Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-23

Fourth and Jackson streets, then occupied
by Auerbach, Finch, Culbertson 81 Com
pany, was completely destroyed by fire
The building was owned by Commodore
VIM. F. Davidson, and it had been built
expressly for the special tenants who
occupied it from its completion, and whC
had lease running for tel
years from January 1st, 1877, which ter
minated by its terms on the destruction o.
the building For time after the fire
il was not known whether it would be re-
built for the great dry goods firm that had
heretofore occupied it or for some other
purpose, but by the time the old walls
were taken down and the debris removed,
it was decided to rebuild upon an entirely
different plan and for different purposes
than those to which the original struc-
ture had been devoted.
Mathew Taylor, OF the. firm
OF Taylor s. Crig, was en-
pIoyed by Commodore Davidson
to take entire charge of the rebuilding of
the block, and he is entitled to the credit
Of the architectural design of the in
terror, which was laid out by him upon
paper, submitted to the. owner and ap-
proved. The north 45 feet, formerly used
as the carpet and retail department, was
rebuilt as in the original plan, and has
been leased to the firm of DeCoster &
Clark for five years, and they are already
comfortably settled in their new quarters.
Next south Of their store is the most ele-
CANT storeroom now unoccup1ed in the
city. 1t is 50xl10 feet and has an elegant
plate glass front, with two entrance doors
and an ample basement below, which is
reached by stairway and also by elevator
from the main hall. The next store
room is occupied by the American Union
Telegraph company and SUb-tenants.
The corner room, Fourth and Jackson,
Is occupied by Fl. S. Fairchild, as a real
estate office, and by various tenants who
take desk room from him.
The law firm of Williams s. Davidson
have three elegant rooms on the ground
floor with entrance through
Mr.. Fairchild's office and
also a separate entrance by iron steps,
from Fourth street near the rear OF the
building next to Cooks livery stable.
The main entrance to the stairway and
passenger elevator is about the center of
the Jackson street front, and it is broad
and well lighted Ascending to the sec
OlJI, LUlIIl anu 1OOI III IIOOIo ~ 1iLli Viz
whole building subdivided into the most
airy, well-lighted and convenient offices
that are to be found in the city.
and clean, and the whole
arrangement of closets, elevators, water,
fire protection, etc, is admirable. There
are sixteen Office rooms on each OF these
floors, beside ianitors' rooms and closets.
- Iol ,;lI;por 20 hootnl hxrc
and q summer temperature pervades every
apartment and hall. A passenger elevator,
cushioned and inviting, stands ready,
attendant to convey occupants and visit
ors up or down stairs, through business
hours, and careful ianitOr is On hand to
take care of the halls and closets
IN immense opening through the roof,
covered with glass and extending down
through all the floors, gives excellent light
and ventilation to interior rooms.
One of the most noticeable features in
the building is the arrangements made to
extinguish fire An immense tank hold
ing seventy-fvc barrels Of water, and
automatically fed from the water works,
is located in the top of the building, and
two and one-half inch stand pipes, with
ample hose attached on each floor, are
ready at any moment to be made use Of
in case of fire. Besides the front stairs
and elevator there is back stairway and
y fire escape on the rear wall of the build
ing Every precaution seems to have
been taken to make the building safe,
pleasant and comfortable for tenants
The carpenter work has all been done
" Mcssrs. Taylor q Craig; the plumbing
by Prcndergast Brothers; the gasftting
Ey Kenny & Hudner; the painting by
Beck 81 Rank, and the steamfitting and
heating by E. f. Osborne
Col. James II. Davidson, who advised
and urged the reconstruction of the build
ing on the present plan, has looked care
fully after its every detail, and will have
general charge and oversight of the build
ing, which promises from now on to be
one Of the busiest hives in the city
OCCUPANTS OF THE BLOCK
Nearly one-third of the whole large
block is occupied by De Coster s. Clark.
The remainder of the building, besides
the large store and lighted basement,
furnishes rooms for over fifty business
Offices. The office rooms rented are OF
soon will be occupied as follows:
First flo0r-H. S. Fairchlld, real estate;
Watson 81 OXley, insurance; Williams 6
Davidson, attorneys; American Union
telegraph company; A. B. Wilgus, Canada
Southern railway agent, and E. P vii
gus, safes.
Second floor-Bradstreet' Commercial
agency; Major J. A. Sabin, insurance
Cyrus j. Thompson, attorney; Rogers &
Rogers, attorneys; G. E. Skinner, railway
lands; Gordon E. Cole and VIM e. Bran
hall, attorneys; Capt. VIM. Rhodes anC
Commodore VIM. F. Davidson and Lang.
don s. Co., railroad contractors.
Third fioor-Reed s. Sherwood, lumber
=. Q. Adams, agent d. Dow & Co; and
Blakeley Sc Carpenter, Northwestern
Stage company; Stevens 81 Sons, archi
teCts.
Fourth foor-Capt Ammi Cutter, mag
nctiC healer.
FA1RCHILD's REAL ESTATE AGENCY.
II. S. Fairchild opened IN the real estatt
business in st. Paul in 1857, and is tn,
last of q score or more OF old timers il
the business, who have contributed no
little to the growth of St Paul. Hi
Office fronts on Jackson street, st th,
Fourth street corner of the new block
and in view of late and prospective i'm
provements in that vicinity, it may be re
garded as about the best Office location i,