The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1903-09-09
ESPECIAL CoRREspoNDENCE.l

the building itself is one OF the most
complete and substantial buildings
devoted to the uses of grain trading
in the wlole world, and the other is,
it is located in a city which is the
largest primary wheat market and
the largest manufacturer of flour in
the world When we read OF the
enormous grain receipts of this
market, and reflect upon the fact
that whole ship load of flour is
made every day by the Minneapolis
mills, we almost marvel that the
Chamber of Commerce was not in
corporated until 1881. Yet such is
the case.
The articles of incorporation OF
the Minneapolis Chamber of Com
merce were filed Oct. 10, 1881, and
there was not more than a dozen
charter members. Temporary quar-
tiers were found in the basement OF
a building now occupied by the W.
U. Telegraph company, at the cor
ner of Third street and Hennepin
avenue. The membership increased
rapidly and soon embraced every
grain dealer in the city, although it
was not confined to people of this
occupation. Withian few weeks other
and more suitable quarters had to
be found, and the organization moved
to the third story of building at
the corner Of Third street and First
avenue south. The membership
was limited by charter to $50, and
has been full almost from the be-
ginning, so that memberships have
only been procurable by transfer.
The membership fee was originally
$25 This was raised the next year
to $3.50, and in 1888 to $500. At
present it is $1,000 This figure
has nothing to do with the market
price, which has gone to five times
that amount, 81 1000 apiece having
recently been offered and refused,
for block of fifteen memberships.
This organization was very Wig
orous one from the beginning, ard
it soon passed it's experimental per-
iod, as may be inferred from the
| fact that in less than four mon tbs
from the date of it's organization it
was talking of erectinga home of it's
own.
On April 9TH, 1882, a committee
was chosen to erect site, and be-
fore the close of the year the foun
dation was laid for the erection of
new building This new building,
now outgrown, was at that time con-
sidered not only pretentious one,
but great undertaking for an in
FAINT organization. 1t was 90x100
feet in size, five stories high, and
cost, exclusive of site, $175, 900.
The lots were donated. Within a
few years this building, ample as it
was at completion, was inadequate
to the demands for Office ROOM In
order to accommodate, and possibly
profit, by the overflow, w. H. Eustis
erected two Office buildings, the
Corn Exchange and the Flour Ex-
change, and two other Office build
ings were built, only across the
street from the Chamber.
Still there was not room enough.
and in 1901'it was decided to build
again. Lots were procured imme.
diately in the rear of the old build
ing, and diagonally across the street
from the palatial court house and
city hall. During the spring of the
present year structure was COM
pleted on that site at cost of $780,
600, which is, beyond doubt, the
most substantial and complete Office
building in the Northwest. 1t is
ten stories in height, over a COM
modious basement, and occupies
space 157 feet on Fourth avenue,
south, by 1872 feet on Fourth street,
south. The building is not of fan
tastic architecture, but is notice
able for it's richness and solidity. It
is absolutely fire proof, and in the
matter of ventilation, heating,
lighting etc., it has the latest, best
and most sanitary appliances known
to architectural science. The ex-
change room, known as the
Change, where the grain is
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