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Stc £ | =3 D ArcJrifect. S | £ 5 i «• i ■ • - /- .V tletorak k Fi£h—.. 030 ..17 $3-14,("M •Ss-Ss Edbrooke 2,092 16 13 1,2-10,01)0 JO* *L Palmer *,l 850 3 2 iron 2.835,000 «-rk & Boss C6l 17 '345,000 A, Judsonßoss.* 145 II 100,000 E. Jamison.*.****.-.. 032 S 3 972,000 fi. M. Bimdolph 339 1 6 176,600 W, Thomas...* * 892 2 12 321,000 F. Stewart.,..**** To 2 .. 55,000 Carta-, Brake fc TTright,.*. .**..... 2,382# 22 21 1,450,000 Boger * iron 137 13 57,000 Bixoa & Hamilton... W. W*Boyington.... 8,195 26 34 5,615,500 Barltog & Adler 8,873 67 43 4,022,000 Wheelock t Thomas. 3,523 30 12 8,425,000 Merriam & Street*.. 959 4 12 435,000 *L. D. Cleveland 1,357 2 lo 837,500 O.H*Rtcy 605 5 12 412,500 Horsey fe Sheard...* 190 4 .. 230,000 Boger* Lyon * 137 13 97,000 Copeland fe Weary.. IXO 1 3 52,000 'tr. V, WadskieT 1.493 9 10 870,000 JT. W. ArVr»mar».,,*22s .. 6 74.000 B. W* Randolph 602 .. 16 245,000 Bauer* Loebnltz... 2,711 17 }2S6iron 2,723,000 BanryLGay. 990 4 5 666,000 Thomas WHlct 667 8 6 SSofiOO Cochrane * Miller... L7D3 5 7 1,162,000 J. E. Beflf 454 1 2 180,000 W.L.B. Jenny..... 1/409 6 7 897,000 Otto Mate L 629 5 13 651,000 F. *£ Baumann... &529 34 57 3,090.000 Theo. Karls L 256 4 18 529,000 Chapman 534 5 5 370,000 H. F, Phulfcuer tG. E, Clarke 638 2 7 210,000 An Architect........ COS 2 3 247,000 Boee* Wilcox. 641 2 4 133,600 Roberts.*** 1,425 9 8' V 60*0900 * 090 Adam L. Bobb. 501 3 2 258,060 BUILDING MATERIAL. The increased use of stone in the architecture of the city is, from an artistic point of view, one of the chief improvements occasioned by the fire. A very large number of different kinds of stone have been used, and n charming variety has been the result. It will, be remembered that previous to the fire the stone which was ordinarily used in our larger build ings was a white limestone, known os AIUSSS IIABIILB, or Joliet limestone, found in large quantities in this State, and near enough to make its shipment to Chi cago & matter of very'littl© comparative cost. The ex tensive use of this in tho most prominent buildings had given to the city already, and promised to give more in the future, a light, bright, and almost French appearance. Honored Buildings, the Bigelow Bloch, the Merchants* Insurance Company’s and Tnzn- Uf£ Buildings, Morrison Building, **id many others, which, In point of dgrign and finfch, were hand somest in tho city, were built of this fresh-look ing and pleasing stone. There is no doubt that, but' for the fixe, wo should have found its popularity constantly increasing, and the buildings which were to have superseded the hundreds of shanties visible in conspicuous places would doubt lees have been built of it. But the effect of the flames on the limestones generally was disastrous. It calcin ed them altogether, so that when they cooled it seemed as though they had actually burned like wood. The east wing of the old Court House which is still standing Is an evidence of tho inability of limestones to resist heat. Indeed, next to granite, limestone possesses less power of resistance to nigh temperatures each is that of thin day last year than any stone but granite. It carries the elements of its own destruction with, it, and therefore has been fated to fade from the high position it once occupied as a building material. This is somewhat to be deplored, as the substitutes for it. In the Ohio and laTre Superior sandstones, while tich and substantial in their appearance, are too grave and saznhre for ocr city. It has been need to a large extent already in the rebuilding, and as the recollect tion of the fire fades out, and of its effect on limestones Is forgotten, the Illinois marble will recover in a great measure its farmer popularity. It is still used in some of our finest nil dings. H. H. Honors is building a aix-story structure from designs by VTheelock £ Thomas/tra the. comer of Dearborn and Adams streets, Of this material: The Otis family have used it in nearly every building; Pike's handsome building, cor ner of Mcqpo© and State streets. Is of Athens marble. The Fidelity Savings Bank and Tuthm King's buildings are of the same material. There are Just enough to moke the stone appreciated for its lightness and the readiness with which it exhibits fine cutting. It is a stone capable of almost any treatment, and shows in cised work to better advantage than the dark' sand atones, while In columns the effect is very pleasing. • THE Bales 2fA?TIA, Short as was its run, left its traces here, though not greatly to the impairment of the city's appearance. ** This will be a brick city,” was a common prediction. “ A Western Philadelphia,” sou* called it, looking for ward a year or two.. So strong was the* prejudice in favor of brick, and against stone, that owners, anxious to eeoure material before the rush, telegraphed to Philadelphia, to Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Badr.e for pressed brick for the new dty. Indeed, most of the buildings which were started within thirty days of the fire gave evidence of this first stage of the rebuilding. Many others would have followed suit, but suddenly our new era came full upon us, and the results we are noting. Every one who bad not as yet his pressed brick delivered, countermanded his orders or changed his contracts. A favorite material for fine buildings has been since the fire the B XJESUk TISZa TMXSTOTvE, tfiddh is found m'Bcotai Comity, Ohio, sear Beene Vista.l 6 mflea -crest of Portsmouth, on the Ohio River. The oiste'ei is-which the stone Is found is about S miles square in Ohio and about twice as much on the ofhereide of the river in Kentucky. The quality of the stone quarried in Kentucky, however, is not as good, gener ally speaking, as that found in Ohio. It is stated, bow. ever, that another quarry has been opened in Ken* tacky, from which a better quality, if not the best in the market, i< produced. The stone is found in layers or ledges, only one of which, ** the building ledge ” as it is called, being con* sJdered fit for use in Ana building. This ledge is gen erally about 40 inches thick and is found on an iron bed. The ledge, when cleared of the clay deposit, Is reduced,to about 3 feet of good solid clear stone. This clearing is an essential to the appearance of the stone, and a failure to do it produces a poor-looting building. There art several such in the city, giving evidence that all the workmen employed were not well informed on the subject of Buena Vista stone. The simple confidence of many builders has been taken advantage of in some cases, by ihe palming off upon them as No. 1 Buena Vista stone a quality which would be used only for sewerage purposes in Cincin nati. The stone is conveyed to Cincinnati in fist boats, and thence ahippedby rail to Chicago and elsewhere, prln icpaßy here at present, as might be supposed. During the last three years, a large quantity of it has been Used in New Tork and Boston, and its introduction os a bnilding material has been followed by its immediate adoption. The main buddings in which it has been Used are Metropolitan Block, Ashland Block, Chamber of Commerce, Open Board Building, Dr. Rea’s build ing on Wabash avenue, James Rowe’s building on the same thoroughfare, Bishop & Roberta’ and Myner A Roberta’ buildings on Washington street. Major Block, Gallup A Hitchcock’s building, Bawson’a build ing, corner of Dearborn and Randolph streets, Doggett, Bassett A Hill’s building on Wabash and the new Government bunding (of the future). .Its fifth, pleasing color and durability have combined to make it a favorite, and, by a Government test, bos been found almost equal in strength to the strongest granite. Already more than half a million dollars’ worth of this stone bos been used in the city, and it is probable that next year may see a large amount yet brought to the city. This is exclusive of the Govern snsnfc building, which will take a million dollars’ worth of the rough material. . Tie olive-tinted Bond-stone from the Amherst quarry, beer Cleveland, Ohio, has also been very extensively used, and by some is much preferred to the Buena Vista stone. It is eoft and pleasant material in color. It is easily cut, bo we res, and generally even in color, but is inclined to stratification. The effect of the latter pe culiarity on the columns is very singular, and the re verse of desirable. Among the blocks which have been built of Amherst stone are the Grand Pacific and Palmer Hotels, Kendall’s building. Page A Ferry’s boHdings in Bookseller’s Bow, Hon ore’s building on Monroe street, nearly all McCormick’s buildings, Meth odist Church Block; McCarthy’s building, Hamlin’s building on Clark street, and many others. It is sold In Chicago at about 95 cents a foot. Its durability has not been tested by time any more than that of the Toilet stone; , THE XASKAKEE STOKE is light soft, blne*Etone from Kankakee, HL, and lias been used somewhat. The finest hangings in which it has been employed are the Sherman House and the Union Rational Bank handing on the corner of In Sails and Washington streets. A better quality appears to have been, used in the former building than in the lat ter, -where traces of iron are profusely, scattered over the stone, marring its uniformity to a sad extent. This misfortune and the absurd anangezsent of the door ways go fir toward spoiling what would otherwise he a ■very fine structure. The defect in the stone, how ever, is really nothing as compared to that of the clum py doorways. mux supsbiou satostohe. The dark brown Lake Superior sandstone, which lias been used to a considerable extent in our building operations during the past year has only been used within the past few-years. Though scarcely as hard as the Connecticut brown stone, it is more cheerful in color and more easily worked. The stone is brought from two quarries, one at Marquette and-the other at Bess Island, near Duluth. The qualities of the pro ducts of these two quarries are different. The Bass fria-nd stone is not perceptibly stratified, but is full of clay boles, especially near the surface. It is quarried In masses which can be worked into columns, the holes being carefully plugged afterwards. The Marquette stone is laminated and scarcely fit for use in columns, the stratification being too plainly apparent, and producing singular ocular effects. It is believed that the laminated stone will not bear the frosts with any degree of fortitude- The Tbzeukt building is constructed of Bass Island stond, of the best quality, the clsy holes being small and very few in number. Tho Boise Block on Slate street is also of Bass Island stone. It is somewhat sombre and grave In appearance, but is effective in heavy buildings. TEE FATOniTE STYLE, adopted by nearly all whose means have allowed them an opportunity to build richly and gracefully, is the Italian ; and as this is susceptible of so many modifica tions and treatments, ampl« variety has been attained. The lightness and richness of this style has naturally recommended itself to ns, and is eminently in harmo ny with the genius of Chicago, In its purest form it jnav be found in several buildings erected by TVheelock 6 Thomas, Dixon A Hamilton, Boyington, and Bur ling A Adler. Probably the finest specimen to be seen In the city Is the block of building in Booksellers' Bow, on the cost side of State street, between Madison and Washington streets, owned by Peter Pago and Mr. PfST* Here the archjtec' - »ve adhered closely to the rsles cf art, and have probably erected cub of the rr-hest and mod beauufoi in the world. Thtr hive the advantage of a strong contrast on one'side, in tae plain iron front on the north, and in the rich brawn stone Gothic banding erected by tho iJovce estate on the corner. Another good illustration of the pure classical style may be be found in HOKOES'S BUILSP7O, the richness of decoration in which attracts universal attention, and evokes admiration everywhere; In the two buildings here notedj tho improvement In archi tecture can be realized by a comparison of the present structures with their predecessors. The coskes or washikgto:; asd deakbobs? smzrxa also furnishes some matter for congratulation and re flection. On three comers, the southwest, nsrthweat. and northeast, are three buildings, different in detail but all in Italian style, being Kendall's, Tu thill King's, and McCarthy's. It wili be remembera that immedi ately before the fire the first of the three was in course of erection, taking the place of a very unpretending brick building, while the occupants of the other two sites were equally plain and destitute of architectural merit. Xow they are what one may call buildings with some style to them. On the southeast corner stood Portland Block, a massive stone building, foil of -window?, but utterly wanting in ornament of any kind*. In its place will be a mag nificenfe block in the modern Gothic style. This will moke the intersection of these streets a remarkable Spot, and give strangers an idea of the genera! character of the city, without travelling round. Portland Block is s fine specimen of modern Gothic, a style which has not been found very papular in this city. STATE SXSEET, between Bandolph and Washington, famishes s fine, quiet specimen. Another, opposite Totter Palmer's Hotel, on the southwest comer of State and Monroe, and the German Bank, on the comer of Webs and Washington, are the only other notable buildings in this style; the Central Block* however, might be in cluded. is a novelty in material as well as style* sad as 5° <3* is striking; The red Philadelphia brick, black joints, and trimmings of yellow stone, present a startling contrast to the more pretentious bondings in its vicinity, use of strongly contrasted materials has not met with as much encouragement here as elsewhere, nor is that fact much to be regretted. The examples we have are scarcely deserving of imitation. While we have a va riety erf building stone, unequalled perhaps in any country, to select from, we can see nothing to be gain ed .by using the noble material, burnt clay, unless, indeed, it be economy. Nor do we much admire the effect produced in cue or two instances by the use of different colored brick, or brick and tiles. The feet is, violent colors, to the nnlniliatcd in color, are like sharp instruments in the of children,*—they require vesy careful handling. AnnfbßT striking center is at the intersection of ZJL g*T.r.g AJ»T* JtADEOy 6TBJXTS, where the Gallup & Hitchcocißoilding and Major Block are rivals, if not in design, at least in position. Both of the buddings are in the somewhat gloomy, bnt rich and handsome, Buena Vista stone, and are good types of the of buildings which we have noticed above. Tho former is very elaborate, and the Chicagoan who remembers the building formerly occupying the site will scarcely regret the Old Chicago. The French treatment of the Italian is found in TEX 3UEW SHEBXA2? BOUSE, end there rendered effective. One cannot but lament the strong visions separating the wings are plain to boldness, the remainder strangely rich. The building, consequent ly, is a tijfle fiat in general effect, but la, nevertheless, a most decided improvement on the* old one. tThen occupied, is will doubtless gain a more ap pearance. ' on Clark street, adjoining the southeast comer of Ran dolph, is a pleasing stmctcre. The style is conglom erate, being generally Italian, the details unquestion ably Gothic. Indeed, the sacrifice of purity tb origin ality in tbi* building is decidedly made with greater advantage than in any other in the city; the rich, warm color cf the material enhancing the effect im mensely. 2i'conaacs's ncizmzxo. on the same street, on the comer of Washington, is jffljianj but the defects in the architecture are dis tressing to a practiced eve. With the obviously large sum of money expended on this structure, it is pain ful to see the disregard for established rules of archi tecture there exhibited. The light Corinthian order on the first story is absolutely surmounted with the heavy Boric in the second—as if one should put masts and sails into a vessel actually upside down, cr build a pyramid from the.apez upward I TH3 Fromrnr bavzkob bass and Hooley*s Theatre have formed a front of which Bauer & Loehnltx, the successful architects, may be justly proud. The style is decidedly Prench, ana dis plays a Parisian ingenuity, or a thorough familiarity with Prench architecture, either cf which would be rerftp-dfngly creditable to the designer. The contrast with the Sherman House, which it adjoins, is pleasing, and advantageous to both bull dings. A thoroughly Prench treatment is also observable in the red brick and stone building on the southwest cor ner of TUSDOLSS A2TZ> LASALLE STREETS. The ingenuity and exquisite taste of the incised orna mentation and the * treatment of the pilasters la charming, although the effect of the red brick and Amherst stone may not be altogether pleasing, espe cially in the proportions in which the materials are used m tbia building. TFTP anxBOTOISXAK BLOCK, on the northwest comer, is a fine building, and in the (fid city would have been considered a most sumptu ous edifice. But the promise given to the world by the first story has not been fulfilled, and the building is almost entirely develd of character. The use of the lighter stone for cornices, beltings, and window-caps is a matter of taste, but the bunding as a whole cannot be said to rank high among the structures of the citv. The elaborate on T.»RfITU street, opposite the Court House, on the site of the .Etna Block, is very effective. Iron fronts are not ss numerous as they would hare been, though their appearance would warrant their use in prefer ence to some qualities of stone. Ho finer specimen of the class can be found than this building which la worthy in every way of its position. There is one se cret about iren front burning which some architects are here confidently let into—the proportion* are gen erally observed. The comer of LA «AEME A3m WASSrSCTOW STREETS will be, irtt k-not now, a very fine spot for examining architecture.- On one corner will be a classical build ing—the Chamber of Commerce; on another, the Union TbmV Building, in modem Italian style, ana of a light gray stone (eaten through with iron spots, by the way), ‘and on the third a lofty building, also Italian, bat plainly treated in a yellow sandstone from St. Gene vieve, a hundred miles south of St. Louis. This cor ner wiH be built by Cochrane & Miller and Wheelock A Thomas. The latter architects have a great advant age in erecting two bull dings on such prominent cor ners, but they will be subjected to a crucial test by their immediate proximity to the Chamber of Com merce. Notice has been taken from time to time of the Im mense improvement of Madison, InSoZle, and Wash ington streets, while Randolph. Lake, Dearborn, State, Tan Bures, Adams, Jackson, Monroe, Wateiv and River streets and Wabash avenue are almost equal gainers, if not by the fire, at any rate by the reconstruction. On taking a of the architecture of the New Chicago, as compared with that of other cities, we think we have much to be thankful for. While there are no very striking ex am plea of architectural skill, there are few buildings, if any, that can be condemned, and there are many bearing strong evidences of culture and study of the art. We question whether the architects of any other city in the country would have done better under the circumstances; in fact we have co fur seen nothing from the hands of the new comers from other cities, arrived since the fire, that can compare with the pro ductions cf our home architects. This may be due In port to the lack of opportunity to display their talents ; but from what we have seen eo far, we have no reason to change our opinion. Our now city has been made one of far greater interest and pleasure to live in, from the beauty and variety of its buildings, which cannot fail in its effect as a cultivating and refining influence upon the people. The inhabitants are indebted to those enterprising and public spirited proprietors who have contributed eo generously to the cask, now al most accomplished, cf making the KEK CHICAGO «< the handsomest city in the country.” PUBLIC BUILDINGS. THE NEW GOVERNMENT BUILDING. The following description cf the new Government Building was penned by Sir. LluHett, the architect of the edifl ce, for Thu Tbibcxe : Early in the last session of Congress prevision was made for the purchase of a site and the erection of a building suitable for the accommodation cf the Cus tom House, Sub-Treasury, Post Office, United States Courts, Pension, and Internal Revenue offices in the City of Chicago. This building is intended not only to replace the Custom House and Post Office Budding which was de stroyed in the great fire, hut is also designed, by its greater capacity and improved faedtiss, to provide for the prospective wants of the Government business in the city for many years to come. After considerable difficulty, by way of negotiation, the entire block bounded by ad-mg, Jackson, Clark, and Dearborn streets hsa been procured by the Government, by process of condemnation, under the laws of the State, the proceedings of which have been affirmed by a decree of the United States Circuit Court. Meantime Mr. Mnllett, Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department, baa been busily engaged in preparing a design commensurate with the magnitude and importance of the structure, which is sow completed and on exhibition in his office, bearing the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, Post master General, and the Arioirney General, as provided in the act of Congress. The style of architecture is the Plorentme-Boman esque, and is very harmoniously and elaborately treated. According to the plan, the whole height of the build ing to the main comice will be 82 feet, to the attic cor nice SO feci, and to the top of the grand towers on the flanks, 177 feet. The frrst story win ba 21 feet in height, the second 23, and the third 25. The entire structure win be fire-proof,—stone, iron, and brick entering largdy into its construction. Tho floors will be of iron and and the vaults for the use cf the various offices will be carried from the ground upwards. Great; core has been ****** in the preparations of the plans to insure thorough and complete heating and ventilation, and the lighting of the building, os. can tv. seen from the outline of the plan, and the present e of an interior court, will be perfect. The windows.will be glared with plate-glass, and the roof covered with elate. The interior of the building wm be accessible from aB sides, the mail delivery being on Clark street, the Postmaster's offices on Dearborn, while the corridors, which open on the intf rior of tfcs court-yard and fur nish access to all the offices in. tho building, may be approached from either street. The entrances on Adams and Jackson streets will be through spacious porticos, connected by broad flights of stairs with tho upper etorie?, and in a iditlon there wfil be elevators THE CHICAGO DAILY TR intended far constant use, running from the ground ilocr to ;ffi6 upper .stories. The building will measure 243 by 211 feet, haring in Its centre a coart-yard 83 br 193 ftet, which •will be roofed orer with glass at a level with the second atcry. As that portion cf the first story floor underlying this glass roof win be laid with Qlandnated tile, and as the bnll-ing wOl be surrounded by an area 8 feet wide, the basement will bo nearly as well lighted from the win dows and the fllthninatcd floor as the upper stories. This basement story and the first floor will be devoted exclusively to Post Office purposes, and the spice thus aHoted to the Post Office is about eight times the amount which the old Pest Office building afforded. The second story wiH be assigned to the Customs De partment, Sub-Treasury, Internal Bevenue, Pension, and other offices, and the third story to the United States Circuit and District Courts. There will also be a spadoua attic, which has not as yet been assigned for any special purposes. According to the plan, the openings of the first story win be finished with a seg mental arch, having stone znullions in the centre, terminated with an elaborately ornamented slono transom. The introdos cf the arch is also elabo rately carved. The first story comice is enriched wi:h a curved bed mold and dentals, and the Joints on the weathering are covered with the pip ing peculiar to this style of architecture. Above this the second story commences cn a stylobate, the pan filings underneath the windows being pierced in an effective manner. The openings cn this story are flanged by bold square columns, period in the centre by a stepped chamfer, and hav ing stopped champfers cn the edges. The caps also are richly carved, and have fine proportions. Here the windows are semi-circular, and the architrave is slightly pointed. The comice of thin story is also ■ enriched, and the piping feature on the weathering !is again introduced. The third story is e*Tnfl-r to the I second, the proportions and details only differing. ! The windows of these two stories are divided at the centre and at the springing with stone znullions, and each angle cf the various treats of the entire building are heavily quoined with richly moulded and maecire quoins. Above ihe third story the main cornice is carved upon bold and vigorously outlined brackets that spring from the corner quoins and the square columns. This cornice has an original feature, in the Introduction of a highly ornamental parapet or balustrade at its outer edge. The pedestals are richly carveddn bold relief, and the screen between is carried through solid. The molding cf this cornice is highly enriched, as are also the brackets which support it. Above the main comic© the attic story arises, and Is surmounted by a steep sloping roof, which gives all the effect produced by the Mansard treatment, without copying that some what hackneyed feature. From the centre projections on each of the four fronts of the building arise twin towers, which are to be constructed entirely of 'stone, those on Clark and Dearborn streets being 177 feet in height, and those on Adams and Jackson streets ISS feet. The end projections on dark and Dearborn streets ore gabled to conform to the shape of, the roof, and the aky lino is grandly and boldly broken by towers, attic windows, gables, and chim neys. Should Congress make the necessary appropriation for the execution of this plan, it Is estimated that the entire building will be completed and ready for occu pancy in four years from the date cf its commence ment. 3lr. J. C. an architect of much professions* experience and accomplishment, and formerly a real dent of our city, has resigned the position of Assist ant Supervising Architect of tho Treasury Depart ment, which he has held for the last five years, for the purpose of resuming his residence here, and superin tending the erection of this building. oxuxßzn of ooaonxcc. Nothing better illustrates the feeling which animated onr unfortunate citizens immediately after firo than the conduct cf the Chamber of Commerce Asso ciation. Knowing full well that the ■> blow they hod suffered must be only temporary In its effect, and be lieving in the necessity for immediate action in restor ing the building in which so much of the business of the city was transacted, they met on October 11, at Ho. 61 Canal street, rt the call of Mr. Daniel A. Jones. There were present on that occasion Hesara.Hancock, Patter, Pope, Chandler. Walter, and Brooks. Hr. Jone«, as President, comforted the meeting with a statement of the probable affairs of the company. The insurance on the building amounted to £IIO.OOO, a third part of which was possibly collectable. Hr. Brcota moved to rebuild at once upon the came site, and the meeting so decided. A Committee, composed of Hr. J>. H. Jones, E. O. Walter, and John L. Hancock, was then appointed to make the preliminary arrangements, with power to act. The Committee re ported on Oct. 23 that Hr. Cochrane, the architect, had prepared designs for the new building, which had been accepted by them. The stone contract was given to Messrs. J. AW. Giaveson for $83,400, the stone-work to be completed June 2. Since that time the work has been pushed forward without delay. The building is constructed of Buena Vista stone, is very massive and elegant in its proportions and de tails, and is now pronounced second to none in the city. If in the country, in point of architecture. The size of the building is 83x100.6. The basement door is 7 indies above the sidewalk,' and is IS feet high. The second story is 26 feet high in the clear, and the Board of Trade room 45 feet high in the clear. The height of the building from sidewalk to cornice is 87 foe t, and to the top of the balustrade 97 feet. The basement and second story are divided into offices, and are rented to different parties. The third and fourth stories are for the use of the Board of Trade. The coat cf the build ing. is $330, OCa. vf the design it is sufficient to say that the style is well suited to the character of the building. It has and should have a purely business aspect, with suffi cient degree of ornamentation to enable it to bold its own with the surrounding buildings. It Is almost a pity that it has not been carried a story higher, and this will be more notable as the buHdicgs in its Im mediate vicinity are finished; but too much praise cannot be given to the architects, those through whose energy it has been carried forward to completion, or to the contractors for the manner in which the work has been executed. It may be incidentally mentioned that the last have furnished an example which the Cleveland contractors would do well to study patiently and perssveringly until they have acquired the art of filling contracts on time. T v frescoing of the ceiling la in elegant pattern. Th ..Jvis a large oval in the centre, two smaller ones at right angles toit, and ten panels of different sixes. The ovals are of sky-bine, and the larger one is re lieved by light, fieooy clouds. The panehi are all cf a delicate green tint, scarcely distinguishable from blue. The general arrangement of colors is judicious, begin ning with the prevailing tint of blue in the centre cf the celling, which fades first into pale green, and then into sober drab and gray upon the walhk The panels, at the ends' and sides, are adorned with scroll-work, relieved by fancy sketches. The scroll-work upon the panels at the cod of the ceiling- supports clusters of nightly-colored flowers, fruit, and sheaves; these at the ddes sustain shields bearing appropriate devices. On one shield is an anchor, on the other a sword and sickle. The exiling terminates in a crenneDated border of dark lines, from the prints of which depend delicate fantastic ornaments of buds, acorns, and leaves. Beth the border and the cornice below it are darkly colored, and might seem a little dull and heavy, were not the ball flooded with light In every nook and comer. Mid way the border, on each side and at the ends of the frm.il, are pictures neatly painted. That at the north end represents the American eagle clasping thelegend ary arrows, and holding in his talons a scroll display ing the legend, E Pz.ubiocb Theme. At the south end, the nation's bird is seen, with outspread wings, upon a reck amid the angry waves, the city and snipping being visible in the distance. Those at the sides are more elaborate. On the east side appears a female gleaner, of life siffc, carrying a sheaf and sickle; a landscape stretches out behind her; exactly opposite stands a sailor leaning on a capstan; the lake and city, with wharves and shipping,forming the background of the picture. The music balcony, at the south end, farms a handsome ornament, while, at the time, it relieves ihe general bareness of the walk The officers' desk, at the north end, is of dark wood, rich, solid, elaborate, and handsome. The chief pictorial ornaments of the rocjn are at the side of the window behind the chair of the President. These are two large allegorical paintings, not, of course, in the grandest style of art, but still well done, and suggest ive, That on the left represents the Angel of Desirne ticn fiying over Chicago with an inverted torch, from which sparks fall in showers upon the devoted roefs of the city. The face and figure are not entirely wanting in grace and spirit. A portion of Washington street and a part of the rid Chamber of Commerce appear in the foreground. The picture on the right represents the Angel of Peace returning to bless the city In Its desolation. Before her troop two. cherubs, one bear ing an editorial waste basket filled with the fruits of the season, and the other, dad in the scantiest attire, carries in ms tiny arms two uncut rolla of some woven fabric, one apparently blue Jeans from a rural loom, and the other red. flannel of the sanguineus hue known as Self exin o, The picture last mentioned excels the other in wanntlrof tone, drawing, and general artistic execution. A view of the old Chamber, and a portion of Washington street before the fire, adonis a panel in the southwest corner of the hall, the panel being made in imitation cf a window, through which the view is supposed to be seen. In the corresponding place in the opposite is a companion picture of the ruins immediately after the conflagration. A rich wainscoting surrounds the haQ, rising to the height of six feet. Prom the wainscot to the ruling the en tire ornamentation, including the cornice and border, is In imitation of mosaic. The panels between the windows are a shade of drab, relieved by Unobtrusive stride of color. Between the arches of the windows, and in various spaces and corners about the walls and ceiling, there is a mosaic, elegant in its minutest de tail Beside the main border where the walls meet the ceiling, there are two others, encircling the hall, sim ilar in color, but narrower; one of the arches sure mounting the windows. The hall is probably the finest in the country devoted to similar uses, and scarcely second to any built for the more comprehensive pur poses of art. Another semi-public building deserving of cspedal notice, is the opek noann of tease suilszko, on LaSalle street, immediately adjoining the Chamber of Commerce, and erected by the same corporation. 2c is a Buena Vista front building, 29x101 feet, four stories in height. The principal story will be occupied by the Open Board when complete. The upper stories vrfU be used for business purposes. ZlSks ezrons a michigah souiseok aks Chicago, noon clasp a paczvzo zauzoad sepot. The rebuilding of the joint depot of the Lake Shore A Michigan Southern and Chicago, Bock Island & Pa cific Eaiiways is among one of the many items upon which the city may justly congratulate itself. In the reconstruction of this all the improvements which modem architecture affords, and which have been experimentally demonstrated to be the best im provements, have been adopted, and the plans of the work, prepared by Mr. W. VT. Boyington, have pro duced a magnificent bull ding, in every way adapted to its future uses, and reflecting credit alike upon the two railroads for their generous contribution to the city's appearance, and the architect and draughtsman for their skill. The front of this vast structure, now striding on ward to completion, is 175 feet from cast to west, rising in the centre to the height cf 130 feet, and pre senting a rock face ashlar style of architecture. The dome is in the Louvre style, having on etch ride a clock, the diala of which are nine feci in diameter. The dials will be jflmriur.ted at eight, ar»rt constructed with the most approved attachments. They have already been ordered from Europe, and are now on their way to Chicago, in charge of J. 3. Meyo A Co. Tho dome is crowned with suippn cresting, th*. BUKE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1872. Tiew from its summit is unequalled by any in the city. Projectize fire feet six inches from the central front of the building is a portico with round columns, vermiculated quoins, surmounted by a balustrade with moulded cornice. Above this portico is to bo placed the marble bust of George Stephenson, inven tor cf the steam-engine. On each front comer of the building are pavilion towers, and between them and the central dome arc symbolic statues. On the pediment on the eastern side, in a graceful curve, are the initials, in cut stone, “L. 8 . &M. over which Is a locomotive, and on either side of this arc pedestals, figures representing the farmer and engineer, with the implements of their raTlfng by thww, Tho pediment on the western side is surmounted bv a bison in full career, under which aro the letters H. L& P n and on the pedestals on cither side the pioneer and the Indian. The front portion cf the edifice wiH be devoted to tho general offices of the two companies, and will bo fitted up in tho best stylo, with vaults as perfectly fire-proof as can be Thus much for the frent of the build ing, which will not bo surpassed in appearance by any Kirnfiar structure in the United States. The length of tho entire building is 610 feet, tho track portion occupying 542 feet in length by ICO in width. On the west side is to be tho refectory, ladies* room, ticket offices, officers' rooms, baggage rooms, and the like. These rooms open on a platform 25 feet in width. Then come three tracks for out-going trains; then a platform 15 feet wide; then three tracks for in coming trains, and another platform 22 feet wide. The span cf the trusses over this portion is 122 feet in ; the clear, anti they axe supposed to be capable of sus taining a pressure of 50 ILs. to tha square foot. The trusses are entirely cf iron, and form an elliptic arch, giving an appearance .of grace and lightness character istic of American architecture and engineering. The rear waQ has two arched openings of 38 feet span each, tho vouascirwof the arches running clear through the watt. A signal light Is to be placed ana circular stone column, resting on a stone corhcL tho light from which, being 47 feet above the track, will be visible as far south as Sixteenth street. The depot covers two and three-quarters acres of ground, and extends from Van Burcu street nearly two south, and from Pacific avenue to Sherman street. Its cost will be s£o,ooo. OTsssnnro? snucrcuES are projected, and trill in time take their places among the grand centres of development In our city. These are the magnificent passenger house of the Illinois Central, Michigan Central, and Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Railroad Companies, to occupy the three blocks south cf Bandolph street cm the Lake Shore Fork, haring a treat front on Michigan avenue. It Is in tended to be the most superb and costly structure in the world, and trill surely take a place among our public buildings, our entire community consenting, when detaining formulas and hindrances are removed. The other and even vaster building in size, and in tended to challenge competition in every respect, is the great Pennsylvania Passenger Depot to bo com menced next season an Madison' street and extend scuthwaM four blocks on Canal street, all street cross ings to be made over viaducts in the roof. If Super intendent McCullough's new depot:* not “as big as all out cf doors*’ it will be the next thing to it, the largest enclosed area In the world. THE NEWSPAPER PREMISES. tee Tprea sumnme. Keeping pace with the marked material improve ment in the reconstruction cf the city, the Chicago Timts is erecting a bull ling much superior in all re spects to the former one, situated on Dearborn street. Formerly of Jokct limestone, it is rebuilt, on another site, of yellowish sandstone, changed in design and construction for the bettor; adapt sd to the increasing requirements of the concern, and an additional evi dence of Chicago Journalistic enterprise. It is situated on the northwest comer of Wells and Washington streets, is 81x61 feet on tho ground, five stories high above the basement, and constructed of a yellow sand stone from Stone Point, Hich. Mr. Willet, the archi tect, describes the style os English-French. The main feature of the facade is the narrowness of the windows and the plainness with which they are treated. The corner is cut off, leaving a main entrance to the count ing-room. This entrance is covered by a porch sup ported by stone columns. The words, u The Times,” indicate the purpose of the building, and are cut in letters nimiiir to the bead-lino of the paper, which is suggestive and ornamental at once. The basement, which will* contain the presses, fold ing machines, eUa, has been constructed fire-proof, with iron and brick arches, which will effectually pro tect the printing machinery from injury, even should the buff ding be destroyed by fire. The floor is divided into three compartments, the centre one containing The Times counting-room, and the others bank offices. The second and third stories, which win be finished handsomely in hard wood, and contain all modern im provements in the way of furniture, such as steam ceils, open grates, and wash-bowls, win bo rented for office purposes. The fourth story is to be given up to the editorial staff, liberal accommodations haring been provided for the attaches. The library of the office will ba 20s 28 feet. The fifth flour will bo occupied by the composing and stereotyping rooms, with ample room. In the centre of the building is a large glass skylight 32 feet in diameter, throwing plenty of light into the interior of the bunding. The fourth floor is reached by a patsenger elevator, as well as a main stair-way from the second floor to the top of the building. This stair-way is spiral in form, and diminishes from 6 feet in width at the bottom to 3 feet at the top, and win be graceful and pleasing to the eye. The printers’ stairway from the second floor to the composing room is smaller and in the rear of the building. The building will bo finished handsomely, and heated with stoun. The delay in its erection is duo to want of punctuality on the part of the contractors, who ought to hare furnished the stone. It lx expected the roof win be on next month, if the stone comes in at a fair rate. THE “STARTS ZKIIUSa" B UtLDVta. The 2Uincis SUat* Zcitung Building, on the north east corner of Fifth avenue snd’Washington street, is a handsome stone structure, 110x40, six stories and base ment in height, and fully 109 feet above the sidewalk. The style is that of the Italian Rcnnala-ance, simplic ity and massiveness having been studied by the archi tects Messrs. Bauer A Loetnitz, with a special view to artistic effect. The material is manufactured stone. A. heavy ccmlce above the first and third stories subdi vides the parts, while the large and highly ornamented windows of the centre parts of both parts agreeably zelieva’the monotony which is sometimes inevitable in plain large buildings. Statues of Franklin and Gut tenberg, executed In the highest style of art, are to bo placed on pedestals below the centre windows of the third story. The whole will be crowned with an alle gorical group, representing the Goddess of liberty snd German's. The basement, which is eleven feet high, will con tain, on Washington street, a bank office, 40x35 feet, and on Fifth avenue, on each aide of themain entrance, an office 15x40 feet. Under those three offices is a sub-cellar for storage, 6 feet high, 40 feet wide, and 60 feet long. The presses and other machinery of a news neper office, occupy the remainder of the basement, teie boilers occupy a position under the alley, north of the building. The first story, IS feet in height, contains another banking office, with entrance on Washington street, 40x35 feet. The main entrance to the other offices on the first, second, and third stories is on Fifth avenue. The counting-room of the Starts Zeitxtng is at the north end of the building, 35 feet front by 40 feet in depth. The second and third Soon aro divided into 7 offices, well lighted and ventilated, and ranging from 12x20 to 15x3Sfeot. The editorial rooms will be in the third story, over the counting-room. The mechanical port of the paper will be provided for in the three upper stories, which are connected by a separate stairway in the rear alley. The Job printing department will occupy the fourth floor, a bindery the fifth, and the composing-room the sixth. A Bullock preas and stereotyping apparatus have been purchased, with new type and furniture, and tho total cost of the building will be about $125,000. Tiff. ** JOUn2?AI»” BUILDINO, The iTeentn# Journal office is on the east side of Dearborn street, between Madison and Monroe streets, and opposite the old Post Office. It is four stories in height above the basement, and fronts 40 feet on Dear born street. In the rear it is fire stories in height above the basement. It is constructed of stone, in the French style, and, though not strikingly rich or orna mented, is plaiaand suggestive. It cost about $60,000. THE HOTEL INTEREST, The hotel history of the few months following the fire is worth more spate than we can give to it in this connection. All our leading hotels were destroyed,— i twenty-six public houses uf the first, second, and - third class hating been blotted out. What was to be done ? The mins of the Sherman House were still , smoking on Monday morning, and the three disposesed proprietors, Messrs. David A. Gage, John A. Bice, and i George W. Gags were sitting together on a rescued trunk in the dooryard of the residence of the latter on Michigan arecae. The oity was in horrible confusion, and the red tide of fire was still sweeping on Its course in the North Division. The Question these gentlemen was asking was is question of the hour, asked by over seventy thou sand business men in Chicago. 44 What shall we do 7" Now F. W. Gates bad built a largo brick hotel on West Madison street, near Canal, just finished before the fire, commodious, well-constructed, ready. u We must buy the Eagle Hotel.” Oat come the carriage and horses of George W„ and away went the partners, south to Eighteenth, then west over ths bridge. They had energy, capital, end a purpose. But as t&cy turned up C«nal street, George W. burst out, u This won't do. Those people on the North Side are starr ing. I hero oceans of milk at my Brighton farm. Ton go buy thfo hotel, David and John, Dll slip down .*ud get a wagourlQ»d. of milk,'.VDg. hS .*o.A THE HEW GOVEEHSrSHT BUH/DIHG. while the two partners were closing the instant pur chase of the Eagle Hotel at $175,000, George W. Gage, without a license, crccpt from Him who said, “Inas much as ye do it to tho least of these, ye do it unto Me, n was peddling Brighton milk, without money or price, among the suffering, hunted, and distressed pilgrims of the North Side, to which purpose he gave up a day of vast importance to his firm interests. The Sherman was furnished in ten days, and open at old rates. It has made thousands of its old Patrons happy, and has been forced, at times, to turn away nearly as many as it accommodated. ‘With equal celerity, John B, Brake transformed the Michigan Avenue Hotel, on Congress street and Michigan avenue, to the Tran out House. Frank Wentworth hung out the Sag of the Briggs over the Laclede Hotel on West Madison street. Jenkins hunted up a new Clifton on the West Side, Other hotels opened, and altogether wo have got along very well as far as hotels are concerned, thanks to the skill and tact of our hotel men. But all will bo glad when tho new Pacific and Palmer, and Sherman, and Tre mout, and Briggs, and Mattcscn, and the rest follow tho new Gardner House to oompleticn. The great hotels of New Chicago are to he the mar vel of all visitors, the pride (and perhaps, by their number, pretty sure to bo the home) of our citizens. The largest of these, the largest hotel building in the world, is constructed and nearly completed at the time of the fire, and sharing the fate of the humble structures about it, We give a very excellent cut of the building. It is erected by the Pacific Hotel Company, chartered by the Blinds Legislature in 1869, with a capital of $1,000,000. The enterprise, in the conception of the hotel, the procurement of the charter, the studies of the plans made among the beet hotel men of the United States, is the creation of one man, Henry M. Smith, now of Tan Tmsusn, who three years ago made a century lease of the entire block on which the hotel stands, bounded by Clark, Jackson, LaSalle, and Quincy streets, and gave two years 4 time to the details of the undertaking. The leading stockholders are the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, and Chicago, Rock Island A Pacific Railroad Company. The other large stockholders are John F. Tracy, Win. B. Ogden, the sons of the late P. F. W. Peck, W. M. Smith, Wilson K. Nixon, and L. B. Otis. The latter Is President of the Company. The build ing will cost $1,000,000; the real estate will represent nearly as much more. The furnishing by the lessees, for twenty years, Messrs. George W. Gage, Bavid A. Gage, and John A. Rice, long of the Sherman House, will cost SIOO,OOO. The world famous Gaakell, of the Rovere House, Boston, win have charge of the cuisine. Our cut will save descrip tion of the exterior of the building, except the state ment that it covers an acre and a half in area, con tains 500 rooms. Is 121 feat high to the top of the tow ers. The dimensions are 325 feet from east to west, IC6 feet from north to south; material, olive-tinted Ohio sandstone. Within the grand structure nothing will I bo spared to make all the appointments worthy of i what the company intend it shall be, —the best hotel In : the world. It wIU be opened in March, 1873. | During the past three months the work on Potter Palmer’s magnificent hotel has been pushed with char acteristic energy, and cow fire of the eight stories on the State streetfront and part of the Monroe street front, ore already up. Its stately proportions arc attracting gen eral comment. It fronts 234« feet on State street and 244 f oet ou Monroe street. It runs dear back to Wa bash avenue from State street, excepting SO feet on the north, where a corner building occupies a space 80 feet square. The alley running north and sonth through the lot has been vacated by the city, and is being built over as a carriage way, leading to a covered court in the centre of the building. An uncovered alloy will also connect the court yard with Wabash avenue. The hotel is 8 stories in height, built of Amherst sandstone. The first story is 13 feet 0 inches high, the second 10 feet 6 inches, really much higher than It ap pears to be from the outside. This optical illusion is produced by & combination of circumstances, the great diameter of the huge iron columns being one of the principal causes. The building will have a French roof over an, the highest point of which from the ground will be 103 feet. The general style of the build ing is Italian. The first and second stories have the Doric order, the third and fourth Composite; the re mainder, Corinthian. The main entrance is on State street, and is covered with a porch two stories in height, supported by four massive iron calamus cf the Doric order, projecting in full relief from the building. The recesses of the building an pilasters. On the centre of the porch will be a life-size stone statue, with a figure on each side. Over the central section of the building, which measures 75 feet across, will be a pediment, upon which will be two life-eize figures in bas-relief, recumbent, : and beneath it four life-size Seasons, erect. The corner of the building ia circular in conforma tion, and has been successfully treated, the rotundity extending to and embracing the roof. The columns which support it aro &’gbt in number, the largest yet made for building purposes, and run up to the third story. The treatment of the facade is rich and ele gant, and correspondingly effective. The interior is to be finished in unsurpassed style. The building has been constructed fire-proof through out, with iron beams and corrugated iron ceilings. The dining-rooms, halls, office, grand entrance, and parlor are paneled three feet high with the choicest Italian marble. The main staircase is to be of marble. The handrails end posts of the stairway are of burnished bronze, the effect of which, with tho white marble, will be of striking brilliancy. There will be 450 rooms in the hotel for the accommodation of guests, and two passenger elevators connect them with the, lower world. It is expected that the hotel will be opened on May 1. It will cost $2,500,030 to Amah the building, and $500.- 000 to famish it becomingly. This enormous outlay is the result of building it fire-proof, but the advantages of so doing are too apparent. The honor of being the first large* hotel to open in the burnt district bdonga to the Gardner House, sit uated on the corner of Jackson street snd Michigan avenue. This building is five stories high, exclusive of the Hansard roof, with a central tower on the avenue, is built of brick in the somewhat dubious style known aa the Chicago renaissance. It contains 250 apart ments, exclusive of the dining-room, kitchen, and kin dred rooms, all of which are fitted up and furnished in a manner becoming a first-class hotel, and probably has no superior in pomt of elegance in any hotel in the East. There are two main entrances, one on Jack son street and the other on Michigan avenue, and a ladies' entrance on the first-named thoroughfare. The office is in the centre of the building on the main floor, and receives its light from a shaft on the north side. The arrangements for this important adj unc t to an ho tel are extremely ingenious. The elevator is so ar ranged that the guest, having registered and been as signed his apartment, ascends on the passenger eleva tor, while his baggage goes up stairs with him on the other. Every precaution has been taken to secure safety from fire, fire-plugs having been provided on every story. A telegraphic fire indicator has been placed in every room, and fixed at a certain point, indicating tho extreme of neat allowed In a room and compatible with safety. When the temperature of the room rises above this point the office is instantly notified by the gong to which the Indicator is attached, and an alarm given. The furniture of the hotel is rich and tasteful. Want of space forbids anything like a detailed description of the internal economy of this agreeable hotel. The Briggs House, an old and treated friend of the transient visitors and permanent boarders in and around Chicago, has risen again, smil ing, as the pugilistic records have it, none the worse for the encounter. The Briggs House was always a favorite hotel, and in the new city it doubtless win continue to be eo. It is situated on the comer of Wells and Randolph streets, upon its former site, and has risen to the imposing height of sis stories above ths basement. It fronts 81 feet on Randolph street, and 143 feet on Wells, the former facade being of stone and riie latter of pressed brick, with stone trimmings. It is remarkable throughout for the nicety of its de tails, and the home-like comfort it prepares for its guests. Messrs. Moss & Reid, In building the hotel have displayed unusual talent for providing necessi ties, and a charming appreciation of cosiness. This is ©specify noticeable in the bedrooms, which, running in suites through the whola building, ore lilted up with marble mantels, and open grates, rich, heavy central , chandeliers, and luxurious appointments. On every floor is a series of well-arranged water closets, proper 1 mechanical contrivances for the housemaid's unpleas ant duties; light, ventilation, and warmth, better than which no one could wish. Tho basement is delivered Up to bath rooms and cellars, connected with tl culi nary department. The mxiry floor contains the office, lighted from above with a spacious skylight, the cloak room, barber's shop, bar-room, and baggage-room. There are two main entrances leading to the main hall in which the office is situated, both on Randolph street, one for the ladies. These are both commanded, so to speak, by the office. The passenger elevator between them is also observable from the mwn point. The arrangement of kitchen, dining-rooms, and par ion is all that can be desired—more care having ap parently been taken with the internal economy of the house than the appearance, though the latter is agree able and plain enough. The cost of hotel will when completed, be about 8250,000, and will be rented by Messrs. Woolworth & Wentworth. I SHEhatU? HOUSE. The rebuilt Sherman House, now being roofed, has a frontage on Clark street of 181 feet 6 inches, and on Randolph street. It is built of Kankakee stone, seven stories high and eight stories in the towers. The office will be in the centre ’ of the building, with an open court above, surmounted by a plots glass dome. The internal arrangements are most sumptuous, and 'the enviable reputation wMph. tlu£.l d ey«jaa Hppss. Tiro onarro pacific hotel, THS PALKXtt HOUSE. THE OAUDXEU BOUSE. BHIGG3 BOUSE. acheived win doubtless be entirely eclipsed by that of tbo new one. JtATTESOH HOUSE. The Matteson House, on the northeast comer of Wabash avenue and Jackson street, is a handsome building, as superior to its Randolph street predeces sor as the New Chicago to the old city. It is 100x170 feit, five stories and basement In height, of cut stone, and will cost about $200,000. It will be completed in the early spring. The arrangements for th 3 office and ether necessaries on the main floor arc on the most approved modem style, a glass dome in the roof pour ing all the ncccm-ary light upon this important attach ment to an hotel. wmcar's hotel. Timothy Wright’s Hotel, on the northeast corner of Wabash avenue and Washington street, will, when finished, be one of the many Targe hotels of the city, ranking, however, as second-class. It will be in the Commercial Gothic style of an artificial stone made by Mr. Wright, by a chemical process, and said to possess all the qualities of a quarried stone. Its dimensions are 07x363 feet, eight stories in height, and contains about 180 sleeping rooms, besides parlors, office, read ing-rooms, and other dependencies. The first floor will be rented for store purposes, tho office being on the second floor. The dining-rooms, parlors, and reading rooms will be upon the second floor also, the remain der of the building being designed for the accommoda tion of guests. Its cost will bo about $250,000. BPHgE’B CUBOFEOH HOTEL deserves especial mention on this anniversary occa sion, more, perhaps, than any other, because the pro prietor is essentially a representative of tbo city. He deserves almost any encomium which tho world is willing to accord to true merit and dauntless energy, and we are hippy to bo able to publish his deserts. He lost s£o,ooo in the fire, insured in Chicago com panies, which meant eight cents on the dollar for about $5,000. This did not deter him from starting in life ogain without delay, and Burke’s Hotel was among tho first buildings to rise from tbo ashes. It was opened July 10, and the sagacity and enterprise of the owner fully rewarded with a rush of business imme diately. Indeed, Mr. Burke has his hands fall, and richly deserves to reap such a reward. His building is 45x100 feet, of brick, with handsome terra cotta window caps, and thoroughly harmonious in appearance with the uses for which it was intended. It was the first hotel opened in the burnt district, and one of the first buildings erected, is conveniently situ ated, and doing a business greatly in excess of its owner’s highest hopes. *t.tttav Ttn<>rnv.Ra* HOSPITAL. The Alezian Brothers 4 Hospital, between Market and Franklin streets, near North avenue, is nearly completed, and will bo ready for the reception of pa tients next week. It is faced with Quincy red brick, two stories high above tho basement, with a French roof. The latter is fitted up for dormitories. Tho main building is 54x86 feet, the wings each 30x12 feet, making a front of 146 feet. The window and door caps and belting courses ore of granite; tho cornices and flat parts ox the roof are of metal. Tbo building s heated throughout with steam. Its cost is $50,000. TRADE AND COMMERCE. Tho commercial record of Chicago during the past twelve months is more wonderful than any previous part of its history. In spite of our great calamity, and the croaMnga of those who had long envied our pro priety, wo have achieved a very substantial increase in trade, commerce, and manufactures. It will compare favorably with the record of any former year. It was said that the business heart of Chicago was swept oat of existence by the fire. If this were true, it only showed that our city, like some other corporations, had no soul to be destroyed; or else that, like some animals, eho was equally vital in any part, and capable of indefinite renewal at pleasure. Those who knew Chicago in the early part of 1871 were well aware that all its energies and its property accumulations were far from being confined within the area of what was after ward the burned district. It is now a fret equally well known to the many millions of eyes that have watched with Interest the progress of the city since the fire. We have succeeded in gathering enough of the statistics of our great commercial moro* meat to be able to measure the rate of this progress nearly enough for the purpose of general comparison. But it has not been possible to arrive at results so accurately as in former years. Tie principal reason for this is, that so much has been done as to render it difficult to keep track of it. Many of our business men have been so hard pushed in the werk of recovering lost ground, and gaining new ad vantages, that they scarcely know how much they have accomplished themselves, to say nothing of watching the doings of others in the same line of busi ness. as they did before the fire. We make our com parisons with the year 1870, because it was impossible, amid the confusion of nine months ago, to find out what had been done in 1671. THK PBODCCS UOV33ZEK7. The following were the receipts and shipments of the leading articles of produce doing the past year, with the selling value of the receipts; Ship- Value of Receipts, ments. receipts. Flour, brls 1,360,000 1,10,302 $ 10,540,000 Wheat, bn U,309429 9,883401 13,571,000 Corn, bm. 49,174,489 45,341,461 13,440,000 Oats, bu 13,764,736 13,607,627 4,130,000 Bye, bu. 967,583 1,009,784 580,000 Barmy, bu 3,440,779 2,791,918 2,060,000 Seeds, Cd 34,058,1X3 18,857,228 1,059,000 Broom corn, lbs 9,103,493 2,826,848 453,000 Cot meats, tbs. 29,930,753 216,613,012 2,170,000 Beef, brls. 56,222 79,140 660,000 Pork, brls- 140,646 113,598 1,900.000 Lard, lbs. 22,391,030 80,133,926 2,015,000 Tallow, lbs. 7,101,314 4,739,144 663,000 Butter, lbs 14,945,510 8,500,815 2,242,000 Dressed hogs. N0.... 226,840 . J. 48,041 3,032,000 Live hogs, No.. 3A29.82S 1,729,777 43,820,000 Cattle, No 632,312 • 446,853 25,292,000 Sheep, No.. 286,860 148,748 1,434,000 Hides, lbs. . 31,139,711 25,835,011 3,581,000 Highwincs, brls. 97,265 111,019 5,146,000 Wool, lbs, 24,972,094 Potatoes, bn 900,981 54,316 631,000 Cotton, ft*. 547,610 28,080 104,000 Tea, ttft. 8,234,471 Tobacco, Lumber, mft 1,080,344 853,231 16,205,000 Shingles, m, 5164*4 689,674 1,684,000 Lath, m. 99.820 42,657 275,000 Salt, brls 533,425 470,255 2,650,000 Total £191,957,000 Omitting the important item of tea, of which we had no report in 1870, we have o total of £185,134,000, against a valuation of $171,336,000 for the receipts of the same articles in 1870; or an increase of a tittle more than 8 per cent. If, however, we take into the totals tho re ceipts of mercantile goods, based on the sales reported below wo shall find that the Increase in pecuniary values over the receipts of goods of all kinds in 1870 will average 12 per cent. coacraKAxrvE Tiavnzs. We present a few items from,‘our report of 1870, for the sake of comparison; Value of Received, Shipped, Raoeipte, Flour, brls 1,766.037 1,705,977 87,947,168 Wheat, bn 17,394,609 16,432,555f17,394,409 Core, bn 20,189,775 17,777,277 13,123,250 Oate.bu 10,472,078 8,507,7331 4,188,740 Barley, bu 3,335,653 2,584,6925 2,668,520 Live begs, No. 1,603,158 924,453 42,280,200 Cattle, No. 532,964 391,709121,232,000 Hides, tbs.. 28,639,668 37,245,8461 3,426,750 Wool, lbs. 14,761,08915,825,536 4,300,400 Lumber, m 1,018,999 533,491115,253,000 The produce movement sustained a severe check by the fire, as more than one-quarter of the storage ca pacity of tho city was burned up, and the railroads were crippled so much that they could not deliver grain. But the check was only temporary. In the first week after the fire, 1,635 car loads, or nearly 650,- 000 bu, of grain were received here; and 220,460 bu shipped, mostly by one man. In one month the busi ness had nearly recovered its normal activity, and the above figures show that, reducing flour to wheat, we received 83,456,721 bu of grain since tho fire, against 61,315,793 bu in 1870, or an increase of 39# per cent in volume; the Increase in values was, however, only about 7 per cent, tho augment in volume being princi pally of low-priced com. While the produce business of the year has been much larger than ever before, our Board of Trade, the organized representative of the commerce of the city, is better off, in a pecuniary sense, than before the fire; but its individual membership does not average so well in a moneyed sense. As a class, they did not lose so heavily by tho fixe as the mercantile com munity ; but the frequent occurrence of comers in grain and provisions has made many of them much poorer, to the comparatively small enrichment of e few. Those few are not, however, the men who en gineered the comers, but the ones who played the guer rilla—buying at the beginning, and selling out before the comers burst. There can be no doubt that our produce trade is yet far from having reached its maximum, though other points are competing vivaciously for our trade. 'With storage facilities superior to those existing be fore the fire; tho recent radical amendments in our warehouse system; the addition of rules by the Board of Trade which are calculated to foster legitimate bu siness by preventing the recurrence of corners; and the opening up of numerous new routes that will extend the area from which is will pay to ship grain and other produce to this city; with all these valuable features in our vost-igneous system of bade, we have materially broadened the foundations of our commerce, and deepened our bold upon the business of the great West. It is not impossible that our prosperity will prove received such an impetus from the great that hereafter we shall reform our modes of reckoning time, and, as the Homans might have done, date future events a 6 urbe igniia —from tho year of the lire. WHOLESALE TRADE When the fire had done its worst, and men had to look over the scone, and realize the full extent of the devastation, there were few who dared to hope that tho “ business" of the city during the succeeding year would approach in magnitude that of the year preceding. There were none who lost confidence in the magnificent future of tbe city, or doubted it would speedily recover; but the work to be done was so great that the most sanguine could scarcely help feeling that “an had to be done over again," and it would require tbe labor of several yean to accom plish results equal to tboso of the past. The fire Just on the edge of winter, and it was apparently im possible to secure new places of business, and stock them with lines of goods sufficiently large and varied to attract customers as of yore, before the next spring. The legitimate inference was, that by that time the merchants of competing cities would have secured such a hold upon the trade of the West th*t a great port of it would never return to Chicago, however hercu lean the efforts her merchant* might au&a to attract & back again. It to soon evident that those other mer* chants who had pined so long and so hopelessly tn other cities for a few of the crumbs that fell from the table of our commercial superiority thought that Chi cago was Dives, in torment at last, and that sow was. their “ opportunity” to play the Lazarus, and look down upon us forevermore. They sent a whole legion of drummers all over the West, and were particularly anxious to engage (he services of those who had trav elled for Chicago houses in the post. But all was of no avail. The people cf the West had confidence in the enterprise and energy that had so well supplied their wants previous to the calamity, and they tallied nobly to the rescue. Apart from their charitable con tributions for the relief of the sufferers, very many of tha customers of our merchants exerted themselves to pay their debts .before they camo due, and followed the money with orders for more goods, to be filled when possible. A few were attracted to ether points to mate their purchases, but soon found that they could not do so well as in this city, and their next or ders were sent here. In reality, tho merchants of St. Louis, and Milwaukee, and Cincinnati did not profit fay our disaster half so much as those of New York, tho bulk of the larger orders being sent directly to tho seaboard during our short period of interregnum. Our comparison with 1870 shows a gain of 15 per cent on Che transactions of the post year, of which probably about 10 per cent should be credited to the prosperous part of IS7I, and the remainder to the year after tho fire. The suspension of business was very brief. Many of our leading wholesale dealers had secured other quarters while the city was still burning, and opened out now lines of goods within one week. They were not obliged to wait till they could send orders to New York or elsewhere, and have them filled, before re suming. Previous to the fire they had largo lines of goods scattered all along tho railroads be tween thia and tho seaboard, and every day in the year (Sundays excepted) they were receiving these goods in a never-ceasing stream, that scarce finds a parallel, except in theincessont bombard ment of the sun by little placets, which some godd people have supposed to be necessary to keep up ths solar temperature. The long lines of goods that were en route when the woman fell down in affright, that milked the cow, that kicked over the lamp, that kindled the hay, mat set fire to the stable, that was the origin of all our woes—all these goods kept arriving day after day, and in such volume that the only diffi culty was where to find places to put them; and by tho time these shipments were housed, others were on the way. There was no difficulty at aB in getting orders filled at the East, even when no one could foresee tho extent of the disaster. Cheering words camo thick and fast over the wires and through tho mails, the burden of most of them being the equivalent of tho following: 44 Order what you want, pay when you can, we want your custom still.” It was this outside confidence in Chicago that enabled our merchants to start again so readily, that trade was established al most os quickly os the magical building of Aladdin’s Palace. Of course, the recommencement -was, in many cases, in a relatively small way. Even those who so* cured the palatial mansions just outsido the burned district for business purposes found them far from being as commodious as the stores from which they had been bo summarily evicted by a tyrant far moro merciless than any Tnsh landlord. But the many were obliged to open out in rude shanties, hastily constructed, in the neighborhood of the disaster. Most of those shanties have fulfilled their mission* and their occupants moved into buildings much more commodious than before the fire; while many of those who invaded the residence portion of the city are re maining in those quarters. How the city had spread out, and what directions the different branches of have taken, is told in another column. The following brief notes will enable the reader to see, in general, the progress made in each of the prominent departments of wholesale trade since th* date of the fire: Groceries show an increase of 11 if per cent over 1870, the sales of the post twelvemonths being SGD,- 000,000, against $58,000,000 the former year. The fire burned out about every wholesale grocer in the city, destroying some $3,730,000 worth of stock and fixtures; but there was very little delay in recommencing. Only two or three firms compromised, paying 60 to SO cents on the dollar; a dozen promptly zhet every dol lar of their obligations; and the rest only asked a little time to pay up in full, which was cheerfully granted in every case. All but one of the old firms have re commenced, and Bor io new ones hove come In. Tho amount of capital invested is estimated at $6,000,000 ; and the new stores are generally larger and much more commodious than those destroyed, having bees built with especial reference to the wants of those who occupy th«n,Thfr stocks are now large and well assorted. The tea trade exhibits the greatest augment of busi ness in the grocery line during the past year, the sales of teas being nearly 50 per cent greater than in 1870. The West buys most of ita teas m Chicago now, instead of sending to Now York, aa formerly; it is found to give a saving of Bto 10 cents per pound, now that the Pacific Btilroad brings the freight direct to our doors. The interruption to the grocery business by the fire was barely two weeks, on the average, of all the firms engaged in this line of business. CHEESE, The sales of cheese amount to about 2£oo tons, worth $600,000, which is about the same as for the year preceding. All the old dealers were in position again, with new stocks, in two weeks after the fire, and no ad ditions have been made to thair number. Prices have ruled higher, owing to an unusually large foreign ex port demand—a consequence of higher wages in Eu rope; large quantities have also been sent to Memphis, New Orleans, and other Southern markets. A ship ment. of 65 tons was recently made from Bodge Coun ty, Wia., direct to Liverpool—the first exportation from the West. The quantity of Eastern cheese sold in this market is steadily diminishing each year; it may ap pear otherwise to some who do not know that a consid erable proportion of our Western cheese Is branded by certain dealers as “ New York Factory.” nnv ooons. The dry goods business has been very prosperous,. Tho number of large Jobbers is the same as before the fire, but a few of the smaller wholesale dealers have discontinued business—principally in fancy goods. The volume of sales since Jan. 1 has been nearly doable of the amount sold during the same time one year previous; but this average will not hold for the whole twelve months, owing to the difficulty expe rienced in ** swinging into tine.” AQ of our Urge dealers had goods on the way when the fire swept over the city; but the dry goods business is essentially one of display, and most of them required consider able time to open out in such style sa to enable easterners to judge ..what they were buying. The goods sold during the past year by the wholesale trade amount in round numbers to $40,000,000. against $35,000,000 in 1870, which is an in crease of about 15 per cent. But the augment in nearly 30 per cent if we compare the number of pieces of goods sold during the two yean. This discrepancy is partially due to a reduction in price on many descrip tions of goods, but it is principally owing to the fact that purchases havo been much more closely con fined to low priced goods than at any other time in the history of the trade for the past twelve years. This is the case with country buyers, even more than with those in the city; and the reason is probably to be found in the low juices of grain, which forbid an ex tensive indulgence in luxuries on the part of the farming community. The number of retailers haa in creased very much since the fire, but they have not sold bo much as might have been expected in consid eration of the wholesale destruction of personal ef fects in the fire, in addition to the increased demand due to onr larger population. The fret is that the needs of the burnt-outers were very extensively sup plied from outside the city, not only by charitable con tributions made through the Belief Society, but also by direct assistance to Individual relatives and friends. It is probable that not more than half the losses of dry goods were replaced by purchase in this city. Carpetings are reported as much more active than before the fire, but a large port of the increase appears in tho returns of the dry goods houses, who have re cently added this to their former tines or trade. HOOTS ASD SHOES, The wholesale hoot and ahoo trade has been very ao* live, showing a gain of 16 per cent. The sales of the past twelve months were $10,500,000, against $9,000,000 in 1870. The number of dealers is shoot the sazne as before the fire; the capital employed in the business is from $2,000,000 to Chicago baa long been recognized as the beat place in the United States in which to hoy boots and shossfor the Western market, both for coat and quality. Our leather com mnrula the best price in Eastern markets; hence the Chicago manufacturer has the advantage of saving on double freights, besidss Eastern profits. The latter item is an important one, for it is a remarkable fact that Chicago Jobbers make more of these goods than the Jobbers of New York, or even Boston. In the. East the goods are made by the manufacturer, and thence pass through the hands of the Jobber, increas ing the actual c >st to the dealer by the amount of profit realized by the first-named trr dcr. And the quality of ' Chicago-made leather is on a par with the workmanship in this city. For these reasons, the Chicago-made boot and shoe is a great favorite ,a!i over the West; and many buyers in this market timing the past year have taken Eastern-made goods simply because Chica go-made goods wore “not to be had." ’ The interrup tion to business after the fire barely extended over three weeks. HAUDWASg. Tbe trade in hardware and natls exhibits the tre mendous increase of 80 per cent, the sale* aggregating $9,500,000, against $5,250,000 in 1870. Much of this enormous gain is due to the enhanced demand far material wherewith to rebuild Chicago, and to the higher prices general to the trade in iron goods. But no small portion is the result of a. more liberal trade with the country, and an extension of our business to large areas of country which had not previously been customers in our market. The recent radical a<V vance In the price of iron has materially stimulated, instead of discouraging. Its consumption, an over the civilized world. HATS, CkPS, AND FETES, Hats, cape, and furs, and wholesale clothing, are r» ported as very active the past year, some dealers stat ing that their individual business been fully iro>- tmrd greater than tho year before the fire. We hares not, however, been able to ascertain the omron** of sales. 3?hd aggregate of tbe two will not he far boas #,000,000, against $3,000,000 for 1870. • The jewelry business, including watches, has flourished far more, as a whole# than have* the firms engaged in it. The sales of the year foot up about $5,730,000, against $5,250,000 in 1670—an increase of 9# per sent; but the number of dealers has increased nearly 69 per cent, giving a less average of profit to each than before the fire. The country trade has been transacted chiefly by the old houses, and they re port it as very good; while the #ity trade has been shared in by all, and the old dealers report a slight falling off to them, as individuals. The stocks of th» leodlng firms are now more costly than ever, and the new style of building permits of a much more gor geous dispby than was possible before, except in about two cases. PAPZB, BIG. In paper and paper stock' the amount of trading varied but little. Soles foot up about as follows: • dra per, $3,000,000; building paper, roofing felt, $1,000,000; and paper stock {rags, die.), $1,000,000. Total, $5,000,000 in these lines of business; against, - perhaps, £4,800,000 In 1870. In newspaper there is scarcely any Increase, os the greater number of copies issued by the daily press is compensated by reduced size. Tbs greatest increase is in “writing" paper, which has been in great demand to supply the pkea of blanks lost in the fire. ninjas. The drug trade suffered an interruption of nearly two months succeeding the fire ; except in the case of toiopfl firin.Lbai \raj apt tanned out, number oP 9