Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-11
A BOOM IN BUSINESS SITES.
The Recent Davidson Purchase on Rob-
ert, Fourth and Fifth Streets.
THE PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
Specimen Transfers OF the Week-A To-
tai Of Nearly Half a Million.

The unusually large number of transfers
of real estate for the past week and the
hands ONE aggregate of considerations
paid, shows very healthful market. There
has been no unusual excitement or stimu-
lus during the week closing last night.
Owing to the prevalence of March winds,
slippery streets and a general disagreed
bleness, bat little outside property has
been exa mined by buyers. Indeed it has
been quiet and steady week in which
good many heavy deals have been closed
up and transfers made. No new develop
ments have been made in reference to
railroad projects and purchases.
The fright of way agents" are like the
usual run of ''road agents." very sly and
obscure fellows. When they want piece
of property they waylay the owner, dive
down upon him, pledge him to eternal
secrecy" and are off before the reportorial
detective can get on his trail. It is entire
ly certain that the railroads have not yet
secured all the property they want, and
their complete contracts and the plans
they have in view will not be made public
until that has been accomplished. In the
meantime there is good, healthy demand
for business property and it can be had at
reasonable figures.
The builders are beginning to rush
around and get their materials and imple-
ments ready to commence work. On
many buildings where foundations were
put in last fall work has already been re-
sumed or will be as soon as the sun takes
a good square shine for three consecutive
days. Brick and stone, lumber and lime
are being hauled to foundations.
The snow and ice is being removed and
a general appearance of life is manifested.
Excavation has commenced on Fourth
street on the Simpson property and men
and teams are removing The earth prepar-
atory to any move the owner may deter
mine upon in the spring.
The Windsor hotel is to
have another large and
important addition so as to increase its
capacity by midsummer and the rock and
earth is being removed by large force of
men. The German American National
bank has completed the purchase from Mr.
Willius of the 100 feet square on the cor
ner Of Robert and Fourth streets and they
will soon commence to tear down the old
rookeries now on the ground and to exca-
vate for banking palace BETTING the
largest moneyed institution in the North
west. Aprops of this comes the announce
ment of a new and magnificent enterprise
in the immediate vicinity by Commodore
W. f. Davidson, to be known and desig-
mated rs
THE ARCADE.
The real estate ansfers yesterday
showed deeds from Greve, Oppenhim and
Clark and from Craig to James 81. David
son for frontage of seventy feet on Rob-
ert street, between what is known as the
McClosky block and the Quinby g. Halo
well property. It is reported also that the
sale of the lat er property to Commodore
VIZ. idson, was consummated by a large
payment yesterday, but owing to some
cause known TO the parties in interest, the
deed was not placed on record. These
heavy purchases in block II, st. Paul
proper, have created good deal of inter
est and has wonderfully stimulated activi-
ty in Robert street property. The pur-
chasers have heretofore declined to make
public their plans in reference to this
property, saying that the improvements
contemplated would not go on till
next season. We have, however,
learned that The improvement con-
templated is an elegant and very expen-
sive block fronting 125 feet on Fourth
street and $50 feet on Fifth, running
through from street 10 street, and probably
five or six stories high on Fourth and Fifth
streets. 1t will be on the arcade plan.
That is, an open court, about twsnty-fi
feet wide, will run the center of the build
ing, from Fourth to Fifth, which will be
covered at the top by glass roof and
paved with asphalt or smooth dressed
stone. Stores Will front on Fourth and
Fifth, of sufficient depth for retail bust
ness, and in the center of the building,
back of the stores, fronting on the streets.
will be small stores fronting on the ar
cade, and there will be pleasant rooms in
all the upper floors suitable for Offices, or
for families, or, indeed, for almost any
purpose. 1t is hoped and expected
by Commodore Davidson to commence
work on this mammoth undertaking this
fall after the new Opera house is complet-
ed and off his hands, and the six story
block just east of the court house on
Fourth and the new block on Fourth direct
ly in front of the court house which he will
build in come elton with the new Opera
house are completed. He declines to make
any estimate as to the probable cost of
this new and mammoth undertaking. but
says it will be the largest building he has
ever erected in the city, and that he will
put enough money into it to make it a
very complete and handsome structure.
The details of the plans are not yet devel-
oped and it has only gone so far that he
and his architect have visited Cincinnati
and other cities and have inspected several
arcade buildings with view to getting all
the latest Improvements that are put into
buildings of this character.
POSSIBLY NEW HOTEL.
After writing up the above
r. IL.