The San Francisco call., 1896-08-24

Wilcox estate building, which graces the
southeast corner of Spring and Second
streets. This splendid structure has 120
teet frontage on Spring street and 157 on
Second, is five stories high and is con-
structed Of steel and gray sandstone. The
and steamship ticket offices and the Postal
Telegraph Company; the second, third
and fourth floors are occupied principally
by brokers and professional men; while
the entire fifth floor has been elegantly
furnished by the California Club. and will
henceforth be that swell organizations s
home.
Next in Importance to the Wilcox block
among the new Office buildings is the
Bullard block, which is located on the site
of the old courthouse, between Spring,
Main, Court and Market streets. ]. A.
sBul1ard. the proprietor, Is q thrifty Boston
capitalist, and he has spared no expense
in making this one of the finest Office
buildings in the West. It is five stories
high, and each of its four fronts, while not
gaudy, is highly ornate. The material
pressed brick of pinkish tint. The in
terror finish is in all respects on par with
the handsome exterior.
The Byrne block, at the northwest corner
of Broadway and Third streets, owned by
Mrs. Margaret Irvine of San Francisco and
her brother, Callighan Byrne, is one of
the handsomest Office buildings in the
tute its outside finish. 1t is splendidly
lighted from skylights and an interior
court, and although mammoth building
ontains not single dark room.
Of all the splendid buildings in the city
none surpasses the Bradbury block in
cost, appearance or. convenience. 1t
fronts 120 feet on Broadway, $50 feet on
Third street, is five stories in height and
cost in the neighborhood of half million
dollars. Brownstone and terra Gotta COL
ored brick are the materials that show in
its outward construction, White, buff
and pink glazed brick line the walls of the
interior court, around which are wide
verandas. The rooms are in suites of two,
one fronting or the street, the other on
the central court. The apartments are all
large, light and airy, and are ideal Office
rooms. The building was begnn by Lewis
A. Bradbury shortly before his death in
1892 and is valuable portion of what is
known as the rich Bradbury estate.
THE BOSS BUILDER.
To T. d. Stinson, perhaps, more than
any other one man, is Los Angeles in
debted for the inception of its building
boom. 1t remained for him by his exam
pie to give others courage to erect great
buildings IN this city. Prior to his arrival
here in 1890 the Bryson block was about
the only building over four stories in
height. Comparatively few went above
three stories up to that time. Mr.. Stinson
having amasscd fortune in the lumber
trade in Michigan and other States, came
here expecting to live in retirement the re-
mainder of his days, but the business OPP
portunities here appeared to him so good
that he was soon again actively engaged
in business affairs. He not only purchased
site for residence, upon which he
erected house which cost $165, 900, being
the finest private residence in Southern
California, but he likewise invested heavily
IN business property. One of his first pur-
chases was the northeast corner of Spring
and Third streets. The ground was occu-
pied by newly erected three-story brick
block, which was considered handsome
building in its day, and lesser brick
building OF two stories. These structures
were too small for Mr.. Stinson, so be be-
gan to tear them down. a proceeding
which the old residenters, who were salts
he'd with one-story shacks, consid cred al
most in the light of ss crilege.
The destruction OF new three-story
brick block to make room for q larger
building was something unheard of in
Los Angeles before Mr.. Stinson's advent,
but down it came, and q six-story steel
framed brick and terra Gotta building,
after the Chicago style, went up in its
place. Mr.. Stinson hes since erected
several other good buildings, among them
the Muskegon block, corner of Third and
Broadway, and a three-storv block adjoin-
ing the Muskegon. on Third street. He
has also purchased the Hammel & Denker
block, at the northwest corner of Third
and Spring streets, which he expects to
raise from one to several stories in the
course of time.
Whether Mr.. Stinson's example spurred
others to build more extensively or not,
the fact remains that there has been great
activity in building circles ever since he
started IN. His investments in Los An
geles foot up over 81 100000
THERE ARE OTHERS.
A. 2. Johnson and Captain B. f. Ball
are excavating for the foundation of a
$4,000 block on Main street, between
Fourth and Fifth. Another new building
that is in prospect will be located at the
northwest corner OF Second street and
Broadway. on ground owned by President
/. w. Heilman of the Nevada Bank. 1t is
said to be Mr.. Hellman's purpose to erect
block there that will rival in size and