The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-08


street. effected the following .,oooo
North American, OF Hartford Conn VSC
Merchants, Of Hartford. rd.................. 10000
Provost Herrings Insurances. ............ 6S,2OO
mo,o, SOS, 200
Tpe no'R Repablic insurance Company, OF Chicago,
had 10000 on the building, which was erected by
Sabine 4 Allen, making the total insurance on
Ofthe above Insurances that OF the Republic OF
chicago the State OF pennsylvania, the Delaware
Mutual and the Fame, are perpetual, the remainder
being annual. -,,, .
TRe following is a description OF the building, its
cost and its dedicatlon: = -. - ,-, -.
and 1b0 feet deem on Gothic street The height from
ne payement to the top OF the cornlce was 30 feet
and TO the top OF tne Tower sU ee e nta a en-
eious hall Is feet wide, 6oored with marble, and ran
through the centre OF the building to the back
A grand staircase OF solid black walnut OF massive
design led from the first fioor to the ''Chamber OF
Commerce." This staircase was built in circular
torn in the centre OF the building. The rotunda was
80 feet in diameter, and capped by dome skylight
Of stained glass; The ceiling OF the dome was "
feet from the floor OF the main entrance.
The Chamber of Commerce, the main room OF the
bnHdInp was 1870 feet long, so feet wde ana 30 feet
high The top OF the grand staircase, which opened
on the centre of this room, was surrounded by eight
columns of the Corintian order reaching to the base
Of the dome, the Intervals oelng nlled 0y palns-
trade The walls were handsomely finished, with
pasters and caps at intervals supporting rich stucco
oOrnices and highly ornate ceiling. Both walls
and ceiling were painted In fresco, executed with
great taste and skill by Messrs. Walter & Boleg.
The front Of the "chamber' opened into a small
room i'm the tower over which was another OF equal
aintensions both OF which designed for the
exclusive use OF committees. The spaces on either
sde OF the tower were fenced OIL with massive wal
nut raiipgs and furnished with tables and racks OF
the same material, the Enclosures thus made being
used for reading and the transaction OF bust
ness The north and southwest walls were supplied
with washstands with marble tops and well-arranged
Extures and the east end was relieved by magni-
6cent rostrum, with circular staircases at each end
The material OF this chamber as well as the entire
furniture, was solid walnut The entire building
was heated by steam apparatus, drused by registers
M different parts Of the commercial room and offices.
The exterior appearance of the building chaste
and imposing. The entire front was granite with
a broWn stone elevation. The front on Second
N number, supporting the main cornice above. Be
tween these columns were large circle-headed win
dOWe and dOorways, surrounded with brown-stone
dressings, all designed in the Roman Doric order OF
architecture
structure has been about S2000 including cost OF
ground, in addition to which some $4,000 was
expended on i1rnt9re 9 nedig n ana lighting aPpa
The building was formally dedicated by the asso-
citation the first of March last, In presence OF
large audience. The dedicatory ceremonies terni-
mated with a grand banquet at the Continental Hotel,
at which a number OF distinguished persons from
distant cities were present.
Meeting of the Commercial Exchange This
Morning.
John II. Michener, Rsq., President of the Philadel-
use of his large rooms at Nos. l22 and 124 Arch
street for the purpose, that body assembled there
this morning at II O'Clock, in force
After being called to order Mr. Michener stated
shat we met under such circumstances as the Com
mercial Exchange had never known before. AS
members OF that body we are without an abiding
place, owing to the contiagration which had de-
stroyed the new building in which we have hitherto
met and in which we have taken so much pride.
All are aware OF the circumstances attending the
scenes last night, and have called you together
in order TO take into consideration the erection of
other rooms for our 1uture occupancy. last night
rendered the use Of this room for the meetings of
the association until others could be obtained and
YOU are welcome 1 am happy to say that Mr..
Howard Hinchman states that there will be an i'm
mediate meeting of the Board OF Managers OF the
Chamber of Commerce to take into consideration
the re-erecton OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
There is present q Commit5ee OF the Board OF
Brokers' who come to us to tender the use of their
rOom and have also note OF the same nature from
the Tobacco Trade.
Mr. Hinchman Chairman OF the Chamber of Com
merce, was then introduced, apd said that the
Board of Managers OF that body would take action
for the immediate re-erection OF the building. The in
surance would cover the loss, and he Thought he
could safely say that IN less than Year building
equal in every respect II not superior to the one
DESTROYED would be on the present site.
Mr.. Slaymaker, OF the Board OF Brokers, was the
next speaker He expressed the sympathyo that body
with the association in the loss which they had sus
tained He also rendered the use OF their large roen
on Walnut street, between Fourth and Fifth streets
TO the association until the new structure would bj
MI. e. II. Jenries moved that the proposition bt
accented and that the thanks Of the association b
extended to the different bodies rendering the use
their rooms.
Nr s. Christian moved that the whole subject be-
referred TO special committee OF three, who Should
report at eleven O'Clock tomorrow morning
on motion the President was added to the com
mttee. b
X,yote OF thanks was then passed to Mr. Michenei
for the use OF his rooms.
The President appointed on the committee Messrs
C. j. Holman, s. j. Comfy, and Nathan Brook.
Thanks were also directed to be returned to tht
Fire Department, Insurance Patrol, and the police
Jorce.
The meeting then adjourned.
The Chamber OF Commerce.
On the adjournment OF the meeting of the Com
me Fcial Exchange, the Board OF Managers OF tn
Chamber OF Commerce held an. informal session
and ordered the conVening OF the Chamber tO-moT
row morning.
Account of an ye-Witness.
Mr. Solomon w. Rogers, civil engineer, gives thu
following account of the outbreak OF the tre:-
"At twelve minutes before five O'Clock last evening
won't into the building of the Commercial Exchange an
IL then nearly dark in the lower ball. passed u
the curved stairway the rgnt and went into the
building The door of this Office was opposite to the
tundA and left the door open At TINS time no signs
IRE appeared had been in the ofoe about sir minute
when j heard loud noises in rapid succession whic
sounded ii two were hiring IN the rg
hall the second story. There appeared 10 me to be
through the open dosr a shower OF fire and of broke
glass; which appeared TO be falling from the skylight
the dome On reaching the street saw flames bnrstin
felt that efforts could the oombustibe part
OF the building"
ATTEhPTED REsCUE.-Andrew Hart, Well-know
rough, was yesterday held In $1,000 bail by Aderma
Helms, to answer the charge OF attempting to rescu
Aprisoner from Detective Miller on Saturday aftel