Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-10
THE LIBBY pRISoN nEHOvAL
money Not Yet RAISED to Pay for II
md Iahe u Away.

The Chicago Times which was re-
ceived here yesterday has the following
incorporation papers were taken out
at Springfield yesterday for the joint
stock company which has in view the
bringing Of the old Libby Prison from
Richmond, Va, to Chicago. w. H..
Gray received letter from Rawlings L
Rose, real estate agents, through whom
he secured the option for purchase,
running to February 2Stb, for 323, 300,
stating that the entire building could be
had at that price, or the original
4ix92 feet for $4,000, as stipulated,
for cash, or on payment of $4,000
down for the whole, deferred pay
ments to draw & per cent. interest.
Mr. Gray will go to Richmond in few
days to perfect his title, provided enough
stock is taken to warrant him in con-
summating the deal. Meanwhile, if the
Richmond people should conclude that
they do not wish to have this old war
relic removed, and should offer him a
handsome bonus to give up his option,
it is possible he might sell out and let
the South keep her own. He has gone
into the deal for the money there Is in
it, and If the "solid South can pay
down more than Chicago promises to
pay in the near future he will surrender.
If the building comes to Chicago Mr..
Gray SAYS it will be through a square
deal, with no stock -jobbing annexes. II
he goes into it he goes in to stay. He
thinks northern sentiment is not averse
to the transfer of the building, and that
southern sentiment certainly should not
be. as the effect of the exhibition Of the
structure will be to show that Union pri-
soners were provided with pretty decent
quarters after all. They were huddled
together, didn't have hair mattresses,
and occasionally worms We're thought
lessly skinned from their soup when
there was more nourishment in the
worm than in the soup. In 1863 the en-
tire South was halt naked and living on
short rations, and captives could scarcely
expect to live better than their captOrs.
Brutal commandants there might have
been, and doubtless were.
If the proposed scheme is carried out
there will be gallery for the display OF
photographs OF properly-identifed pri-
soners and guards. both sides being thus
given a fair representation. The prOpo-
sition to have the transferred building
annexed to the Exposition building, Oc-
cupyiug the space now accorded TO the
conservatory, is not generally popular,
most Of those who believe the Libby
prison is worth bringing thinking it will
stand on its own merits-proyided it can
be given a good place to stand on.
A dispatch to the Times from Rich
mond says that the old Libby Prison is
long three-story red-brick building,
fronting on Dock and Cary streets. 1t
is a plain, unpretentious structure, and
but for its associations and history would
not attract attention from the most OBJ
servant 1t was built in 1845 for to-
bacco-factory, and was used for that pur-
pose until taken by the Confederate au-
thorities early in the war for military
drison. The house is in good state OF
preservation, and will easily bear tearing
down and removal. The present owners,
it is understood, have reserved the right
to remain in possession until July lst
next.