St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-21
ONE FOR THE CITY At
ONCE
ON THE MARKET HOUSE SITE.
IF THE CITY Will, GIVE THEM A
NINETY-NINE YEAR
LEAsE
THEY WILL BUILD A LIBRARY
At the st. Peter Street End and a
Business Block at the
Other.t

Ii project that is now being devel-
oped be carried through, the people of
st. Paul will have lorg-felt want sup
piled. 1t has been the belief of citizens
OF all classes and shades of opinion that
one OF the greatest necessities of the
city for years Is building to accom-
modate the magnificent public library
that has been established and those
who patronize it. This is the want that
is now to be supplied, if the plans that
are being incubated meet with general
favor at the hands of the library board,
city council and taxpayers.
The plan in brief is this: A number
Of st. Paul capitalists propose to erect
on part of the old market house
property first-class library building
and turn 1t over to the city free, pro-
vided a lease for a term of ninety-nine
years be given to the remainder Of the
property on which to erect a first-class
business block. The names Of the per-
sens who contemplate making this offer
to the library board and council can
not yet be made public, nor can the de-
tails Of their plans, but the whole mat
ter will shortly be laid before the libra
ry board, and then the public will be
given an opportunity to pass judgment
on the merits of the whole scheme in
detail.
Of course, much. in fact all, depends
upon the cost Of the building these
gentlemen propose to construct; wheth-
er 1t will be just compensation for
such long lease of the remainder of
the property. This can not be told
until the plans are completely unfold
ed. But the assurance has been given
that the building will be of such a
character as to serve the purpose
adequately in every respect for long
period. It is to be erected on the st.
Peter street side Of the property, which
will remove 1t from the noise result
ing from street cars and great traffic
on the Wabasha street side.
There is not spot. in the city more
suitable for the purpose. This point
is passed by nearly, every street car
line in the city, and three blocks is the
farthest any line is distant. Then what
an Improvement a handsome business
block fronting on, Wabasha and Sew
enth streets will be over the unsightly
old barn that occupies the site. An
other to be taken into consideration
is the fact that that part of the prop
erty occupied by, the business block
will be subject to taxation on the value
of the leasehold interest and building,
and will therefore befa source of rev.
enue to the city instead of dead
weight, as it now is.
The last, legislature passed a bill
authorizing the sale of the property,
and though it was not specified that it
was to be sold for the purpose of Sc
curing money to erect library, there
seemed to be a tacit understanding
that such was the purpose in securing
the passage of the BILL and those who
urged it had that object in view. But
1t is evident that, considering the pres
ent price of real estate, it may be some
years before a sale can be made at
such figure as will warrant the city
in parting with such an advantage
ously situated tract and, under the
plan contemplated, it stilb retains the
ownership, and will derive all the ben
eft from the increased value of the
property when it again comes into its
possession, while enjoying in the mean
time all the advantages of a library
building, for the construction of which
the property has, by common consent,
been practically set apart.
County Attorney Butler, who is one
of the attorneys for the persons now
negotiating for the erection of build
ing on the plan outlined, last night
gave to a G | o reporter a general
idea Of what is proposed. Mr.. Butler
said:
81 am one of the attorneys for number of
gentlemen of this city who are preparing and
about to submit to the board of directors of
the public library and common council a
proposition to erect on a part of the market
house property a public library building de-
signed to be frst-class in all its appoint
ments. modern and fire-proof, and with abun-
dant room and accommodations to suitably
supply the public demand for such a building
not involve the outlay of solitary cent Of
money on the part of the city. In considera-
ton of the building our clients will ask from
the city a lease Of all the land in the market
house tract not occupied by the library build
ing fer term of ninety-nine years. Their
purpose is to at once remove the market
house and all the sheds upon the property
and to erect on the part not used by the Ii
brary building first-class business block.
while | am not familiar with the business
details of the plan, l am satisfied the city
has the power to make such an arrangement,
and that it will be to it's great advantage to
do so, aside from the many advantages of
having without expense to the taxpayers a
frst-class library building. 1t means the i'm
provement of the whole tract and an outlay
of a great deal of money. and consequent
employment of large amount of labor. The
names of the men interested or details of
their scheme can not now be given, but can
say that the parties are abundantly able to
manage the undertaking.. 'ef