HASIE AND COMMERCIAL BLOCKS.

Arkansas City Republican, September 20, 1884.

Hasie and Commercial Blocks.

One structure now in course of erection with which the citizens of Arkansas City point with pride is the Hasie and Commercial block on Summit street. We propose in the following brief outline to give our readers an idea of the immensity of this block.

Last March Maj. M. S. Hasie and Geo. E. Hasie arrived in Arkansas City from Denver, Colorado, on a prospecting tour and, after a careful looking over of the advantages of which our thriving city is possessed, were so fascinated with the prospects that they decided to locate here. The erection of the Hasie block was then alone contemplated. When Messrs. Hasie’s views were made known, concerning their large block, a new idea sprang into existence. It was then the plan of the Hasie and Commercial block was formed. In addition to their block, Messrs. Hasie proposed to take stock in the Commercial and so a stock company was formed for the purpose of erecting this building. Thus we have the origin of the Hasie and Commercial blocks.

The building was commenced some five months ago, and notwithstanding so many drawbacks necessary to the erection of so large a structure, it is now nearly completed. The frontage of the block is 128 feet; the depth, 132 feet.

On the first floor there are five mammoth store rooms, each 25 x 132 feet, and 17 feet to ceiling. These rooms are all taken with the exception of one, which we are informed would offer superior advantages to parties desiring to engage in the agricultural implement business. The basement under this room could be used as storage quarters and the ground floor as the display room. Then the elevator in this room from basement to roof would come into execution.

The remaining rooms are to be occupied by D. Brunswick, who will open up a $25,000 stock of clothing, boots and shoes, etc.; A. A. Newman & Co., who will have a double room in which to display their stock of dry goods, clothing, etc. The fourth will be used by Geo. E. Hasie & Co., as a wholesale and retail grocery establishment, and the fifth will, no doubt, be taken by the time of its completion.

The entire building is finished with French plate glass, double strength; 4,000 feet of glass is to be put in the skylights. There are four upstairs rooms, which are as yet not taken, that would be the most available rooms in Kansas for the photographic art. The best of light for this business can be furnished.

In the upper portions of the block, there are 65 rooms. They are so constructed as to be used for hotel purposes. There are three large, bay-front rooms with folding doors, which can be readily thrown into one room, and would make one of the most elegant dining rooms of which we know. A six-foot hallway traverses this portion of the building. Eight hundred feet of passageway is utilized. Two six-foot stairways lead upward, besides the large elevators at the rear of the building. The second and third stories are adorned with bay windows, fourteen in number.

The finish of the front of the block is what is called the San Francisco Palace finish. It is stone front with iron columns and bay windows.

The estimated cost of the building when completed will be $60,000. Maj. S. Hasie is the architect. He has personally superintended its construction. Another building of the Hasie and Commercial block’s dimensions will make Arkansas City a city in reality as well as name. We now far surpass Wichita in fine buildings, and for handsome residence property we doubt if there is another city in the state that can compete with us, taking size in consideration.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 7, 1885.

BUILDING ACTIVITY.

A Brief Statement of the Building Growth of Arkansas City.

The cry of hard times may be raised, but where building activity continues unabated, there can be no cause for dejection. Almost every day we see new buildings started, all of a permanent and solid character and an evidence of the progress and thrift of the city. In the burnt district foundations are being dug for six new business buildings, two story and basement, each 25 feet by 100. William Gall, the architect, has prepared the plans for four of these buildings, those of J. H. Sherburne, S. B. Pickle, Mrs. Benedict, and Dr. Shepard, and this row of iron fronts, extending 100 feet, with plate windows and elaborate finish, will be an enduring monument to the enterprise and growth of our city. Messrs. Kroenert & Austin, at the south end of the burnt region, intend to erect a one story brick, uniform with the building adjoining it on the south (Mowry & Sollitt’s drug store), and Mr. Bittle, at the north end, is excavating his foundation without having decided fully on his plan.

Just north, the handsome stores of Dr. Chapel and W. B. Bishop have received tenants, and the finishing touches are being given to the upper floors. They are being finished off for dwellings or offices, the doctor retaining a portion of his upper floor for a medical office. On the opposite side T. H. McLaughlin is making progress with his double building, putting in such solid work as to secure the safety against all stress of wind and weather.

Mr. Gall has finished the plans of J. C. Topliff’s new double building south of the Hasie block. This will be in keeping with the elegance of the structure it adjoins, and will be the cause of just pride to our citizens. On the corner just south, the Frick Bros., new building shows off to advantage, and when the upper rooms and basement are finished, will furnish commodious and handsome quarters for the occupants. At the other end of the block, Ed. Grady has begun to dig the foundation for another first-class brick store and residence, and there is talk that Messrs. Chambers, Newman, Hess, and Dunn will join in the erection of three brick stores on the site lately occupied by Mr. Grady as a coal yard.

Mr. C. D. Burroughs’ handsome stone building across the way is likely to be rented for a hotel. It is eligibly situated for such a purpose and has room for the comfortable accommodation of fifty guests.

Herman Godehard’s new and commodious brick store and G. W. Miller & Co.’s new hardware store are now finished and occupied and are not to be forgotten in enumerating our recent city improvements. O. P. Houghton’s 32 foot extension to his dry goods store still leaves him insufficient room, but as it is now late in the season, we believe he defers rebuilding the main part of his house till the coming spring. The Johnson Loan and Trust Co., have also postponed the erection of their two-story office till after the winter is past. The large extension to the Arkansas City Bank has been completed recently, but the carpet and furniture for the private rooms are not yet in place.

This in addition to the many tasteful private residences that have been built and are now in process of construction, makes a creditable record for Arkansas City, and shows that in growth and business prosperity she keeps fully abreast with her sister cities.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 7, 1885.

Council Proceedings.

The city council met in regular session on Monday evening, at 7:30 o’clock; Councilman Thompson presiding, Mayor Schiffbauer being detained at home owing to the sickness of his wife. All the members were present except Bailey and Hill.

The following bills were acted on.

T. R. Houghton, $1.25; referred.

American Machinist Publishing Co., $12 for advertising, allowed.

C. R. Sipes, $5.50; referred.

Age of Steel, $3 for advertising; allowed.

W. D. Johnson, extra police duty, $2; allowed.

County bill of O. P. Houghton, $10.51; approved.

A communication from the Wichita Water Works Co., was read, offering for sale two boilers, abandoned because of their insufficiency for the needs of that city. Placed on file.

An offer was made by F. B. Scott, the water works engineer, through Mr. Prescott, to run the works and do all the repairing for $60 a month. Another offer was received from Edward Malone, to perform the same work for $40 a month. No action was taken.

Permission was granted J. C. Topliff to use the street for building material while erecting his double house next to the Hasie block.

A similar privilege was granted Edward Grady while building a brick store on Summit Street, corner of Third Avenue.

City Clerk Benedict asked permission to move the building on the rear of his lot (sold to Joseph Bittle) across Central Avenue to the rear of Judge Bonsall’s office. Granted.

The reply of the State Veterinarian was read to the application of Mayor Schiffbauer, for that expert to visit Arkansas City and suggest the means of suppressing the spread of contagious disease among horses in this city. He says application must be made to Governor Martin.

The report of the police judge for the last month was read and placed on file.

The subject of curbing and guttering Summit Street was introduced by Councilman Dunn. He said the grade must be established before this work is begun. The city clerk informed Mr. Dunn there was an old grade established, the record of which, he believed, was to be found among Judge Bonsall’s papers. It was agreed by the council that the grade should be 10 inches, from the centre of the street to the curb, instead of 18 inches as first designed.

Mr. Dunn, on behalf of the street committee, said the proposition to annex that portion of land between the city and the west bridge in order to bring that structure within the city limits, had been referred to the wrong committee. His committee was not ready to report on the subject.