Arizona republican., 1917-02-10

While the exterior of the Commercial hotel as 1t now stands shows little change from the hotel building which seven months ago was literally de- stroyed from inside by fire. the work of remodeling and rebuilding the es- tahliShment was monStrous task, ac- companied by many difficult problems, and entailing hundreds of small and large items which cannot be fully re- aliZed from brief survey of the build ing. The work of rebuilding the hOstelry was accomplished by T. B. Stewart general contractor, with offices in rooms l and ,, Central building. of this city.
 While Mr Stewart was the general contractor, and it was under his super vision and instructions that the entire work of reconstruction was carried an, there were several sub contractors in cluded in the numerous men who worked on the structure. These sub contractors each had a separate de partment of the work which they took charge of and completed under agree ment with the owners and general con tractors. Their work included quite as much detail in one separate branch of inc building as did the work of gen. craI supervision and each added his ouota to tine general rebuilding and
 
 Included in the sub contractors were the Following firms together with the class or division of work to which they were assigned: Baker Iron Works. Les Angeles, Calif. steel work and elevator. OMalley Lumber company of Phoenix. lumber, lath and cement; Phoenix Plumbing company. plumbing and heat ing fixtures and appliances Bertram Brothers. electrical equipment and fix
 \, (sr,,, atrrfi oF and decorating; John DaYey. brick: James N. Petty, marble and tile finish ing work. Henderson Woods. cement work: Duncan Mcdonald. plaster work; Southwestern Sash x Door com pany. sash. doors and plate glass: and Phoenix Roofing company. rebuilding of the roof.
 Before general construction of the building colild he commenced many minor details were completed. These details included the preparation of the building for the remodeling and re building operations. and the laying of plans and specifications and the com plction of measurements for the con struction of the new interior of the structure. These details were arranged by the general contractor.
 Starting Reconstruction Work
 The reconstruction work started. of course, with the removal of the debris caused by the fire. What salvage there was in this destroyed and damag ged material. was picked from the mass as it was removed from the building. Of the building materials there was little that could be reused in the remodel ing of the interior Of the hotels sup plies and fixtures, such as bedding. much was saved. especially in that part of the house where only water and 1ar cf4f materials were stored for use when op- portunity should come.
 After the wreckage had been cleared away and the refuse carried from the interior of the old building work of ac- tual reconstruction began with the de- struction of all walls which had beer damaged by fire. These walls were re- moved from the building and replaced with new and strictly fire proof parti- tions. At the same time all wood sup ports of walls and floors were removed from the old building. In their steat supports along substantial lines were in stalled. These supports were construct ed either from brick or steel and con crete. At the same time a general cam Iaign for the strengthening of all floo timbers and other parts of the buildin. exposed by the operations was con ducted.
 
 prosecuted above the ground floor workmen below the ground floor wer' engaged in the excavation of additiona basement room for the boilers and en zines of the heating plant and for stor age boilers for oil and in the under pnning of the walls to these new un dergrOund rooms. The addition of thes new basement sections was necessar! to the moderninZ plan under which tn contractors and sub-contractors wer proceeding with the reconstruction o the building.
 It is in the figures detailing thes carly operations for the constructiol of the remodelled hotel that the frs idea of the size and proportions of tn work contemplated is gained. In tn operations accompanying the remova of old walls and placing of new. tn removal of wooden supports and install lation of brick, steel and cement. an the strengthenine of floor timbers general fire blocking of all iosts an stud walls throughout the building wa carried out.
 Fire Resisting Materials
 More than 5000 yards of fire-resist ing materials were used in this opera ton alone. Laid as a pavement on ward wide this material would reac across the city of Phoenix from eas to west twice, leaving several hundre wards for a country lane Laid mort and south the same material wonl have represented three-f foot sidewal from the center of Phoenix almost the country club. Included in the mate