The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-01
CHICAGO y. ~. {. As PALACE.


Secretary MesseF Tells 81 the Splendid
Building IL Iahabits-
+ WHbur Messer. the general secretary
81 tie Y. ". c. A. % Chicago. who . n
this city ia attendance on the annual con-
veasion noW IL session. last evening gave
some interesting facts connected With the
ASSOCIATION sork in Chicago. and said;
..0ar building 10 Chicago Is the largest
and best equipped in the world. !, ~ Iss
fess ~ depth, eighty feet vide and thirteen
stories high, icing - feet in height The
construction, ike that OF sll other high
buildings. is Of steei frame, sile floors an I
partitions, and ars.-elass 10 al is appoint
ments. wiFh the exterior liz granite and
terra Gotta. It's cost com piete. - 81, 20, co,
and IL - b nsisd fo- $4,000. OF this cost,
over 500 Gu Was subscribed by Chicago
business men. The association owned the
lot, on which there had been ;hree differ
ens buildings, also owned by the asSocIa-
ton. two Of which were destroyed by ire,
one in the big fire and the other two years
previous 70 shat: the third was torn down
ia order 70 erect the present one.
The ASSOCIATION first occupied the
building last November aud the then untln-
ishea portion has since been finished. and
today about One-half Of IL is occupied by
business offices. bringing in revenue OF
over So COZ annually. The ASSOCIATION
occupies nearly all OF the first seven
stories The first story has the spacious
entrance finished in marble and mosaic,
the natator.um. holding 5000 gallons Of
water. bicycle storage for 900 wheels at .
time; part Of the baths. iAyatories. etc.
The second story has the reading rooms,
reception rooms, small lecture bail. seat
ing go, the main floor Of the large audi
forum seating I.0oo, with plenty Of CON-
mittee rooms adjoining. The third floor
has inc double pariors with library ad-
Joining, members correspondence rooms
ard recreation rooms. This floor IL fin
lsbed in mahogany and bird 's-eye maple,
and was furnished throughout by the la
dies OF the city. The fourth story is taken
up by over 2000 lockers and dressing
rooms and thirty shower and Tub baths
As an illustration, about three weeks ago 5T3
nlen used these baths IN one day. All are
handsomely finished IN marble with ell
necessary conveniences The NTH and
sixth floors make up one hall for the gym
nasium. beautifully lighted and ventilated.
This gymnasium Is fully supplied with all
modern appliances. and contains 81
iaps-to-a-mile suspended running track
The seventh floor and most of the twelfth
floor are taken for educational WORK,
where classes in fifty different branches
are taught by a faculty Of twenty-three in
structors- All these privileges are open TO
any moral young man for s. a year. In
AiNit4on Suu 3 q unique IaSloF the pOHA-
ing alley. hand ball and tennis court are
located on the top Of the building.
As the result of this new and complete
building over I,c0Q new member were
added 10 the association since last Novem-
Der. The association has work also at
thirteen other points In the city. inelud-
ing branches for railroad men, Germans.
mechanics. college students and other
classes. over thirty men give their en-
tire time TO the WORK ali under nv super
vision. and our current expenses are over
ST5,u00 year In the entire association
We have a present paid membership of
more than 500.
The prosperity OF this association is due
chiefly 20 the personal efforts OF some of
the most prominent business men of the
edueAtlonal circles -