, 1875-04-18
WQRKINCMEN'S HOMES.


There have been = number Of transactions
during the past week Of importance, both for
tho amount involved md the 1ndications they
g1ye Of the tendency Of improvement One Of
the first OF thesa to attract attention is the pnr
chhse Of ssVaral acres of land in the neishbor-
hood OF the Northwestern r-Shops bY Sid. Ny
en-, ON which he proposes to erect model homes
for workingmen.
Some years ago, BY oferiLg and awarding
prizes aud calling attention to the subject Mr.
Sidney Myers, Manager OF the IL, F. l. II. Saw
iugs Bank, Was instrumental in housing SONG
hupdreds Of families in neat and comfortable
wooden cottxgea upon their Own lois.
The institution with which Mr. Myetn il con-
nected has made q speciality Of loaning money to
depositora Who bought lots On which to build
homes.
HUNDREDS OF THEEE PKoPLE
Of Ill clAsses, By the rise in value OF their zaal
estate. aud the saving Of rent. hare become CON-
pa1atiyely well on.
Our population is changing. nsw men Ere COM
ing in. and the young are growing up to man
hood, real estate has become high in central To-
calites, tha fire limits hare been made eo-ezeen-
eire With the lulits Of tho city. and under
existing buildiueg-1aw wooden coteag,@ can no
longer be erected within those bounds.
Tbs situation WAS carefully considered, the
difficulties recognized aud IN effort is being
made to bring stone and brick dwellings, within
the reach Of all.
Tho Merchants, FarmMs l. Mechanics' Hag-
tngB Bank, last autumn, offered prize OF 81, 600
for ths best plan for dwellings, that would be ap-
proximatively fre-proof, and at least meet tho.
requirements OF the city fire and building laws.
Over Thirty gets OF plans we're presented for
competition, and the prize was awarded BY
COMMITTEES consisting Of Louis Wahl, Of The
Board Of Public Works, N. s. Bouton, OF the
Citizens Association, DR.. Ben c. Miller Sanitary
Superintendent, Gen. G. ". Drew, Of the Board
The prize WAS awarded to Mr.. A. J. Smith,
young Chicago architect, aud four buildings OF
the approved construction
ARE NOW BEING ERECTED
On Sacramento avenue, near NRdiguu street,
about midway between Western avenue sud
Central Park and within df&een minutea' walk
Of either point.
Thess test buildings will be completed In
thirty days, at which time one Of them 6iIl be
tested by building fire within and on the root,
in order that the amount Of damage that may
possibly a11sa from accidental fire may
be known. The house to be tested will have
temporary doors, windows and staira made OF
rough boards and protected with ire proof
paint
These houses are built as models, they are of
brick, with brick partitions, stone-steps. and
trimn1ings, aud the rooms will consist
Of eellas which. as it is
natural surface may be finished OF BY the occu-
pant, when be needs it. into diuing-room, kitch-
en-, and laundry; The second story contains
parlor, living room, aud kitchen; the upper
story, two chambers aud small bedroom. The
roof will be Of slate, the chimneys are lined
At-rtx 1nn~x A%x1
rafters will be protected above and below W1th.
concrete, ~ inches thick, by James Johns
method. The brick walls are hollow.
no WOODEN sTUDD1NG,
fu1ring. or lath are allowed in the buildinga.
The walls ara anchored and foundations laid IN
the most substantial manner.
Before the prize waB offered by the bank MY.
Myers made = tour Of tho, Eastern cities accom-
panied by Mr. Thomas R. Jackson, OF New York,
who has had thirty years Of experience not only
ss an architect but also as = building contract
or. Memoranda and draFings were made aud
arranged. Mr. hckson spent several weeks in
Chicago examining the plans presented in COM
petition for the prize and in informing himself
regarding the Chicago market for building ma
tefials AL 1he information thps acquired has
eushrpught to bear upon The erection OF the
model dwellings, now beng built.
People who are most in need of substantial and
cheap dwellings,, and who in the aggregate have
the greatest amount Of means with which to pay
for them, have little time to spare to visit ar
chitects' officer, aud to study over plans, specf-
tcations and E;ds for material or labor. Dur
ing Business hours they are in their workshops
or Offices or are teaching in the schools, run
ming our railroads, Or sailing on the lakes, or
engaged in ao1ne other usefal occupahou- 1t
Was thought that il = plan could be arranged BY
which buildings could be erected complete and
then offered to these people for gale, that they
could
nuY HousE AND LOT
with almost as much facility az coat or cook