Arizona republican., 1913-08-25
ID BEGIN WORK ON HOTEL FOR
 PRATT--C|LBERT
Ground Will Probably Be Broken This Week for Handsome Structure on Central Ave. for Mercan- tile and Hotel Purposes

Some time in the near future. prob
 ably before the coming week is over,
 ground will be broken for one of the
 handsomest, largest and most modern
 business and hotel structures in Phoe-
 nix. Pratt-Gilbcrt company recent
 purchasers of the property fronting
 100 feet on West Madison street at
 Central avenue and running from
 Madison back to Jackson street, a
 distance of practically 300 feet, an
 nounce that they have just about ar
 rived at the point where they are
 ready to begin the excavation for the structure which is to be the future home of their business and which, in addition, will present for rental d . hotel and rooming house proposition
 second to none in Arizona. The only
 thing now holding the matter at all in check is the fact that they have
 not quite decided upon tenant. They ! have number of applications, some of whom seem acceptable and others to whom they would not rent for va rious reasons. In the meantime they
 are casting about for further appli- cations with the end in view of se- i lccting just such tenant as they could wish and one they can feel req sonably certain will carry out any contract into which he may enter.
 The Pratt Gilbert building, whether l 1t be q two, three or four-story build ! ing, will long be one of the most unique in this city, for it will enjoy the distinction of being the first to l be erected under the Aiken system of I concrete construction. The plans for the structure have long since been completed by Scott, Macdonald X l Hitchcock. architects familiar with all ! the advantages of the Aiken system which calls for the erection of the walls with hydraulic jacks after the concrete has been laid in a horizontal position, eliminating wooden forms and the attendant board marks In addition. pillars and the interior walls are erected by what is knwn as the unit system, which provides for uni formity and correct construction even before the pillars and walls are in place.
 As at present planned, the entire first floor of the building, which will be 100 feet by 13712 feet. will be de- voted to the use of the Pratt Gilbert ! company, with the exception of a fortY-foot lobby at the southern end on Central avenue. This lobby will be utilized by the lessee of the hotel l portion. It is planned to have up | wards of 100 modern rooms many 1 with individual baths and several en suite There will be several light courts, and altogether the hotel DOT ton will be of the best
 For it's own use the Pratt Gilbert | company will have a showroom sec ond to none in Arizona, with q DOT tion divided off for offices. In add- | tion. smaller buildings will likely be | erected at the rear and immediately | abutting upon the santa Fc tracks, | thereby eliminating hauIs of heavy | hardware and other goods as is now necessary.
 One reason why the ratt-Gilbert company is anxious to get this work under way quickly is because the Bar rows -Fooshee company is now with out home following the fire of Fri day and wants to move into the pres ent quarters of the Pratt Gilbert peo- pie at First and Jefferson streets Be fore this is done it will be necessary to remodel the entire building eX- tensively, and when this is completed the furniture company will have the most modern quarters now occupied by q similar concern in this section.
 On this page appears an illustration of the Dr. Schroeder hotel building, now under course of erection at Tue son. This building is being construct cd under the Aiken system, the same as that to be employed in the erec- ton of the Pratt-Gilbert building. In the picture the three walls are shown in place, with the fourth ready to be raised. The raising of this wall was effected in two hours and forty min utes. Vic Griffith, county treasurer of Pima county, is the contractor, un der the name of the Concrete Con z 5truction company of Tucson.
 Employing this system, A. c. ' ITulett is having plans prepared for he erection of a handsome $S000 fire proof residence.
 Work is being rushed upon the . or local patronage, and to bear in . mind that when they the officials f our public institutions have some hing architectural to be undertaken . here are as capable men in Phoenix , IS elsewhere.
 And now that we have a cement liant in operation let us turn our ttention to other branches of trade =
 have one in mind in the building ne. an Arizona asbestos roofing. We ave the raw material. why not pro- ( Uce the manufactured article? Sure N there is demand enough