St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-06
A NEW USE FOR LIBBY.
Chicago Parties Propose to Move the
Historic Prison.
A BUSINESS SPECULATION.
A Glass Rooted House to Be Built About
the Pris0n---The Preliminary
Steps.

CHlCAGO, FeD. "a new departure
III the line of relic worship has been
taken in this city. The preliminary
steps for the formation of corporation
whose object is the purchase and re-
moval to this city of the famous Libby
prison, of Richmond, Va, were taken
here yesterday. The gentlemen who
figure as the commissioners and who are
instrumental in organizing and devel-
Oping the scheme are Messrs. William
III. Gray, Josiah Crafty, John II. Craw-
ford and Chares K. Miller, air Chicago
men. The company will have capital
of 100000, and it is understood that all
the stock has already been applied for
The history of the enterprise is best
told in the words of William H. Gray,
to whom is due the credit foo its incep-
ton.
last November" said he to a re-
porter. ''when was travelling through
Eastern Virginia with Judge Moore, of
Toledo. we met on the road between
Old Point Comfort and Richmond Col.
Barnes. former officer in the Confed-
crate army, and at present engaged in
the business of fruit growing Oh large
farm near Richmond. In the course of
a conversation on the events of the war.
reference was made to the old Libby
prison, and it occurred to me that it
would be a good idea to purchase the
building and transport il to Chicago. /
took Col. Barnes into my confidence
and asked him to ascertain if the prop
erty could be purchased. Shortly after
my return received letter from Raw
lingS d Rose, real estate dealers in Rich
mond, stating that the old prison was
now the property Of the Southern Fer
tilizing company, and that it could be
purchased for $4,000. At my request,
John A. Crawford, the general Superin-
tendent of the Chicago Towing com
pany, went to Richmond and looked
over the ground and investigated the
possibility Of moving the building. He
returned full of enthusiasm for the en-
terprise. Some fnrther correspondence
with the real estate firm mentioned re-
suited in their obtaining for me an
OPTION FOR THIRTY DAYS
on tie property. The building is built
of red brick, three-stOries high. and
covered with ali old fashioned gable
roof. 1t fronts Oh Cary street and runs
back almost to the James river, the first
story in the rear being the basement in
the front. 1t was built in the good old
fashioned manner, which is distin-
gushing feature of the plain architec-
ture of the South, and is as solid to-day
as when erected over fifty years ago. 1t
contains about 100000 bricks, stone caps
and Sills, and is surrounded on three
sides by stone sidewalk. | have con-
shifted with Rurnham d Root, the arch
itects, and they inform me it can be
taken down, removed to this city, and
rebuilt just as it now stands in Rich
mond. We, that is the company, pro-
pose to number every brick, stone and
shingle. The building will be taken
down in sections, the material will be
boxed up and transported by rail to
Chicago. We will carefully draw every
! nail that has not rusted away; we will
| grind up the mortar and use it as far as
| possible in the rebuilding. Every beam.
| joist, door and window will be set in
place"
"What will the enterprise cost?"
Somewhere about $4,000. We will
surround it with another building
| 200X150 feet, with glass roof, and on
the wall opposite the rear of the prison
we will have painted a panoramic view
| of the James river and The country be-
yond."
"Where do you intend to place it?''
I'VE have not yet determined. Some
of the exposition people favor tearing
| GOWN the Conservatory at the SOuIn
end of their building and giving US a
site there. 1 am Informed that up TO two
! years ago, when the property came into
! possession of the Southern FertiliZing
| company, the Richmond authorities had
| to keep guard around it to ward off the
relic hunters. who would have picked it
to pieces. l have been informed that
some of the Richmond people may kick,
but it will do them 10 good.
| Josiah Cratty,one of the incorpOrators
/ in talking OF the scheme, said: lit,
! should be understood that there is no
idea of waving the bloody shirt in
this; it is simply business spccu-
lation for what there is in it,