, 1874-04-11
PUBLIC OFFICES.
Interview with Superintendent Ran
kin, the Government
i: Architect.
Ills opinion Of tho Old .Post'Ofnce,
tho White Building, and
ilon0re Block. :
The Latter Best Adapted for q Tempo
rary City Hall.
The interior Arrangements.

The interior Arrangements.
Tho present City Hail, wherein are located tho
ysrioua departments and aevon Of the Courts, Is
conceded by almost oyory ono to DO unilttod for
their accommodation, and honce there has boen
considerable talk for aome timo past about soour-
Ing building bettor adnptcd to the wants OF tho
city officials and the JuIgos. The roorns now
occupied nre small, and badly 1lghtod and ven
tilated; and, besides, tho structure Is In such a
dilapidated condition That portions Of II arc
liable to full to tho ground at any moment The
floor Of tho Council Chamber had to
bo bracod up, and supports haye boon rlnced
beneath tho building to prevent II from falling
to pieces. Tho fitting up Of tho old Post Office
hns heon suggested, and tho agitation Of tho
question, "ahall now and bettor quarters DO So
cured ?" Inns resulted in tho submission Of prop
oHitionR by several proporty-ownora, but tho
Committees on Public Buildings, to whom they
woro referred, haro,' aa yet, rnado no rooom-
mondation to tho Council regarding them.
With tho view Of learning which WAS tho hettor
adapted to tho purpose, a reporter OF TIE
Rankin, SUPERINTENDENT Of tic now POST 0ffloe.
who is familiar with tho old Post Office build
ing to get bis opinion. Ho WAS willing to oon-
torBe, and tho intorvicw ia aubjoinod:
TIE OLD poHr-oFF1oE.
Roportor--Thoro has been considerable talk
lbout tho city and county converting tho old
post~ Office into City Hall md Court house.
Have you hoard anything about that? :.
Mr. Rankin-1 havo heard it talked Of.
noporter-Could 1t be converted as ia proposed
so as to answor the requirements Of tho CITY and
county?
Mr. Ranhn-No, because 1t is not largo
Reportcr-supposo It WAS adequate. vhat
would ba the cost OF fitting it up for olllccs and
Mr.. Rankin-1 made estimates. Wien IN wasl,-
foF Tie Government Offices. It contained two
small court rooms, about IS feet In width, aud
TINT is the only Tidth you conld get out oft; 1t
Is only 90 f ei 81 T as Hna a wo9d ,e55s ire
to mako them available. NY estimates were be-
tweon $4,000 and 9Go. 900. That was for ai1nplo
construction, temporary roof, ete. NY osti-
mato for remodoling the building, without touoh-
Ing tho damaged stone, was
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
NePorter-Did you include material on hand?
Mr.. Ranktn-Yos. included old mntarial, but
that has since been sold, and removed, There
smallest Of them would require moro aroa than
could bo procured there unless the of1icoB ut the
ends Of tho halfway wero cut OF and that
would give but three Court rooms at tho most
Reportor-In your opinion then tits inado-
quate
b1r. Rnnkfn-1 think 40, even for Temporary
quartora. I want to tell you another thing Tho
Government, as understand, exchanged that
stto Of tue old Post Office for the Bridowell lot
in order that 1t might bo converted into some
sort Of
A ME3ion1Ah DUt1D1Na.s
They ,S did not want to soil tue property, but to
people who we're instrumental In making the
transfer waa that It WAS to be used for TINT pur-
pose.
Roporter--A public Abrary2
Mr. Rankin-That was tho idea; and, II It had
not boon proposed, 1t iB doubtful II tho exchange
would have been made.
TIE WHITE Du1rD1Na.
N'ePortor-What s,t..t do you think Of the Whitc
Office Would that do Tor 6fty-IIall?
Mr. Rankin-I have not examined it, but It,
looks to mo AZ i it were not ,yido enough. Tho
only building that know Of that Is available
Bpeoe,-ia
THE uoNonE BUILDING,
on tho corner Of Adams and Dearborn streets.
Roportor--Wlat ar0 ita dinensonB2
Alr. Ranktn-I cannot tell you exactly, but It
is about 100 foot on Adams, 100 on Dearborn,
ard 1856 or lao on the alley.
Roporter-Would not mnny alterations have
to be made in the interior to accommodate the
courts?
Mr.. Ran1sin-A few would have to DO mado, Of
course. by taking out numbor Of wooden par
kitionn very handsome court-rooms could be had,
Gs NIL tilo rooms front on tho street, and aro we'll
lighted and vontilatad.
Roporter-Another question, apparently irro-
leVant, but you wall 500 tho point. How long
w'll it 30 before the newPost~oltco will be ready
for occupancy7 ,..-.. .:
mr. Rankin-About three years from tho
present time:
Acportor-How many years would u take to
build court"houBe ana city hall provided WORK
"ose commencea q once IT,,
=, Alr, nanNln-1s Woulu not tako any lesa tlme
than a, wo nSG % tason lot tno Or
ing ahe a!r @ srauons neGeaanty 70 accommodate the
eoa4'a' 1t1, W. 1t,a ~, ptoun to,ar -
ovor oox mi ~ nnt .',;ri, = unn,S h oa
think uny other aruoturo in Chicago 1t for per-
toporter-Would 1t 90 until permanent city
auu eon1sy patlu!nSs wefg orecseus
uAl Uuk l MIL tGl 4pN WuhC 1