The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-06-12
CHEAP FIRE-PRooF HOUSES.

We feel satisfied that no apology to our
readers is needed for the space devoted in
the present issue to the plans of Cheap
Fire-proof Houses for the masses, as they
will prove especially interesting to our
country as well as our city readers. The
CONGREGATIONS which have, Of late years,
devastated so many Of our cities and vii
lagos, have aroused the public to sense
of the imminent danger which surrounds
them, and the necessity Of securing struc-
lures better calculated to resist the fiery
element As acareful observer Of events and
human nature, Mr.. Sidney Myers, man
ager OF the Merchants Farmers a Me
chanics Bank Of this city, saw the neces-
slty Of constructing dwelling combining
the necessary properties to resist the fire
hend, and at the same time be cheap and
neat, commodious and comfortable
Keeping these facts IN view, he offered
premiums Of 81 600 each for plai and
! specifications for the best method Of con-
structing tire proof dwellings. Through
this means he brought out the competitive
| powers Of cur scientific architects, and the
result vas that he obtained plan and spe-
clhcations upon which house can be
erected So nearly tire proof that it does
away with the necessity Of insurance.
| Some four houses on this plan have
! L.,,.
Madison, and about ten minutes walk from
Central Park Two buildings with stores
are also being erected on Lake street, near
the Northwestern car-shops, and fourdwell-
lngs near these stores are nearly ready for
the roof. IL has also made arrangement ts
t. secure capital for the erection Of dwell
ing for woklngmen near Mccormick S
Reaper Fact)r nd the Cotton mills in
the southeastern part Of this city These
houses differ from those gotten up from a
purely speculative enterprise as We shall
show hereafter. They cannot sink because
their foundations are solid they cannot
be blown away because their walls are
strong and well braced they will not burn
for there is no material part of the structure
Of an inhammable nature exposed to fire
We have visited those houses on Sacra-
mentO stree {, and have found them
all they are represented to be. Those who
are Interested in procuring home should
examine them AS well as those at the North
western shops. Hundreds Of our working
men have visited them since they were start.
ed, and have watched their reconstruction with
great interest. In regard to size. they are Of
similar dimensions to thousands of self
contained dwellings in Philadelphia. for
for which that city Is 80 noted.
| There is one strong recommendation
to these houses which our workingmen
must not overlook. They can be built at
very little over ten or fifteen per cent.
above the cost Of an ordinary frame build
ing, and being hre-proof there is no neces.
slty for insurance, and the money saved
IN this way viii, in less than twenty years
more than pay the cost Of building, and
taken in connection with the amount
saved in repairs, are essential recommend
ations in their favor.
The question then arises, Why shall not
Chicago become as celebrated for housin.
her WorkIngmen as any other city in IN,
world Whe should she not become a
distinguished for her substantial construc
ton and Immunity from great confsga
tions she has been for wooden house
and biz fires.
Mr.. Myers is nov erecting one Of thos
dwellings FIR his own use on Rush street
near Superior, which has less frontag
than the Model House On Sacrament
street
The arrangement which Mr. Myers ha
made for obtaining capital will enable hin
to advance money to persons who wish t
build, at very reasonable rate If inter
est