Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-01
THE LIBBY CHICAGO.
Fears Thpttbe Prison show May Lose
Them Trade.

The following is from Chicago special in
the New Y ork Herald:
The fear has been expressed by many that
the location OF the old Libby Prison here
will prove disaster to Chicago in a husi-
ness way. as il will rob her Of all her trade
" IT'D the South, which is considerable. It's
agreed By all that the scheme OF bringing
the Old Dastile here is 4 money.maklng one
entirely and not intended for political effect
at all. but this doesn't help the matter any.
lts presence Will doubtless be offensive 10
those who profess any sentiment whatever,
though the curiosity to see the historic build
iug wherein so many brave sons Of the North
died may serve TO make the scheme paving
one.
Already the war is being fought over
again In the streets OF Chicago, and 'he
man with maps Of Andersonyille and bor-
der illustrations representing the horrors OF
that awful place abounds in the streets.
Pictures OF Libby Prison are seen every
where, and relies OF the war are displayed
in all the windows. Down on Wabash ave-
nue. between Fourteenth and Sixteenth
streets grim front is being reared, and be-
hind this soon will rise the drear walls Of
Libby's old tobacco warehouse, made inia-
nous during the great civil conflict.
SET rP NEAR A CHURCH AND SCHOOL.
Just north OF the new site selected for old
Libby is a church; directly opposite is 4
schoOl.house, and the hundreds Of young
sters, az they pour out AZ recess or noontime,
stop to watch the dark front OF the wall which
ia to hide the ghastly relic OF bvgone DAYS as
it steadily ascends. Libby is TO be made pie
turesqne and attractive by its Chicago mana
gers, and its horrors will be IN a measure
mltigated by its surroundings.
The front wall, which is being built along
Wabash avenue, is OF petroleum stone and
twenty feet high. This petroleum-stone has
a notified appearance snd IL more commonly
known as black ATtesian well stone. II Ia
quarried at some depth, and when put into
q well presents a very solid sDd imposing
front. This wall runs for distance OF $50
feet along Wabash avenue and il turreied at
the north aud south ends. At about the
centre It Is pierced by n heavy archway Of
limestone. and the contrast Is agreeable. a
tower surmounts the archway and the
whole effect il medieval. rhis twenty-foot
wall surrounds the entire space devoted 10
the prison, but on the north aud south and
the alley-sides II is OF brick.
OLD LIBBY IN ITS ENTIRETY.
Within the enclosure thus created will
stand the prison, with every brick and tim.
Der in proDer place. As the process Of de-
moition goes on in Richmond the fragments
are marked carefully and loaded into cars
standing OH the track at the side OF the
structure. When th2se cars arrive here their
cOntents are deposited Ia marked places in
the yard so the masons, bricklayers, and car
penters can lay their hands upon them when
needed. The few bricks and timbers lost in
the wreck near Msysville, n.y., will not he
missed. They belonged TO the roof aud
upper stories and can he easily replaced.
The prison is practically five stories In height,
though but three stories below the caves.
When set In position the roof only will show
above the wall surrounding 1t. The dimen-
sIons Of the prison are 170Xl90 feet.
THREATS OF DYNAMITE.
A careful watch is to be kept on the build
ing Tor fear it may be blown up by some
h0t-headed person who doesn't approve OF
the scheme and who could do irreDsrable
damage by the insertion Ot a stick Of dyna-
mite somewhere between the bricks. Threats
have been freely INDUCED in that the open
ing Of tie exhibition would he prevented at
all hazards, even if If was found necessary
TO ruin it entirely. The directors firmly be.
lieve the freight wreck near Maysville, Ky.,
was not purely 40 accident, and, in fact, are
rather surprised that something hasn't hap
pened at Richmond ere this.