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UNION BANK TO BUILD A SKYSCRAPERThe Solid Hock Will be the Base of Its Foundation— A Rookeryof Officers.Some Buildiag in the Early Days A Coulee oo the Site.When Winnipeg wai a mud-hole, and tl»o house* stood on siLta, wo didn't calculate that in lliUd they'd be aii.king caissons to bed-rock to got ante footing for sky-acrapor*. An old-timer made the remark to a Tribune reporter, and it j#roso In a conversation on the big structure to be erected for the Union Bunk of Canada thin year and next.WIL LT0WER TUN BTOIUE3.Tho Union Bank building, whcucompleted, will be the record-breaker for tliis speedy city. The Merchant s' Bank building set the record Inst year with lt;?ight stories, but tide new building will have ten. Throe or four blocks In Winnipeg can boast of having cost $150,000; 8500,000 is the figure named for tills one. Messrs. Darling, Pearson «fr Over are the architects, whose handiwork is already visible iu the Bank of Commerce building, the Canada life block, and others. The site is op tiie corner of Main and William.The merest details of the plans are as yet available, tho specifications not having been received as yet from tho Toronto office. But enough Is known to afford a general idea of the character of the great Structure. Tho building will be stool framed throughout. Tho exterior walls will be of dressed stone, giving a pleasing impression to tho eye as well as conveying the Idea of substantiality. Three passenger elevators will servo the great rookery of offices, which will ho furnished in modern character. The lighting will bo electrical throughout.WILL REST ON CAISSONS.A new feature hi Winnipeg buildings will bn introduced Into the Union Bank block, namely, concrete caissons to support the tremendousweight of the great structure. Preliminary borings have been made, but it is ifot yet known at tho localoffice of the architects whether tho cuisaons will actually rest on bedrock, or will stop short at n limited depth. The number of tho caissons is not yet determined, or in what linos they will be sot. The largest buildings heretofore have been content with heavy stone and concrete foundations.WHEN WINNIPEG WAS SWAMP.It Is odd to reflect that the sitewhich will !)© covered by this bigmodern block was, not long ago, tho bank of a coulee or gully. It Is related that a man was drowned within a few yards of where the north wall will rise. The creek took its rise away out in St. James, gradually deepening and widening as It floweJ liveruard. ft was tho outlet for tho basin in which tho southern and western portions of tho city are built.Far different were the building operations in those days. Tho whole si to of the city was either coulee or swamp. Building* were «et on piles to he out of reach of the water, whoso occasional rising was to bo appri bonded. The building* themselves. as may be imagined, were unpretentious, and were of the flimsiest character, wood being the only material used, and quite frequently iu an undressed state.THEN DRAINAGE CAME.The character of the traffic highways may be Imagined In the wetseasons from later experiences. When the town began to suspect that It had a destiny, the basin was taken in hand ami gradually drained off. Tho big coulee consumed a vast amount of earth, but it was eventually filled in. From this date on, collars ln-g.m to he in the fashion. From that date to the sinking of concrete caissons is a wonderful step lti pro-irrese if not in time.
Newspaper Details
Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Sat, May 23, 1903
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Jay F.
CA 25 Jul 2020
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