Wichita eagle., 1888-06-17
NOW FINISHED AND READY FOR
OCCUPANCY.
A Magnificent Business Building
Upon Which $4,000 Has Al.
ready Been Expended.


citizen in passing cannot but stop and cast
an eye I'D the stately, imposing architec-
tural pile Its situation is most fortunate
on Douglas, one Of the leading business
streets of the city, but block and a half
from that center of traffic, the crossing of
the avenue and Main, and only half a
| block from the crossing OF Market.
Its erection was conceived by the late
Mr.. Zimmerly some time before his death,
but it was not commenced until just
about year ago. The old buildings that
stood upon the site were removed, and IN
Nv the foundation was COM
men d. Since then the work has
L..a continued gradually, not rushed,
| but carried on with view to making it
building not only elegant in appearance
but at the same time solid and substan-
| tial. That both of these ideas have been
attained it is but necessary to look upon
the building as it stands today.
! The Zimmerly has front of SO feet with
| a depth of 40 and is five stories in height.
| The front built of Bedford cut stone from
the mill of Balance and Jaus, is a marvel
of architectural beauty. Two large arches
span the entrance to the first floor rooms:
| from the stone work surrounding these
rise four pillars, the bay windows on the
corner and the projecting windows on the
west. The cut stone work is Of a superior
order, many of the more prominent pieces
carved in representation of leaves, flowers
and fantastic figures, the whole presenting
most finished and artistic appearance.
The front is beyond a doubt the finest and
most attractive not only in this city but
also in Kansas: and has drawn forth the
most favorable Communications from all
architects and lovers of beautiful
architectural designs that have
sen it. The rear and side walls are built
mostly of the white bricks and are as solid
and substantial as were ever constructed.
They rise from a three foot foundation of
solid stone laid ON deeper foundation of
concrete.
Besides the lower store room there are
seventy-two rooms in the building,
eighteen on each of the four upper stories.
The store room-or rather the double
room-is so feet wide and extends the
length of the building. A row of iron
posts run through the center of the room
and in the rear is an elevated platform ex-
tending twenty-five feet from the rear
wall There are front, rear and side
entrances. and sufficient light from not
only the large windows of the front and
rear, but those of the side walls. Toilet
rooms and closets have been built
in the rear, steam heaters range
at intervals along the floor, elegant
gas fixtures hang from the ceiling; every
thing in fact is complete, finished, and OF
such an arrangement as characteriZes
metropolitan store room. This Messrs.
Cole s. Jones have leased, and into it they
intend to put an elegant and complete
stock of goods, making business room
that in their line will stand unrivalled in
the state.
The west entrance leads to the stairway
and the elevator, A boy in blue and gold
fringe presides, and stepping within one is
soon to the upper stories. BY means of
such an elevator the distance to the upper
floors becomes a matter of little moment.
1t is one of the Hale hydraulic elevators.
A tank is constantly kept filled with
water on the roof, and is supplied by the
pumps, so that the elevator will run night
and day, and not only now and then, as is
often the case with elevators operated by
steam.
The second floor rooms | and 2 will be
occupied by c. A. Gates, a well known
real estate man who has for some time
been in business in the city. He will have
charge of the building. renting, collecting
and caring for the differon, rooms, These
rooms will also be the Offices of Mr.. and
Mrs. Lee Jerome for the transaction of
their business. Rooms ?, and on the
same floor have been leasei and are
already occupied by Messrs. Crawford and
Bullock who have so fitted them up as to
make most elegant and attractive quarters
for the transaction of their insurance bust
ness Besides these are the side and inner
rooms. all arranged in suites of two each,
heated with steam, lighted with gas and
each door supplied with letter Sits. On
each floor are geptleman's and a ladies'
toilet room, water supply for the use Of
the occupants of the rooms and also to be
used in case of fire.
On the third floor the front Offices were
also occupied: one by ". Irving Osborn,
the other by the New York Life Insurance
company. On the fifth floor front are the
Offices of the architects of the building
Messrs. Dumont & Hayward.
The rooms on all these upper floors, side
as we'll as inner, are well supplied with
light from not only the side windows but
also the court covered with the sky
light above In fact many of the inner
rooms and rooms which in many cases
would be dark, are here better supplied
with light than the outer rooms of other
less skilfully constructed buildings. There
is a double gallery around this interior
court on the third, fourth
and fifth floors, each connected
in the center with a passageway
thus affording a means Of crossing from
one side to the other without going entirely
around the hall The hallway is laid with
mating; and besides the gas lights with
which it is now supplied electric lights
will be placed within.
The interior furnishing is another thing
of which Mr. and Mrs. Jerome, in whose
company the building was inspected, feel
very proud. 1t is the work of Messrs Lee
s. yeile and is indeed rich and finished and
without peer in the state. 1t is grained
throughout in different kinds Of hard
wood. while the painting is OF the same
high order OF Communication as that 10
ticed on the doors and windows Of the
front entrance.
Just in the rear of the elevator shaft on
the first floor Is the pump by which the
elevator is operated Be- means of this the
water is carried at the ra te Of from 20 TO
800 gallons minute TO the tank on the
roof from the large cistern just beneath the
pump This pump is in fact automatic and
is as has been stated IN operation both cay
and night
Beneath the elevator platform in the
rear Of the store room is the engine room-