Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1893 — CHICAGO’S ENERGY. [ARTICLE]

CHICAGO’S ENERGY.

Winter’s Storms and Jack Frost’s Reign Can Not Repress It. The Ashland block, a structure of steel, stone and tarra cotta, at the comer of Randolph and Clark streets, close to the City Hall, seventeen shines in height, Was built tju an area of 140 feet by 80 feet in midwinter, and work was continued day and night by relays of men, strong arc electric lights being used by by night. Artificial heat was furnished by 100 Salamander stoves to enable the builders and masons to work at that season of the year, and protection from the cold winds was given by several hundred yards of thick canvas. The skeleton of steel for each floor was first erected, each column, girder and rafter being lifted and placed in position by steam power. These were riveted wvth red-hot rivets, and, as the stories rose, they were filled in with square blocks of terracotta and brick. On December 6, 1892, six floors were completed, and the steel skeleton for the next six stories was for the most part placed. On December 19 ten floors were completed,' and the shell for three more stories was mostly in posision. Thus the entire construction of four floors of a building 140x90 feet, divided into numerous rooms, was solidly built in thirteen days, or one floor in three -and one-quarter - days. About 60 iron and steel workers, 100 brick masons and 35 terracotta setters were continually at work. The enormous quantity of iron and steel used in this new mode of construction, which was only tried six years ago, has created quite a new industry, and the employes have already their organization under the term architectural iron-workers. Steel has now almost entirely taken the place of iron, of which the first few of these tali' buildings were constructed. The foundations are tiers of steel rails, imbedded in concrete, t.he beams stretching ten or twelve feet under the street. This plan was found necessary on account of the nature of the soil, so as to bear the great imposed weight. These beams are made at the Illinois Steel Works or come from Pennsylvania. This new method of buildiilg is said to be lighter and stronger than the old system and to be absolutely fireproof. The greatest variation in the plumb line from base to top of these tall buildings has been found not to exceed half an inch.