St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-14
A BOOM IN BUILDING.
That Is What st. Paul Is
Really Enjoying on the
Quiet.
Residences and Cottages Are
Having an Immense
Run Now.
Showing the Substantial and
Permanent Demand for
Dwellings.
A Clear Gain of a Million in
Permits Up to July
First.


gratifying to note that st. Paul is more
than keeping pace with her last years
record. At the commencement of the
season large NUMBER of property own
ers, architects and builders were of the
opinion that this would be a notable
year as far as building was concerned,
and up to date figures 90 to show that
their opinion was correct. There has
not been the same number of large
buildings started this year as last year,
and because such is the case doubtless
there are many who may think there is
not the same amount of building going
on; but a trip through the resid ence
and outlying portions of the city would
speedily dispel that idea. In every d.
TectiOn, and almost on every street,
there are buildings going up ranging in
value from 1,500 to $4,000 or $4,000,
and st. Paul has as much cause to be
proud of the lOWer-prCed ones as she
has of the higher, for they are the
homes of our mechanics and working
men. and are a standing evidence of our
great prosperity.
THE STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE
is improving, and now. instead OF being
satisfied with a strong and substantial
building, owners demand beauty and
elegance of exterior and interior, as
well as strength. Look at the noble
residence of Messrs. Schurmeier, Hill,
Wilder. Rugg and scores of others, and
compare them with more or less eXpen-
sive buildings that were erected a few
wears ago. We no longer see the cold
looking, barn-like houses that once were
so common, and are still so in many
cities. Then look at the business
blocks now under construction, or late
" finished, notably the EndcOtt Block,
the Germania Life Insurance Building,
the New York Life Insurance, and one
might almost say hundreds of others.
Where in any city in America VIII we
see finer buildings than these. and where
will we find more competent men than
those who have charge Of the cOnStTuc-
ton of these buildings? When some Of
the large apartment houses are COM
pleted they will be source OF pride to
the people of St. Paul, ard truly, the
elaborate design and finish are some
thing wonderful. Take for instance
the Blair apartment house on st. An
thOnY hill. at the corner of Western and
Selby avenues, the property of f. P.
Blair, a gentleman VINO has made his
money in st. Paul, and who intends to
keep 1t here. The building has been
put up mostly by building firms in this
city, and is first-class in every respect.
MeSSrs. Thomas Il kretZ, the archi-
tects, have designed a beautiful ex-
terror, and the interior arrangement is
as complete, comfortable and convent
ent as possible. No expense has been
spared by the owner, and the building
and ground on which it stands has cost
in the neighborhoOd of 100000. Build
ings like the Blair, the Aberdeen, the
Harrington Place and many other
apartment houses will help greatly to
establish st. Paul still nearer the head
of the list of
THE GREAT BUILDING CITIES
of America or the world.
MesSrS. Hennessy Bros, Agnew 81
Cox hope to have the EndicOtt block
well on toward completion by fall, and
greatly to their fame as builders.
MeSsrS. NOyes Bros. IL Cutler are to
erect a splendid building this season.
The site is on the corner of Sixth and
Sibley streets. and the MeSSrS. Butler
Bros have the contract. The building
will be an expensive one, and MaSsa-
chusetts pressed brick will be used for
the front. The Y. NJ. G. A. has pur-
chased a valuable piece Of property Oh
the corner of Tenth and st. Peter
streets, and this year it is to erect
building, the cost of which will eX-
coed one hundred thousand dollars.
The very best material is to go into
these buildings. and all work will be
as nearly perfect as possible. F. j.
Lime u Co. report an increasing de-
mand for fancy brick and terra Gotta.
and so far this season they have sold
we'll on to a million La Sale, Tiffany
and ST. Louis pressed brick. Their
largest sales of fancy brick have
been those made i'll La Sale. 1t
is noticeable that sandstone is
taking the place of the native
blue stone for foundations and exposed
walls; 1t is much more SerViceable and
looks better, as it does not assume the
washcd-Out. shelly appearance that the
native stone does. after it has been in
an outside wall for some time. The
rock taken out of excavations in st.
Paul this season has been Of remark
ably good quality for building purposes,
and it looks well. especially i'll base
ment like that of the Grand Opera
house. The contract for the opera
house will be let in a few days, and the
cost of the building and the ground will
run close to a million dollars. For such
a price st. Paul should have an opera
house equal to any of the finest in the
Eastern cities.
TAKING A CURSORY SURVEY
of the present seasons building to date,
it will be found that there is far more
work being done this year than there
was last year. There are more cottages
and fine residences being built, and the
prospects are that ii will be busy fall.
Up to the first of the present month
building permits had been issued to the
amount of S1.000,000 in excess of the
amount of permits issued during the
same period last year, and the balance
of this month will shcw a gain of some
thing like a quarter or a million more.
The stonecutters' strike has not
done any serious harm to building
operations, although in some cases it
has caused delay. Fortunately the
cut stone contractors had an idea that
they would have trouble in their yards
this summer, and SO in the early spring
they put on all the men they could
work, in order that they might be well
ahead with their contracts, in case the
men did strike. Their move turned out
to be a wise one. and when their men
did go out, the most pressing orders
were ready. Then again the strike Oc-
Cured in rather dull season; just after
the spring rush, and before the fall
rush. The various stone yards are run
ming with almost full gangs again, and
the result of the strike has been, that
the contractors can now manage their
yards to suit themselves. and pay their
men what they are worth. They have
cut loose from the union, and they them
selves, and also their men. will be better
off on account of it.
st. Paul is booming without doubt,
and glance at the building inspectors
records will satisfy the most skeptical.
In 1887, 4,455 permits were issued for
buildings costing almost $4,000, $50; ia
1888 1892 permits, for buildings cost
ing upwards of $4,000, 900, were issued,
and on July l OF this year we have
A CLEAR GAIN
of over million dollars over last years
record for the same time. Does this
not prove that st. Paul is doing some
building this year? The plans for a
great part of this seasons work are
still i'll the architects offices. Many of
them will be out SOON and the indica-