The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-11-27
THE MINI ESOTIAN
Saiut Yau!. saturhau. 4uu.uhn II. 1852.
The Growth Of St. PAM.

The Growth Of ST. Paul.
Notwithstanding the many disadvantages that
our town has labored under during the past
season, owing to the scarcity Of money, the
high price Of building material, the doubt and
suspense in regard to the ratification of the
Sioux treaties, ETC., there has been more than
double the quantity of buildings construct
ed than there was last year; and last year
there was an increase Of hundred per cent on
the year previous. An enumeration OF the IN
habitants was made quite late in the year 1851,
wen it was ascertained that there were little
less than 1000 persons living within the corpo-
rate limits of St. Paul. OF course there was
not much of an increase to that number-fom
immigration, we mean-until the opening OF
navigation in the epring Now there are at
least 5000 and some say $500 inhabitants in
st. Paul; and this too, Notwithstanding there
has been large emigration from our place to
the country of the Sioux, since the ratification
of the treaties.
1t has always been a matter Of great surprise
to strangers why there should be such large
town here when the country adjacent is so
sparcely settled. They can't see why, nor how
it is, that the growth of town can be in ad-
vance Of the country. Ever since we have
been here, until within the last few months, it
has been the cry, Your town is growing too
fpst you will soon have to stop building and
wait till the country is settled around you you
hold your town lots too high-in year or two
we can purchase them for at least one half Of
the present rates" This was the cry three
years ago, and it has been the cry ever since,
until recently, flor We have not heard it so much
since the treaties were ratified.) But still st.
Paul has progressed, doubling the number of
her buildings and adding at least so per cent
to her population with each year. People who
come here are too apt to compare our town
with other towns on the river below us-places
that are created because the country back of
them is densely settled, and must have some
place as an outlet for their surplus produce.
them settles, and when the resources of their
respective localities are fully developed, the
town ceases to grow.
Not so, st. Paul. Our town would continue
to grow almost as fast if the lands within a cir
Gle of ten or fifteen miles were never occupied
no more than at present. ST. Paul lis CONNER
cial place. The first buildings that were erect
ed here, when there were no inhabitants nearer
than Mendoza, were for trading purposes. 1t is
commerce on which we depend to make her a
large city-superior in point of numbers and
the amount of her business to any place on the
ri nf I o,,;s 80
perience have demonstrated that this is the
head Of practicable steamboat navigation on the
Mississippi. All the business of the upper
country, both in the valley of the Minnesota and
Mississippi will continue to be done through st.
Paul; and as this country increases in wealth
merchants already do an extensive jobbing bust
ness with the upper country. There are sever
al firms who do scarcely any retailing in com
parison to the amount of their WHOLESALERS and
this is q branch of business which late events
will increase almost four-fold. All up-country
merchants who get their goods from below,
must of necessity leave their money with us for
storage, carting to the Falls, or re-shipping on
smaller boats for the purpose of going up the
Minnesota. Not dOllar's worth of goods pass
through the town, but what is subject to tax for
one of these objects; and of course the larger
the settlements above, the more goods will be
wanted, and the greater will be the revenue to
81. Paul. Even the settlements on the st. Croix
river are Of advantage to us; for though they
get their supplies through Saltwater, yet we
do good deal of business with them during the
course of the year. So also with settlements on
the Mississippi for many miles below u.s.
These things being understood, it is no longer
matter of surprise that st. Paul has become
what the stranger now beholds her; nor that
she will continue to grow, though the back
country should remain wilderness. Many
persons of capital who have been here the past
summer, saw all this at glance, and lost no
time in making investments. 1t will not require
the ratio Of increase during the last four years,
to make us city of $1,000 inhabitants at the
end Of the next four and if that ratio is materi-
ally diminished, We shall be much mistaken.
st. Paul occupies an enviable position She
fears no rivalry. and is jealous of no sister town
She extends the hand Of fellowship and well
may come. ItcOncerns her very little where he
may settle, SO that it is in Minnesota 1t is her
interest to have the rho1e the government land
in our Territory occupied. She is thoroughly
identified with Minnesota. Their interests are
'nseparably connected, and what tends to bene-
lit or injure the one, has corresponding effect
on the other. Finally, she views with pleasure
the building of cities and towns around her, es-
pecially iii be on any stream whose waters help
TO form the majestic current which is constantly
flowing before her, for she knows that it will be
as much for her prosperity as the building Of
towns and the settlement of the West generally,
is tor the prosperity Of our eastern seaports.
These facts and reflections are made, not be-
cause there is pretended to be any thing new and
original in them, Qor it is matter we'll under