St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-20
THE MURRAY ARCADE"

William III. Elsinger 81 Co.-The Golden
Rule-throw their doors open to the trade
with the most complete stock of goods
ever offered TO the public in their line.
About year ago Mr.. Murray con-
Guided to erect business block upon
the premises which have been known as
mis- homestead for more than quarter
of a century. After consulting different
architects, Walter lie was selected and
commissioned to draw up the designs
and specifications. As soon as they
were completed, the proprietors of the
Golden Rule" offered to lease the
whole of the building for term of fif-
teen years, which offer was accepted.
But owing to outstanding leases twas
not until May that possession could be
obtained. Since then the building has
been rapidly pushed to completion, with
the result that is gratifying to Mr.. Muir
ray and citizens in general.
From the first conception Of the work,
Mr.. Murray's desire has been to give
his tenants the most complete, modern;i
convenient and we'll arranged building
suitable for their business, and to the
people of st. Paul a monument In which
they may justly take pride. No expense
has been spared in accomplishing this
object; no contract or work has been
let to any other than st. Paul contract
ors. and those of known reliability
selected.
More than a year ago a sentiment
sprung up In st. Paul to accomplish the
proper patronage of st. Paul industries,
Mr.. Murray keenly appreciates this
public-spirited movement, so much so
that, while bidders from New York, Chi
cago and other places were early in the
field, Mr.. Murray instructed his archi-
m LAT oil hn to dnnn a.
Paul, even while some bids were lower
from the outside. Difficulties of founda-
ton were encountered, but by excavat-
ing through soft clay to a depth of
twenty-three feet on Eighth street and
fourteen feet on Seventh street, and by
building extra heavy large footing
stones, an excellent foundation was Sc
cured. This work was naturally very
costly, but as the ultimate intention is
to add another two stories, MIR. Murray
very prudently spent small-siZed fort
une in securing the best foundation pos.
sible to be built
The excavation works were taken
charge of by Mr.. L. Linehan, and
large force of men employed. The
foundations were built by John Nevins
d Sons, and are of very heavy con-
struction. This firms reputation for
honest work when built underground
was well known to Mr.. Murray, and
without looking for the lowest bidders
Mr.. Murray entrusted them with this
important part of the building.
The contract for the superstructure
was given to Mr.. q. w. Merrill and
ably carried out under his efficient di-
rection.. For honest building Mr.. Mer-
rill is we'll known. The ST. Paul
Foundry Company furnished all the
steel and iron in the construction. The
plumbing was done by the we'll known
firm OF p, V. Dwyer Il Bros, and is of
the best sanitary system known to the
science of plumbing. The heating plant
is being put in by William Rodger d
Co.. whose system of heating is guaran-
teed to warm every part of the building
to any temperature desired. The mar
bic work was furnished by J. f. Toste-
win u Son, the oldest marble house in
the state, established in 1856. Messrs.
Brown u Haywood furnished the ar
tlStic glass work, the entrance at SeY-
enth street rejecting great credit upon
them. This firm have had great Suc-S
cess in this class of work, having de-
signed and furnished the stained glass
Skylights in both the EndjcOtt and
Lowry arcades.
The building presents very striking
a
Darture III the style of street architect
ure; the Seventh street front presents
an eXpanse of plate glass from the sideT
walk to the ceiling of the top floor.
broken only in the center by a very
ornate and chaSte designed arched
glass entrance, running TO the second
story. This eXpanse of glass is flanked
by marble. The entrance is laid ins
encaustic tile work, and bears the motto.
Golden Rule, this being the motto of
the firm which has established wide
reputation, not only in st. Paul, but
throughout the state.
On entering the building one fully
realizes the magnitude of the undertak-
ing-with clear view of the first floor
running back to Eighth street and ten
feet under the sidewalk, the number of
different departments present them
SELVES to yiew-these are so admirably
arranged that nothing is left to be sug-
geSted. From the number of business
men who have viewed the store this
past week, some of whom are acquainted
with business of the kind in every
large city in the world. the general i'm
preston IS that, outside of New York
City, nothing can be found to so fully
justify the assertion that it is the finest
in the country. Such an enterprise
Paul, and the whole city will get the
benefit Of such reputation.
10 the left as you enter is the paSsen-
ger elevator, made in st. Paul by Mr..
Hiram Graves, with electric motors by
Z. }. Thompson, with Offices arranged on
an elevated balcony so that all transac-
tons come within personal observati on
of the management. For the accommo-
dation of their lady customers they have
very neat and attractive retiring room
for the tired shopper land it will be graf
Trying to the customer to learn that the
Messrs. Elsinger have provided COM
Portable quarters for their clerks in the
way OF cloak rooms and large dining
room.
The basement floor is almost entirely
given UP to household furnishings.
Every part of the building used is ad-
mlrably lighted, and, taken as a whole,
is the ideal OF storekeeper's heart.
The fixtures, counters and shelving
for this mammoth store were furnished
by the Min nesota Sash and Door com
pany, 1887 East Seventh street, StPaul
MINI. This young and enterprising
firm have had the opportunity of demon
stratlng the great capacity of their
mill by the promptnesS with which
they manufactured and erected over
4o'uOO square rect or SnelVlng and II, 600
OF counter surface, consuming over
5000 feet of lumber, all this being fin.
ished in oak. More than 600 gallons of
filters, oils and varnishes were required
to secure the beautiful finish that is so
much admired.
The extent of shelving and counters
In this colossal emporium being more
than double that IN any other store in
the Northwest, and the time allowed
for completion being SO short, the
contract was great undertaking for
the infant factory, and many were the
prophecies of their competitors that
they would never pull through on time.
The result has proved, however, that,
thanks to the indomitable energy and
push of the manager, A. j. Wilson,
they are able to turn over their work
complete In twenty days from the time