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The scene presented on the opposite page is notable, first of all, for the presence of two of the six railway passenger depots of Chicago. The first in sight (No. 5) is the Van Buren Street Station, and the farthest (No. 9) is the Grand Central Station. Reference should be had to our chapter on "Arrival," where both of these edifices are described. The Grand Central is mentioned also in the chapter on "Notable High Buildings." The block in the foreground of the picture contains two capacious hotels--McCoy's and Gore's, the latter being a steel structure. Another matter to be known concerning the streets of Chicago may be here adverted to. Van Buren Street is the southernmost street on the South Side that is a thoroughfare to the West Side, and it is in this region that the surface railroads narrow the South Side to a few blocks of width, finally leaving only State Street, Wabash Avenue, and Michigan Boulevard free. But by going west on Van Buren Street, and turning south on Fifth Avenue, Harrison Street may also be utilized as an exit, and many street-cars go still farther south on Fifth Avenue and reach a river-crossing at Twelfth Street.
At 266-274 Clark Street, occupies a steel building, with stone, brick, and steel exterior. It has 100 feet frontage, and is 110 feet high, with 8 stories and basement. There are 5 stores, 200 rooms, and 2 passenger elevators. The wrought-iron work of the office on the main floor is handsome, and the hotel is regarded as safe and popular by a large class of traveling men and visitors. There is a cafe in the basement. (See "Hotels.")
At the northwest corner of Clark and Van Buren streets, is celebrated in Irish circles as the rendezvous of prominent Hibernians. It has a massive brick, cut-stone, and iron exterior, with 80 feet on Clark, 100 feet on Van Buren Street, and a height of 100 feet, in 7 stories and basement. There is 1 elevator. The lower part of the building is divided into 6 store-rooms, and there are 250 rooms in the hotel, which is strictly European. The office is upstairs. There is an excellent cafe on the main floor. Erected in 1884 for William C. McCoy.
At 252-260 Clark Street, presents a double floor at its entrance, and in this respect is unique in Chicago. It is 100 feet wide, 80 feet deep, and 55 feet high, with 4 stories and basement. It is a small but first-class building, and was long a favorite place for sporting men. There are 5 stores, 20 offices, and 1 passenger elevator. The occupants are the Postal Telegraph Cable Company, the Ives Billiard Hall, grain merchants, and stock operators. Erected in 1885.
At the southeast corner of Van Buren Street and Pacific Avenue, is a fine building, in which trade papers find light and agreeable quarters. It fronts 90 feet on Van Buren Street and 80 feet on Pacific Avenue, is 80 feet high, and has 7 stories and basement, with 6 stores, 65 offices, and 2 passenger elevators. The exterior is of brick, steel, and terra cotta. Other occupants are ice companies and manufacturers' agents. Erected in 1884.
Fronts 180 feet on Van Buren Street, and 400 feet on both Sherman Street and Pacific Avenue. Before the building of the Board of Trade this depot headed La Salle Street, and was a conspicuous land-mark of the city. In the Great Fire it stood for many hours as a protection to the eastern part of the South Side. It was rebuilt in 1873, and its dedication in June of that year was made a civic musical festival. In 1887 the front was built 2 stories higher, and tower-clocks were added as public conveniences. Fifty-two Rock island trains, and 56 Lake Shore trains arrive here daily, and 4,500 passengers arrive and depart daily by the Rock Island and 3,500 by the Lake Shore. There are large and well appointed waiting-rooms. The front of the depot is 85 feet high, with 6 stories and basement, and is built of Joliet limestone. It cost $700,000. (See "Arrival in Chicago.")
Bounded on three sides by Van Buren Street, Sherman Street, and Pacific Avenue, is so called because of a bridge which connects its upper floors with the main hall of the Board of Trade, directly north. The Rialto was one of the early high steel buildings of Chicago, and its architects planned with special reference to light and air. Its frontage on Van Buren Street is 175 feet, and on Sherman Street and Pacific Avenue 144 feet. It is 160 feet high, with 9 stories and basement, 420 offices, and 5 passenger elevators. It is occupied by grain, commision, and insurance companies; and the Drainage Commission, in itself a government, has its headquarters on an upper floor. Erected in 1886 at a cost of $700,000. (See "Notable High Buildings.")
Is a well-established hostelry at the southwest corner of Van Buren and Sherman streets, with frontages of 60 feet on Van Buren and 120 feet on Sherman Street, 90 feet high, 5 stories and basement, 100 rooms, office on main floor, and 1 passenger elevator. The building is an old-style stone front, erected in 1872.
Is a steel building which fronts 60 feet on Harrison Street and 80 feet on Sherman Street, at the northwest corner; 100 feet high, with 7 stories and basement. The fronts are of Connecticut brownstone. Excepting the World's Fair exhibits, all foreign goods consigned to the port of Chicago are received, examined, and delivered here. Erected in 1891.
Fronts 228 feet on Harrison Street and 482 feet on Fifth Avenue, at the southwest corner, where its square tower rises to a height of 242 feet, and holds a clock-bell weighing nearly 6 tons. The arches open for carriages, which may themselves enter the building, and the equipment of the whole edifice is regarded with pride by all railroad men and architects. The fore building is 100 feet high, with 7 stories and basement, constructed on Connecticut brownstone, brick terra cotta, and steel. There are 3 elevators. This station is the terminal of the Chicago & Northern Pacific (Wisconsin Central), Chicago Great Western, Baltimore & Ohio, Chicago Central, and Chicago & Southwestern railroads. The seating capacity of the waiting-rooms is 1,800, and 77 trains carry 10,000 passengers daily. The open train-shed, which is 560 feet long, covers 7 tracks, each accommodating 7 coaches and locomotive. This magnificent improvement was completed in 1890, and to serve the depot and not close Fifth Avenue the approach to Polk Street bridge, south of Harrison Street, was turned sidewise, and make architecturally a part of the station. (See "Arrival in Chicago.")
At 187-191 Van Buren Street, is a very new steel sky-scraper, 130 feet igh. It stands on a lot but 50 feet wide and 80 feet deep, and rises to 10 stories above the basement. Its front is of cut-stone and brick. It contains 100 suites of offices, and has 1 freight and 2 passenger elevators. It is occupied by manufacturers' agents and wholesale jobbers. Erected in 1893.