Throughout his existence Man has shown an intense interest in reaching for the sky. From the Tower of Babel and the gothic ca thedrals to the extreme height competitions of 14th century Flor ence, Man has always equated towering structures with importance and prestige. With this heritage of towers it is little wonder that as big business and modern technology came together in turn-of-the century America, a new type of tower was soon developed to reflect the importance of the new financial-commercial culture. The sky scraper was born. Although technically the skyscraper was born in the ashes of the Chicago Fire, it first gained real fame and fantastic size in the height competitions between companies in pre-World War I New York. Beginning with the Singer Building in 1907, the race was on for the title of Tallest in the World. When the height competition resumed in the 1920's, the skyscraper soon became the accepted badge of cityhood throughout the United States and nearly every city in the country was struggling to obtain at least one mighty tower to embellish its skyline, especially in the Midwest where nearly every city came to be dominated by an outstanding tower. The skyscraper