St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-07
By the Pick and Spade Of the Graders the Unsghtly
Bluffs and Swamps Have Almost
Disappeared.
The Organizations Formed by Business Men for
Mutual Protection and the Regulation of
Competition.

One Of ST. Paul's numerous advan-
tage5 is picturesfuenesS OF situation.
Nature has surrounded the city with a
lovely country. diversified by lakes ana
forests, which enterprise has developed
into one Of Inc most inviting of summer
regions. All the approaches to st. Paul
arc especially attractive. 1t matters not
from which direction the traveller a9-
proaches, nc passes through beautiful
and varied scenery, and the site Occu-
pied by the city possesses rare com
binatiOn Of natural beauties. The
business part of the town lies in SPA
cious, uneven elevation above the river,
surrounded by a semi-circle of bluffs
averaging something like two hun
dred feet in height: Up the sides of
these the city climbs. beautifying every
vantage ground with handsome and
stately residences. On the north the
bluffs maintain their elevation in a
splendid plateau, and over this dry and
healthful plain Tie two cities advance
to meet each other, and already meet in
suburbs, colleges and various public
buildings. Summit avenue curves along
the line of the northern bluff, and then
turns nOrthWard 2OJ feet broad, graded
a distance of over two miles, and with
a magnificent asphalt roadway for more
than a mile. 1t is almost literally
street of palaces. although wooden
structures alternate with the varied and
architecturally interesting mansions Of
stone and brick on both sides, each
house is isolated, with Il handsome
lawn and ornamental trees, and the
total effect is spacious and noble. This
avenue commands an almost unequaled
view of the sweep of bluffs, round to the
Indian mounds Of the city. the winding
river, and the town aad heights Of West
81. Paul.
The residence portion of St. Paul is
justly noted fer the exceptional beauty
of its shaded avenues and The elegance
Of the mansions and their Surroundings;
and the character Of the business men
and the degree Of prosperity they have
achieved is emphaticaliy evidenced by
the tasteful homes which they have
built and maintain. The extreme COM
fort and modest elegance of the me-
dium-claSs of houses will also impress
the visitor favOrably, and so will the
taste and care displayed in the gardens
and grounds. The school houses.
churches and public buildings are also
indicative of prosperity and cultivated
taste.
The huge business blocks and office
buildings in st. Paul are not only
tribute to the enterprise of its citizens.
but monument to the genius of its
architects. The visitor to the city is at
once impressed by the magnitude of the
buildings in the business center. Few
cities can equal them in stability, in
height or in beauty. The Globe build
ing, the Pioneer Press, the New York
Life, the Manhattan, the Germania
Life and the Germania bank are among
the finest Office buildings to be found in
the country. They are all fitted up with
modern cOnvenienceS; and every one
are above seven stories high.
St. Paul has many public halls suita-
bic for every variety Of purpose. The
largest ball is in the second story of the
public market house; it is of generous
dimensions. The Grand opera house
has few equals in the country for
beauty, SpaciOuSnesS, comfort and COM
pleteHesS. 1t has seating capacity of
$3.50, aud is fitted in the most elegant
manner throughout. 1t is heated by
steam and lighted by incandeScent cleo
trOliers. 1t is admirably managed. and
st. Paul is provided with the best at
fractions of the day.
The building containing the city and
county Offices occupies an entire square
in the heart Of the business district. 1t
is one of the most substantial and ele-
gantpublic edifices in the country. The
walls and towers are of solid KaSOta
stone. whose beautiful tint and endur-
ing qualities have commended it 20
builders OF st Paul. Fire-prOOf through
out; constructed according to the latest
plans. and fitted with every modern i'm
provement; furnished with modest ele-
gance. and lacking nothing that taste
and pIbic spirit can suggest, this build
ing is ore Oi the notable ornaments of
the city. Its cost was about S1,000.000.
The imposing character of the Ryan
hotel cannot be too highly praised.
This immense structure is seven stories
high, and rises TO height of l12 feet
from the sidewalk, while its three tow
erS extend to 4 height of $50 feet. The
architectural appearance of the hotel
is very pleasing, consisting of a COM
binatiOn Of modern Gothic and Moorish.
The exterior is Of st. Louis pressed
brick and Joliet marble, with trimmings
of sandstone and red and draO terra
Gotta. The interior finish IS of antique
oak, enhanced by free-hand frescoing
on wall and ceiling, and on every hand
one is impressed with the taste and
elegance displayed. The Globe build
ing is a structure whose solidity and
imposing proportions would attract at
tentiOn in any metropolis in the cOun-
try. 1t stands at the corner of Fourth
aud Cedar streets and is ten stories high
1t is built Of pressed brick, with trim
mings of bTOWnStOne and elaborate dec
Orative work in terra Gotta. There is
not a particle of wood used in the
construction except in floors. window
sashes and carvings, and the whole is
thoroughly tire-prOOf. The building
rests upon foundation of solid rock
and towers above its six and SeYen-stOry
neighbors like giant. The New York
Life building cost in the neighbOrhOOd
of $1,000. coo. and is among the most
magnificent Office buildings in the city.
There are also the Germania Life
building. the Germania Bank building,
the Pioneer Press building. the Endi-
colt Arcade. the Lowry Arcade and the
Manhattan building, which, in point of
architecture. stability and finish, cannot
be eXcelled if equaled by any other city
in the Union.
Among the other notable buildings of
public and Semi-pubic character are
The folio wing: State CAPITOL between