St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-31
MONUMENTAL TOlLERS.
Regarding Building Interests in
st. Paul and Some Notes
Concerning Men and
Material.

CONCERNING Neil dliu
Material.
Interesting Review of the Building
Activity in the City During the
Past Remarkable Season.
Concluding With Personal Sketches of Lead
ing Architects, Contractors and Deal
ers in All Kinds Of Building
Material.
Any casual observer who has passed along
the streets of st. Paul has doubtless been
struck with the vast amount of building &C
tivity which is lying about on all sides OF US.
No era or epoch in the history OF this city has
been so prolific in rearing lofty piles and
humble dwellings, as this year 1854. The
most expensive mansions, the most extrava-
CANT blocks have pushed their way heaven
ward in proud splendor, and this city may
well point with pride to her colossal blocks
and humble homes in recognition OF prog
ress, culture and wealth.
In comparison with former years of build
ing st. Paul is par-excellence, and while not
prophet in our own country, we make the
prediction and put it on record that 1884 and
1855 will stand in st. Paul as against other
cities without parallel in this decade, not
only as regards the character of building, but
in the number of buildings. In 1888 this
city had taken the lead Of all American cities
except New York, Cincinnati and Chicago,
and in the absence of authe nticated reports
from Bradstreets we will quietly assume
that this city has built more substantial
mon uments of progress in granite
and stone than any other
city in North America during 1884. The
facts as they are brought out by investiga-
ton will demonstrate this. But this is not
all, the substantial character of the work in
st. Paul speaks more regarding her progress
than volumes of written books could tell.
The year 1888 witnessed the outlay of s24,
600, 900, but 1884 stands next to Chicago
this year with $37, 900, 900 outlay on substan-
tiai and enduring public edifices during this
year. What statement or philosophy could
be more strong and fervcnt than this state
ment. The dwellings, stores, Of
fees and public buildings
erected this year are superior in
finish and expense to any former years
and We make positive, emphatic prediction
IT,! 1885 will witness more activity in build
ing in st. Paul than any past years during
1.-The history of this city. Finally, in closing,
we desire to call especial attention to the
men in this city who are engaged in erecting
and supplying materials for our large build
ings as well as dwellings. We have been care
full to select men of integrity and ability,
and our readers can rely on the gentlemen
whom we have interviewed concerning their
lines.
PINE LUMBER.
Regarding this important industry st. Paul
is not behind other cities in her facilities. In
friendly, cordial interview with Mr. j. P.
Grbben, 1874 East Seventh street, our build
ing reporter learned that this city is one of
the cheapest lumber points in the United
States for purchase, and that all the different
kinds of soft and hard lumber which is
needed in building can be as readily and
cheaply secured here as in Chicago In an
swer to inquiries concerning his business
Mr.. Grbben informed US that he dealt in
pine and cedar only, and one of the pecu-
liarities of his own business is that he buys
lumber IN job lots as it stands in the
saw mill yards, and also purchases from
the entire lumber producing districts. This
cash buying feature has enabled him to Sc
cure this stock at very low figures. Mr..
Gribben has been engaged in the lumber
business in st. Paul eighteen years and has
a lumber yard on East Seventh street, near
Post Siding, that has one-half mile of rail
road frontage, and the Northern Wisconsin
railroad, Wisconsin Central, st. Paul 81 Du-
luth railroads all converge to his yard like a
spread fan, drawing supplies from the most
prolific lumber producing regions of the
earth His yards lie between the railroads
and East Seventh street, and his facilities
for delivery in the city are unequalled. In
addition to his yard resources he
owns and runs large planning
mill at Post Siding and has
in his employ over 100 men and his facilities
are twenty car loads of material per diem.
In connection with his lumber yards and
planning mills he owns an extensive cedar
swamp from which he cuts fence posts, etc,
which are shipped to St Paul, manufactured
and rcdistributed throughout the northwest.
In fact, he is most notable exponent OF
our pine and cedar lumber interests and
the jobbing trade he enjoys in st. Paul alone
is large business in itself
PAINTS. OILS & GLASS.
This branch of building necessity is one
of the largest and most important, and we
may consider ourselves fortunate in possess
ting such large and solvent establishments in
this line Our we'll known merchants,
NIessrs. Merell 1t Ryan, 225, 227 and 229
East Third street, carry an immense stock
of paints, oils, glass and putty. Their trade is
among the jobbing painters and dealers only
and nothing but wholesale orders for I'M
broken packages are given attention. Pitts
burg plate glass, so highly known for clear
ness and transparency, is world renowned.
This firm carries the productions of this
mahufactory. Their methods employ neither
coal or wood but natural gas from the oil
regions gives them the most reliable fuel for
glass making in the world, and their produc-
tons speak emphatically for them
selves. In the lines of glass which
MereH 81 Ryan carry the ground,
embossed, stained, colored and plain NAV
be mentioned. 1t may be interesting to our
readers to present brief sketch of the estab-
lishment of Messrs. Mereil 81 Ryan. The firm
was originally established in 1882 by Merell,
Sahlgaard & Thwing, and was changed June
1, 1854, TO the present firm. They occupy
the five stories and basement of the large
50x135 feet building at 225, 227 and 22g
East Third street.
TILE AND SLATE ROOFING.
This ornamental feature Of building has
not been given sufficient. attention in the