Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1893 — CHICAGO LANDMARKS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHICAGO LANDMARKS.

SOME NEW ONES THAT ATTRACT ATTENTION. .•a Heaviest Tower and Largest Front Door In the World—Facts About the Groat SkyScrapers—A Fort Turned Into a Temple of Music. j Built on Made Ground. / Charles E. Nixon, writing of Chicago in the Inter Ocean, says: There is something magnetic in the growth, in the dashing spirit of this prairie metropolis—the Indian trading post of 1812, a plain of asb«s in 1871, the sixth city of the world to-day. It almost seems like some story of Aladdin to look down its broad boulevards, lined with immense buildings that tower into the darkening sky, and believe it all rests as a firm basis upon the site of a marshy border land

that half a century ago was almost on a level with the great lake that overflowed its front. Let us glance at some of the architectural wonders that “o’ertop the topless towers of Troy” or the pyramids of old Egypt. One can hardly credit that clayey and uncertain soli could be made to sustain on a comparatively small foundation a tower 250 feet high, such as ornaments the Northern Pacific Railway Station, each pile in its foundation supporting tons. This tower is 28x28x250, and weighs 6,682 tons. Few people are familiar with the fact that the tower of the Auditorium weighs twice as much as ,the famous Eiffel Tower of Parish and is on an area of founda-

tion fractional compared with that of the Parisian wonder, standing firm as a rock oh floats of steel rails anchored far below the level of the lake, that is only a stone’s throw distant. To the eye accustomed to harmonious proportion, these great buildings naturally impress more by their magnitude than their artistic grace; but 'Connoisseurs will involuntarily admire toe‘dew tfoman’s Temple or the Ptdlman Building as graceful and artistic massive compositions in granite and brick. Then there is the plain, classic facade of the Leiter Building, *the largest store in the world, surpassing in size the famous Bon Marche of Paris. There is the great .Home Insurance, the imposing Rookery, having rooms for 4,000 and (J? 000 tenants; or, looking to the north,

behold the Masonic Temple, the largest office building ever constructed, with its 5,000 tons of steel welded together, towering 200 feet in the air, surmounted by a crystal garden, filled with exotics of the tropics; indeed, there are so many of these architectural giants recently sprung into life In that it is difficult to discriminate is describing them. Perhaps some cf the lesser buildings that would-be wonders elsewhere more likely sfi&efy the artistic critical canon, «fejtepte. But the field is prolific 1 in tHls line and adds to the perplexity.-' Our foreign friendß and brothers teIJkMVSe, in admiration before our Art institute, or the imposing-col-umned front of "the Studebaker Building; get a glimpse of the Alhambra In Kinsley’s Moorish front in brick and gold, or the sturdy Norman r * i

splrit of Richardson in the dark-red walls of Field’s wholesale store. One conspicuous structure on Michigan boulevard that would ims press the critical John Ruskin, anq as most unique and interesting, ia the First Regiment Armory, now the Trocadero. It is in dignity strongly suggestive of a fortress, picturesquely indicating the conditions that led to the building of mediaeval castles. It is generous in dimensions, covering an area of 164 by 174 feet. To the height of 35 feet the exterior walls are heavy masses of brown stone, unbroken by any aperture, excepting by the 40 foot wide doorway on Michigan boulevard, which is the regimental sallyport, and through which the command can march out in full company front. This opening is barred by a heavy oak and steel door, swung like a portcullis, and lying back of the embrasures in the thickness of the walls. It is protected by firing-slots in the heavy reveals on either side (think of a front door 40 by 40 feet, weighing tons). The lowest window sill is 35 feet from the ground, and six feet from the floor within. They are barred by heavy iron grills, being narrow ports, for firing, and on the outer and inner jamb to give greater range, and when not in use are closed by heavy steel plates. The whole exterior mass is crowned by heavily corbeled cornice forming both breastworks and firing ports, through which latter the face pf the wall is commanded. Each corner of the building is marked by a heavy round tur. ret, from which an enfilading fire can be maintained along the outer face of the main walls. For the nonce this remarkable building will be thrown open to the public as a temple of amusement: the shrill fife and the call of the war drum will be silent to the music of peace. The architects of the Auditorium are converting the great drill hall and its winding galleries into an auditorium that will have a seating capacity for about 5,000 people. This great room is 160 by 175 feet, without a pillar or partition, the three stories above being suspended by great rods from the steel trusses that support the roof. As a place of entertainment it will worthy of its famous namesake, the Trocadero ol Paris. It will be furnished with |a complete and beautiful stage; and the ventilation, electric lighting, and acoustics will incorporate all the latest and best devices. The great banquet hall will be utilized as a restaurant, from which the music can he heard. If Chicago’s great buildings will attract attention by day they will take a new interest with the shining lamps of nightfall; the great boulevards thronging with a restless multitude will blaze with light; the huge buildings, seemingly towering up among the stars, will cast strange fantastic shadows; circles of light

will illumine the tower of the Northern', the Trocadero will appear like some grand old feudal castle, whose outlines blaze with electric lights; powerful flash lights will flash from the top of the Masonic Temple miles out over the scintillating waves of the lake, and every great architectural wonder will serve as, the basis of some bright beacon and show that the spirit of Chicago never sleeps, and that the witchery of the night will outcharm the day in presenting attractions outside the wall 9 of the White City.

THE HIGHEST AND HEAVIEST TOWER IN THE CITY NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY STATION.

THE TROCADERO—FIRST REGIMENT ARMORY.

THE LARGEST FRONT DOOR IN THE WORLD.