St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-04
a Work Of Art.


The new Hotel Ryan, st. Paul. is now
completed and on last Wednesday. July 1,
TINS magnificent pile Of architecture was
opened to the public. No one who saw
only little more than twelve months since
the Workmen eXcavating the foundation
trenches could then have believed that The
promise held out by the energetic con-
structors Of this vast building to have the
work advanced to its present stage
OF completeness, could posi-
bly, be fulfilled. Yet day by day the great
project has assumed material shape and
now the citizens of St. Paul may well pause
IN wonder before the grand result and ask
themselves. as they do, by what combina-
ton OF circumstances. by what resources
OF skill, executive ability and tireless
labor this marvellous growth of a
single year could be achieved.
A structure of 225 feet in frontage on one
street and $50 feet on the other, rising to
height of 1l2 feet above the sidewalk and
TO helgh1 OF $50 feet above its foundation
level; its towers rising to a height of $50
feet; comprising seven stories and a base
ment; Subdivided into some five hundred
rooms Or compartments. and all an accom-
plished fact in this brief space of time
\ ct such has been the work of the builders
OF the Hotel Ryan. Something, we ven
ture to say, that cannot find a parallel in
th.SA Sr any other country, when the con-
stl'Sctive difficulties, and the enduring and
elaborate nature Of the work are taken into
consideration:
THE EXTERIOR.
Seen from the corner of Robert and Sixth
streets the building presents a striking and
beautiful example of the adaptation of free
modern Gothic, or medieval design, to the
,or,1 ,,f{
A bold tower of imposing attitude defines
the principal entrance on Robert street.
with doorway of polished red and grey
granite, and richly-SculptTed sandstone.
and a similar. though lighter. treatment of
tower, sulmonted by a graceful spiralet,
marks the second or ladies' entrance on
Sixth street.
THE MOST STRIKING FEATURE
OF the architectural composition. however.
is the oriel window, on the corner of both
streets, resting upon the corner peer of
stone, and Springing from slender granite
shafts and richly-Sculptured corbels, whence
1t rises to the full height OF seven stories
and ends i'll a Spire of remarkable grace of
design. The design is further emphasized
by the happy combination of materials.
Brick, Ohio sandstone. red and grey granite
and terra Gotta Of rich and varied design
proportions OF the grand exterior Other.
and hardly less striking OrieI windows, sup
ported on richly-carved c0rbels and
with nodded balconies of stone, and
baluStradeS Of wrought iron. are most
1udlclously disposed along both facades and
define the principal chambers on the several
floors. A portico of wrought and east iron
extends from the curb on Sixth street to
the ladies' entrance and, with its rare and
excellent workmanship, and grace of pro-
portion, completes that beauty Of facade
which so distinguishes this notable edifice
THE INTERIOR.
Entering Oh the ground floor. either from
the ladies' entrance. or through the grand
tower doorway on Robert street. the visitor
passes through halls and vestibules. tiled
and wainscotted with many-colored mar
bles, to the grand central hall or office, an
apartment so
UNIQUE IN CONCEPTION.
and so elegant in design that it becomes
difficult to present an adequate idea of its
effect. A Gothic hall of the old baronial
period Of the art would perhaps convey
an impression Of it to the Initiated.
1t is an apartment 175 feet in length and 80
feet in width. divided into bays by slender
columns, lighted at one end by a mullioned
window of stained glass and by cerestOry
with stained windows, this clereSt0ry be-
Ing the central division of the hall, which
here attains to a height of about thirty feet
The ceiling is of Octagonal form, richly
paneled and carved in red polished oak
forming the subdivisions or panels which
are further embelished by chaste and ele-
giant frescOings. On either side of this Office
or hall are conveniently disposed the ladies'
reception rooms, writing ROOM large and
indispensable features of the best modern
hotels. all finished in oak and marble. as
their nature or purpose demands The
floor Of the hall is paved with marble,
while a richly-caVed wainscotting
of red oak carries out its concep-
ton to harmonious completion.
Extending behind the Office, around an open
court, are corridors which lead to the bill
lard room and to the bar and lunch room,
the latter fronting on Sixth street. These
rooms are also elegantly and appropriately
finslad III marble and hardwood. CORES
pond%g with the general aspect of the
story. On either side of the Office are
THE GRAND sTAIRwAYs,
each finished with marble steps, cherry and
red oak baustTades up to the second floor, and
thence to the top in the hard woods These
stairWays are Enclosed by solid brick walls
framed with iron and elegantly lighted
both from the alley on one side and the
courts on the other. They are fire-proof in
all the essential features Of construction,
their integral, or concealed features, being
OF iron and fire-clay tile
Ascending these stairs one finds himself
On the second floor, at the
GRAND LOBBY OR RECEPTION HALL,
on the Sixth street side, appropriately over
looking thp ladies' entrance and ODeniTU on
to the grand balcony. which surnOunts
the portico of this entrance. and forms a
most attractive feature of the general ar
rangement. Opening off this reception hall
are the elegantly frescOed parlors all fin
ished in polished cherry, lighted by lofty
windows with stained glass lights. and of
ample and pleasing proportions. Five ele-
CANT mantles OF marble and onyx, with wide
CRATES, give an air Of comfort to these rooms
and to the reception hall. A short corridor
leads from this hall to
THE GRAND DINING-RooM,
Rn apartment of vast proportions, being IS
feet i'm length. 46 feet in width and % feet
in height. 1t is distinguished by much
the same grace of design and conception
that marks the Office, having a ceiling of
still more elaborate design and workman
ship. ia red oak paneings and wanscot-
tmgs of same material. while sixteen lofty
windows, with stained glass upper lights
give an even and soft light to every portion
OF the immense apartment. The ar
tistic decorations of this hall are superb
Opening OFF the end Of this dining hall are
the two anneXeS, or smaller dining-rooms.
which give an unusual capacity to the dim
'ng facilities Of this great hosiery. making
a series Of banqueting rooms nearly one
l,rDGfe9 and thirty feet i'm laIofb xyba,, +l,a