The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-11-30

though the owners to all lntents and pur-
poses, are residents of St. Paul.
The number of buildings erected this sea-
son in each Ward, and their aggregate cost
end the totals are as follows:
First Ward ...........2O $73,8OO
Second Ward 1T 66,30O
THIRD ward. III 49,lOO
Fourth Ward. .............l6 $500
20 1925, 900
The following is the aggregate cost of
buildings erected in all the Wards for the
four last years:
1857. .s59l,50O 1889. .$l73,20O
1853. 4S9,3OO 1850. ........ 900
The totals for the years 1859 and 1860,
do not embrace anything but substantial
buildings. Many have been excluded these
years that, owing to the high cost of build
ing materials and labor, would have been
embraced in the statistics of previous years.
By comparison of the cost of building
in the year 1856 and the year 1860, it will
be seen that the actual amount of building
in the latter year was probably as much as
ia the former, Notwithstanding st. Paul
was then thought to be on the topmost
wave of prosperity. We give the figures:
1856. 1860
Bills of lumber
throughout for
house. ......s22 per M............ .sl4 90
Stone. .......... 75c per perch. 374
Brick. ..........Sl2 per M............. 90
Stone Work. %. 81 50 per perch. .... ;. l25
Labor (average) 50 per day.......... ;. so
The causes which made building so ex
pensive in former years, are we'll k own to
our own citizens, but may not be uni erstood
abroad. In the first place, there Had been
scarcely any capital accumulated in the
country from its own products, and that
from abroad was only used at exorbitant
rates. Secondly-the materials for build
ing were in their primal state, their abund.
anee, in great measure, unknown, and
were only prepared as occasion demanded
their use. The third, and prime cause, is
found in the fact, that mechanics and la
borers were more or less infected with the
mania for speculation, and the cost of living
in, at that time, State which hardly pro.
duced enough to support its population,
made the wages Of labor very much higher
than at present.
The causes which made building so ex-
pensve in previous years have been, in a
great measure, overcome. The capital
formerly borrowed at high rates, and in
vested in wild lands, has been withdrawn.
The profits of labor andof trade have found
more profitable and secure investment in
building up our city than in the purchase of
wild lands and town lots. The people have
turned their attention, from necessity, to
getting their living by the labor of their
hands. The materials for building have
been discovered in abundance, at our own
doors, and accumulated in quantities, pre-
pared for immediate use. And, above ALL
the immense productiveness of the State has
so reduced the cost of living, that mechanics
can support themselves and their families, at
less cost than in almost any other city in
the country.
Nothing is more remarkable in our
building operations, than the vast improve
ment in the architecture and mechanical
execution of the buildings erected within
the two last years over those of previous
years. Private dwellings are no longer
constructed without any other plan than to
get a certain number of rooms attached
together under ore roof, or series of roofs.
without regard to convenience or arcbitec.
tural appearance. Downing and Vaux are
consulted, and competent architects EN-.
ployed to make the plans, and good work.
men to carry them into execution.
Without further remarks, we proceed to
the details of the building for the year,
commencing with the
FIRST WARD.
Mayor Prince has erected the past sea-
son, a handsome stone block on jackson
street, near the levee. 1t is ffty,two feet
front by ninety feet deep, three stories in
heigbth, with double basement, making it
in all five stories high. 1t is finished in the
most substantial manner, the front, includ
ing cornice, being of dressed stone. The
stone work was done 10y Jos. w. Smythe
Woodwork by P. Donovan and Branch &
De Graw. FL. De Witt, architect. Cost
$4,000.
Judge Goodrich has built handsome
two story and basement stone building on
Jackson street, just north of the Merchants
Hotel. 1t is thirty-fve by sixty feet, and
is intended for Offices. Branch and De
Graw, builders. Horne Il Co., masons. F..
j. De Witt, architect. Cost $4,000.
Charles A. Morgan, One stone block of
two stores, on the corr er of Sibley and
Third streets, three stories and basement,
fifty feet front, sixty-six feet deep, with
- frorf eunnortad IN afone niers Sfono