Chicago Gas Light and Coke Co.
Location: Corner Monroe and Market streets
Life Span: 1857-1871
Architect:
- D. B. Cooke’s City Directory for the Year 1859-60
Chicago Gas Light and Coke Co., Monroe, cor. Market
Halpin & Bailey’s Chicago City Directory for the Year 1863-64
Chicago Gas Light and Coke Co., office 40 Dearborn, works, Monroe and Market
Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870-71
City Gas Works—Corner Monroe and Market streets
Chicago Tribune, December 28, 1850
Gas Light Company.—The Chicago Gas Light and Coke Company was organized Oct. 16th, 1849, and at a subsequent meeting held two days afterwards, a contract was made with Geo. F. Lee, Esq., of Philadelphia, for the erection of works, laying down of pipes and putting the whole establishment into active operation. Early in the month of April, 1850, Mr. Lee commenced operations. In August the work was completed, and on the evening of the 4th day of September, 1850, Chicago was lighted with gas for the first time. The company’s works, situated on the South side of Monroe near Market street, are an ornament to the city. Both science and taste presided on the occasion of their projection, and the hands of a skilful workman wrought out the conception. 2977 three inch pipes and 276 ten inch do. have been laid down, giving a total length of six miles of pipe. About 50 laborers were employed in the construction of the buildings and the laying down of the pipes.
The works are capable of making 60,000 cubic feet of gas per 24 hours, allowing one bench to be idle for repairs. There are six benches of three retorts each. The Gasometer, or store house for the gas, is 68 feet in diameter and 18 feet deep, and is capable of storing 65,000 feet of gas.
The number of street and bridge lamps now erected is 112. Present namber of consumers 197. Whole number of burners 1417. By a special agreement, the company, in consideration of certain privileges granted, furnish the city with gas at $2.50 per 1 000 cubic feet, which, with the present number of lamps, will cost about $3,000 per annum.—Private consumers are charged $3,50 per 1000 cubic feet.
When the works commenced operations, one bench of three retorts was sufficient to manufacture a full supply of gas. In consequence of an increase in the number of consumers, two benches containing six retorts are now used, by which 24,000 cubic feet of gas can be made in 24 hours. About 65 tons of coal and 75 bushels of lime are used per month in: the manufacture of gas. The present average consumption per night is 17,000 feet. The amount of gas consumed in November was 531,400 cubic feet.
The entire cost of the works, including a stock of coal, was $149,000. Only $90,000 of stock have been issued. The remainder is held by Mr. Lee, in bonds, bearing 7 per cent interest. Of the stock, $30,450 is held by citizens of Chicago—the remainder by capitalists at the East. The Cashier of the Girard Bank, Phila., is a stockholder to the amount of $17.500.
The following gentlemen are the officers of the company :
Chicago Tribune, August 31, 1858
People’s Gas Light and Coke Co.
An ordinance was called up, allowing to this new Gas Light and Coke Co. to lay down their pipes in streets, etc. It was amended by Ald. Long, restricting the Company from any infringement or invasion of the exclusive right of the Chicago Gas Light and Coke Co., which expire in February, 1858. Passed.
Chicago Tribune, May 9, 1862
The New Gas Company.—The People’s Gas Light and Coke Company bare effected & purchase of all the property, rights and privileges of the Chicago Gas Light and Coke Company on the west side of the river, The transfer will take place on the first day of June next, at which time the new company will commence the manufacture of gas at its works on the south branch, and attaching its mains to the pipes of the old company, supply the west side and west siders with light.
Chicago Illustrated, November, 1866
ARMORY.—This building belongs to the city of Chicago. It was built in 1856-7, and was intended as a general building for the keeping, and storage of arms belonging to the various volunteer military companies of the city, and such guns and other arms as belong to the city. Hence, the name popularly given to the building. With the exception of being used in part by an artillery company, and for the storage of some muskets belonging to the city, it has long since lost all its military character.
The building is now used for police business. It contains the temporary prison for all persons arrested and awaiting examination by the magistrates. The police court, which meets twice a day, is held in this building, and the “Armory” is the scene wherein the degraded and the criminals of this great city appear and play their parts. The location of the building is in the very center of the abodes of crime, degradation and vice of every form, which, by some strange impulse, have gathered under the very walls of the tribunal where it is daily arraigned, subjected to penalties, and discharged, to be brought back, within a few hours, to pass through the same ordeal.
On the right side the picture is the view of the buildings of the Chicago Gas Light and Coke Company. They cover a large space of ground, and the works are not only extensive, but very complete in every particular. When this site was selected for the Gas Works, it was supposed to be sufficiently removed from the central part of the city, as to be inoffensive; but since that period, while improvements and business have carefully avoided the immediate locality, the city has been extended miles in every direction beyond the Gas Works. Until 1858, this company had the monopoly of supplying Gas in Chicago; but, in that year, a new company was organized, which, by a subsequent arrangement, has the exclusive supply of the West Division.
West of the Works, are the Coal Docks belonging to the company, where is received and stored, the vast amount of coal necessary for their business. The removal of these Gas Works, to some remote part of the city, is now a mere question of time.
James W. Sheahan, Esq.
November 1866
- ㉞ The City Gas & Coke Works, Offices in Dickey’s Building
- People’s Light and Coke Company
R.P. Studley
1871
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