St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-21
JACKSON STREET:
Its Past, Present and Future,
Property Interests, Build
ing, Rents, Trade,
Etcetera.
The Present Situation Prophetic of a
Great and Rapid Growth in
the Coming Years, and
the Causes which
will Bring this
to Pass.

Not many years ago Jackson street pos
sessed nothing marked which would COM
mand the attention of the observer or the
historian. 1t stood in nakedness with old,
rambling frame buildings, interspered with
wide vacant lots. The hills to be cut away
and leveled, the general improvements nee
essary, and the evidence of vigorous growth
in the upper part of town seemed greatly TO
initiate against its future. The last few
years have, however, changed all this; the
hills exist only in the memory Of our people,
the street has been partially paved, and now
eight solid squares of buildings On
both sides of the street, crowded with in
dustry and commerce, minister to the COM
fort, luxury and necessities OF the city and
has raised her to a conspicuous and honored
position among our great avenues OF trade
To give any real trustworthy and exact fig
ures regarding the values Of realty on Jack
son street is well nigh impossible. We have
yet been unable to find any piece of land
fronting on this avenue in the market for
sale, and if such exists they are very few
This makes it difficult to arrive at any def
mite figures. In an interview with several
prominent real estate men they frankly con-
fessed that they were unable to give us more
than an approximate estimate, and taking an
average of the statements of these gentlemen
regarding values, which did not vary greatly
among them all, we should say that property
between Third and Fifth streets, on Jacksan,
would bring from $1,000 to 81, 700 per front
foot; between Fifth and Seventh, $500 to
81, 100; from Seventh to Eleventh, $500 to
$780, Rents for store frontages from good
to choice, Fourth to Fifth street, $3.50 to 1928
per month; Fifth to Sixth, 1925 to Sl45;
Sixth to Seventh, $3.50 to S165. The above
figures vary from high to low, and are inAu-
enced by location and general advantages in
particular cases.
The roadbed has been paved not long since
for some distance with cedar blocks. and
therefore no further special assessments will
follow for some time to come. The side
walks are rather poor at present, but stone
tagging has been ordered and will soon go
in, and the street viii ere long equal any
other in this respect. In fact, jackson street
just now occupies position which will cause
which it has in the past. The new chamber
of commerce and the Hotel Ryan when COM
pleted will cause a large influx Of population
immediately-in this vicinity, and we do not
think that it requires much foresight and
wisdom to predict what the thoroughfare will
be ten years from to-day, and we make the
prediction with confidence of its fultillment
that jackson street, from end to end, ten
years from to-day, will equal East Third
street in every respect, in buildings, in trade
and in importance and general appearance.
The frames on lower Jackson will give
place to large substantial brick buildings. the
wholesale trade as it expands will usurp the
lower end of the street and push the retail
traffic further upward. Already, groceries,
mcat-markets, furniture stores aud kindred
interests are greatly needed to supply the
wants of the rapidly increasing and dense
population contiguous now to upper
Jackson. We see in future
years that the heart of the jobbing and
commercial interest of st. Paul will be at a
point not far from the corner Of Fifth and
Robert streets. The causes combined will
we believe materially and constantly con-
tribute to the growth Of the street. If we
take a compass and place the joint at Fifth
and Robert streets and draw a circle we en-
close Fourth and Third and the river on the
south; Sixth, Seventh and Eight on the
north; Minnesota, Cedar, Wabashaw on the
west; jackson Sibley, Wacouta on the east;
In other words, the center Of the circle is
Fifth and Robert.
We have digressed somewhat from our
subject to theorize on causes and effects,
but we believe that all these points will eff
feet the interests and future of jackson
street in large degree and have, therefore,
INDUCED ourselves in them. In re-
turning to the material and
local interests of the street we
desire to make brief mention of the building
improvements on the avenue. One of the
most substantial and ornamental buildings
which has recently been added to the thor
oughfare is the Harris block, corner Of Eighth
1t is a large, three-storied editice, 50xi00
feet, picturesque and massive. The lower
floors will be occupied for stores and the up
per floors will be the future home of the
Standard club. The second and third floors
have been especially designed for this pur-
pose, and they will possess in point of ele-
gance, convenience and comfort the finest
club quarters in the northwest. The build
ing is rapidly nearing completion and will
soon be ready for occupancy. Another
building which will throw open to the public
number of stores and offices is the build
ing of Judge Hale, near Third street, which
will soon be ready for tenants. On jackson
near Sixth street ground has been broken
aud a fine brick block will soon rear IFS head
amongst its ueghbors. Before closing we
desire to call the public attention more
particularly to it's resources in trade,
believing that the prime mover in the
growth and prosperity of a locality or street
is after all the condition of her commerce
aud industries, aud we find Jackson street
remarkably healthy and hopeful in this re-
spect. Among the leading institutions and
merchants and banks on the street we desire
to specially mention the following in order
10 give a clearer idea OF the present condi-
ton and state Of trade.
BANK OF MINNESOTA
is one Of the oldest banking institutions in
st. Paul, aud has been intimately identified
with her commerce and industries for over
tweuty-four years. The bank was estab-
lisbed in 1860 by Mr.. Dawson, and in 1870
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Scheffer were admitted
as partners. The present institution was in
corporated in 1852. At present the Bank OF
Minnesota possesses 5000, 600 capital, which
win soon be increased to 100000. The
bank is located on Jackson street, corner OF
Fourth street. in the GilhIlan block