Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-15


ameter, and 1t is supported by beautiful
group of combination columns sprlnging to-
the arch covering the clock. Then comes
the cornice OF the tower, which' Is very
massively carved and ending on two corners
with gargyle to discharge the water from
the roof of the tower. Above this springs TO
heighth OF 2S feet the roof of the tower,
terminating In solid copper plate.
In general way IL might be stated that
massiveness, rather than delicacy, has been
studied, and the design throughout Is IN per-
feet keeping with that idea. There is no in
congruous blending of Romanesque, modern
gothic and renaissance. The exposed por-
tion of the roof Is less than half pitch and Is
covered with corrugated, not followed tile,
and finished with solid cresting, making 1t
unquestionably the finest roof In existing
This style of roof is now being used on most
OF the principal buildings having similar eX-
posures and Is Of the same material, though
of different pattern as the Merchants
National bank of this city.
The Eighteenth street elevation is much
the same as TO detailed parts as the Farnam
street front, the distinctive feature being
two circular mlnarets. Starting from base
OF 30 feet they are connected by massive
arch, forming the Eighteenth street entrance,
with the balcony over it. Above this to the
| top OF the fourth story the windows are
splendidly divided into groups and the arch
| idea Is again introduced over the handsome
balcony at the entrance to the library on the
| fifth floor. Above the roof these minarets
assume conical shape and are finished like
| the main tower with a final of solid copper.
AS to the interior of the building, we will
| commence at the basement. There are areas
| on the alley and east side. There are storage
vaults for the treasurer, comptroller, engi-
neer and clerk There Is general work and
supply room for the city engineer. Station
ary engineers and hremen OF the building
| have also q general work room. Then there
| Is a storage department for the batteries and
different electrical appliances. Almost in
| the center of the building are the three boil.
ers, two low and one high pressure. Behind
| these is the cistern for the water which is
used in supplying the hydraulic force OF the
elevators also supply tank direct from the
| city main, which will supply the building
| with water, which will be pumped to the
| root as a distributing point. Along the alley
| a fuel room is constructed so as to receive
| fuel direct from wagons. Then there are
| water closets for the employees, and the city
| engineer and his assistants.
| On the first floor there is O eighueen-foot
| entrance leading by massive granite steps to
| the vestibule. 1t is worked in group OF
| arches. Turning eastward you enter the
| city clerks Offices consisting of public
| room, one for the assistant clerk, 23x30;
| private Office in the southeast corner of the
| the building sufficiently large to accommo-
| equalization "a 26x30 book-keepers' room, and
| q vault 14x20. On the other side of the
| main entrance are the treasurers offices,
/ comprising the same accommodations the
/ ClcTk pOSScSStS, Will bho SACcpGioh tuao
89x45 is allowed the public room, thirty feet
Of which is devoted to counter space. The
| private office IS in the tower in the south
| west corner of the building.
| Going straight into the building you pass
| under a very heavy Romanesque arch. The
| same feature is introduced over the Seven
| teenth street and east entrances. Then Is
| encountered the grand staircase, twelve feet
wide, with an elevator on each side These
| elevators are of peculiar construction, and,
| will be, when finished, the finest OF their
kind in tho United States. There is no shaft
railing, and the elevator is exposed on three
sides. The doors on each floor enter
from the same side, and the
oriental design. The court will be superior
| III general effect to that of the Rookery, in
| Chicago. The comptrolier's Office is to the
| west, and is 22x29, with vault 915x22, and
accountants room 2Ox40, and a. private Office
| Tor the comptroller, with an exit through the
entrance on the rear of the building. There
is also an entrance leading out of the alley.
| Coming back TO the court and turning 10
with private office and vault, and
| stairway leading to the chief of police to the
second floor directly above. The arrange
| ment of the telegraph quarters is original
| with our plan. 1t is a matter of great I'M
| portance in eastern cities, and also in Omaha.
| Next to the telegraph office IS the Office of
| the chief of the fire department. When an
| alarm is sounded it will be sent first TO this
/
| orders to the different fire stations. The
| chief of the fire department has an expert
| mental room and private office, the door of
| which is Immediately to the right of the exit
| in the rear, so that in case of an alarm he
will be able to reach his horse in the alley
without running through the building. He
| also has a vault for his records.
| On the second story the principal room Is
| the council chamber, fronting on Farnam
street, 52xSs, and twenty-six feet in height,
| with massive groined and paneled ceiling
| 1t has u vault and toilet rooms, and an arch
| in the west end, i'll the center of which is
| the presidents chair. The wainscoting in
this room is twelve feet high, and above that
| tho finish is of Moorish design, in columns
and arches, with splendid cornce and
| frieze. In connection with the council
| chamber are the presidents reception room,
| private Office in the tower and three large
| committee rooms. On this floor are toilet
| rooms, both for ladies and gentlemen. that
| of the ladies being placed under tine stair
| way. On the Eighteenth street side are the
| assessment bureau, with private office and
| vault; overseer of the poor, with waiting
| ROOM closet and vault In the rear are the
| board of health and city physician, with pri-
vate Office and laboratory. On the east side
| is the chief Of police.
The Farnam street front of the third floor
| is taken up by the council chamber gallery
| and mayors offices, the latter consisting of
| o room 35 feet square, reception room and
| toilet, and private office in the tower with
a vault. Next to him on the Eighteenth
street side is the license inspector, who has
private office, and direct connection with
| the mayors office. This latter ar
rangement is to accommodate the mayor,
| who is u member of the license board. Next
north of the license board is the city attor-
ney, with private office, public Office and
| vault, and next is the fire and police com
| mission, with 20x40 room for the examina-
| tion of applicants. On the rear of the build
| ing are the election commissioners, water
commissioners, and the clerk, with private
| offices and vaults. These three last named
quarters are not in use at the present time,
but unQuestionably will be when the build
ing is completed. On this floor also are
ladies' and gentlemen's toilet rooms very
| conveniently arranged.
The southwest corner of the fourth floor
| is taken up by the board of public works,
| which has a board room 22x32, with vault,
bookkeeper's room, and private office and
| tower. Next to the board, on the Eighteenth
| street side, is the bureau of parks Next
| the reserve room for the engineer and the
\ city engineers private room. Extending
across the rear of the building are the on
| gineers public room, the office OF the assist
| ant engineer, with a splendid drafting room
| 25x46, having. ample light from the north,
with apparatus room and vaults. On the
! east and Farnam street sides arc the boiler
| inspector, with private office and vault
plumbing, sewer, gas, milk and sidewalk
| insnactors a nd the bureau of streets, with