Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-08

How THEY GRADE STREETS IN CHICAGO.
The Chicago Times thus describes the mode
of grading streets and raising buildings in that
city;
"a greatmany large and costly edifces were
erected in Chicago previous to the year 1855,
and during that year. These buildings were
erected so as to be convenient of access from
the natural surface of the ground. About that
time the new grade of the streets was Intro
duced, and was followed in year or two after
wards by the establishment of still higher
grade. The city government has ever since
been slowly engaged in the task of raising the
streets to the proper level, and filling them with
stone Of different sizes. The process is curl
GUS one. high stone wall is first built on
each side of the street, in the place where the
curb stone is to be laid. The wall reposes on
solid foundation, and is usually two feet
thick at the bottom and one foot thick at the
top. The wall is carried up some six or seven
feet high, but usually only four or five feet
The walls being made, the space between them
is filed up with rubbish, dirt, earth, and gray
ell. The street is now ready for paving. But
the sidewalk is left in its original condition,
and these In the streets that have been raised
four or five feet are now SO low that persons
walking on one side ola street can only see the
head and shoulders Of the people ON the other
side. The next step to be taken is to raise the
sidewalk to a height corresponding to that
OF the street. If it is to be plank side
walk, it becomes in reality scatfod, but
strong and secure one, with the side next to
the street resting on the garden fence. But if
it happens to be in tr0Iat Of four or five story
brick or marble edfce, the latter sG%s49 10
the new grade, and a sidewalk composed of
immense blocks of stone is made. The outer
edges OF these blocks rests upon the curb stone
Beneath them, between the new made wall on
the foundation walls of the house, is then made
a spacious vault, convenient for the storage of
coal and other fuel &C.
The first building raised, was the three story
brick at the corner of Randolph and Dearborn
streets The undertaking was completely sue
cessfui, and was quickly followed by Others
During the year 1858, large number of both
frame and brick buildings have been raised,
many OF them as high as six feet above their
original position, and few of them less than
four feet The process is novel and peculiar,
and Its results are among the greatest trumphs
of the mechanical powers. Think of a four
story brick building, 100 feet by so, containing
stores and offices or of large three story
brick dwelling house, raised up in the air five
or six feet above its foundation and yet SO
gently that not jar is perceptible, and the in
mates may pursue their avocatons as if no.
thing unusual was taking place. The business
is but just commenced. We have seen house
raising in Chicago only in its infancy We
expect during the coming year to see twice as
many houses raised as we have enumerated
The fremont House, big as it is, has got to
come up. 1t can be done for $751; 600 and its
immense throng of guests can come and go as
undisturbed as if nothing was taking place.