Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-20
FIRM
Gets CONTRACT
FOR new BLOCK
v. Jobst & Sons Will Begin Work
on the Best Building as Soon
as Site is Cleared.
WILL BE MODERN STRUCTURE
Plans Call for Six Stories, the Lower
Two to Be Entirely Devoted to
Store Purposes.

The contract for the new Best build
ing at Seventeenth street and Second
avenue. has been let to V. Jobst & Sons
of Peoria and work will commence
as soon as the structure now on
the site is torn down. There was
large number of bids for the contract
but the Peoria firm made the best
terms and was given the job. The
building, when completed, will be one
|of the largest and most modern store
and Office buildings in the tri-eities.
Details of Plans.
The new block will have frontage
on Second avenue of 80 feet inches
and will be very imposing in appear
ance Pressed brick, copper cornice
and terra Gotta trimmings will be
used The main entrance will be
overhung by huge copper awning.
Plate glass will be used for the show
windows throughout the entire build
ling. The entrance to the offices.
which are to be located on the third,
fourth, fifth and sixth floors. will be
at the. southeast corner of the build
| ing.
The Seventeenth street side is to
be ISL feet inches long. There will
be an entrance to the store there at
about the middle of the building, and
the show windows will extend from
Second avenue back on Seventeenth
street about so feet, giving the store
an exhibit space of 120 feet.
| The basement, which will contain
the boilers, package room, toilet
and locker room for the male en-
lployes of the store, is to extend under
all of the building and the sidewalks
also. 1t makes a very spacious base
lment.
| Part for store.
The first and second floors of the
structure will be given over entirely
Ito the department store. There will be
"a rest room on the second floor.
Beginning at the third floor the
building is divided into two parts
the front being devoted to Office rooms
while the rear is to be used by the
store. A court opening on Seven
teenth street, Is feet wide and extend
ling SIS feet into the building, will be
built above the third floor.
In the rear part the height of the
feelings will be little greater than
lat the front and there will be only
five stories there in the same height
while six will be built in the front
The third floor of the store will con
tain the toilet and locker rooms fol
ladies.
Many Office Rooms.
The plan for the Office rooms are a
little indefinite as yet because. the de
sires of the prospective tenants viii
be considered. 1t is likely however
that there will be "a Office rooms on
each of the four top floors. A public
vault will be placed on the third floor
in which the valuable papers of the
tenants may be kept.
There will be three elevators in the
store, one of them freight elevator
A high speed elevator will be USED
in the Office part of the building.
Some Novel Features.
The fourth floor of the rear par
will contain a kitchen and a dining
room, where it is likely regular moor
day meals will be served. A hospita
, room is also located on this floor TO
/ use in cases of emergency.
! The building will be of reinforced
. concrete construction throughout ant
will be fireproof The inside will bs
finished in oak, partly in mission
style The aggregate cost is estimated
from $125,000 to $150,0G0.