St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-20
Stone Quarry Property on
the Short Line Given a
Boom.
Manufacturing, Cedar Blocks
and Posts Transferred to
the Northwest.
Summit Avenue Property
Transferred for a Valua-
BILE Consideration.
A New Apartment House
Which Will Be Useful and
Ornamental.

While the real estate market has been
steady. and prices remained firm during
the past week, business has been some
what disappointing. There has been no
falling off in transactions, and prices
obtained were satisfactory, but there
has not been the activity that was hoped
for after the holidays. Inquiry is active
for good investments. The board OF
trade is looking for property in differ
ent parts of the town upon which to
erect stores to accommodate the COM
mission men. 1t is the belief of the
members of this organization that they
can buy number of lots and erect
upon them commodi0us stores that will
enable all to get cheaper rents and bet
ter accommodations than they can get
now. By proceeding in this way they
can concentrate the commission bust
ness so that it will be advantageous Tor
dealers and the public. They have
been looking at several pieces on Rosa
bel and Eighth streets, but have not
settled on anything definitely.
There has been considerable dealing
in quarry property south of the Mil
Waukee IL st. Paul short line. The total
transactions amount to $4,000. Those
who have purchased this property pro-
coed upon the basis that stone will,
before many years he in great demand.
They think it is now getting scarce, and
the demand for blue limestone during
the past few Years has been very great.
Vast quantities have been used in grout-
ing for large buildings. constructing the
cable line, sewers and in various other
ways. 1t is estimated that during the
past year more of this stone has been
used than during five years before.
~
Messrs. futile and Joice have found
an ineXhaustible bed of clay on the
West side that is adapted to the manu-
facture OF the very best quality OF red
brick. The bed extends from the foot
of Wabasha street bridge to McShane
creek, and probably to Mendoza. These
gentlemen have taken out considerable
quantities of clay and had it manu-
featured into sample bricks, which cam
not be broken with hammer without
difficulty. The color is bright red.
while the surface is smooth and at
tractive. The toughneSs of the bricks
surprises every one who has examined
them.
The plans prepared by J. NJ. Doherty
for the Bifeld apartment block show
that it will be handsome and orna-
mental. 1t will be located on the north
east corner of South Robert street and
Fairfield avenue, lO0X119, and four sto-
ries in height. There will be four stores
on Robert street and two on Fairfield
avenue, with two entrances. on Robert
street and one on Fairfield avenue. The
structure will, cost 72,000. The rooms
are arranged to accommodate twenty
one families. The most desirable rooms
on the second story are to be fitted up
for offices. The structure will be of
stone and brick. The foundations are
already III.
The Michigan Cedar company, organ
lied for the purpose of manufacturing
cedar blocks and posts, consists of the
members of the j. z. Gribben Lumber
company, st. Paul, and the Coolidge
Fuel and Supply company, Minneap--
oils. The names of those who signed
the articles of agreement are j. p. Crib
ben, J. ii. Coolidge, '. W. Bayless. A.
G. Bruce, r; H; Downing and ii. 2; W.
Schuette. ]. 2. Gribben is president,
land V. w. Bayless secretary and treas
urer. This company seems to have
gone into the project on a comprehen-
sive scale. 1t has secured 10000 acres
of cedar land in Michigan, on the line
of the 500 road, from which it will OBJ
tain the material to work up into blocks.
1t has bought twenty-five acres at the
500 Y, out Rice street, and side track
has been built On the ground. The
machinery for manufacturing cedar
blocks and fence posts is of.the latest and
most approved pattern, and the entire
yard will be covered with steel rails,
and the material will be handled with
push cars. The parties engaged in this
big enterprise have visited Chicago and
other points, and examined the plants
in those places of similar character.
Cedar posts are already arriving on the
ground. The company has frontage
of quarter of mile on the 500 road,
and the same distance on Rice street.
="
Activity continues on Eighth street,
and the iobbers of fruit and commission
men have concluded arrangements for
one tract of 1OOX1O0 feet at 1925 per front
foot.
Bushnell & Bushnell report good in
quiry for property in the business dis
trict; also on st. Anthony. hill and Mo-