St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-21
METROPOLITAN PALACES.
The Drake Block One of Them and
Nearly Ready for Oc-
cupancy.

cupancy.
AS the Drake block nears completion its
beauties become more apparent and burst
of admiration is unwillingly forced to the
| lips. As YOU cross the broad threshold the
high ceilings. artistic adornment and beauti-
| full finish of the interior make the block what
it is, 1.-THE most beautiful in the city," At
the entrance to the block and set in the til
ing is very unique and beautiful tablet in
highly polished jasper from Sioux Falls, D..
T. 1t is lettered s'Drake block" and with a
Grecian border engraved on the stone. The
coloring of the stone battles description.
Polished with mirror finish it appears de-
basement of high art to put such thing of
beauty in the floor to be trodden upon by
the passing 1t is more worthy to take its
place in the sareophagus of some potentate.
1t was Mr.. Brakes purpose to use jasper pro-
fusely in ornamentation of this block, but
alterations in the machinery of the jasper
works at Sioux Falls prevented this. We
believe the building in point of convenience
and finish to equal anything of its size east
or west.
THE CAPITAL BANK, OF ST. PAUL.
This solid institution, whose wide open
doors have met the eye of passers by for sew
eral years at 1877 East Third street, has sought
more commodious apartments in the large
front ground floor of the new Drake block.
No offices in the city could have been more
judiciously selected for banking purposes
than these elegant quarters, which they ex-
pect to occupy during next week. Every
! thing that can be contributed by art or
| money for the adornment and comfort of
the interior, with its tiled floors and hardwood
| finish, has been secured. The beautiful
counters of solid cherry, with its plate glass
and brass work, is an ideal creation worthy
the source from whence it came. Messrs.
| Corliss, Chapman s. Drake being the manu-
facturers, and it is unquestonably one of
their happiest efforts in this line. The bank
will have two large fire proof vaults, which,
together with their burglar proof safe, will
| guarantee security for all its treasures. In
closing it may not be amiss to mention that
the bank began business in 1880, and with
its conservative policy of paying no interest
| upon deposits its business has grown stead
lily, and its capital of S100,000 now shows a
handsome surplus. The officers are L. E.
Reed, president, W. D. Kirk, cashier, J. W.
Wait, assistant cashier, gentlemen long and
favorably known in banking circles.
BARBER SHOP.
Visitors to the block will find in the base
ment the largest and most elegantly fur
nished barber shop in the northwest, which
is rapidly nearing perfect completion, only a
few incidentals remaining incomplete. Mr..
| G. W. Hall, who formerly owned the shop at
the same place before the old block was de-
stroyed by fire, has spared no pains and neg
lected nothing in creating a really ideal
establishment, and the most complete, and
recherche and elaborate tonsorial parlors any,
where in this section of the country. The
finish of the apartments in expensive, rich
looking, highly polished wood, the beautiful
frescoing and massive columns, calls to mind
the Crypt under the National Capitol
building In Washington city. To give the
reader an idea of the elegance of the interior
furnishings, we found on examination that
all the cup racks, counters and lockers are oil
solid oak, finished naturally in hard oil, each
stand having the most expensive and heavy
French plate mirrors. Eight plush chairs,
chaste and easy, with all the latest improve
ments for adjustment, will be under the
care and supervision of eight
skilled artists who have won
laurels in this line. The glassware
which sdorns the toilet cases are exquisite
specimens of workmanship. 1t consists of 6
group of three decaBters and pomade cur
in silver racks beautifully engraved and fin
ished, and they add greatly TO the appear
ance of the room.
Another feature deserving special mention
are the bath rooms; altogether there are six
large rooms with carpeted dressing rooms,
with pier glass and dresser in each, where the
dusty, weary merchant can indulge in the
most luxurious lavatory reereations that hot
and cold baths give. In fact the care be-
slowed in creating this resort is such that
the entire establishment is a credit to the
city, and witnsss to the refinement and ar
tistie taste Of the proprietor, Mr.. Hall. All
the old friends of Mr.. Hall and the public in
general will receive hearty welcome If they
call on Monday, at which time the parlors
will be thrown open to the public. Ladies are
cordially invited to inspect this tonsorial
palace on opening day or at any time and see
where their husbands wash: shave and are
made clean.
WALL & BIGELOw
have just fairly got settled in room:
2O2 on the second floor Of the Drake block
and the large blackboard for miuuting quo
tations, fine fittings and light and airy rooms
make it the best grain and stock exchange il
st. Paul. They give quotations of the hue
tuations.in the grain and provision marke
of Chicago and the New York stocks.
ticker is constantly operating giving all mar
ket changes, and they have three privat,
| wires, two to Chicago and one to Milwaukee,
and skilled operator in the room all tn,
while. In fact the establishment is as thor
oughly equipped as anything of the kind in
Chicago and they receive replies in from
two to five minutes. The house here is
branch of the Milwaukee firm Of same nam,
and the Daily GLoBE's commercial columns
contains each day letter over their sigma
ture giving the state of the markets at Mil
waukee. Messrs. Wall q Bgelow are me1
who have had large experience in trading
and they have been remarkably successful il
realizing dividends for customers. The
are members Of Chicago, Milwaukee d st
Paul boards Of trade.
GRAVES vtSToS,
| at room 201 Drake block were former occu