The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-25
VARSITY SUFFERS
A SEVERE LOSS
Old Main Building, Half a Gem
tury Old, Is Now q Mass
of Ruins

|
early yesterday morning. The struc-
ture was the oldest on the campus,
having been erected over half a cen
fury ago, and tits mass of ruins
The walls have fallen in and the to-
tai damage is estimated at about $685.
600. There are many records and
manuscripts which never can be re-
placed.
The building was the home Of the
departments of mathematics, rhetoric,
Greek. pedagogy, Latin, French and
German, and was also the residence of
capt. Guild. the custodian of the -insti-
tuition.
Nothing was saved except the desk
OF the postmaster and the mail
Fire was discovered shortly after S
o'clock yesterday morning. and when
Capt. Guild and his family were awak-
ened the structure was wrapped in
flames. The fire department was call
ed, but owing to the fact that the
streets in that locality were blocked
with paving material firemen were de-
layed in reaching the scene.
Valuable Books Burned
The building was valued at about
1000, and was insured for $50, 500
tents of about $4,000. The German
library of 5000 volumes is total loss,
and lis claimed this library was worth
| at least 100000. Profs. J. G. Moore
and Carl Slonaker lost valuable notes
and other material, which cannot be
replaced.
Dean ]. K. Downey, head of the de-
partment of mathematics, lost all the
material he has collected In the last
thirty years, and will not be able to
replace it.
The loss in the Greek and Latin de-
partments is estimated at $4,000 each.
according to the statements of the
heads of these departments.
Prof. Maria L. Sanford has lost her
private library and other material, such
as lantern slides, which she values at
$500.
Glasses Arranged For
The destruction of the building will
not Interfere with class work for Dean
Downey. who is the head of the insti-
tuition in the absence of President
Northrop, appointed a committee to
arrange for class rooms in other build
ings. The armory, the Y. M. C. A.
building and other halls can be used
| temporarily.
The building destroyed was started
In 1851, when the legislature appro-
priated $4,000 for state school.
The structure was completed In 1857,
but. as there were no funds for fur
n1shing or the employment of instruc-
tors, it lay unoccupied until about 1867,
! except as some stray horse or COW made
| its quarters in the basement.
In 1867 John S. Pillsbury succeeded
In securing an appropriation from the
legislature, and the building was clean
ed out and furnished and instructors
were engaged.
| In 1873 the college was established
and an appropriation secured for the
enlargement of the old stone building
| and the construction of an additional
building on the campus.
An Old Landmark
| The work was completed at once and
the old building which was burned yes
terday has the same outward exterior
appearance it did in 1876.
1t is believed the fire was caused by
| some person dropping match in a
| 'wastepaper basket or in some corner
1t has not been difficult for students
who desired to enter the building in
the night time to do so, for the reason
! the windows had insecure fastenings
and as it has been the custom of the
distributors of the Minnesota Daily, the
university paper, to call early in the
morning for the purpose of putting
copies of the paper in the postofice
boxes, it has been the practice of the
night Waterman to unlock the doors
/ on his last round.
The night Waterman says he in
speeted the building about o'clock
visited other structures and then went
home. He had hardly reached his bed
when he was informed the building
was afire.
Capt. Guild, the custodian of the uni
versity buildings, sustains a loss OF
$4,000 on household furniture, with ar
insurance of only $1,000