The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-08
BENGsToN's BLOCK,
The Pride Of Rock Island.

erected by Mr.. John Beugston, druggist,
is so nearly completed that a description
of it can now be pretty accurately given,
The size is 40 by 70 feet, land is stories in |
height, above the basement,-the base
ment is feet in the clear; the 1st story
l4l feet; the ID and Sd stories IL feet
each; and the 4th story Is feet.
The foundation is of the best Joliet rub.
ble stone, and is 30 inches in thickness
| 1t was built by Julius Strehle, of this city,
first class workman and an honorable,
upright man. The job is first class one,
in every respect, and rests on solid rock |
foundation
The brick work is by Thomas Murdock,
one of the best and most honorable con-
tractors in the city, who is thoroughly !
master of his business and always does his
work in the most thorough manner. The
outside walls, of the first and second stories,
are 20 inches in thickness; in the third
story they are l6 inches, and the fourth
story II inches. The inside walls are IL
inches.
The stone trimmings are from the cele-
brated Lemont quarries, near Chicago, of
''The Singer & Talcott Company, office
in Chicago, were cut by Messrs.
Lloyd & Lynch. of this city. This work
is very massive and beautiful Our neigh
bOrs over the river are fond of Dragging
about marble front building erected by
Beiderbecke & Miller, this season, but
Bengston's block has times the cut mar
BILE in it that there is in Beiderbecke &
Miller's block. They have car loads of
marble. Bengston's block has u car
loads The trimmings are not mere
sham offront work-they are solid blocks
of marble the full thickness of the walls.
The keystones over the windows weigh 500
lbs each, and the stills Of the windows 600
lbs each. The expense of the stone trim.
mings could have been made $4,000 less
than they cost, by having them made in
the ordinary way-mere facings. Mr..
Bengston preferred to pay $4,000 more
and have solid stones the full thickness of
the walls.
The sidewalk is of heavy Joliet stone,
from the quarries of VIM. Davidson, five
car loads.
The roof is metallic one, and the
cornice is of galvanized iron, made be Nc
Farland Il Price. Chicago.
The iron stairways and the patent iron
sidewalk work and bulls eye lights for the
basement, and the iron front, are from
Williams, White & Co., Moline-a nice
aud very durable job
The carpenter work is by Andrew Gin
:. giles. one of the most accomplished work.
men in this city-a thorough master of his
trade and most honorable and upright
- man. He has done a fine piece of work
| The floors of the basement, the first story
> and the second story are of hard wood
narrow strips of black walnut and ash auC
! are very nice job. The doors, windows
base boards, upper floors, stairs, dool
casinPs, etc., are very fine.
i The plastering Is by Patrick Mulligan
"a fine workman, who has done yer!
u nice job.
e The plumbing is by Fleming & Co.; tn,
gas fixtures by Bradley & Hubbard, 0
: Meriden, Conn.,; and the painting AM
), glazing by Cary & Jurgens, of this city
u The French plate glass is very expensive
It and nice. and all the glass is large and of
superior quality.
All the offices are supplied with larg
closets for hanging clothes, and with mar
l. BILE wash bowls and water. First elias
"a. water closets are also on the second fool
- On each floor is large room with bins fo
=, coal, so that each tenant can keep his COS
= separate and locked And the building
=, supplied with an elevator, in the rear, tc
- lifting all the fuel to each floor. The ell
., vator is put in by ]. W. Reedy,of Chicago
50 1t is, in all respects, the most perfeC
he building in any town in this vicinity, an
the most expensive, for its size. The co.
so Of the building aud lot will be about $50
r. O0O-and it is all paid for.
ed The building is finished for stores, office
an and hall. The large and light ard d!
ar basement rooms, are suitable for busine;
of purposes or offices. There is good dlai
on or sewer from the building to the rive
m. and the basement and the large stol
IA rooms under the sidewalk will be light an
Ter dry.
in On the first floor are two fine store
ad The corner one will probably be occupie
by Mr.. Bengston, though not befol
re-. spring. The other is for rent
,at The second and third floors are devote
lid wholly to Offices. Messrs. Sweeney
,ot jackson occupy their old corner, and hay
nd the finest law Offices in this city. 9th
os- offices in the building are for rent.
he The upper story is devoted to a splend
ID. hall, So by As feet, with large ante-room
nc The Ancient Order of United Workmt
I'D are negotiating for the hall. 1t is We
at desirable on for any of our societies.
ZEN The bulldog is the pride of the town al
to is much admired by all who examine
The soiidity of the work is universal
co. praised. Every part oe it is as solid as Il
firm rocks, and will last for a long term
year. Too much praise cannot be awar
ed to Mr.. Bengston for his liberal additi
TO the solid and permanent improvement
'sk Of this city. He has set an example viii
IL we hope others will follow. And we no