Rand, McNally I

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Rand, McNally I,
Life Span: 1873-1879
Location: 108 Randolph (temporary)
North side of Madison street between Dearborn and State streets (Dearborn School lot)
Architect: NA

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1873

Rand, McNally & Co.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1874
Rand, McNally & Co. William H. Rand, pres; Andrew McNally, vice pres and supt; George A. Poole, treas; T. C. Haynes, sec; printers, stationers, engravers and electrotypers. 79 and 81 Madison

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Rand, McNally & Co. William H. Rand, pres; A. McNally, vice pres; Geo. A. Poole, treas; T. C. Haynes, sec; printers, stationers, map and wood engravers, electrotypers, map publishers and publishers of Railway Guide 77 and 79 Madison
Railway Guide, Rand & McNally, pubs. 79 Madison

Chicago Tribune, May 9, 1872

Rand, McNally & Co.’s Railway Guide.
The May number of this publication, the first issue since the fire, is just out. In general appearance it la the same as before, but printed on a much finer quality of paper, and is made to include tho whole United States and Canada. By the title page we find in to be the Traveller’s Hand-Book to all Railway and Steamboat Linas of North America, issued monthly, giving latest time-tables, complete lists of stations and ticket fares of all routes; containing, also, the population, as shown by the late Government census, of every railroad and river town within the United States and Canada, with a full and accurate description of their geographical situation, objects of interest, chief commercial importance, and hotels. The work, upon careful examination. proves to be a complete gazetteer of the entire country, with the census embodied therein. As an office book for reference, and as a shipper’s guide, it is as invaluable as to the traveling public. Rand. McNally & Co, latterly better known as railroad printers and publishers; Robert A. Bower, editor and compiler. Trade supplied by the Western News Company, or sent to any address by the publishers upon the receipt of retail price. 40 cent8.

Chicago Evening Post, April 10, 1873

CANCEL LEASE TO RAND, M’NALLY & CO.
Mr. Wilce, Chairman of the Committee on School Fund Property, presented the following report in reference to the lease of the old Dearborn school lot to Messrs. Rand, McNally & Co.:

Your Committee on School Fund Property, whom was referred the petition of Rand & McNally, asking for rebate on the old Dearborn school property leased by them in July, 1871, having had the same under advisement, beg leave to report:

That after a fall investigation of the matter at a meeting held by the committee in the President’s office, at which were present his Honor, Mayor Medill, Mr. Tuley, Mr. Burley, and the President of this Board, with Mr. McNally representing the lessees, it was decided unanimously that would be for the best interest of all parties to cancel the present lease on the following conditions, viz: This Board should rebate the rent now due and unpaid, $7,200.00, and the lessees should relinquish the improvements made on said property, the same having cost them about $4,000.00. The above, however, was to have been submitted to the other members of the firm, and if confirmed by them, the committee should be notified. The senior member of the firm, Mr. Rand, was at that time in Europe, but has since returned, and confirms the action of Mr. McNally, with the further condition that this Board assume the obligation entered into by Rand & McNally with the Trustees of the Manierre estate, to pay for one half of the east wall of their building when used by the said Rand & McNally: also, that the Board will pay, or cause to be paid, by their successors to the property, one-half of the west or party wall of Rand & McNally’s building to be erected on the city lot lying east of the school lots.

The committee believe it is for the advantage of all parties to accept the above proposition and would ask the passage of the following order:
Ordered, That the Corporation Counsel be requested to execute the necessary papers and to cancel the lease with Rand & McNally on the foregoing terms, and report the same to this Board at its next regular meeting, in order that some immediate action may be taken in the disposal of the property either by sale or lease.
THOMAS WILCH,
EDWIN H. SHELDON,
A. C. CALKINS,
C. J. HAMBLETON,
ERNST PRUSSING.

Chicago Tribune, May 7, 1873

The Clerk presented the engrossed resolution relative to a lease of Rand, McNally & Co. of the Dearborn school lot.

The first Rand McNally printed map as it appeared in the December 1872 edition of its Railroad Guide, and the first appearance of Rand McNally’s location index system.

Chicago Tribune, June 18, 1873

The map showing the sewerage system of city, printed in another portion of this paper, comes from the engraving department of Rand, McNally & Co.’s immense printing establishment. It is the neatest, cleanest, and most correct piece of work of this kind ever turned out in this city, and demonstrates that the artisans of Chicago are advancing toward perfection with rapid strides. The map gives a well-proportioned outline of the city within the limits, and is cut in such a clear manner that no mistake in localities can possibly be made by persons who are at all acquainted with the city. It should be preserved for reference.

Chicago Daily Telegraph, September 6, 1879

A Chicago Book,
We have received from Rand, McNally & Co. of this city, a copy of a new and original work which will be printed and published in the Exposition building during the progress of the show. The volume is handsomely bound and lettered in black and gold. Typographically and pictorially the work deserves commendation, and the stories composing the book are interesting and readable.

Chicago Tribune, April 14, 1880

RAND & M’NALLY.
Their New Location.
Yesterday at noon Messrs. Rand, McNall & Co., in the office of Messrs. Hitchcock & Dupee, signed a very important agreement. It is well known that for two years past their present quarters had been too small for them. They spread from Madison on to State street, but the best manufacturing facilities demanded by the firm could not be had in their present present location. They leased a term of twenty years, with the privilege of purchasing within ten years, the property known as the Douglas lot, on the south side of Monroe street, between Clark and LaSalle, being 90 feet front by 190 feet deep. The annual rental is fixed at $5,000, and the price to be faid for the land, if purchased within ten years, is $100,000 cash. It is more likely that the property will soon be purchased by the firm.

They will at once proceed with the erection of two buildings for the use of the house, to cost $75,000. The plan, as proposed and designed by Mr. Burling, the architect, comprises two buildings, fron and rear, with a court of a depth of fifty feet, giving ample light. The buildings will be six stories in height, and the press-room will be the largest and best-lighted of any in the country used fo a like purpose, and will be located under the court, on the ground floor, an innovation of no small importance. The front building will contain the business office of the firm on the ground floor, and there will be some stores and offices to be rented out. The upper floors will contain the book-rooms, artists’, engravers’, and designers’ departments, lithograph rooms, etc. The rear building will be especially constructed for a factory. The latest improvements will be used.

Work will be commenced at once on the construction of the building. Should Messrs. Rand, McNally & Coo. not purchase the property within the ten years named, at the end of twenty years there is to be a reappraisal of the property under the lease, and at the end of thirty years the owner, Mr. Douglas, or his heirs, shall have the privilege of purchasing the improvements at an appraisal, or Messrs. Rand McNally & Co. shall have the same privilege in regard to tye ground. But there is no doubt but that the firm will purchase the real estate long before the expiration of the ten years named in the lease.

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