — See Section 614.

Bay IVindozus and Light Shafts. — Material for. See Sec-
tion 600.

Doors and Windoics. — When required to be closed. — Fire
resisting glass. See Section 632.

Wind Pressure. — Precautions against. See Section 603.

IVindoics. — Cleaning, safety devices. See Section 726.

Buildings Used for the Purposes of More than One Class. —
See Section 249.

Limitations in Changing Class of Buildings. — See Section
633.

Walls — Around Stairs, Elevators and Shafts. — See Sec-
tion 588.

ARTICLE VI.

PROVISIONS RELATING SOLELY TO CLASS III.

In Class III shall be included every building used as a
family residence; also every building used for stabling pur-
poses, where such building so used shall occupy a ground
area of less than five hundred square feet.

Section 281. — Walls of Class HI — Thickness of. — Build-
ings of Class III. shall conform to the following require-
ments :

The thickness of enclosing walls of buildings of this class
shall be in accordance with the following table, to-wit :

STORIES

Basement. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Basement and 12 8

Two-story 12 12 8

Three-story 16 12 12 12

Four-story 20 16 16 12 12

Five-story 20 16 16 16 12 12

Six-story 20 20 16 16 16 12 12

Seven-story 24 24 20 20 16 16 12 12

Eight-story 24 24 24 20 20 16 16 12 12

Nine-story 28 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Ten-story 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Eleven-story 28 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Twelve-story 32 28 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Provided, however, in buildings of steel skeleton fireproof
construction, thickness of Avails shall be governed by the pro-
visions of Section 510 of this chapter.

Sec. 282. Buildings— Construction Of— Height Of.—
Buildings of Class III which are one hundred feet or more
in height shall be made entirely of fireproof construction.

Buildings of Class III less than one hundred feet and more
than si.xty feet in height shall be built entirely of slow-burning
mill or fireproof construction.

Buildings of Class III less than sixty feet in height may
lie built of ordinary construction.

Sec. 283. Skylights— Construction Of— Glass /((.—The
skylight on the roof of any building of Class III other than
a frame building, shall have the sides, sashes and frames
constructed of metal, or of wood metal clad on all exterior

146

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

surf.-iccs. If tin- building i-xcccil llirui- siorics in hfiKht, such
skylixlil sliiiU li;ivi' at liast six iiiclics over sanii- a strong win-
iictiiiin I wire not liglittr than \o, 8 anil niish not coarser
than ll.'xU.. inches), unless the glass contains a wire netting
within itself.

Sec. 284. Loads — .Ulowaiuc for Live Loads in Coiislruc-
lioii of rioors of Class IIL — For all buildings of Class III
the floors shall be designed and constructed in such manner
as to be capable of bearing in all their parts, in addition to
the weight of floor construction, partitions and permanent
fixtures and mechanisms that may be set upon the same, a live
load of forty pounds for every square foot of surface in such
floors.

Sec. 285. Rooms of Class III — ll'hcii Coiisidciid ilabit-
abli: — III buildings of Class IIL no room shall be considered
habitable or used as a habitation unless it has at least one
window of an area equal to one-tenth of the superficial area
of such room opening into the external air.

Sec. 286. Fire iralls—Tliifkiicss Of—Uhen Dispensed
With. — In buildings of Class III, lire walls of brick not less
than twelve inches thick shall be built, extending above the
roof thereof, if such roof is flat, and also above the roof of
such building where the same abuts against another building,
or where the same stands upon any line of any lot. excepting
street or alley lines. Provided, tli.it where eight-ineli walls
are permitted in the top story of buildings, or where the
building is not over three stories high, the lire walls may be
eight inches thick. Such fire walls, where they stand upon lot
lines or where they are over the dividing walls between build-
ings, or over the dividin.g walls in the interior of buildings.
where such are required 1)y the provisions of this chapter by
reason of the great area of such l)uildings. shall extend at
least two feet above the roof of such buildings. Fire walls
upon street and alley lines shall e.xtend not less than eighteen
inches above the roofs of .such buildings. Fire walls may be
dispensed with on .street and alley lines, if the tops of the
roof boards and roof joists are protected against fire for a
distance of at least five feet from such street or alley lines
by a coating of mortar or hollow tile or porous tile at least
two inches thick. Fire walls at street and alley lines may
also be dispensed with in all cases where the entire framing
and material of the roof is made strictly fireproof.

Walls facing upon courts and light shafts shall be treated
as in the same category with walls t.icing upon streets and
alleys.

Fire walls shall be covered with a weather proof coping of
incombustible material.

Sec. 287. Bay U'indozcs and Light Shafts — Material For. —
Hay or oriel windows and light shafts may be built of com-
bustible material in buildings of Class III of two stories or
less in height, provided, such bay and oriel windows or light
shafts shall not have a greater width than twelve feet at wall
line of building, and, provided, that the outside walls, roofs
and soffits of such bay or oriel windows and light shafts,
when .so constructed, shall be covered with sheet metal or
other incombustible material. In all other cases, bay and oriel
windows and light shafts and their supports shall be con-
structed enlircly of incombustible material.

Sec. 288. trails— Briek- Wall Cpon Wooden Sills— Level
of Sills Alloiivd. — .Ml buildings of Class III not exceeding
one story in height and twenty feet in height from top of
sills to hightest point of roof, and with side walls not ex-
ceeding fourteen feet in luight. an<l with floor area not ex-
ceeding one thousand two hiindreil square feet, may have

brick walls not les> than eight inches in thickness erected on
wooden sills, the sills supported on iron, masonry or concrete
supports extending four feet below the surface of the ground,
rile foundations under such supports shall be of concrete,
stone or brick, each covering not less than (ive square feel
area and not more than eight feet apart to support the weight
that may rest upon them with safety; sills shall be placed not
higher than four feet above the established grade of the
street upon which the lot fronts, and upon which lot the
building is erected, where grades are established, and not ex-
ceeding seven feet above the ground where grades are not
established. In all cases of buildings being m(»re than one
story and less than two stories high, and having a gable or
hip roof of not less than one-third (1-3) pilch, 8-inch walls on
solid brick or stone masonry may be used, provided they do
not exceed 14 feet in height measured from the first floor
joist, and provided such buildings have a floor area not ex-
ceeding one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet, and arc not
over twenty-two feet in width.

Koofs— Strength Of. See Section dill.

Hoofs — Shingle and Gravel. See Section 609.

Wind Pressure. Precautions against. See Section 603.

Walls — Reinforeed Conerete. See .Section 554.

Walts — Ledges. See Section 588.

Towers, Domes and Spires. See Section 613.

Liinilalioiis in Changing Class of Buildings. See Section
633.

ARTICl.l'. \ II.

PROVISIONS RF.L.VTING SOLI-XV TO CLASS IV.

In Class IV shall be included every building used as an as-
senil)Iy hall, whether such hall is used for the purpose of wor-
ship, instruction or entertainment, unless such building is
used for any of the purposes for which buildings of Class V
or Class VIII are used.

Sec. 289. H'alls-Outside Walls of Class ll—Struetures
Built Above — Walls Of. — The outside walls of every building
used wholly or in part for the purposes of Class IV the roof
or ceiling of which is carried on trusses or girders of a span
of fifty feet or more, shall be as follows:

If .such walls are less than twenty-five feet high, not less
than twenty inches thick.

If they are more than twenty-five feet high and less than
forty-five feet high, they shall not be less than twenty-four
iiiclies thick.

If they ;ire more than forty-five feet and less than sixty
feet hi.gli. tluy shall not be less than twenty-eight inches
thick.

If tiny are more tli.m >ixty feet .unl less than .seventy-five
feel high, they shall not l)e less than thirty-two inches thick.

If they are more than seventy-five feet and less than ninety
feet high, they shall not be less than thirty-six inches thick.

.\n increase of four inches in thickness of such walls shall
be made in all cases where they are over one hundred feet
long without cross walls of eiiual height.

Walls around stairs, elevators and shafts. See Section 588.

I""or rooms used for the purposes of Class IV where such
rooms are less than fifty feet wide in the clear, the thickness
of the walls enclosing or surrounding such rooms ni.iy be
reduced by four inches.

The outside walls of every lii-ilding of Class IV the roof
or ceiling which is not carried on trusses or girders, shall be
of the same thickness as in buildings of Class I.

If one or mr>re stories are built above the rofmi or rooms.
or portion of any such Imilding devoted to the uses of Class

147

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

IV and such stories are carried on trusses or girders, the
thickness of walls shall be increased by four inches for each
two stories or part thereof above every such room.

If solid masonry buttresses are employed, and placed
eighteen feet or less apart, and extended to the foot of the
trusses or girders carrying the ceiling, or if iron or steel
pillars are inserted in such walls for the support of the super-
structure, and at distances not more than twenty-four feet
between centers, and if such pillars extend to and carry the
superimposed trusses and girders, the thickness of such walls
may be reduced in proportion to the increase of strength
afforded by such buttresses or pillars; but in no case shall
any such wall be less than twelve inches thick in the top
story; four inches shall be added, going downward, for each
story, or for each twenty-five feet in height of wall. Pro-
vided, that if in any building of this class now in existence
the structural parts thereof do not comply with the foregoing-
requirements, and structural changes are made therein, then
all walls, columns or other structural parts shall be strength-
ened in a maimer satisfactory to the Commissioner of
Buildings.

Sec. 290. Walls — Coliiiiiiis In. — If iron or steel columns
are introduced in such walls, the brickwork around the same
shall be bonded into that of the connecting walls, and each
of such columns shall be fireproofed, as provided in Section
511 of this chapter.

Sec. 291. Frontage of Class IV—Seatirig Less Than 800.—
Buildings of Class IV containing halls or rooms of an aggre-
gate seating capacity of eight hundred persons or less, shall
have for each hall or room a frontage upon two public
spaces, of which at least one shall be a street, and of which
the other, if it is not a street, shall be a public or private
alley, not less than ten feet wide, opening directly on a public
street.

Sec. 292. Frontage of Class IJ'— Seating Over 800.—
Buildings of Class IV containing halls or rooms used for the
purposes of Class IV of greater aggregate seating capacity
than eight hundred, shall have for each such hall or room a
frontage upon three open spaces, of which at least one shall
be a public street, while the two others, if not streets, shall
be public or private alleys of a width of not less than ten feet
each, opening directly on a public street, or fireproof passage-
ways or tunnels of not less than seven feet each in width
may be used in place of these alleys, provided, such passage-
ways or tunnels lead to a public thoroughfare.

Sec. 293. Bnildings, Class IV — Construction Of. — Amended
Dec. 11, 1905, to read as follows:

Buildings of Class IV containing halls of an aggregate
seating capacity of not more than eight hundred, may be
built of ordinary construction. If such halls have a greater
aggregate seating capacity than eight hundred (800) and
less than one thousand five hundred (1,500), such building
shall be built of mill, slow-burning, or fireproof construction.
If such hall have an aggregate seating capacity of one
thousand five hundred (1,500) or more, such buildings shall be
built entirely of fireproof construction, provided that buildings
mainly used for exposition or exhibition purposes, and not
exceeding two stories in height, or having for pulilic use only
a main floor and one gallery, and which have their outside
walls and structural members of incombustible material and
which comply in all other respects with this ordinance, may
have their temporary seats, boxes, showcases, platforms, or
booths, constructed of combustible material.

In computing the seating capacity of any room or building
used for the purposes of Class IV in which the seats are
not fixed, an allowance of eight square feet of floor area
shall be made for each person, and all space between the
walls or partitions of such room or building shall be
measured in this computation. Provided, that in church
buildings not having more than two stories and each floor
having its own separate exits and standing free from all
buildings, the seating capacity of each floor shall be estimated
alone as determining the kind of construction under this
article.

Distance of said building from any other structure or
building, to be at least seven feet on all sides.

."^s amended February 4, 1907.

Sec. 294. Buildings of Class II' Used Partly for Other
Purposes. — Any building occupied wholly or in part for the
purposes of Class IV shall be built entirely of fireproof con-
struction, if the halls or rooms used for the purposes of Class
IV therein have an aggregate seating capacity greater than
one thousand five hundred.

Sec. 295. Buildings of Certain Height — Construction Of. —
Any building higher than sixty feet and connected with or
made part of any building used wholly or in part for the
purposes of Class IV shall be entirely of fireproof construc-
tion. Any such building less than sixty feet in height shall,
if its case is not already covered by other provisions of this
chapter, be made of fireproof, slow-burning or mill con-
struction.

Sec. 296. Opening Betzi'cen Non-Fireproof Buildings. —
In all cases where fireproof construction is not used for the
whole of two or more connected buildings, used wholly or
in part for the purposes of Class IV there shall be at each
connecting opening double iron doors.

Sec. 297. Spires. Cupolas and Domes Upon Houses of
Worship — J'iolation — Spires, etc.. to be Taken Down — Roofs
of Isolated Buildings of Class IV. — Spires, cupolas or domes
with a framework of non-fireproof material and covered on
the outside with incombustible material, may be erected as
part of any house of public worship, and if such house of
worship is so built that it is nowhere nearer than twenty
feet to any line of the lot upon which it stands (street and
alley lines excepted), sucli non-fireproof spires, cupolas or
domes may be maintained only while this intervening space
of twenty feet is maintained unoccupied as part of the
grounds or premises belonging to such house of public wor-
ship. If the conditions of such building be so changed that
there shall not be a vacant space as hereinbefore required
surrounding same, such spire, cupola or dome shall be forth-
with taken down.

The roofs of isolated buildings, occupied for purposes of
Class IV shall be constructed in the same manner as that
provided for spires, domes and cupolas.

Provided, however, that the roofs of houses of worship
outside the fire limits not exceeding twentj-eight hundred
square feet in area may be covered with shingles.

Sec. 298. Floor Levels — Limitation of Floor Levels of
Class IV — Atiditorium Floor of Class IV — Height Aboz'e
Sidczealk — Stairs. — The following limitations of floor levels
in buildings occupied either wholly or in part for purposes of
Class IV shall be observed in all cases.

In buildings occupied either wholly or in part for purposes
of Class IV no auditorium of a greater seating capacity than
one thousand shall have the highest part of its main floor at
a greater distance than ten feet above the adjacent sidewalk

148

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

grades. Xo room or rooms usi-il for the purposes of Class
I\' of greater seating capacity than live hundred, shall be at
a greater distance above the sidewalk grade than thirty feet.
No room or rooms used for the purpose of Class IV of
greater seating capacity than Iwt) hundred, shall he at a
higher level above the sidewalk grade than forty-live feet.

Provided, however, that in the case of a building used
either wholly or in part for the purposes of Class IV and
built wholly of fireproof construction, a room or
rooms to be used for the purposes of Class IV and
of an aggregate seating capacity of less than five hundred,
may be located in any story thereof, but in such case there
shall be at least two separate and distinct flights of stairs
from the floor or floors in which such room or rooms are
located to the ground, each of which stairs shall be not less
than four feet wide in the clear.

Sec. 2S9. Loads, AHoivancc for Live Loads in Coiisliui--
lion of Floors of Class II' — Stairways — Eiilraiiccs and Exits,
Width Of.—\\\ floors of all buildings of Class IV shall be
designed and constructed in such a manner as to be capable
of bearing in all their parts, in addition to the weight of
floor construction, partitions and permanent lixtures and
mechanisms that may be set upon the same, a live load of
one hundred pounds for every square foot of surface in
such tloor. The width of stairways in buildings used wlioUy
or in pan for the purposes of Class IV shall be eigliteen
inches for every one hundred of the aggregate seating
capacity of all rooms in such building, which are used for
the purposes of Class IV and for fractional parts of each
one hundred seating capacity a proportionate part of
eighteen inches shall be added to the width of such stair-
ways, but no stairway in such building shall be less than
four feet wide in the clear, except as hereinafter provided;
and provided, further, that in any such building having a
room or rooms used for purposes of Class IV the aggregate
seating capacity of which shall not exceed two hundred and
fifty persons, two separate and distinct tlircc-foot stairways
shall be permitted.

.Ml stairways shall have hand railings on each side tlicreof.
Stairways which are over 7 feet wide shall have double in-
termediate handrails, with end newel posts at least 5^^ feet
high. No stairways shall ascend a greater height than
thirteen feet six inches without a level landing, which, if its
width is in the direction of the run of the stairs, shall not
be less than three feet wide, or which, if at a turn of the
stairs, shall not be of less width than the widlli of the
stairs.

Stairways leading to a box or boxes, seating not to exceed
thirty people in the aggregate, shall be independent of all
other stairs or seats and not less than two feet six inches
wide in the clear. For each additional twenty-five of seating
capacity, or major portion thereof, in such boxes, an addi-
tional width of five inches shall be added to such stairways.

Walls — Ledges. — See Section 588.

Doors and Windows — When Required to Be Closed — P ire-
Resisting Glass. — See Section 632.

Sec. 300. Balconies and Galleries — E.vil and Entrance. —
Distinct and separate places of exit and entrance shall be
provided for each gallery. .\ common place of exit and
entrance may serve for the main floor of the auditorium and
the balcony, provided its capacity be equal to the aggregate
capacity of all aisles or corridors leading from the main floor
and such balcony to such place of exit and entrance.

Sec. 301. Balconies and Galleries — Designation Of. —
Where there arc balconies or galleries, the first balcony or

gallery >\y.i\l be designated the "Ualcony," and the second and
third balcony or gallery shall be designated, respectively,
"(iallery" and "Second Gallery." Such designation shall be
plainly printed on all admission tickets.

Sec. 30.'. Aisles — Steps in Aisles — rassagezcays — Kept
L'nobslnuled — Width of Corridors, Passages, llalln'ays and
Doors. — .-\isles in rooms or auditoriums used for the pur-
poses of Class IV shall in the aggregate be eighteen inches
in width for each one hundre<l of the seating capacity of
such room or auditorium, and for fractional parts of one
hundred, a proportionate part of eighteen inches shall be
added ; but no aisle shall be less than two feet and six inches
in width in its narrowest part.

Steps shall be permitted in aisles only as extending from
bank to bank of seats, and whenever the rise from bank to
bank of seats is less than five inches the floor of the aisles
shall be made as an inclined plane, and where steps occur
in outside aisles or corridors, they shall not be isolated, but
shall be grouped together and there shall be a light so placed
as to illuminate such steps in such outside aisles or corridors.
.Ml aisles and passageways in such rooms or auditoriums
shall be kept free from camp stools, sofas, chairs and other
obstructions, and no person shall be allowed to stand in or
occupy any of such aisles or passageways during any per-
formance, service, exhibition, lecture, concert, ball, or any
public assembly.

Sec. 303. Corridors, J\issage:>.ays. JLilhuvys and Doors —
Width Of. — The width of corridors, passageways, hallways
and doors adjacent to, connected with or a part of such
rooms or auditoriums, shall be computed in the same manner
as is herein provided for stairways and aisles, excepting,
liowever, that no such corridor, passageway or hallway shall
l)e anywhere less than four feet in width, and no such door
shall be less than three feet in width.

Sec. 304. Seals— Number of in Rozfs.— There shall not
be more than fourteen seats in any one row between aisles.

Rows of seats shall not be less than 2 feet 8 inches from
liack to back, and no bank of seats shall be of greater rise
tlian 24 inches.

Sec. 305. Emergency £.ri/i.— Emergency exits and stair-
ways shall be provided outside of the walls of all assembly
halls of a larger seating capacity than eight hundred. Pro-
vided, however, that if any such assembly hall is used for
any of the purposes described in Section 311 of this chapter,
and has a seating capacity of more than four hundred, such
assembly hall shall have emergency exits to the street of
one-half the aggregate width of the main exits, but no such
emergency exit shall be less than three feet in width.

Such emergency exits and stairways therefrom may be
built inside the walls of the building in a corridor or passage-
way not less than seven feet wide, which corridor or pass-
ageway shall be surrounded liy a fireproof partition, not less
tlian four inches thick.

Such stairways shall be made of wrought iron or steel,
or other approved fireproof material and cast iron is not
approved for this work. .Ml emergency exits and stairways
therefrom shall be kept free from obstruction of any kind,
including snow and ice.

Sec. 306. Doors to Open Outward.— .\\\ doors affording
access directly or indirectly to the street from any room used
for the purposes of Class IV shall open outward upon
suitable hinges.

Exit doors from such rooms shall not be obscured by
draperies and shall not be locked, or fastened, in any manner

149

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

during the entire time any such room is open to the pubHc,
but shall be so constructed and maintained that they may be
easily opened from the interior.

Sec. 307. JValls Between Auditoriuin and Stage. — In
buildings used either wholly or in part for the purposes of
Class IV hereafter erected, there shall be a solid brick wall,
of the same thickness as that called for on the outside walls,
between the auditorium and stage ; and in non-fireproof
buildings such walls shall extend to a height of three feet
above the roof. Provided, however, that in existing build-
ings, any room used for the purposes of Class IV and having
a seating capacity greater than four hundred, shall have the
proscenium wall built of incombustible material.

Sec. 308. Curtain Shall Be Iron, Steel or Asbestos — In-
speetioH Of — Fee. — The main curtain opening in any such
room shall have a wrought iron or steel or asbestos curtain,
which shall be inspected by the building department semi-
annually, for which inspection a charge of two dollars shall
be made, and all other openings in the proscenium wall shall
have self-closing iron doors.

Sec. 309. Stnietures Over Ceiling — Construction. — If any
structure is built over the ceiling or roof of any building
used either wholly or in part for the purposes of Class IV
the different members of the girders or trusses supporting
same shall have their fireproofing double, in the manner re-
quired for columns for fireproof buildings of Class I.

Sec. 310. Fire Apparatus on Stage. — In all rooms used
for the purpose of Class IV of a seating capacity of two
hundred and fifty or more, where stationary scenery is used,
there shall be kept for use two or more portable fire ex-
tinguishers or hand fire pumps on and under the stage, and
also four fire department axes, two fifteen-foot hooks and
two ten-foot hooks on each tier or floor of the stage, subject
to the approval of the Fire Marshal, and in such rooms of
less seating capacity than two hundred and fifty, there shall
be at least one portable fire extinguisher.

Sec. 311. Rooms Used for Regular Theatrical or I'aiide-
ville Performances — Exit Doors — Fireman — Employment Of
— Duties. — Amended by ordinance June 8, 1908, to read as
follows :

Exit doors shall not be obscured by draperies and shall
not be locked or fastened in any manner during the entire
time any such room of Class IV is open to the public, so
as to prevent them from being easily opened outwardly;
and such doors shall be so constructed and maintained as to
require no special knowledge or effort to open them from the
interior.

It shall be the duty of every person, firm or corporation
conducting, operating or maintaining any room having a
seating capacity of three hundred or more, used for the
purposes of Class IV and which is used regularly for the-
atrical or vaudeville performances, and where an admission
fee is charged, to procure at his, their or its own expense
the attendance at each and every performance of one fireman
who shall be detailed by the Fire Marshal from the regular
City Fire Department; he shall be in the uniform of the
Chicago Fire Department and he shall be on duty at such
place wherein such theatrical or vaudeville performance is
given during the entire time it is open to the public. He
shall report to and be subject to the orders of the Fire
Marshal and shall see that all fire apparatus required by this
Chapter is in its proper condition, ready for use, and that all
exit doors are unlocked during the entire time such building

is open to the public, and are all in efticient and ready working
order.

Such fireman and the Fire Marshal shall require all persons
employed in or about such room to be drilled in the use of all
apparatus and appliances for the prevention of fire installed
therein, at least twice in every week, and such fireman shall
report to the Fire Marshal the manner and efficiency of sucli
drill. Such fireman shall report in writing daily to the Fire
Marshal the condition and equipment of the building, or
portion thereof, to which he is detailed. No fireman shall
be on duty at any one building for a longer period than
two weeks.

The compensation to be paid to the city for the services
of such city fireman so detailed shall be based on the regular
salary paid by the city to such fireman and shall be computed
according to the ratio between the number of hours such
fireman is required by his duties hereunder to devote
to such theater and the total nuiuber of hours such
fireman is employed by the city for all purposes. All sums
received by the city under the provisions of this section shall
be for the use and benefit of tlie Fire Department.

Sec. 312. Standpipe and Hose on Stage. — A standpipe not
less than one and one-half inches in diameter, with a hose
connection and hose valve therein, shall be installed on each
side of the stage in such room, and shall at all times have a
hose connected thereto, ready for use.

Such standpipe shall be connected with a power pump or
gravity tank so that a sufficient pressure of water shall be
furnished through such standpipe to afford adequate fire
protection. The pressure to be furnished by such tank or
pump shall be satisfactory to the Fire Marshal.

Sec. 313. I'cnts or Flue Pipes. — One or more vents or
flue pipes of metal construction or other incombustible ma-
terial approved by the Commissioner of Buildings shall be
built over the stage, and shall extend not less than ten feet
above the highest point of the roof, and hsall be equivalent
in area to one-twentieth of the area of the stage.

In buildings where additional stories are built above the
stage, such vents or flue pipes may be carried out near the
top of the stage walls, and shall be continued and run up'
on the exterior of the building to a point five feet above the
highest point of the additional stories.

All such flues or vents shall be provided with metal dam-
pers, and shall be opened by a closed circuit battery, approved
by the City Electrician.

Such dampers shall be controlled by two switches, one at
the Electrician's station on the stage, which station shall be
fireproof, and the other at the city fireman's station on the
opposite side of the stage ; such switches shall be located in
such places on the stage as may be designated by the Fire
Marshal, and each switch shall have a sign with plain direc-
tions as to the operation of same printed thereon.

Sec. 314. Fuse Boxes. — All fuse boxes shall be sur-
rounded by two thicknesses of fireproof material, with an
air space between, and no fuse shall be exposed to the air
between the switchboards ; all electrical equipment in such
rooms shall be installed and maintained to the satisfaction
and approval of the City Electrician.

Sec. 315. License. — The amusement license for each room
used for the purposes of Class IV shall state the number of
persons such room has accommodations for, which number
shall be governed by the provisions of this chapter relating
thereto, and no more than that number shall be allowed to be
in such room at any one time.

150

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

No anuisemfiit liccnsv shall In- issurd lor any room used
lor till- purposes of Class l\' unless tlie Coinniissioner of
Buildings, tlic Fire Marshal and the City Klectrician shall
lirst have certified, in writing, that such room complies with
the provisions of this chapter in every respect.

Sec. 316. £.ri/.f — Dinjiniiii of. Printed on I'ronrtiins —
Signs Over. — It shall he the duty of the owner, lessee, or
manager of every room used for the purposes of Class IV'
and in which programs are issued for performances given
therein, to cause to be printed on such programs a diagram
showing conspicuously the exits from such room. The word
"Exit" shall be in letters at least six inches high over the
opening to every means of egress from any such room, and
in any such room having a greater seating capacity than four
hundred, a red light furnished by gas or sperm oil shall be
kept burning over such word during the entire period such
room is open to the public and until the audience has left
such room.

Sec. 317. All Paris of Room Well Lighted During Per-
formanee. — Every portion of any room used lor the purposes
of Class IV and all outlets therefrom leading to the streets,
including the passageways, courts and corridors, stairways,
exits and emergency exit stairways, shall be well and prop-
erly lighted during every performance, and the same shall
be kept so lighted until the entire audience has left the
premises ; and every passageway, or court, or corridor, or
stairway, or exit, or emergency exit stairway, shall be pro-
vided with signs, indicating the way out of the building, tlie
letters of which shall not be less than six inches in height.

Sec. 318. /.i,!,'/i/,f in llolls. Corridors ond Lohhies. Control
of — Sefarote Shut-Off — Cunneelion leith l,\is Moins — Pru-
leclion of Siisfended and Bracket Linhls — Protection of
Lights Inserted in Halls — Protection of Fool Lights — Con-
struction of Border Lights — Duels and Shafts Conducting
Heated Air from Lights — Protection of Stage Lights. — .All
gas or electric lights in the halls, passageways, corridors,
lobby or other means of ingress to or egress from any such
room shall be controlled by a separate shut-off, located in
the lobby, and controlled only iii that particular place. Gas
mains supplying any such room shall have independent con-
nections for the auditorium and stage, and provision shall
be made for shutting ofT the gas from the outside of the
building. .Ml suspended or bracket lights surrounded by
glass, in the auditorium, or in any part of any such room,
shall he provided with proper wire netting underneath. N'o
gas or electric light shall be inserted in the walls, woodw-ork.
ceilings, or in any part of any such room, uidess protected
by fireproof materials. The footlights, if gas light, in addi-
tion to the wire network, shall be protected by a strong wire
guard, not less than two feet distant from such footlights.
and the trough containing such footlights shall be formed of.
and be surrounderl by. fireproof materials. .Ml border lights
shall be constructed according to the best known methods,
subject to the approval of the City Electrician, and shall be
suspended by wire rope. .Ml ducts and shafts used for
concluding heated air from the main chandelier, or from
any other light or lights, shall he constructed of metal, and
made double, with an air space between. .Ml stage lights,
if gas, shall have strong metal wire guards or screens, not
less than ten inches in diameter, so conslructeil that any
material coming in contact therewith shall be out of reach
of the flame, and such guards or .screens shall be firmly
soldered to the fixtures in all cases.

The use of calcium lights in any hall or room used rcgu-
l.irly for theatrical or \andeville performances is prohibited

an<l nil c.ilcium lights shall lie permitted upon any stage: all
arc lights used on the stage shall be subject to the apjiroval
of the City Electrician.

.Sec. 3IXa. It is hereby maile the di.ly of all owners, occu-
pants or lessees of theaters or places of .-iinusemeni to provide
separate dressing room or rooms for males and females in
all theaters and places of amusement where dressing room or
rooms are provicled underneath, adj:icenl to or above the
stage, or elsewhere in the buibling wherein said theater or
place of amusement is located or maintained. The partitions
forming said <lressing room or rooms, except wdiere already
built, shall be coiistructeil with incombustible material.

It shall 1)e unlawful for any person, firm or corporation,
whether owner, occupant or lessee of any theater or place
of amusement, to permit the joint use i)y both males and
females of any dressing room either underneath, adjacent lo
or above the stage, or elsewhere in the building wherein any
theater or place of amusement is located or maintained.

Passed March 22. 1909.

Sec. 319. .Ipl'aralns I'nder Control of l-ire .Marshal.— '\'\\v
standiiipes. hose, and all apparatus for the extinguishing of
fire or guarding again.st the same, recpiired by the provisions
of this Chapter to be provided, shall be at all times so pro-
vided and kept in a maimer satisfactory to the Fire Marshal.

Sec. 321). Scenery lo Br Incombustible. — No scenery or
stage paraphernalia of any sort shall be used upon the stage
of any room useil for the purixises of class IV^. unless such
scenery and paraphernalia shall have been treated with a
paint or chemical solution which shall make in non-inflani-
nialile. and which treated scenery or stage paraphernalia, or
both, sh.iU ])c tested and .ipproved by the Fire .Marshal.

Two sets of such scenery may be used in existing buildings
of this class having a seating capacity of less than 800. and
the main fioor of wliich is not more than three (3) feel
above the street level of the street upon which such 1luildin^;
opens.

Two sets of such scenery may also be allowed in existing
buildings of this class having a seating capacity of over 800
and not over 1,200, and the main fioor of which is not more
than three feet above the street level of the street upon
which such building opens: provided, that the main curtain
opening in any such room shall have a wrought iron or steel
curtain which shall lie inspected by the Ruilding Department
semi-annually, for which insjiection a charge of two dollar'-
shall be made.

.\s amended by ordinance Feb. 10, 1908.

Sec. 321. Commissioner of Buildings. City Electrician. Fire
Marshal and Superintendent of Police Emfoz^-cred to Enter.—
The Connnissioner of Buildings. City Electrician, Fire Mar-
shal. Superintendent of Police, ;ind their respective assistants,
shall have the right to enter any building used wholly or in
part for the purposes of Class IV and any and all parts
thereof, at any reasonable time, and at any time when occu-
pied by the public, in order to examine such building, and
it shall be unlawfid for any person l<i interfere with them
in the performance of their duties.

Sec. 322. Pozi-er of Officers to C7<ij<-.— The Conmiissioner
of Buildings, Fire Marshal, City Electrician or Superintendent
of Police, or any one of them, shall have the power, and it
shall be their joint and several duty, to order any building
used wholly or in part for the purposes of Class IV closed,
where it is discovered that there is any violation of any of
the provisions of this article, until the same are complied
with.

151

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Sec. 323. License— Mayor Shall Revoke— Upon the report
to the Mayor by the Commissioner of Buildings, Fire Mar-
shal, City Electrician, or Superintendent of Police, or any of
them, that any order of requirement of this article in regard
to buildings used wholly or in part for the purposes of
Class IV has been violated or is not being complied with, in
any such building, the Mayor shall revoke the amusement
license of any amusement or entertainment therein conducted,
and shall cause such building, or portion thereof, devoted to
the uses of Class IV, to be closed.

ARTICLE VIII.
PROVISIONS RELATING SOLELY TO CLASS V.

liLTILDINCS or CL.^SS V NOW IN E.XISTENCE.

In Class V sliall be included every building which is used
as a public theater where an admission fee is charged and
in which movable scenery is used : provided, however, that
public halls and club halls, with a seating capacity of less
than six hundred, although occasionally used for theatrical
representations, shall not be construed to be public theaters
within the meaning of the term as 'used in this section,
notwithstanding the fact that movable scenery is used upon
the stage thereof on such occasions, and such public halls
and club halls shall not be considered as buildings of Class V
as herein defined. Such public halls and club halls shall be
included in Class IV, as defined in Section 400 of this ordi-
nance.

Sec. 324. The following provisions shall apply to buildings
now in existence and used wholly or in part for the purposes
of Class V.

Sec. 325. JValls—Oiifside-Slrueliires Built Abovc.-The
outside walls of all such buildings, the roofs or ceilings of
which are carried on trusses or girders of a span of fifty feet
or more, shall be as follows ;

If such walls are less than twenty-five feet high, they shall
be not less than twenty inches thick.

If they are more than twenty-five feet and less than forty-
five feet high, they shall be not less than twenty-four inches
thick.

If they are more than forty-five feet and less than sixty
feet high, they shall be not less than twenty-eignt inches thick.

If they are more than sixty feet and less than seventy-five
feet high, they shall be not less than thirty-two inches thick.

If they are more than seventy-five feet and less than ninety
feet high, they shall be not less than thirty-six inches thick.

An increase of four inches in thickness of such walls shall
be made in all cases where they are over one hundred feet
long, without cross-walls of equal height.

The thickness of the walls enclosing or surrounding rooms
used for the purposes of Class V, where such rooms are less
than fifty feet wide, may be reduced by four inches.

If one or more stories are built above any room devoted
to the uses of Class V, and such stories are carried on trusses
or girders, the thickness of walls shall be increased by four
inches for each two stories or part thereof above such room.

afforded by such buttresses or columns, but in no case shall
any such wall be less than twelve inches thick in the top
story, and four inches shall be added, going downward, for
each story, for each gallery, or for each twenty-five feet in
height of wall. Provided, that if in any such building now
in existence the structural parts thereof do not comply with
the foregoing requirements and structural changes are made
therein, then all walls, columns or other structural parts shall
be strengthened in a manner satisfactory to the Commissioner
of Buildings.

Sec. 326. Columns in Walls — Alterations. — Amended l)y
ordinance Dec. 2, 1907, to read as follows ;

If iron or steel columns are introduced in such walls, the
brick work around the same shall be bonded into that of the
connecting walls, and each of such columns shall be fire-
proofed, as provided in Section 511 of this Chapter. All
alterations in such existing buildings intended to make them
comply with the requirements of this chapter may be executed
with the same kind of materials as those originally used in
the construction of such buildings; provided, that after the
said building is brought into compliance with the provisions
of this chapter, then, all subsequent alterations, enlargements,
repairs, replaced or strengthened structural parts damaged
by fire, wear and tear, or otherwise, shall be made of fire-
proof construction, iron or steel construction, covered with
fireproof materials, as provided by Article XII of this chapter.

Sec. 327. Other Classes Built in Conjunction luitli Class l'
— Doors for Openings Between Connecting Buildings. — In all
cases where existing buildings used wholly or in part for the
purposes of Class V are built in conjimction with or as part
of buildings devoted to the uses of other classes, and where
such buildings of the other classes, as specified in this chapter,
are not built entirely or fireproof construction, double iron
doors shall be placed at each connecting opeiling between such
buildings of Class V. and the building connected therewith.

Sec. 328. Floor Levels — Limitations Of. — The audience
ruom or rooms or auditorium or auditoriums used for the
purposes of Class V, containing in the aggregate not more
than five hundred seats, if in a fireproof building, may be
located in any story thereof, but in such case there shall be
at least two separate stairways from the floor or floors in
wiiich such audience room or auditorium is located to the
ground, each of which stairways shall be not less than four
feet in width in the clear.

In existing buildings of fireproof construction, having an
audience room or an auditorium with a seating capacity of
more than five hundred and less than fifteen, hundred, the
lowest bank of seats of the main floor thereof shall be not
more than twelve feet above the street level, and every such
floor shall in all other respects conform to the require-
ments of this chapter. The main floor of no existing theater
of any construction other than fireproof sliall be raised above
its present elevation.

Sec. 329. Loads — .-llloieanee for Live Loads in Construc-
tion of Floors of Class 1'. — For all buildings of Class V, all
floors shall be designed and constructed in such manner as
to be capable of bearing in all their parts, in addition to the
weight of floor construction, partitions and permanent fixtures
and mechanisms that may be set upon the same, a live load
of one hundred pounds for every square foot of surface in
such floors.

Sec. 330. Staineays — Entrance and E.rits. — Stairways
affording ingress to or egress from any room or rooms used
for the purposes of Class V shall be in width equivalent to

152

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

iwriily iiiclus lor every one Inuulrcd of sialiiig lapacily "i
such room anil for fractional parts of one lunulreil a pro-
portionate part of twenty inches of width shall he aihleil, hnt
in no event shall any such stairway he less than four feet
wide in the clear, except as hereinafter i)rovided in this
section.

All such stairways shall have hand railings on each side
thereof and shall not ascend a Rrealer height than thirteen
feet si.\ inches without a level landing, and the length and
width of such landing shall not he less than the width of
the stairs; no run of stairs shall consist of less than six
risers hetween platforms, and risers shall not he placed on
return platforms. Stairways which are over 7 feet wide shall
have douhle intermediate handrails, with end newel posts at
least 5! J feet higli.

Steps shall not have a greater rise than seven and three-
eighths inches, treads shall not be narrower than eleven
inches, anti winders shall not he used on any slairc.ise. except
where circular staircases are expressly permitted.

In existing theaters each and every hak-ony and gallery
shall have separate and distinct entrance stairways from the
sidewalk level, except that in cases where tlie vestibule or
entrance to any such theater is not more than fifteen inches,
or two steps, above the sidewalk level and such steps are at
or near the building line, the stairways to such balcony and
gallery may ascend from the floor of such vestibule or en-
trance, but if the run of the stairs at the bottom is not
toward the street, there shall he a hand rail or rails three
feet above the floor, constructed from the foot of such stair-
ways for a distance of not less than live feel leading toward
the street. .-Ml doors intervening between such stairways and
the street shall, during each and every performance. l>e kept
unfastened.

There shall be an iron stairway or stairways from the
stage to the fly galleries and gridiron, continuing to the roof
of the building or to some fireproof passageway or exit. Such
stairways may be circular. Such circular stairways, however.
shall not he used for access to the dressing rooms.

Stairs leading to a box or boxes seating not to exceed
thirty people, in the aggregate, shall be independent of all
other stairs and scats and not less than two feet eight inches
wide in the clear. For each additional twenty-five of seating
capacity, or major portion thereof, there shall be an additional
width of five inches added to such stairways.

.\11 stairways on the stage side of the proscenium wall sb.dl
be not less than two feet six inches wide.

Instead of increasing the width requirKl for enlrances,
aisles, exits and stairways to that required by this chapter,
ihe owner, lessee or manager of any such theater shall have
the privilege of reducing the number of permanent scats
therein until the same ratio between such width and number
of seats as hereinbefore provided for shall be established,
and if such privilege be taken advantage of. it shall be the
duly of the Commissioner of Buildings to make inspection
aiul Certify that such ratio actually exists before a license for
the operation of any such theater shall he issued.

Sec. 331. Floors at Exits. — Floors at all exits shall be so
designed as to be level and flush with adjacent floors and
shall extend for an unbroken width of not less than four
feet in front of each exit, and shall be two feet wider than
such exit.

Sec. 332. Scats in l<<):^s lict-.^rni . /I'j/c-i.— More than ten
seats in any row between aisles in any gallery shall not be
permitted. On the main floor and balcony, not more than
eleven scats hetween aisles shall be permitted: provided, how-

ever, that in banks of seats no main floors an<l balconies that
.ire not :il a greater <listance than twenty feet from ;m exit,
thirteen seats slall be permitted hetween aisles.

Se;ils slall be not less than twenty inches in width, meas-
ureil at the lop of the seat backs.

Rows of seats shall be not less than two feet eight inches
from back to hack.

.\'o h.ink of seats shall be of greater rise than tweiily-two
inches.

.\ll groups of .seals shall be so arranged that there shall be
,111 aisle at each side of each group, provided, however, that
groups of five seals or less may abut upon a tunnel at one
side and an aisle at the other side.

The number of banks of seats on the main floor shall not
exceed fifleeii, unless an intervening or cross aisle is pro-
vided betwein each fifteen banks of seats or a direct exit is
provided for each aisle.

The number of banks of seals in Ihe balcony shall not
exceed nine unless an intervening or cross aisle is provided
lietween each nine lianks of seats or a direct exit is provided
for each aisle.

Sec. i3X Tiiiiiirls— Cross Aislrs — I'crlical Rise — Foyer. —
■fhere shall be no more than twelve feet rise, measured
vertically, in any aisle in any gallery without a direct exit
by tunnel or otherwise to a corridor with free opening on to
Ihe gallery stairs or other direct discharge to the street, or
at such elevation of twelve feet an intervening or cross aisle
leading directly to an exit. Xo tunnel shall be less than
three feet wide in the clear. Xo foyer shall be open to the
iheaUT pro])cr except through the exits.

."set'. .?.^4. Moin Floor — Balcony and Gallery — Desinnalion
()/ — Ibi I'lwer floor of all theaters shall be designated the
■-.Main l-'li.or."

Where there are balconies or galleries, Ihe first balcony or
gallery shall be designated the "Balcony" and the second and
third balcony or gallery shall be designated, respectively,
"Gallery" and "Second (iallery." Such designation shall be
printed plainly on all admission tickets.

Sec. 3.^5. Aisles. Corridors and I'assaiiezeays — Kel>t Cn-
obstrueled — Stel's in .lisles. — The miniinum width of aisles
w'ith diverging sides in any room or auditorium used for the
purposes of Class V shall be two feet eight inches at the
end near the stage and not less than three feet at the other
end.

The Miininniiii width of aisles with parallel sides shall be
three feet.

I-^very aisle shall lead as nearly as possible directly to an
exit, but in no case shall the center line of such exit be more
than three feet from the center line of any such aisle leading
tlicrelo. Steps shall not be permitted in aisles except as
extending from bank to bank of seats and no riser shall be
greater than seven and three-eighths inches, and no tread shall
be less than nine and one-half inches, and whenever the rise
from bank to bank of scats is less than five inches, the floor
of the aisles shall be made as an inclined plane, and where
steps are placed in outside aisles or corridors they shall not
be isolated, but shall be grouped together and a light shall
be m.iintained .so that every place where there are steps in
inclosing aisles or corridors shall be clearly lighted. .-Ml aisles,
passageways, corridors and exits shall be kept free from camp
stools, chairs, sofas an<l other obstructions, and no person
shall be allowed to stand in or occupy any such aisles, pas-
sageways, corridors or exits during any performance, service,
exhibition, lecture, concert or any public assemblage.

153

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Sec. 336. Corridors. Passagcivays, Hallways and Doors —
Width Of. — The width of corridors, passageways, hallways
and doors shall be computed in the saine manner as that
hereinbefore provided for stairways, excepting, however, that
no corridor shall be anywhere less than four feet in width,
and no door less than three feet wide, except as otherwise
herein provided.

All corridors, passageways, hallways and stairways leading
from any balcony or gallery to any toilet room, retiring room,
smoking room, check room or private office, shall permit of
free passage, without returning to an outer exit of the build-
ing. Such corridors, passageways, hallways and stairways
shall be at least three feet in width in every part between
such balcony or gallery and such outer exit, and shall be
unobstructed in every part except by doors, not less than
three feet in width in the clear, which shall swing outward
.ind which shall not be provided with locks or catches of any
kind whatever.

Sec. i37. Doors — Entrance. — The entrance doors to every
theater shall be of sufficient width to accommodate the entire
audience, computed on the basis of twenty incites in width
in the clear to each hundred permanent seats, and in addition
thereto a proportionate part of twenty inches for a fractional
part of each one hundred seats in the audience room or
auditorium.

No mirrors shall be so arranged as to give the appearance
of a doorway, e.xit, hallway or corridor, when no such door-
way, exit, hallway or corridor is really in existence, nor shall
there be any false doors or windows giving the appearance
of an opening where none really exits.

Walls — Ledges. — See Section 588.

Doors and Windows — When Required to be Closed — Fire-
resisting Glass. — Sec .Section 632.

Sec. 338. Emergency Exits — Width — Emergency Stairs —
Width — Emergency Exits Inside Walls of Buildings — Fire
Escapes, Construction — Fire Escapes Leading to Street or
Alley — Doors Open OutK'ard. — Emergency exits and stair-
ways shall be provided separately for each floor, balcony and
gallery. They shall be of the same aggregate width as that
provided for the main exits, and no emergency exit, doorway
or stairway shall be less than three feet in width. Such emer-
gency stairways shall be made of iron, steel or other incom-
bustible materials. Sixh emergency exits shall be kept free
of obstructions of any kind, including snow and ice.

Such emergency exits and stairways may be built inside
the walls of the building, provided they are surrounded by a
fireproof partition not less than four inches thick separating
the exits and stairways from the audience room nr audi-
torium.

If said emergency exits lead outside the building, the open-
ing leading thereto shall have metal frames filled with wire
glass doors opening outward, hung from the inside corner
of the jambs, and so constructed as not to project, when
opened, beyond the outside face of the wall. Outside shutters
will not be permitted, except when the same shall open
automatically from the interior, without resistance, and when
used or opened will automatically fasten, securely, flat against
the wall, so as not to in any way obstruct the passage on
the Offside; all sucli automatic devices or attachments to said
doors to be subject to the ai prova! of the Commissioner of
Buildings and the Fire Marshal of the City of Chicago.

As amended Oct. 22, 1906.

Whenever any such emergency stairway passes over an exit
door or window or other opening, such stairway shall be
completely inclosed for a space of five feet greater in width

than such opening liy iron, steel or other incombustible ma-
terial.

All such emergency exits and stairways shall land at the
ground level in a public thoroughfare or in some space that
connects directly with a street or alley and direct and im-
mediate exit to such public thoroughfare shall not be ob-
structed by any doors, gates, bars or other obstruction of
any character.

Every court in which there is an emergency stairway shall
have direct and unobstructed access along the surface of the
ground to a street, alley or yard opening into an alley or
street, without entering into or passing through or over any
building unless by a four-foot wide fireproof passage on the
court or ground level.

All doors in openings from any and all exits and stairways
shall be so constructed that when opened they shall not
obstruct any portion of any other doorway, opening or pas-
sageway.

All doors affording ingress to or egress from any theater
shall open outward upon suitable hinges.

Sec. 339. E.rit Doors — Particulars as To. — Exit doors shall
not be obscured by draperies and shall not be locked or
fastened in any manner during the entire time such theater
is open to the public, so as to prevent them from being easily
opened outwardly ; and such door shall be so constructed and
maintained as to require no special knowledge or effort to
open them from the interior.

Sec. 340. Wall — Brick Proscenium Wall Bctiveen Audi-
torium and Stage — Steel Curtain Fireproof ed on Stage Side —
No Combustible Material on Audience Side — Plans for Cur-
tain — Permit from Building Department — Inspection — Fee. —
There shall be in every theater a solid brick wall of the same
construction and thickness as is required in outside walls
between the auditorium and the stage. The maiti proscenium
opening shall have a substantial steel curtain vertically oper-
ated and fireproofcd on the stage side, which shall be raised
and lowered by mechanical power and which shall be in con-
stant use as tlie regular curtain and act drop.

No combustible material other than painted decorations
shall be applied to the audience side of such curtains.

Plans for such curtain shall be approved by the building
department and a permit obtained for its erection. The
building department shall inspect such curtain semi-annually,
for which inspection a fee of two ($2) dollars shall be
charged.

All other openings in such proscenium wall shall have iron
doors, frames and thresholds.

Sec. 341. Stage. Construction Of — Fireproof Paint — Scenery
— IJow Treated. — The framing of the floor of every stage
shall be of iron or steel. The stage floor may be of wood, but
shall not be less than two and three-fourths inches thick. The
entire floor construction and floor of fly galleries, rigging
lofts and paint gallery, all railings and supports and stan-
chions thereon, and all sheaves, pulleys and cables and their
supports shall be of iron or steel. All woodwork, including
the under side of floor boards, and all framing for scenery
used on or about the stage shall be coated with a fireproof
paint, the qualities of which shall be submitted to and ap-
proved by the Commissioner of Buildings. All wood used
for floor and floor supports shall be coated on the under side
with the same kind of paint.

No scenery or stage paraphernalia of any sort shall be used
upon the stage of any room used for the purposes of Class V,
unless such scenery and paraphernalia shall have been treated
with a paint or chemical solution which shall make it non-

154

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

iiiH;miin;il)lc. Jiiid wliicli trialcd sci'iuTy or staj-c parapluT-
nalia. or hotli. shall he lostod and approved by thi- Firr
>rarshal.

Sec. 342. I'l-slibult- of Slagc Doors. — All doorways or open-
ings in the rear or sides of tlic stage shall be vestihulcd or
protected in a manner satisfactory to the Commissioner of
Buildings, so as to protect the curtain, scenery and auditorium
against drnnghts of air.

Sec. 343. I ill Is. l-'hii- I'iffS. Sice Of—Duiiil'iis—SiCilflu-s
for Diiiiifcrs. — One or more vents or Hue pipes, of metal con-
struction, or other incombustible material suitable for carry-
ing away smoke, approved by the Commissioner of Huildings,
and extending not less than fifteen feet above the highest
point of the roof, and equivalent in area to one-twentieth of
the area of the stage, shall be built over the stage.

In buildings where additional stories are built above the
stage, such vents or Hue pipes may be carried out near the
top of the stage walls and shall be continued and run up on
the exterior of the building to a point five feet above the
highest point of such additional stories.

All sucli flues or vents shall be provided willi metal damp-
ers, and shall be opened by a closed circuit battery approved
by the city electrician : such dampers shall be controlled by
two switches, one at the electrician's station on the stage,
which station shall be fireproof, and the other at tlie city
fireman's station on the opposite side of the stage ; such
switches shall be located at such places on the stage as are
designated by the fire marshal, and each shall have a sign
with plain directions as to the operation of same printed
thereon.

All fuse boxes shall l)e surrounded l)y two thicknesses of
fireproof material, with an air space lietween, and no fuses
shall he exposed to the air between the switchboards.

Sec. 344. .Aiitoiiuilii .Sfriitklcrs — Locution Of — Tonk — Con-
nections. — There shall be provided an approved system of
automatic sprinklers, with approved automatic closed circuit
electric devices connecting the valves regulating the flow of
water in the various sprinkler pipes, with the headquarters
of the city fire alarm telegraph and such other place or places
as the Fire Mar.shal shall direct, so arranged as to prevent
any tampering with the system or the shutting oflf of the
water from the sprinkler pipes without automatic notice to
the fire department.

Such system of automatic sprinklers shall I)e supplied with
water from a tank located not less than twenty feet above
the level of the highest sprinkler head in the system, and it
shall be the duty of the fireman provided for in this chapter
to include in his daily report the result of an inspection to
determine the sufliciency of water in this tank. .Automatic
sprinklers shall be placed in the paint room, store-room,
property room, scene storage room, carpenter shop and dress-
ing rooms, if such rooms are in or connected with a building
used for the purposes of Class V, such tank shall not be con-
nected with a standpipe and ladder system, but shall be filled
through a separate pipe from a fire pump, and a three-inch
iron pipe shall extend from such tank to the outsfile of such
building, with Siamese connections for fire department use.
Such entire automatic sprinkler system and equipment and
the location thereof shall be subject to the approval of the
Fire Marshal.

.Sec. 345. l-irc .Ift'oiatiis on .Sloiic — Hand I'irc I'uinps—
Fire .\hilcrials — Hot Air Furnaces. — .A standpipe not less
than two and one-half inches in diameter, having a hose valve
or valves thereon, shall be installed on each si<le of the stage.

with a hose connection at the stage and at each level above
and below the stage, and hose connected thereto at each valve
ready for use at all times. Such standpipe shall be connected
with ;i tank on the roof containing not less than three thou-
sand g.illons of water, protected from frost, and also with a
power puni]), all of which shall be subject to the approval
(if the l-"ire Marshal. Portable fire extinguishers or hand fire
pumps shall always be kept ready for use on and under the
stage ; in fly galleries an<l in rigging lofts, and in additions
thereto ;it least four fire department axes and six pike poles
shall be kept ready for use on each tier or floor of the stage,
all of whicli shall be subject to tlu- approval of ihe Fire
Marshal.
The Use of ordinary hoi air furnaces or stoves is prohibited.

Sec. 346. li.vits — Diaarain Of, Printed on Program. — It
sh;dl be the duty of the owner, lessee or manager of any
theater, for any performance in which programs are issued,
to cause to be printed on such programs, on the page opposite
that upon which the cast is printed, a diagram showing con-
spicuously all exits of such building. .\ diagram of seats of
e.ich floor, and the exits leading from eacli floor drawn to a
scale of one-eighth inch to tlie foot, shall be hung in a frame
within two feet of the ticket seller's window and so as to he
easily seen by the public.

Sec. .347. Lighting — !iulef>cndent Lighting System for E.rils
— Red Liglit Over E.vits. — .Ml stairways and corridors shall be
supplied with a supplementary lighting system of electricity,
gas or sperm oil. and such system shall be independent of
all other lights in such building and shall be in operation
during the entire period such theater is open to the public
and until the audience has left the building. The word
"F'.XIT" shall be in letters :it least six inches bigli over the
opening to every means of egress from such theater and a
red light furni.shed by gas or sperm oil shall be kept burning
over such word "EXIT" at every .such opening, during the
entire period such theater is open to tlie pu1)lic and until Ihe
audience has left the building.

Sec. 348. fire .Alarm .-Ipfaratiis. — Every theater shall be
provided with an .ipproved system of automatic or manual
fire alarm telegraph apparatus, connected by the necessary
wires with the headquarters of the city fire alarm telegraph,
and such other place or places as the Fire Marshal may direct.
The number and location of the boxes and the character of
the system, whether automatic or manual, or both, shall be
determined by the Fire Marshal.

Sec. 349. Firemen— Emt>loymenl 0/—/)h/;<\«.— Amended by
ordinance, June 8, 1908, to read as follows :

It shall be the duty of every person, firm or corporation
conducting, operating or maintaining a theater to procure at
his, their or its own expense, the attendance, at each and
every performance, of one lireman who shall be detailed by
the h^ire Mar.shal from the regular City Fire Department; he
shall be in the uniform of Ihe Chicago Fire Department and
he shall be on duty at such theater during the entire time
it is open to the public, lie shall report to and be subject
to the orders of the Fire Marshal and shall see that all fire
apparatus required by this Chapter is in its proper condition,
ready for use and that all exit doors are unlocked during
Ihe entire time such theater is open to the public and are all
in efficient and ready working order. During the performance
he shall remain on the stage and shall generally perform
such duties as may be required of him by ihe rules and
regulations of the F^ire Department governing firemen detailed
at theaters.

155

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

It shall also be the duty of every person, firm or corpora-
tion conducting, operating or maintaining a theater to employ
in addition to the fireman hereinbefore provided for, one
other experienced and competent person as a private watch-
man or fireman who shall be approved by the Fire Marshal
and who shall be in distinctive uniform and shall be on duty
at such theater during the entire time it is open to the public.
Such private watchman or fireman shall report and be subject
to the orders of the Fire Marshal and it shall be his duty to
see that the provisions of this Chapter are complied with in
all portions of the theater occupied and used by the public,
and that all exit doors are unlocked during the entire time
such theater is open to the public, and in efficient and ready
working order. The city fireman and Fire Marshal shall re-
quire a drill of the employes of such theater, including such
private watchman or fireman, in the use of all apparatus and
appliances for the prevention of fire inside the building and
the saving of life, at least twice in every week, and such
city fireman shall report to the Fire Marshal the manner and
efficiency of such drill. Such city fireman shall report in
writing daily to the Fire Marshal the condition and equip-
ment of the theater to which he is detailed. No city fireman
shall be on duty at any one theater for a longer period than
two weeks.

The compensation to be paid the city for the services of
such city fireman so detailed shall be based on the regular
salary paid by the city to such fireman, and shall be computed
according to the ratio between the number of hours such
fireman is required by his duties hereunder to devote to such
theater and the total number of hours such fireman is em-
ployed by the city for all purposes. All sums received by the
city under the provisions of this section shall be for the use
and benefit of the Fire Department.

Sec. 350. Aiinisc'iiiciit License. — The amusement license
issued for each theater shall state the number of permanent
seats the theater contains, which number shall be governed
by the provisions of this ordinance relating thereto, and no
more than that number of persons shall be permitted to be
in such theater at any one time.

No license for the operation of a theater will be issued un-
less the Commissioner of Buildings, Fire Marshal and the
City Electrician shall first have certified, in writing, that such
theater complies with the provisions of this chapter in every
respect.

Sec. 351. Lighting— All Parts IVclI Lighted Dnring Per-
formances. — Every portion of any theater devoted to the use
or accommodation of the public and all outlets therefrom
leading to the streets, including all open courts, corridors,
stairways, exits and emergency exit stairways, shall be well
and properly lighted during every performance, and the same
shall remain lighted until the entire audience has left the
premises.

Sec. 352. Lights — Control of Lights in Halls, Corridors and
Lobbies — Separate Shut-off^Connections zcith Gas Mains —
Indej^endent Connections — Protection of Suspended and
Bracket Lights — Protection of Lights Inserted in Walls —
Protection of Footlights — Construction of Border Lights —
Ducts and Shafts Conducting Heated Air from Lights—Gas
Stage Lights to Have Metal Screens. — All gas or electric
lights in the halls, corridors, lobbies or any part of any the-
ater used by the audience, except the auditorium, shall be
controlled by a separate shut-ofT, located in the lobby, and
controlled only in that particular place. Gas mains supplying
such theater shall have independent connections for the audi-

torium and the stage, and provision shall be made for shut-
ting oft the gas from the outside of the building. All sus-
pended or liracket lights surrounded by glass in the audi-
torium, or in any other part of the theater, shall be provided
with proper wire netting underneath. No gas or electric
lights sliall be inserted in the walls, woodwork, ceilings, or in
any part of the theater, unless protected by fireproof ma-
terials. In case gas is used the footlights, in addition to the
wire network, shall be protected by a strong wire guard not
less than two feet distant from such footlights, and the
trough containing such footlights shall be formed of and
surrounded by fireproof material. All border lights shall be
constructed according to the best known method, and subject
to the approval of the Fire Marshal and the City Electrician,
and shall be suspended by wire rope. All ducts and shafts
used fo.- conducting heated air from the main chandelier, or
from any other light or lights, shall be constructed of metal
and made double, with an air space between. All gas stage
lights shall have strong metal wire guards or screens not less
than ten inches in diameter, so constructed that any material
coming in contact therewith shall be out of reach of the
flames of such lights, and such guards or screens shall be
soldered to the fixtures in all cases.

The use of calcium lights in any theater is prohibited. All
arc lights used on the stage shall at all times be subject to
the approval of the city electrician, and no arc lights shall
be used on any stage unless approved by said city electrician.

Sec. 353. Fire Apparatus — Under Control of Fire Depart-
ment. — The standpipes, automatic sprinklers, gas pipes, electric
wires, hose, footlights, fire alarm boxes, fireproof proscenium
curtain, switch boxes, ventilators, controlling levers, axes and
pike poles, and all apparatus for the extinguishing of fire or
guarding against the same, as provided for by this chapter,
shall be made and kept at all times in condition satisfactory
to and under the control of the Fire Marshal.

Sec. 354. Officers E)npowered to Enter Buildings. — The
Commissioner of Buildings, Fire Marshal, City Electrician,
Superintendent of Police, or any of them, and their respective
assistants, shall have the right to enter any building used
wholly or in part for the purposes of Class V, and any and
all parts thereof, at any reasonable time, and at any time
when occupied by the public, in order to examine such build-
ings ; to judge of the condition of the same and to discharge
their respective duties, and it shall be unlawful for any per-
son to interfere with them, or any of them, in the perform-
ance of their duties.

Sec. 355. The Commissioner of Buildings, Fire Marshal,
City Electrician or Superintendent of Police Shall Close
Buildings for Violations. — The Commissioner of Buildings,
Fire Marshal, City Electrician and the Superintendent of
Police, or any one of them, shall have the power and it shall
be their joint and several duty, to order any building used
wholly or in part for the purposes of Class V, closed, where
it is discovered that there is any violation of any of the
provisions of this chapter and keep same closed until such
provisions are complied with.

Sec. 356. License — Mayor Shall Revoke. — Upon a report
to the Mayor by the Commissioner of Buildings, Fire Mar-
shal, City Electrician or the Superintendent of Police that any
requirement of this chapter, or that any order given by them
or any of them in regard thereto has been violated, or not
complied with, the ^Nlayor shall revoke the license of any
such theater or place of amusement so reported and cause
the same to be closed.

156

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

lIllLlilXCS OF CLASS V HKREAFTEK KRKCTKl).

Sec. 357. The following provisions shall apply to buildings
hereafter erected and used wholly or in part for tlic purposes
of Class V.

Sec. 358. It'iills—Oiilsiil,- lliills—Slni,lun'S Built Above.
— The outside walls of all such buildings, the roofs or ceilings
of which are carried on trusses or girders of a span of fifty
feet or more, shall be as follows :

If such walls are less than twenty-five feet liigli they shall
not he less than twenty inches thick.

If they are more than twenty-five feet and less than forly-
fivo feci high they shall he not less than twenty-four inclies
thick.

It they are more than forty-live feet and less llian sixty
feel high they shall he not less than twenty-eight inches thick.

If they are more than sixty feet and less than seventy-five
feet high they shall be not less than thirty-two inches thick.

If they are more than seventy-five feet and less than ninety
feel high, they shall be not less than thirty-six inches thick.

.\n increase of four inches in thickness of such walls shall
be made in all cases where they are over one hundred feet
long without cross walls of equal height.

The thickness of the enclosing or surrounding walls of
rooms used for the purposes of Class V, where such rooms
are less than fifty feet wide, may be reduced by four inches.

If one or more stories are built above any room devoted
to the use of Class V, and such stories are carried on trusses
or girders, the thickness of walls shall be increased by four
inches for each two stories or part thereof above such room.

If solid masonry buttresses are employed and placed
eighteen feet or less apart, and extended to the foot of the
trusses or girders carrying the ceiling, or if iron or steel
columns are inserted in such walls for the support of the
superstructure, and at distances not tiiore than twenty-four
feet between centers, and if .such columns extend to and carry
the superimposed trusses or girders, the thickness of such
walls may be reduced in proportion to the increase of strength
aflforded by such buttresses or columns, but in no case shall
any such w-all be less than twelve inches thick in the top
story, and four inches shall be added, going downward, for
each story, for each gallery, or for each twenty-five feet in
height of wall.

Sec. 359. Columns in IWitls. — If iron or steel columns are
introduced in such walls, the ])rickwork around such colunms
shall be bounded into the brickwork of the connecting wall,
and each of such columns shall 1)e fireproofed, as provided in
Section 511 of this chapter.

Walls Around Stairs, Elevators and Shafts. — See Section
588.

Sec. 360. Construction — Frunla'^c — Open Spaces and En-
closed Passages. — All buildings hereafter erected and used
wholly or in part for the purposes of Class V shall be built
entirely of fireproof construction and shall be located so that
they adjoin at least two public thoroughfares, one of which
shall be a public street, and the other may be a public alley
not less than ten HO) feet in width.

.Ml floors, balconies and galleries of the audience room of
every theater shall have open spaces or fireproof passageways
on the three sides other than the proscenium ; and on each
of the two opposite sides other than the back and proscenium
of every stage there shall be open spaces or fireproof passage-
ways, and such open spaces or fireproof passageways shall
open on or connect directly with the public thoroughfares.

All open spaces shall not l)e less than ten (,10) feet in width
and all fireproof passageways shall not be less than eight (S)
feet in width, and shall be outside of the audience room, and
shall be kept and maintained free and clear of obstructions
of any and all kinds at any and all times.

Provided, however, that where said theater does not seat
more than (wi; hundred persons on the main floor, the width
of such fireproof passageway on each side of the auditorium
on the main floor may be reduceil to \wq feet for that portion
of passageway immediately adjoining the auditorium.

Tlie width of such passageways shall be increased twelve
(12) inches for each 100 ailditional seating capacity or frac-
tion thereof of such main floor, until the maximum now
required by law, namely, eight (8) feet, is reached, but m.
such passageway shall be less than five (5) feel in width in
this class.

.\s amended Xov. 25, 1907.

.\1I open spaces shall be open and unobstructed from the
floor or pavement of such space to the sky, with the exception
tliat emergency stairs and emergency balconies may be built
in such open spaces. The entire floor of every open space
shall 1)e level or inclined; the incline shall not exceed two (2)
inches in height for each one foot of horizontal measurement.

If one or more fireproof passageways are required on one
side of the stage, then the fireproof passageways of each floor
and the balcony and each gallery of the auilience room shall
be continued through the stage house as fireproof passage-
ways to an open space or public thoroughfare, and from the
end of each such fireproof passageway there shall be doors
or stairs, or both, which shall be arranged so as to afford a
safe exit for the audience of .such theater to the pavement
of the public thoroughfares, and if fireproof passageways are
required on both sides of the stage, then they shall be ar-
ranged and connected with all of the fireproof passageways
on both sides of the audience room in the same manner as
descril)ed for lireproof passageways when these are required
only on one side of the stage.

The fireproof passageways for the main floor may pass
under the stage floor.

Provided, however, tlial wliere there is no public thorough-
fare or open space at llie back of the stage and on one side
of the stage, then the fireproof passageways for the main
floor shall be on the stage floor and shall be built along that
side of the stage on which there is no public thoroughfare and
across the back of the stage to one of the public thorough-
fares, and the fireproof passageways for tlie balcony and the
fireproof passageways for the galleries shall each be buili
along the side of the stage and across the back of the stage,
in a continuation of the balcony and gallery floor level to a
public thoroughfare.

The fireproof passageways of the different floors, of the
lialcony and of the galleries, shall be indcpen<lent of each
other and shall not be connected with each other in any
manner.

No doors or other openings e.\cept entrance doors from the
audience room or exit doors to a thoroughfare shall be in
the walls of a fireproof passageway; and all such doors shall
be so arranged that when open they shall not obstruct the
passage.

The walls of a fireproof passageway shall be not less than
four (4) inches thick, and each and every part of such
passageway, including each and all of its supports, shall he
built of fireproof construction as required in the general pro-
visions relating to fireproof construction of this chapter.

Radiators for warming passageways sliall be in recesses.

157

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

There shall he no steps or risers in a lireproof passageway,
liiit where necessary inclined floors of the full width of the
lireproof passageways may be built; the incline of the floor
shall not exceed two and one-half (2y2) inches in height per
foot, measured horizontally, and no such incline shall be less
than ten (10) feet in length. No fireproof passageway shall
be less than eight (8) feet high in any part thereof, except
at doors, and these shall not be less than seven (7) feet high.

If the principal entrance corridor of a theater is at one side
of the audience room, then the center line extended of such
principal entrance shall intersect the center axis of the stage
and the audience room between the back of the seat most
remote from the stage on said center axis of the stage and
the audience room, and a point midway between such seat and
the wall opposite the proscenium wall.

Sec. 361. Buildings of Other Classes Built in Conjunction
With Class V— Construction Of.—li buildings used wholly or
in part for purposes of Class V are built in conjunction with
or as part of buildings devoted to the uses of other classes,
then such buildings of other classes shall be built entirely of
fireproof construction.

Sec. 362. Floor Leeds— Limitation Of.— In all cases where
the floors of the auditorium of any theater in any such build-
ing of Class V are banked or stepped up. the floor level of
the lowest bank shall not be above the sidewalk level.

All floors shall be designed and constructed in such manner
as to be capable of bearing in all their parts, in addition to
the weight of floor construction, permanent fixtures and
mechanisms that may be set upon the same, a live load of
one hundred pounds for every square foot of surface in such
floors.

The audience room or rooms or auditorium or auditoriums
used for the purposes of Class V containing, in the aggre-
gate, not more than five hundred seats, if in a fireproof
building, may be located in any story thereof, but in such
case there shall be at least two separate stairways from the
floor or floors in which such audience room or auditorium is
located to the ground, each of which stairways shall be not
less than four feet in width in the clear.

Sec. 363. Slairzeays — Entrances and Exits. — Stairways af-
fording ingress to or egress from any room used for the
purposes of Class V shall be in width equivalent to twenty
inches for every one hundred of seating capacity of such
room, and for fractional parts of one hundred a proportionate
part of twenty inches of width shall be added, but in no event
shall any such stairway be less than four feet wide in the
clear, except as hereinafter provided.

All such stairways shall have hand railings on each side
thereof, and shall not ascend a greater height than thirteen
feet six inches without a level landing, and the length and
width of such landing shall be not less than the width of the
stairs ; no run of stairs shall consist of less than six risers
between platforms, and risers shall not be placed on return
platforms. Stairways which are over seven feet wide shall
have double intermediate handrails with end newel posts at
least five and a half feet high.

Steps shall not have a greater rise than seven and three-
eighths inches, treads shall be not narrower than eleven inches,
and winders shall not be used on any staircase.

Each and every balcony and gallery shall have separate and
distinct entrances and stairways from the sidewalk level. The
bottom run of the stairs shall be directly toward the street.
Such stairs may ascend from the vestibule or entrance inside
of the building, but the bottom riser of such stairs shall be
not more than sixty-five feet from the building line. All

doors between such stairs and the street shall be kept un-
locked and unfastened during each and every performance
and until the audience has left the building.

There shall be an iron stairway or stairways from the stage
to the fly gallery and gridiron, continuing to the roof of the
building or to some fireproof passageway or exit. Such
stairways may be circular. Such circular stairways, however,
shall not be used for access to the dressing rooms.

Stairs leading to a box or boxes seating not to e.xceed
thirty people in the aggregate shall be independent of all
other stairs and seats, and not less than two feet eight inches
wide in the clear. For each additional twenty-five of seating
capacity or major portion thereof in such box or boxes there
shall be an additional five inches in width of such stairway.

All stairways on the stage side of the proscenium wall shall
be not less than two feet six inches wide.

Sec. 364. floors at Exits — Seating.- ^"loors at all exits
shall be so designed as to be level and flush with adjacent
floors and shall extend for an unbroken width of not less
than four feet in front of each exit, and shall be two feet
wider than such exit.

More than ten seats in any one row between aisles shall
not be lawful.

Seats shall be not less than twenty-two inches in width,
measured at the top of the seat backs.

Rows of seats shall not be less than two feet ten inches
from back to back.

Xo bank of seats shall have a greater rise than twenty-two
inches.

All groups of seats shall be so arranged that there shall
be an aisle at each side of each group, provided groups of
five seats or less may abut upon a tunnel at one side and an
aisle at the other side.

The number of banks of seats on the main floor shall not
exceed fifteen, unless an intervening or cross aisle is provided
between each fifteen banks of seats or a direct exit is pro-
vided for each aisle. The number of banks of seats in the
"balcony" shall not e.xceed nine, unless an intervening or
cross aisle is provided between each nine banks of seats or a
direct exit is provided for each aisle.

Sec. 365. Tunnels — Cross Aisles — Vertical Rise — Foyer. —
There shall be no more than eleven feet rise, measured ver-
tically, in any aisle in any gallery without a direct exit by
tunnel or otherwise, to a corridor with free opening on to
the gallery stairs or other direct discharge to the street, or
at any such elevation of eleven feet an intervening or cross
aisle leading directly to an exit. Xo tunnel shall be less than
three feet wide in the clear.

X'o foyer shall be open to the theater proper except through
the exits.

Sec. 366. .1/(7/); Floor — Inilcony and Gallery — Designation
Of. — The lower floor shall be designated the "Main floor."

Where there are balconies or galleries the first balcony or
gallery shall be designated the "Balcony," and the second
and third balcony or gallery shall be designated, respectively,
"Gallery" and "Second Gallery." Such designation shall be
printed plainly on all admission tickets.

Sec. 367. .Aisles and Passageicays — Keft Unobstructed —
Steps in Aisle:.. — The mininnun width of aisles with diverg-
ing sides in any room or auditorium used for the purposes
of Class V shall be two feet eight inches at the end near the
stage, and not less than three feet at the other end.

The minimum width of aisles with parallel sides shall be
three feet.

LS8

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Evory aisle shall leail directly lu an exit. Steps shall not
be permitted in aisles except as extending from hank to bank
of scats, and no riser shall be more than seven and three-
eighths inches in height, and no tread shall be less than ten
inches in width, and whenever the rise from bank to l)ank
of seats is less than live inches, the floor of the aisles shall
he made as an inclined plane : and where steps are placed in
outside aisles or corridors they shall not he isolateil. Imt shall
he grouped together, and a light shall he maintained so that
every place where there are steps in enclosing aisles or cor-
ridors shall be clearly lighted. .Ml aisles, passageways, cor-
ridors and exits shall he kept free from camp stools, chairs,
sofas and other obstructions, and no person shall be allowed
to stand in or occupy any such aisles, passageways, corridors
or exits during any performance, service, exhibition, lecture,
concert or at any public assemblage.

Sec. .368. Corridors — t'ossuncMiys — l/allz^vys and Doors —
H'idlli of Entrance Doors. — The width of corridors, passage-
ways, hallways and doors shall be computed in the same man-
ner as that hereinliefore provided for stairways, excepting,
however, that no corridors sliall l)e anywhere less tlian four
feet in width and no doorway less than three feel wide.
except as otherwise herein provided.

All corridors, passageways, hallways and stairways leading
from any balcony or gallery to any toilet room, retiring room.
smoking room, cloak room, check room or private office shall
permit of free passage, without returning, to an outer exit of
the building. Such corridors, passageways, hallways and
stairways shall be at least throe feet in width in every part
between such balcony or gallery and such outer exit, and shall
be unobstructed in every part, except by doors not less than
three feet in width in the clear, which shall swing outward
and which shall not be provided with locks or catches of any
kind whatever.

The entrance doors to every tlieater shall be of sufficient
width to accommodate the entire audience, coniputeil on the
basis of twenty inelies of width in the clear to eacli one
hundred permanent seals or proportionate part thereof in
the audience room or auditorium of such theater, and all
doors shall be so arranged that when open they sliall not
obstruct any corridor or passage whatsoever into which they
open.

\o mirrors shall be so arranged as to give llie appearance
of a doorway, exit, hallway or corridor, when no such door-
way, exit, hallway or corridor is really in existence, nor shall
there be any false doors or windows giving the appearance
of an opening where none really exists.

Sec. 369. Hntcrgcniy Exits. Width — Emergency Stairs,
ll-'idlh — Emergency E.vits Inside Walls of Bnildings — Fire
Escal>es Construction — Fire Escofcs Leading to Street or
.illey — Doors Ol>cn OK/ri'orrf.— F.mergency exits and stairways
shall be provided separately for each floor, balcony or gallery.
They shall be of the same size as that provided for tlie main
exits, and no emergency exit, doorway or stairway sliall be
less than three feet in width. Such emergency stairway sliall
be made of iron, steel or other incoml)Ustible material. Sucii
emergency exit shall be kept free of obstructions of any kind,
including snow and ice.

Such emergency exits and stairways may be built inside the
walls of the building, provided they are surrounded by a lire-
proof partition not less than four inches thick, separating the
exits and stairways from the audience room or auditorium.

If such emergency exits lead outside the building, the open-
ings leading thereto shall have metal door frames and metal
doors with panels filled with fire-resisting glass, opening out-

ward, hung from the inside corner of the janib.s, and so
constructed as not to project when opened beyond the outside
face of the wall, and outer shutters shall not be permitted.

Whenever any such emergency stairway passes over an exit
or door or window or other opening, such stairway shall be
completely enclosefl for a space of live feel greater in width
than such opening, by iron, steel or other incombustible ma-
terial.

.\11 such emergency exits and stairway^ >hall land at the
ground level in a jiublic thoroughfare or in some space that
connects directly with a street or alley, and direct and im-
mediate exit to such public thoroughfare shall not be ob-
structed by any door, gate, bars or other obstruction of any
character.

Every court in which there is an emergency stairway shall
liave direct .Mid unobstructed access along the surf.ice of the
ground to a street, alley or yard opening into an alley or
street without entering into or passing through or over any
building unless by a four-foot wide fireproof passage on the
court or ground level.

.Ml doors in openings from emergency exits and stairways
shall be so constructed that when opened they will not ob-
struct any portion of any other doorway, opening or passage-
way.

.Ml doors affording ingress to or egress from any theater
shall open outward upon .suitable hinges.

Exit doors shall not be obscured by draperies and shall not
lie locked or fastened in any manner during the entire time
such theater is open to the public, so as to prevent them
from being easily opened outwardly : and such doors shall be
so constructed and maintained as to require no special knowl-
edge or effort to open them from the interior.

Sec. 370. Wall — liriclc — I'rosceninm Bef.eeen Auditorium
and Stage — Steel Curtain Fire[iroofed on Stage Side- — .\o
Combustible Material on Audience Side — Plans for Curtain —
Permit from Building Department — Insfieelion Fee. — There
shall be a solid lirick wall of the same construction and thick-
ness as is required in the outside walls of the building in
which such lliealer is located, between the auditorium and
tlie stage.

The main proscenium opening shall have a vertically oper-
ated steel curtain which shall, when it is lowered, completely
close such proscenium opening. The curtain shall be raised
and lowered liy mechanical power, other than hand power,
as the regular curtain and act drop each and every time there
is an audience in the theater.

The lowering of the curtain shall be controlled from not
less than two points in the building, one of which shall be
designated by the Commissioner of Buildings.

The curtain shall have a steel covering on the outer or
auditorium side. The stage side covering shall be of a non-
conducting substance of such a thickness and such material
as shall stand a test of two thousand degrees F. on the
stage side for fifteen minutes and without heating the opposite
side to a higher temperature than three hundred and fifty
degrees F.

All metal work willi llie exception of the fr.iiiu- -ball be
covered with a non-conducting substance on the stage side.

The curtain shall operate vertically in steel guides of such
a cross section that the edges shall engage and secure the
edges of the curtain and prevent the curtain from le.iving the
guiding channel or channels if the curtain should lend to
buckle or hag either inward or outward. N'o metal in the
guide channels or in the engaging edge of the curtain shall
be less than three-eighths ( >.sl of an inch thick. The joints
of the curtain with llie proscenium wall, with the -lage floor

159

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

and with the head of the opening shall be made gas tight as
nearly as practicable.

The calculations for the strength of the curtain, the curtain
guides and the guide anchors, and the workmanship shall
be according to the best modern engineering practice, the
stresses in the material and in the various sections of steel
shall be within the safe limits of stress described in this
ordinance.

No part of a curtain or of the curtain guides shall be
supported by or fastened to any combustible material.

The supports of the curtain and the curtain guides and
edges and the curtain shall be of sufficient strength to safely
resist a pressure of twenty (20) pounds for each and every
square foot of the curtain, either inward or outward, if such
curtain does or does not bag.

No combustible material other than painted decorations
shall be applied to the audience side of any such curtain.

Plans for every such curtain shall be approved by the
Building Department and a permit obtained for its erection.
The Building Department shall inspect such curtain semi-
annually, and for each such inspection a fee of two ($2)
dollars shall be charged.

All other openings in such proscenium wall shall have self-
closing, regulation standard iron fire doors and iron frames
and thresholds ; such doors and frames shall be built in such
a manner as to resist warping.

Sec. 371. Slagc, Construction of — Fireproof Paint —
Scenery — How Treated. — The framing of the floor of every
stage shall be of iron or steel or fireproof material. The
stage floor may be of wood, but shall not be less than two
and three-fourths inches thick. The entire floor con-
struction and floor or fly galleries, rigging lofts and paint
galleries, all railings and supports and stanchions thereon,
and all sheaves, pulleys and cables and their supports, shall
be if iron or steel. All woodwork, including the under side
of floor boards, and all framing for scenery used on or about
the stage shall be coated with a fireproof paint, the qualities
of which shall be submitted to and approved by the Com-
missioner of Buildings, All wood used for floor and floor
supports shall be coated on the under side with the same kind
of paint.

No scenery or stage paraphernalia of any sort shall be
used upon the stage of any room used for the purposes of
Class V unless such scenery and paraphernalia shall have
been treated with a paint or chemical solution which shall
make it noninflammable, and which treated scenery or stage
paraphernalia, or both, shall be tested and approved by the
Fire Marshal.

Sec. 372. Vestibules for Stage Doors. — All doorways or
openings in the rear or sides of the stage shall be vestibuled
or protected in a manner satisfactory to the Commissioner
of Buildings, so as to protect the curtain, scenery and audi-
torium against draughts of air.

Sec. 373. Structures Over Ceiling — Construction. — If any
structure is built over the ceiling or roof of any theater, the
dififerent members of the girders or trusses supporting same
shall have their fireproofing double in the manner prescribed
for columns of fireproof buildings as specified in the General
Provisions of this chapter.

Sec. 374. ]' cuts—Size Of— Flue Pipes— Dampers—
Szcitclies for Dampers. — One or more vents or flue pipes of
metal construction, or other incombustible material, suitable
for carrying away smoke, and approved by the Commissioner
of Buildings, and extending not less than fifteen feet above

the highest point of the roof, and equivalent in area to one-
twentieth of the area of the stage, shall be built over the
stage.

In buildings where additional stories are built above the
stage, such vents or flue pipes may be carried out near the
top of the stage walls, and shall be continued and run up
on the exterior of the building to a point five feet above the
highest point of such additional story.

All such flues or vents shall be provided with metal
dampers, and shall be opened by a closed circuit battery,
approved by the City Electrician.

Such dampers shall be controlled by two switches, one at
the electrician's station on the stage, which station shall be
fireproof, and the other at the city fireman's station, on the
opposite side of the stage; such switches shall be located in
such places on the stage as are designated by the Fire
Marshal, and each shall have a sign with plain directions as
to the operation of the same printed thereon.

All fuse boxes shall be surrounded by two thicknesses of
fireproof material, with an air space between, and no fuses
shall be exposed to the air between the switchboards.

Sec. 375. Automatic Sprinklers — Location — Tank — Con-
nections. — There shall be provided an approved system of
automatic sprinklers with approved automatic closed circuit
electric devices connecting the valves, regulating the flow of
water into the various sprinkler pipes with the headquarters
of the city fire alarm telegraph, and such other place or
places as the Ffre Marshal shall direct, so arranged as to
prevent any tampering with the system or the shutting off of
the water from the sprinkler pipes without automatic notice
to the fire department.

Such system of automatic sprinklers shall be supplied with
water from a tank located not less than twenty feet above
the level of the highest sprinkler head in the system, and it
shall be the duty of the firemen provided for in this chapter
to include in their daily report the result of an inspection to
determine the sufficiency of water in this tank. Automatic
sprinklers shall be placed in the paint room, store room,
property room, scene storage room, carpenter shop and
dressing rooms, if such rooms are in or connected with a
building used for the purposes of Class V. Such tank shall
not be connected with a standpipe and ladder system, but it
shall be filled through a separate pipe from a fire pump, and
a three-inch iron pipe shall extend from such tank to the
outside of such building with Siamese connections for fire
department use. Such entire automatic sprinkler system and
equipment and the location thereof shall be subject to the
approval of the Fire Marshal.

Sec. 376. Fire Apparatus on Stage — Hand Fire Pumps —
Fire Materials — Hot Air Furnaces. — A standpipe not less
than three inches in diameter, having a hose valve or valves
thereon shall be installed oti each side of the stage with a
hose connection at the stage and at each level above and
below the stage, and hose connected thereto at each valve
ready for use at all times. Such standpipes shall be con-
nected with a tank on the roof containing not less than three
thousand gallons of water, protected from frost, and such
tank shall be connected with and supplied by a power pump,
all of which shall be subject to the approval of the Fire
Marshal. Portable fire extinguishers or hand fire pumps
shall always be kept ready for use on and under the stage,
in fly galleries and in rigging loft, and in addition thereto
at least four fire department axes and si.x pike poles shall be
kept ready for use on each tier or floor of the stage, all of
which shall be subject to the approval of the Fire Marshal.

160

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Tlic use of ortlinary liol ;iir fiiriiacos or stoves is
prohibited.

Sec. 377. Exits — Diii!;ntiii of — I'rinlcd on I'roaraiiis. — It
shall be the duty of the owner, lessee or manager of any
theater, for any perforniance in which programs are issued,
to cause to be printed on such programs on the page opposite
that on which the cast is printed, a diagram showing con-
spicuously all exits of such building. .\ diagram of seats on
each tloor. and the exits leadirig from each Hour, drawn to
a scale of one-eighth inch to the foot, sh.dl be hung in a
frame within two feet of the ticket seller's window and so as
to be easily seen by the public.

Sec. 378. Iiidcpciidriit Lighting System for Exits — Red
Light Over Exits. — .Ml stairways and corridors shall be
supplied with a supplementary lighting system of electricity,
gas or sperm oil, and sucji system shall be independent of all
other lights in such building, and shall be in operation during
the entire period such theater is open to the public and until
the audience has left the building. The word "E.XIT" shall
be in letters at least six inches high over the opening to every
means of egress from such theater and a red light, furnished
by gas or sperm oil, shall be kept burning over such word
"EXIT" at every such opening, during the entire period such
theater is open to the pulilic and until the audience has left
the building.

Sec. 379. Fire Alarm Apparatus. — Every theater shall be
provided with an approved system of automatic or manual
lire alarm telegraph apparatus, connected by the necessary
wires with the headquarters of the city fire alarm telegraph
and such other place or places as the Fire Marshal shall
direct. The number and location of the bo.xes and the
character of the system, wliether automatic or manual or
both, shall be determined by the Fire Marshal.

Sec. 380. Firemen — Employment of — Duties — .\niended by
ordinance June 8, 1908, to read as follows :

It shall be the duty of every person, finn or corporation
conducting, operating or maintaining a theater to procure at
his, their or its own expense, the attendance at each and every
performance, of one fireman who shall be detailed by the Fire
Marshal from the regular City Fire Department ; be shall
be in the uniform of the Chicago Fire Department and be
shall be on duty at such theater during the entire time it is
open to the public. He shall report to and be subject to the
orders of the Fire Marshal and shall see that all fire
apparatus required by this Chapter is in its proper condition,
ready for use and that all e.xit doors are unlocked during
the entire time such theater is open to the puljlic and are
all in efficient and ready working order. During the per-
formance he shall remain on the stage and shall generally
perform such duties as may be required of him by the rules
and regulations of the Fire Department governing firemen
detailed at theaters.

It shall also be the duty of every person, firm or corpor-
ation conducting, operating or maintaining a theater to
employ, in addition to the fireman hereinbefore provided for,
one other experienced and competent person as a private
watchman or fireman who shall be approved by the Fire
Marshal and who shall be in distinctive uniform and shall
be on duty at such theater during the entire time it is open
to the public. Such private watchman or fireman shall report
and be subject to the orders of the Fire Marshal and it shall
be his duty to see that the provisions of this Chapter are
complied with in all portions of the theater occupied and used
by the public, and that all exit doors are unlocked during the

entire time such theater is open to the public, and in efficient,
and ready working order. The city fireman and Fire
Marshal shall require a drill of the employes of such theater,
including such private watchman or fireman, in the use of
all apparatus and appliances for the prevention of fire inside
the building and the saving of life, at least twice in every
week, and such city fireman shall report to the l-'ire Marshal
the manner and efficiency of such drill. Such city lireman
shall report in writing daily to the Fire Marshal the condition
and equipment of the theater to which he is detailed. No
city fireman shall be on <luly at any one theater for a longer
period than two weeks.

The compensation to be paid the city for the services of
such city fireman so detailed shall be based on the regular
salary paid by the city to such fireman and shall be computed
according to the ratio between the number of hours such
fireman is required by his duties hereunder to devote to such
theater and the total number of hours such fireman is
employed by the city for all purposes. .All sums received by
the city under the provisions of this .section shall be for the
use ;in(l benefit of the Fire Department.

Sec. 381. Amusement Lieense. — The amusement license
issued for each theater shall state the number of permanent
seats it contains, whicli numl)cr shall be governed by the pro-
\ isions of this chapter relating thereto, and no more than that
nunil)er of persons shall be permitted in such theater at any
one time.

Xo license for the operation of a theater shall be issued
unless the Commissioner of Buildings, Fire Marshal and City
Electrician shall first have certified, in writing, that such
theater complies with tlie provisions of this chapter in every
respect.

Sec. 382. Lighting— All Parts Well Lighted During Per-
formanee. — Every portion of any theater, devoted to the
uses or accommodation of the public, and all outlets there-
from, to the streets, including open courts, corridors,
stairways, exits and emergency exit stairways, shall be well
and properly lighted during every performance, and the
same shall remain liglitcd until the entire audience has left
the premises.

Sec. 383. Lights, Control of Lights in Halls, Corridors and
Lobbies — Separate Shut-off — Connections With Gas Mains —
Independent Conneetions — Protection of Suspended and
Bracket Lights — Protection of Lights Inserted in Walls —
Protection of Footlights — Construction of Border Lights —
Ducts and Shafts Conducting Heated Air from Lights — Gas
Stage Lights to Haze Metal Screens. — .Ml gas or electric
lights in the halls, corridors, lobbies or any other part of
any theater used by the audience, except the auditorium, shall
be controlled by a separate shut-off located in the lobby and
controlled only in that particular place. Gas mains supplying
such theater shall have independent connections for the audi-
torium and the stage and provision shall be made for shutting
oflf the gas from the outside of the building. All suspended
or bracket lights surrounded by glass, in the auditorium, or
in any other part of the theater, shall be provided with proper
wire netting underneath. No gas or electric lights shall be
inserted in the walls, woodwork, ceiling, or in any part of
the theater unless protected by fireproof materials. In case
gas is used, for the footlights, in addition to the wire network,
they shall be protected by a strong wire guard, not less than
two feet distant from such footlights, and the trough con-
taining such footlights shall be formed of and surrounded
by fireproof material. .Ml border lights shall be constructed
according to the best known methods, and subject to the

161

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

approval of the Fire Marshal and the City Electrician, and
shall be suspended by wire ropes. All ducts and shafts used
for conducting heated air from the main chandelier, or from
any other light or lights, shall be constructed of metal and
made double, with an air space between. All gas stage lights
shall have strong wire metal guards or screens, not less than
ten inches in diameter, so constructed that any material
coming in contact therewith shall be out of reach of the
flames of such lights, and shall be soldered to the fixtures
in -all cases.

The use of calcium lights in any theater is prohibited. All
arc lights used on the stage shall be at all times subject to
the approval of the City Electrician, and no arc lights shall
be used on any stage unless approved by the City Electrician.

Sec. 384. Fire Appunitus to Be Under Control of Fire
Department.— The standpipes, automatic sprinklers, gaspipes
electric wires, hose, footlights, fire alarm boxes, fireproof
proscenium curtains, switch boxes, ventilators, controlling
levers, axes and pike poles, and all apparatus for the extin-
guishing of fire or guarding against same, as provided for by
this chapter, shall be made and kept at all times in condition
satisfactory to and under control of the Fire Marshal.

Sec. 385. Officers Enipon'cred to Enter Biiildiniis.— The
Commissioner of Buildings, Fire Marshal, City Electrician,
Superintendent of Police, or any of them, and their respective
assistants, shall have the right to enter any buildings used
wholly or in part for the purposes of Class V and any and
all parts thereof, at any reasonable time, and at any time
when occupied by the public, in order to examine such
buildings and to judge of the condition of the same and to
discharge their respective duties, and it shall be unlawful for
any person to interfere with them or any of thcni in the
performance of their duties.

Sec. 386. The Commissioner of Buildings, Fire Marshal,
City Eleetrician or Superintendent of Police Shall Close
Buildings for Violations. — The Commissioner of Buildings,
Fire Marshal, City Electrician or Superintendent of Police,
or any of them, shall have the power and it shall be their
joint and several duty to order any building used wholly or
in part for the purposes of Class V closed, where it is dis-
covered that there is any violation of the provisions of this
chapter, and to keep same closed until such provisions are
complied with.

Sec. 387. License — Mayor Shall Revoke. — Upon a report
to the Mayor by the Commissioner of Buildings or Fire
Marshal or City Electrician or the Superintendent of Police
that any requirement of this chapter, or that any order given
by them or any of them, in regard thereto, has been violated,
or not complied with, the Mayor shall revoke the license of
any such theater or place of public amusement so reported
and cause the same to be closed.

ARTICLE IX.

PROVISIOXS RELATING SOLELY TO CLASS VL

In Class VI shall be included every tenement and apart-
ment house : that is to say, any house or building, or portion
thereof, which is used as a home or resideiice for two or
more families living in separate apartments.

Sec. 388. Walls of Class VI— Thickness o/.— Buildings of
Class VI shall conform to the following requirements :

The thickness of enclosing walls of buildings of Class VI
shall be made in accordance with tlic following table, to-wit :

STORIES ■

Basement. 123456789 10 11 12

Basement and 12 8

Two-story 12 12 8

Three-story 16 12 12 12

Four-story 20 16 16 12 12

Five-story 20 16 16 16 12 12

Six-story 20 20 16 16 16 12 12

Seven-story 24 24 20 20 16 16 12 12

Eight-story ."24 24 24 20 20 16 16 12 12

Nine-story 28 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Ten-story 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Eleven-story 28 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Twelve-story 32 28 28 24 24 24 20 20 20 16 16 12 12

Provided, however, in buildings of steel skeleton fireproof
construction, thickness of walls shall be governed by the pro-
visions of Section 510 of this chapter.

Walls Around Stairs, Etcfotors and Shafts. — See Section
588.

Walls— Reinforced Concrete.— See Section 554.

Sec. 389. Definitions. — "New tenement house" includes
every tenement house hereafter erected and every such new
tenement house which shall be increased or diminished in size
or otherwise altered after its erection, and every building now
or hereafter in existence not now used as a tenement house,
but hereafter converted or altered to such use.

"Apartment" is a room or suite of two or more rooms
occupied or intended or designed to be occupied as a family
domicile.

"Yard" is an open, unoccupied space, on the same lot with
a tenement house, separating every part of every building on
the lot from the rear line of the lot.

"Court" is an open, unoccupied space, other than a yard, on
the same lot with a tenement house ; a court entirely sur-
rounded by a tenement house is an "inner court;" a court
bounded on one side and both ends by a tenement house and
on the remaining side by a lot line is a "lot line court ;" a
court extending to a street alley or yard is an "outer court."

"Shaft" includes exterior and interior shafts, whether for
air, light, elevator, dumb waiter or any other purpose ; a
"vent shaft" is one used solely to ventilate or light a water
closet compartment, bath room, or pantry.

"Public Hall" is a hall, corridor or passageway, not within
an apartment.

"Stair Hall" includes the stairs, stair landings, and those
portions of the public halls through which it is necessary to
pass in getting from the entrance floor to the top story.

"Basement" is a story partly, but not more than one-half —
"Cellar" is a story more than one-half — below the level of
the street grade nearest the building ; where the grade of a
street adjacent to a tenement house varies, the mean or
average grade of such street opposite the lot containing the
tenement house shall be regarded as the grade of such street
within the meaning of this chapter.

"Story" is that portion of a building between the top of
any floor beams and the top of the floor or ceiling beams
next above.

A good quality of brick, laid in lime mortar, of strength
and character equal to the requirements of Section 587 of
this chapter, for brick walls, shall be taken as the standard
of strength and stability for "solid masonry," but any other
fireproof materials of equal strength and stability to the
above standard may be substituted for brick.

Sec. 390. Construction of Partitions Betzvcen Apartments
in Frame Buildings. — Every new tenement house more than

162

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

five stories anil l>:isiim-nt IukIi shall lie of fireproof construc-
tion ( acconling to tlu- definition of "fireproof construction"
contained in Section 500 of this chapter); every new tene-
ment house more than three stories and hasement high, but
not more than five stories and basement high, shall be of
"slow-burning" or "fireproof construction" (according to the
delinition of "slow-burning" or "fireproof construction" as
defined in this chapter I. In case slow-bnrning construction
be used the cellar and basement construction, including the
floor construction of the first story above the cellar or base-
ment, shall be of fireproof construction. In all new frame
tenement houses outside the fire limits of the city each suite
of apartments shall be separated from the next suite in such
iiuilding by a wall of four-inch tile or metal studding and
metal lath.

.\s amended by ordinance of October 22, 1906.

In all new frame tenement houses outside the fire limits
of the city, each suite of apartments shall he separated from
the next suite in such building by a wall of incomlnistiblc
material of such character as the Commissioner of Buildings
may require.

Sec. 391. Joists — Sii/'l'ofls for. — If in buildings of Class
VI the (listance between the enclosing walls is more tlian
twenty-four feet in the clear, there shall be intermediate
supports for the joists, which supports shall be either brick
walls or iron or steel. If brick walls are used for this pur-
pose they may. in all cases where the thickness of walls is
given in the table as 16 inches or more, be made 4 inches less
in thickness than the dimensions stated in tlie tal)le.

Walls — Ledges in. — See Section 588.

Sec. 392. Fire Eseo/'es. — Every tenenKiu liouse four or
more stories in height shall be provided with a fire escape or
fire escapes, such as are required by the statutes of this state
and the ordinances of the city. In every case each separate
apartment shall have direct access to at least one such fire
escape unless such apartment shall have direct access (without
passing through any other apartment ) to at least two separate
flights of stairs leading to the ground, one of which is placed
in front and one in the rear of sucli buililing. and one of
which may be placed outside of the building; but where such
separate apartment shall not have access to two such flights
of stairs, then there shall be a metal stairway between the
balconies of every .such fire escape, securely fastened to the
walls of the building not less than two feet wide, with a
proper hand rail, in.stead of the usual vertical ladder. Every
court in which there shall be a fire escape shall have direct
and utiobstructed access along the surface of the ground to a
street, alley, or yard opening into the alley or street, without
entering into or passing through or over any building, unless
by a four-foot wide fireproof passage on the court or ground
level.

Sec. 393. Fire Eseal>es to Be Fainted. — Every new fire
escape shall be painted with two coats of durable paint, one
put on in the shop and the other at once upon the erection of
such fire escape.

Sec. 394. Bulkheads and Seulttes — Stairs to. — Every
tenement house shall have in the roof a bulkhead or scuttle.
fireproof or covered with fireproof materials, with stairs or
ladder leading thereto: no such roof opening shall be less
than two feet by three feet. Xo scuttle or bulkhead door
shall have upon it any lock, but may be fastened on the inside
by movable bolts or hooks.

Sec. 395. Stairs and Halls — In Case of Alterations —
Requirements. — Every now existing and every new tenement

house shall have at least two flights of stairs, which shall
extend from the entrance floor to the top story. Such stairs
and the public halls in every tenement house shall each be
at least three feel wide in the clear, and every apartment
shall be directly :iccessible from both such flights of stairs.
If any existing tenement house be so altered as to increase
the number of apartments therein, or if such building be
increased in height, or if the halls and stairs therein be
damaged by fire or otherwise to an extent greater than one-
half the original cost thereof, the entrance, stair halls,
entrance halls and other public halls of the whole building
shall be made to conform to the requirements of this chapter
as to new tenement houses.

.Sec. .396. liailinns and Guards. — In every lenenunt bouse
all stairways shall be provided willi sutticient railings and
guards.

Sec. 397. Stairs in Son-Fireproof Buildings, Eighty to One
Hundred and T-^K'enty Rooms. — Every new non-fireproof
tenement house containing over eighty rooms, exclusive of
bath rooms, sliall have one additional flight of stairs (over
and above the flights hereinbefore provided for) for every
additional eighty rooms, or fraction thereof; but if such
building contains not more than one hundred and twenty
rooms, exclusive of bath rooms, at the owner's option, in lieu
of an additional stairway, the stairs and public halls through-
out the entire building shall be at least one-half wider than
is provided in Sections 395 and 402 of this chapter.

Sec. 398. Stairs in Fireproof Buildings One Hundred and
Twenty Rooms and (ptK'ard. — Every new fireproof tenement
house containing over one hundred and twenty rooms, exclu-
sive of bath rooms, shall have one additional flight of stairs
(over and above the flights hereinbefore provided for) for
every additional one hundred and twenty rooms or fraction
thereof; but if such buildings contains not more than one
Inmdred and eighty rooms, exclusive of bath rooms, at the
owner's option, in lieu of an additional stairway, the stairs
and public lialls tliroughout the entire building shall be made
at least one-half wider than is provided in Sections 395 and
402 of this chapter.

Sec. 399. Stairs — Entranee to — Treads and Risers. — Every
flight of stairs required in a tenement house shall have an
entrance on tlie entrance floor from a street or alley, or from
a yard or court which opens into a street or alley. .All stairs
except rear stairs, in new tenement houses, shall have risers
not more than seven and three-quarters inches high and
treads not less than nine and one-half inches wide exclusive
of nosings, except in winding stairs, where all treads at a
point eighteen inches from the strings on the well side shall
be al least nine and oni-half inches wide, exclusive of
nosings.

Sec. 400. Stairs and Stair Halls — Over Three Stories —
Fire-Resisting Glass. — The stairs and stair halls in all new
tenement houses more than three stories and basement high
shall be constructed of incomlmstible material throughout,
except that the treads of stairs (not less than one and three-
fourths inches thick) and all hand rails, may be of hard
wood. .Ml windows in stair halls in new tenement houses
more than three stories and basement high opening on inner
courts or shafts shall be of good quality fire-resisting glass.

Sec. 401. 5/<ii;' Halls Enelosed in .^tasonry — Rei/uirements
and Exeeptions.

.\mended by ordinance of I-"cbruary 18. 1907. to read as
follows :

163

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

In every new non-fireproof tenement house all stair halls
shall be enclosed on all sides with the walls of solid masonry
of the same dimensions and thickness as specified for en-
closing walls. All windows in such stair halls shall have
metal frames and sashes, glazed, fire-resisting glass and such
windows shall be stationary. This section shall not apply
to tenement houses which are not more than three (3) stories
and basement high with only one apartment on each floor.

Sec. 402. Entrance Halls— Solid Masonry — Exceptions-
Ceilings. — Every main entrance hall in a new tenement house
shall be at least three feet six inches wide in the clear from
the entrance up to and including the stair enclosure, and
beyond this point at least three feet wide in the clear. In
every new non-fireproof tenement house, except where there
is only one apartment on each floor, such entrance hall shall
be inclosed with solid masonry walls and with ceilings
covered with incombustible material and shall comply with all
the conditions of the preceding sections of this chapter as to
the construction of stair halls. If such main entrance hall
is the only entrance to more than one flight of stairs, the
several portions of such main entrance hall which separate
the entrance of the building from the several flights of stairs
respectively shall be increased respectively at least one foot
in width for each additional flight of stairs.

Sec. 403. Frame Buildings Not to Be Enlarged. — No
wooden frame tenement house within the fire limits shall
be enlarged either by adding to its height or to its superficial
area.

Sec. 404. Bay Windows — Vent Shafts — Openings.

Amended by ordinance of February 8, 1907, to read as
follows :

All bay windows and all shafts and courts, in masonry
constructed new tenement houses, shall have the walls of the
bay windows, shafts and courts built of brick or other fire-
proof construction throughout. This section shall not apply
to enclosures about elevators which are in common with a
stairway surrounded and enclosed in masonry walls.

Sec. 405. Apartments Divided by Masonry. — There shall
be a wall of solid masonry of the same thickness as required
for outside walls in buildings of this character, extending
from the ground to the roof between each set of apartments
and around each well hole, court or light shaft ; provided,
however, that the wall between apartments above the first
story extending from a main stair hall to the outer wall of
the building may jog or set over to some point toward the
center of the building to provide or allow for an even distri-
bution of space of the rooms adjacent to the same ; provided,
however, that such wall above the first story, if supported on
iron or steel beams (which shall extend from the brick wall
surrounding the main stair hall to the outer wall of the
building at each succeeding story), shall be not less than
eight inches in thickness, but all brick walls between apart-
ments and around each well hole, court or light shaft which
extend from the ground to the roof and above the first story
of an apartment building not supported as above described
in this section, shall be of the thickness prescribed for build-
ings of this class in Section 388 of this chapter.

Sec. 406. Space Occupied on Lot — Plat Measurements. —
No hew tenement house, alone or with other buildings now
or hereafter erected, shall occupy above the first story more
than eighty-five per centum of the area of a corner lot or
more than ninety per centum of the area of such corner lot, if
such corner lot is bounded on three sides by streets or alleys.

or more than seventy-five per centum of the area of any
other lot, provided, that the space occupied by fire escapes,
constructed and erected according to law and not more than
four feet wide, shall be deemed unoccupied.

At the time of applying for a permit for the erection of a
new tenement house the applicant shall submit a plat of the
lot showing the dimensions of the same and the position to
be occupied by the proposed building, and the position of any
other building or buildings that may be on the lot. The
measurements shall in all cases be taken at the top of the first
story and shall not include any portion of any street or alley.

Sec. 407. Corner Lot Defined — Frontages — Triangular
Lots. — By "corner lot" is meant a lot situated at the junction
of two streets or of a street and public alley not less than
sixteen feet in width. Any portion of the width of such lot
distant more than fifty feet from such junction shall not be
regarded as part of a corner lot, but shall be subject to the
provisions of this chapter respecting other than corner lots.

Where, in corner lots, the two frontages are of unequal
length, the lesser street frontage shall be taken as the width
of the lot. Street frontage alone and not alley frontage shall
be considered in determining such lesser frontage. No exist-
ing tenement house shall hereafter be enlarged or its lot be
diminished or other buildings be placed on its lot, so that
after such change a larger proportion of any corner lot or
other lot upon which it is situated is covered by buildings
than the aforesaid proportions, respectively ; provided, how-
ever, that in case of a lot triangular or irregular in shape,
bounded on two or more sides by a street and having a num-
ber of lineal feet street frontage exceeding one-twentieth of
the number of square feet in the area of such lot, it shall not
be necessary to comply with the conditions of this section as
to percentage of lot to be covered; and provided, further,
that there shall be no violation of Section 411 of this chapter
in the erection of any tenement house.

Amended October 22, 1906, by the substitution of the word
"exceeding" in lieu of the word "extending," in fourth line
from bottom of section.

Sec. 408. Fire Walls — When Dispensed With. — Fire walls
of brick not less than twelve inches thick shall be built, ex-
tending above the roofs of all adjoining buildings, if such
roofs are flat, and also where the building stands upon any
line of any lot. excepting street or alley lines. Provided,
that where eight-inch walls are permitted in the top story of
buildings, or where the building is not over three stories high,
the fire walls may be eight inches thick. Such fire walls,
where they stand upon lot lines or where they are over the
dividing walls between buildings or over the dividing walls
in the interior of buildings, where such are called for by this
chapter by reason of the great area of such buildings, shall
extend at least two feet above the roofs of such buildings.
Fire walls upon street and alley lines shall extend not less
than eighteen inches above the roofs of such buildings. Fire
walls may be dispensed with on street and alley lines, if the
top of the roof boards and roof joists are protected against
fire for a distance of at least five feet from such street or
alley lines by a coating of mortar or hollow tile or porous tile
at least two inches thick. Fire walls at street and alley lines
may also be dispensed with in all cases where the entire fram-
ing and material of the roof shall be made strictly fireproof.
Walls facing rpon courts and light shafts shall be treated
as in the same category with walls facing upon streets and
alleys.

Fire walls shall be covered with a weatherproof coping of
incombustible material.

164

A HALF CENTURY OF CHICAGO BUILDING

Sec. 409. Height — Hozt.' Measured. — Tlit- liciglit of a new
tenement liouse shall not by more than one-half exceed the
platted width of the widest street on which it abuts.

Provided, however, that any distance the building sets
back from the lot line shall be added to the width of the
street in making this computation, but no existing tenement
house shall be increased beyond such height. Such height
shall be the perpendicuhir distance from the grade nearest
the house to the highest point of the roof (not including as
part of the roof any cornice or bulkliead less than eight feet
high, or any elevator enclosure less than si.xteen feet high).
Where such street grade varies, the mean or average grade
thereof opposite such house shall be the datum from wliich
sucli height shall be measured.

Sec. 410. ,-///o' or Yard in Rear— Musi Htnr—Si:e of
Yard liierensed. — At the rear of every lot containing a new
tenement house (unless the rear of such lot abuts upon a
public alley at least ten feet wide) there shall be a yard
open and unobstructed from the earth to the sky, except by
lire escapes not more than four feet wide, constructed and
erected according to law ; every part of such yard shall be
directly accessible from every other part thereof ; such yard
shall on corner lots (as above defined) have an area of at
least eight per centum of the superficial area of the lot, and
shall on other lots have an area of at least ten per centum
of the superficial area of the lot. Every such yard shall be
increased one per centum of the superficial area of the lot
for every story above three stories in height of the tenement
house situated thereon, and in no case shall such yard separate
any building on such lot by less than ten feet from tlie rear
line of the lot at the nearest point of approach of such build-
ing to such rear line.

For the purpose of construing and enforcing this section.
the rear of the lot shall be held and deemed to be that part
of the lot that is farthest from the line of the street upon
which the proposed building will face, and in case where the
proposed building will stand upon a corner lot or tract of land
abutting upon two streets and an alley, in all such cases the
proposed building or buildings may extend from the front
to the rear of such lot or tract. Nothing herein contained
shall conflict with or modify any other provision of this or-
dinance.

As amended l)y ordinance January 8, 1906.

Sec. 411. Requirements in Case of EiiUirging — Dislanee
bet-.eeen Buildings.— AnumWil by ordinance March 23. 1908,
to read as follows :

No existing tenement house shall (unless the rear of the
lot upon which it stands abuts upon a public alley at least
ten feet wide) hereafter be enlarged or its lot line be dimin-
ished so that any building on such lot shall at any point ap-
proach nearer than ten feet to the rear line of the lot. Where
a tenement house, now or hereafter, erected, stands upon a
lot other than a corner lot, no other building shall hereafter
be placed upon the front or rear of that lot, unless the min-
imum distance between such buildings be at least ten feet,
if neither building exceeds the height of one story; or fifteen
feet if either building exceeds the height of one story, but
not the height of two stories; and so on. t'nc additional feet
to be added to such minimum distance of ten feet for every
story more than one in the height of the highest building on
such lot ; Provided, however, that where a fireproof pass-
ageway seven feet in height and five feet wide with fireproof
doors not less than four feet wide leading from the street
to the yard and properly lighted is constructed, connected
with the yard, so that the lowest portion of said fireproof

passageway shall not extentl more than four feet below the
level of the sidewalk grade, said fireproof passageway shall
be taken and accepted in lieu of the ten feet required herein
between the rear of said building and the rear line of the
lot where the yard and court comply witli the requirements of
Section 410 of the Revised Municipal Code of Chicago of
1905, as amended January 8, 1906; Provided, however, in
case such fireproof passageway is constructed, there shall be
for at least fifte