, 1873-02-02
BUILDING OPERATIONS.
Notes Obtained from the Offices
Of the Architects.
Progress Of Work on the New Hotels--
The Union National Bank
Building.


The Union National Bank
Building. f..
The activity observed in building mattors last
February does not prevail at the spresent time'
Quietudo reigns about tho fres OF the archltecta
They have ittlo to report in regard to plans Tor
| next season, although there arc many things
talked of sub rosa Their architectural energies
are mostly expended upon drafts of the new city
buildings. plans Of which will be offered in COM
petition by about twenty-five Chicago architects,
and 81 many more aliens OF tho same guild.
Mono Of these are sufficiently ma
tured to DO definitely described. The
weather has had much to do with
the inactivity that prevails among the artisans,
and has delayed the development Of new pro-
jocts. Many buildings in the course OF erection
\ would havebeen ere this completed except tor the
severity of the season. The amount of building
now going on in Chicago would seem extraor-
dinary in any other city, but is SO much
less than We hare been accustomed to
for year past, that it seems almost
like q suspension Of operations. The lull can
be attributed to many CAUSES, moro, in fact, than
we have time to discuss at present. The bust
ness area of the city has been largely extended
since the fire, both on Wabash avenue and State
street, and in the vicinity Of Wells, Franklin,
and Market streets. More large and costly
stores and warehouses have been erected than
were in immediate demand. Had these roomy
and handsome buildings been ready for occu~
pancy on the 1st Of 1fay last, very
fow Of them probably would now bo unoc-
cupied. But dealers not finding anything in the
ut1 tr4
the best stores they could find on the South Side
or the West Side, for one year, and are, there
foro, fixed in their places until tho 1st Of next
May. Many OF these are inorchantz in 8 small
way, who cannot rent the large, stores even il
they desire to do SO, and the supply of email ones
suited to their needs Is limited In consequence,
! many who would be glad to get back to the u
cinity Of their old locations will not be able todo
30 before the spring of 1874 There are fine stores
in eligible parts Of the burnt district TINT hare
been finished, and offered for -lease tor nearly
twelve months. and found no tenants. This has
resulted, probably, from the exaggerated rental
demanded by their owners. The demand for:
rst-class business structures coaslng, there we're
few capitalists who care to further cucumber
their real estate in order to raiae money to cover
it with expensive buildings We haye little fear,
however, that every desirable building near the
business heart Of tho city VIII be occupied
THE HOTELS.
The interior work upon the Sherman House
is rapidly progressing. The fremont House has
reached tho fourth story. All the labor Of sot-
ting the stone Of the front could DO completed
in few days Of favorable weather. Tho walls
OF the new Clifton House are up to the root,
and it is expected that the hotal will be open to
the public BY the LIST OF May The work
Of furnishing the Mattescn Honse is
nearly At an ea%n end IN 1t anont m Ro bo roaps
The progress Of work in the Pacific Hotel, the
past week, goes far to give strength to the
promise that the great structure will be open
time for those who are to make changes IN board
ing or residence on the 1st Of May. The con-
tract for the marble 1nantels has been taken bJ
Messrs. Sherman T. Co. The fresco work will
have the painting contract. The plate glass
is in the city, and will be set aa soon as the
weather favors. Messrs. Wentworth & Wool
worth are busy on the plans for their magnid-
cent restaurant hotel on CLARK street, With .
front On Madison No name has been selected
as yet for the establishment, but the plans show
that it will make q name for itself, and will not
need to borrow one.
HONOR TO WHOM HONOR ETC,
: In our edition Of Sunday last We drew the at
tbntion Of onr readers to the new billinrd hall |
that Tom Foley has just opened on Clark street,
opposite tue Court House, but neglected to |
spirit Of the whole-1fr. Geo. r. Edbrookeo !
from whose designs and under whose personal |
superintendence the work MAS carried out. It ia
mainly due to- bis energy. and skill that the
labors Of the different artfeers have resulted in
the harmonious whole, which will henceforth be
the delight of the billiard-players of Chicago.
Those who have visited the hall-100 feet long
by 50 in width-will have observed a.
its leading feature, that the root is in
entirely unencumbered by pillars or supports
Of any kinda mode of construction which, in a
roof Of the dimensions Of this one, requires tho
exercise Of q considerable degree OF architectu-
raj skill to ensure tho rigidity necessary for IN
elaborately frescood ceiling. This is q feature
that will be appreciated alike by billiard players
and on-lookers, in the ease with which it enables
them to move freely around tho tables, or enjoy
IN uninterrupted Wow Of what ia going on in
every part of the vast hall.
GENERAL NOTES.
The two buildings Of AIr. Cyrus q. McCor-
mick-the one st the corner OF Clark and Wash
ington Streets the other at the corner Of Ran
as the temperature will permit. The first Is
intended Tor stores and Offices the last for stores
only. It Is expected that both will be ready for
tho tenants before the LIST Of May. The Mcr-
Of the Public Square, is intended Tor
q an elevator and bo heated By steam,
It is hoped that business men and
floor, A good many other buildings are con-
structcd With the same expectation, but it is |
doubtful II it can be realized. The Chicago bus
mess tenantry are not prepared yet for such an
hOIh tu LHG bEyauL BLOCK, GL rl0 | 4
corner Of Randolph and Dearborn streets, which
las been delayed for want Of iron, is now going
~ finely Kingsbury Block, on Washington
street, between Clark and Dearborn, is rapidly
approaching completion. =:
The yalusble property at the northwest corner
u State and Madison streets is not likely to re-
main much longer uuoccupied. Mr.. E. F. Doro
about to erect thero q handsome building G6x
06 feet on the ground, FIVE stories in height, the
material for both fronts being tho Cincinnati !
andstone- The fine store on The first floor has
'een already leased By Edwards, Bluett l. Co, I
,early completed ut the Office Of Wheolock i
thomas.
The new building for tho sllrero estate, erect
ID from plans drawn by tho san1o architects, will
70 finished about the LIST of April.
The northwest corner Of State and Rand,Irh | =
treets will Boon DO ornamented by handsome :
uildineg, to be erected by DR.. D. Il. Dyche, tho =
druggist: It will hare frontage OF !
: feet on Randolph by 81 on Statc md t
iln Be huilt -pf artificial atnaa. Il ia /