The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-30

change in the architectural arrangement
OF that front. An exceptionally wide but
severely plain cornice lends dignity to the
building. Messrs. Kees & Colburn give this
style of building particular name. It
is not an adapted or "modified' any
thing. It follows their own ideas and is
as well entitled to carry their name as
any other.
The internal arrangement Of the build
Ing is with reference to the special re-
quirements Of a grain trading body En-
ter1ng from Fourth avenue one passes
through a broad, low corridor to the eIe-
Vators; there is a stairway but It Is in
conspicuous and little used-only fast
elevators are equal to the demands Of
the grain men. These elevators afford
communication with every floor, one being
operated for the special use Of the fourth
or trading room floor The location of
the trading room on the fourth floor has
obvious advantages. 1t is almost equally
accessible from all parts of the building,
Is not too far from the ground floor,
where all persons from other buildings
must of course, enter, while good light
is secured and the space on the lower
floors, under the trading room, is made
available. Above one end of the trading
room. as has been said, there are no
offices, the space being left open to Sc
cure better lighting.
On the first floor are the secretary's
office, directors room, the branch post
office and such conveniences as barber
shop and cigar and news stands. The
basement Is devoted to the heating
lighting and ventilating plant.
Method OF Construction.
In general construction the chamber
is as nearly perfect as modern ideas and
skill can make it. The foundations were
laid down during one season and were
allowed to stand over winter before the
superstructure was commenced. On these
foundations was built a, steel skeleton
but the outside walls were made a part
of the strength Of the building They
are exceptionally massive and through
every pier runs a steel column. All the
other steel structural work Is carefully
protected by means of brick or terra
Gotta. The floors are of the Haglin fire.
proof system-invented by G.. F. Haglin,
the general contractor for the building.
All interior partitions are of Mackolite
tiling and all walls are covered with
Zenith plaster. The corridors are f1oored
with tile and wainscotted with Italian
MARBLE the statrways are of steel and
stone.
!. The building is, in fact, fireproof. There
is very little wood about it. The offices
are In birch with mahogany finish.
The Great Trading Room.
OF course the center of interest in the
building Is the great trading room 1t is
here that the business of the greatest cash
wheat market of the world is transacted.
As has been stated, this room is on the
fourth floor Of the building. It is located
on the side adjoining the old building.
which stands just across an alley, and it
Is connected with the old building by
means OF covered bridge so that tenants
of the old structure have as ready access
to the change room as those in the new
building. p. Est
q The trading room is 75x1s2 feet In size
and has an area of $500 square feet, or
more than twice that Of the trading room
In the old building. It occupies more than
two stories At the level of the fifth floor
a. gallery runs around the Fourth avenue
end of the room, allowing visitors to en-
and making it possible for one to pass
from one building to the other without
going upon the trading room f1oor-a place
which Is devoted sacredly to members or
properly introduced visitors. At this same
Fourth avenue end Of the room are the
cash grain tables; at the other end are
the wheat pit, the quotation boards and
the telephone booths. On one side are
the telegraph desks and on the other the
coarse grain pits.
However conservative they have been
in other particulars the Chamber of Com
merce people have spared no pains to
make LIle lrdul1lg room the llHeSC anu most
! elaborately decorated in the country.
From the floor rises wainscoting of green
marble. The ceiling is deeply beamed and
panened and with the walls is richly or
namented with plaster work Of refined
design. The decorating Of this room was
done under the direction Of John S. Brad
street Of Minneapolis and is in admir-
able taste. In the ceiling panels old ivory
effects were used with occasional com.
binations Of green. The walls are in tones
of the palest straw color with wreaths Of
wheat, barley and other grains at inter
walls, while stalks Of the same grains are