, 1859-12-16

Raising buildings in Chicago.
(FEon TIE FMt Wayne t1nd.) Republican,
Chicago wss originally swamp. When
drained as much as its natural level would al.
low, the surface was not more than u, or at
most, "a inches abore standing water. At that
time many parts of the city we're perfect qusg-
tnires and in wet seasons many times hare we
seen boards stuck up, chatked On them the sig-
nihcsnt warning " No bottom :" and it was woe
to the unlucky teauster VITO chanced to disre-
gard that warning, foE generally his horses ha
to be dragged ont By the neck Some years ago
The Common Council made the bold but wise re-
whole city. This has caused temporary incon-
Tenience to all parties, great loss to few, and
has compelled those who had erected good
buildings. to raise them bodily from 6ve to eight
feet. The result has been most satisfactory It
has added indescribab1y to the beauty Of the
city; it has enabled them to carry out system
Of thorough drainage; all the business streets
are perfectly dry, and the health Of the city has
been improved imneasurahly. So that By this
one fast improvement, Chicago will become one
Of the most healthy and beautiful cities in the
whole Union.
0oe Of the most astonishing results of the a.
teration Of the grade was the raising Of large
buildings, hotels and whole rows Of brick aud
stone stores. The operation WAS at first looked
upon with universal suspicion, and many
watched for the buildings thus beng raised to
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perfect success, and In short time immense
buildings were seen stuck on stills, and asceud-
ing higher every dag, while at the same time
business was carried on within as If nothing was
occurring.
The nods9 optrdndi is simple but interesting
The foundation Is laid bare; on each side OF The
walls treslle work Of short stiff 4imbers, both
outside and partition, il then erected, on which
rest the ends Of stout beams passed through the
wall every three or four feet. Under The tim
oers on which these timbtrs rest, IN immense
number Of jack screws are fixed, every four or
dve OF which require the attention of man.
ALI being ready, the superintendent takes his
stand At some central point, and BY u Biguat,
usually shrill whistle, directs the movements
Of the men. lie continues his whistle long
enough for every man to turn each screw one
complete round Of the thread. Thus the build
ing is raised ut every point precisely stshe same
moment. and to the same extent. A. the work
progresses The trestIe work is raised, and thus
the operation proceeds till the required height
ia attained. when new foundation is built, and
the old building gradually rested upon IT.
The greatest number of buildings raised at
one time wss the block belonging to Dr.. Exams,
on Clark street, between Lake aud Randolph,
there being no fewer than thirteen stores, three
storiea high, under which were fixed from
tHelre to fifteen hundred SCREWS. It is probable
that within the past eighteen months as much
money has been spent IN raising buildings in
Chicago ns would build up moderate sized
city, many having cost from fifteen to twenty
thousand dollars. And yet eyery such invest-
ment will pay good interest from the rent Of
the basement