The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-27
VERANDA BLOCK.
First Building Erected in San
Francisco Under the Fire
Escape Ordinance.
Substantial Four Story ard Basement
structure-New Western
Hotel.

in the many magnificent edifces con-
structed during the past few years the In
crease of solidity and costliness has been
very marked, and every new building is de-
signed by the architect to excel his previous
efforts.
The Veranda Block, or New Western
Hotel Building, being completed at the
northeast corner of Kearny and Washing
ton streets, on the site where stood the old
building so well known by the former
name, is not behind in the march of archi-
tectuIal progress, and the enterprising
owner, Louis Schultz, one of San Fran
clsco's capitalists, is to be congratulated in
contributing to the many large, substantial
and artistic buildings for which this city Is
famed.
The designs and specifications were pre-
pared by the we'll known architect, William
M0Oser, of 354 Kearny street, who has exer-
cised particular care to make the Veranda
q monument Of modern construction and
adaptable for the purposes for which it is
to be used
This strongly built structure is OF brick
and iron. with concrete foundations, four
stories and basement, and has frontage
on kearny street OF 100 feet, and on WASH
ington street OF nearly los feet. IL has the
strongest foundations of any building in
the city. In the center of 1t is an open
court 1885 feet, where the elevator and
hre-proot kitchen are being built. The ele-
yator will practically be separate from the
building, while the kitchen viii be abso-
lutely tiTe-proOf. On the second, third and
fourth floors the halls encircle the building,
dividing the outer from the inner apart
ments. From the first to the fourth floors
are three stairways-the main stairs, one for
ladies and the third for servants.
A long-felt want, In connection with
hotels, for the protection OF life in case of
fire IS here supplied, and in accordance
with the new city ordinance there are four
FIRE escapes or ladders, affixed to the build
ing, two on the Kearny-street frontage, one
on Washington street and one at the rear of
the hotel. with platform on each story
surrounded by wire netting, which insures
an easy escape should fire occur. Their
mOstats are also placed in all the rooms and
balls, so that when the temperature ex-
eeeds 1859, the hotel Office is apprised of it,
as well as the occupant OF the room, and
the manager or clerk in charge instantly
investigates the source of the alarm. Two
stand-plpes are provided, one on each
street, and valves on each floor and roof
with Siamese inlets four feet in height
from the sidewalk. These connect with
the Fire Department. The improvement,
which is new, comes under the recent city
ordinance. Nine fire hoses within the build
ing, three on each floor, are an extra secur-
ity against fire. Electric bells, speaking
tubes and the FIRE alarms, supplied by Will
& Finck, the electricians, of S1S-820 Market
street, are arranged throughout the entire
building, with the usual annunciators in
the office Of the hotel
Landry c. Babin. the real estate agent,
Insurance broker and rent collector, with
offices at 4l3 Kearny street, has been the
collecting agent for Mr. Schultz for upward
of fifteen years, which is a sufficient guar
antee Of his integrity and business capa-
bility. The utmost care and attention are
given TO all matters intrusted to him. He
has leased the entire block and will con-
tinue as agent for it.