St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-25
WILLIAM f. THE POWER BEHIND
THE PROPOSITION OF NIGH
OLAS RAUEN
IN THE MARKET HOUSE DEAL
HIS SAVINGS BANK WILL MOVE IN.
MAKING ROOM FOR THE
ALLEMANNIA.
KILLS TWO BIRDS WITH STONE.
The Young Finnncier Says He Is
Simply Helping Rauen Because
He's a Customer.

"Who is behind Nicholas Rauen?"
is a question that has been asked time
and time again since he first offered to
expend $4,000 in remodeling the old
market house for a three years lease
ON the property. Nobody seemed able
to answer the question, or, if able to
answer it, no one seemed disposed to
do so. From the first the proposition
was not considered seriously by the
public generally, as it was regarded as
the least favorable of the three SUBJ
mltted to the council. When, how
ever, through Assemblyman Johnson's
efforts, the resolution passed the as
sembly last Thursday night accepting
Mr.. Rauen's offer, the public was more
than surprised. 1t was not thought
that man who was anxious to curry
popular favor would champion a prop
os1tlon seemingly so unpopular simply
for the support which he might hope
to receive later from Nicholas Rauen.
The latter was not regarded as a po-
l1t1cal heavyweight or sufficient power
to repay for the diSfavor which the
ambitious Johnson had brought upon
himself. 1t was more than evident
that there was a power behind Mr..
Rauen, and that power, it developed
yesterday, was none other than Will
lam F. Bickel.
Mr.. Bickel, it seems, has taken a fancy
to the corners at the intersection Of Wa
basha and Seventh streets. That one
on which his savings bank is located
has proven good, and Mr. Bickel posi-
bly, thought that two would be better
than one, especially as the Allemannia
bank was looking for a location on Wa
basha street. William Bickel and AL
bert Scheffer had travelled up and down
Wabasha street, from Fifth to Eighth
street, and had not found what they
wanted. The corner of Sixth and Wa
baSha where the McKibbin Fur COM
pany is located, was regarded as
suitable home for the new financial in
stitution, but the rent was considered
too high. If they could not get another
corner they might take that; if they
could get another they preferred to do
so at less rent.
Now William F. Bickel, according to
report, knew this, and he concluded that
if he could get another one Of the four
corners at Wabasha and Seventh, he
could rent his present quarters to the
Allemannia. So, it is said, the Rauen
proposition was conceived. 1t is
question on what terms w. F. Bfckel
became the silent and forceful hacker
Of Mr.. Rauen, but the G o b e has it
that Mr.. Bickel, if the proposition passes
both branches of the council, is to adj
vance the money to make the improve
ments agreed upon, that is to the cost
of $4,000, and that he is to occupy the
corner for his savings bank. He is to
receive his rent free in return for the
money advanced by him, which will en-
able Mr.. Rauen to carry out the con-
tract, the understanding being that the
latter will receive more than enough
from the revenue Of the building to pay
him for his trouble, net him something
handsome and at the same time allow
Mr. BickeI the use Of the corner free
of rent. This, however, may be more
liberal than the understanding calls
for, but this is certain, If Mr.. Rauen's
proposition is accepted by the board of
aldermen and becomes operative, Will
lam BickePs bank will be removed
across Seventh street, and the A1leman-
MAS bank will go into the corner now
occupied by the savings bank.
When it is known that Mr.. Bicke1 and
his friends have been the unknown
ones interested in the matter, there will
possibly be less surprise that Assem-
blyman Johnson interested himself as
strongly as he did in the acceptance of
the proposition. Mr.. Bickel is not will
ing to admit the truth of the above, but
he only denied it, when seen yester-
day, by saying:
".Rauen is an old customer of the bank"
he said, "and we may take care OF some of
his paper, the same would that of any
other customer, but aside from this there is
no foundation for the report"
els it not fact that either your bank or
the Allemannia is to be located there?" was
asked
mo, there is nothing definite as to that.
The matter was considered, but it is all in
the air. The Allemannia wanted a location
on Wabasha street, but has found one that
will probably answer at the corner of Waba-
sha and Sixth streets. Our bank is all right
where it is and we do not care to move No.
I have taken some interest in the matter and
did what could to secure the passage of the
ordinance by the council, but it was simply
for the reason that Rauen has always done
his business at our bank
Isn't there a proposition pending to give
you bank room free for three years in con-
sideration of your loaning the money to
| make the Improvement" was asked
"Why, the council has already granted
lease to the fellow who has the cigar store
there, and he would have to be taken care
of before lease could be given to any one
else" was Mr.. BickePs evasive reply.
Thus it stands.
The action of the assembly is seemingly so
unpopular that no matter how influential Mr..
Rauen's backing, it is doubtful if the propo-
sition will be accepted by the board of alder
men. The action of the library committee Of
the Commercial club will show the unpopu-
larity Of the assembly's action with the
masses. Already the result Of their work Is
being seen.
| Nearly 1000 citizens have recorded their
votes at the Commercial club on the propo-
sition. While no record of the votes have
been taken, Secretary McGinnis said last
night that thus far the ballots show an
| overwhelming majority in favor Of the prop
osftion to sell the market house as soon as
fair price can be obtained and apply the pro-
ceeds to the erection of a public library
building.