Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-05

can be seen from almost every part of
the city. 1t rests upon a marble base,
but the top is constructed entirely of
iron. 1t forms an oval-shaped dome
some fifty feet In diameter at the bot
tom. Between the ribs of the dome are
twelve circular windows, four of which
serve as faces for the town clock. This
mated at night. The roof of the tower
upbolds a covered balcony or ''lantern,'
from which magnificent view of the
city may be had. Within this is hung
the large bell Of the clock; also used for
alarm in case of fire. The top of the
centre portion of the building is ninety
five feet above the street. Including the
tower, it reaches height OF 227 feet.
The whole building is fire-proof. The
corridors in the interior are wide aud
we'll lighted. .They are tiled in black and
white marble and encircled by marble
Dashboard. The castings are OF natural
wood, but the floors of the offices and
rooms are OF yellow pine, which is
covered either by carpets or. oil-cloth.
Altogether, there are 102 rooms in the
building. The cellar is twelve feet
deep, and contains the heating and
ventilating apparatus besides the store
rooms. The basement is fifteen feet
high, the other stories twenty feet.
Each room is heated by the hot-water
system, and is also furnished with an
open fireplace, in some instances quite
handsome. Each department has its
separate vaults, while two elevators are
in readiness to take passengers from one
story to another. The rotunda in the
centre wing is directly beneath the
dome. 1t is illuminated by light
shaft which is covered by stained
glass top, showing the city'S seal and
four figures emblematic of commerce,
agriculture, manufacture and the arts.
The lateral wings correspond with
each other in their divisions. Each is
lighted by an open court, also affording
ventilation. The council chambers are
situated in the southern part OF the
second story, and are each about forty
feet square and thirty-6ve in height.
They are elegantly furnished, draped
with heavy curtains, and adorned by
paintings and busts OF the former
mayors or prominent officials. The
ceiling is decorated with gilded
stucco work. Each branch of
the council occupies its own chamber.
They are furnished with desks and fine
ly upholstered chairs, twenty-five in
the one and eleven in the other. A
small gallery in each is entered from
the story above. Between the two
atS ehS oo'iSe oho
rooms. In the northern wing, corre-
| spending in position to these apart
ments, is large public hall, l40x40
feet, and OF the same height as the
| council chamber. This is used on pub
| lie occasions for receptions, funerals,
| etc. 1t, also, is ablaze with gilded
stucco work, but at present is in rather
dilapidated condition apparently the
result OF water from lcaky roof.
| The mayors apartments are in the
first story and are furnished with lux
urious elegance; heavy draperies, fine
furniture, and ornamented walls. In
his reception room may be seen the
bronze tablet presented to the city by
the G. A. IL. on occasion Of its reunion
in this city. The other departments
are furnished in similar style though
not so elegantly.
In 1865, when the plans for the build
ing We're made, the population Of the
| city was about 2S5,OO0. The census Of
1850 gave Baltimore 332 ,3I3 inhabitants,
while at the present time, anything in
the neighborhood of halt million is
claimed. With the growth OF the city,
OF course the official business has also
expanded, but while the rooms in the
CITY hall arc crowded, 1t suffices for
all that was intended at the time of its
completion. Even now there are no
offices in the mansard story, VIII ere sew