Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-05-23
"How Is ST. PAUL surroRrxD..


city fails to ask the question, elbow il st. Paul
supported?" and inasmuch a. we have shown by
previous articles the amount of business done
here, we will now attempt to answer the question
80 often asked, in a few general remarks.
That st. Paul is a smart little city, there is no
denying that the increase of all kinds Of stores,
mechanic shops and other appliances of trade
among US is almost unknown in the history
Of new cities, is certainly very obvious, but that
wc are so far ahead of the country as to stand in
danger Of q reaction, is an idea as obsolete as
the Hindoo gods. How, then, is st. Paul to be
supported? from whence flows the source Of her
prosperity Wepropose to answer:
l. ST. Paul, located virtually, if not in fact, at
the head Of navigation, derives considerable
trade from her commercial operations. There
are now four boats plying on the Minnesota river,
each one Of which must, and probably does get
its supplies at ST. Paul, not only for its own con-
sumption, but for the many new settlements con-
tinually springng into existence in that vast ex-
tent of country in the valley Of the Mnnesota.---
qalistrade Is increasing and will continue to in
crease to an astonishing degree, aaording vast
greater source Of revenue to city than is even
now dreamed of. Beside these, we have some
six boats in the trade below, which are important
auxilaries in aiding onward the progress of our
city. These boats average during the season,
from fifty to one hundred passengers every arri-
val, end although they do not get all their sup
plies here, yet they afford business for many
firms, and work for many hands. To this one
source, then, we can trace one Of the avenues Of
trade to St. Paul.
2. Two years ago land could be purchased
within six, eight and ten miles of st. Paul for
one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre
Now, the same land cannot be bought for
either two, three, four dollars per acre, except
in isolated cases.. What has caused this in
creaso' Simply the fact, that the land has been
bought, built upon, and is now under cultivation;
where, therefore, there were no houses in 1928,
are now fine farms, with ten times the number
of inhabitants than at the period to which We al
lude. These persons need all the necessaries of
lfe-food, clothing, &C., and they must come to
St. Paul to get their supplies. The stranger has
20 means of ascertaining this fact, and consequent
ly he is at loss to know how in the world St.
Paul is supported. Even our own citizens are
ignorant Of the true state of things for, although
well aware that their trade increases, they cannot
tell from whence it cometh, or even whittier it
goeth. To every emigrant that comes on the
boats, there are two who arrive by the overland
route, bringing with them horses, COWS, oxen, and
implements of husbsndry, and to this fact and
the rapid settlement about US, may be traced an
other source of trade to our city.
We hoya ;v o,,r vn;dat vos& ,,,,,,,l,r &c
jcincrs painters, blacksmiths, masons, brick lay
ers, lawyers, land agents, doctors, and profess
sional mon in general, who are occupied in their
particulsr spheres, and who must and do have the
n:ccssarics, not to say luxurics Of life. These
have employment from other sources, and give
employment to the Dry Goods and Grocery mcr-
chants, to the shoe makers, the tailors and other
departments Of trade.
4. On the Upper Mississippi are engaged q
large number of lumbermen, who are brought to
St. Paul either by their business, Or in some 9TH
er way, and who, while here, generally procure
themselves outfits for the season; these men must
be fed, and the -four, pork and beef necessary for
them, are found in our market and made to sub
serve their purposes. st. Anthony undoubt edly
furnishes portion Of these articles, but we think
the great bulk goes from St. Paul. This, then, is
another source Of revenue from whence our city
derives support.
S. Many goods are sold in St. Anthony and
the towns near BY, which are carried directly from
St. Paul, bee ause they either be bought cheap
er here, or transported to their destination much
easier. Besides this, the supplies for the soldiers
at Fort Ridgely, and the trade Of the Indians are
no uncomfortable items added to which a grad
ually increasing trade at Lake Superior, and we
have tho sequel Of the support given to St. Paul.
Is it to be supposed that any of these resources
will fail in one, FIVE, or ten years from this tmeS
Not by any means, unless some untoward event
overtakes US, or unless (and this is to be most
feared some railroad enters our Territory and
diverts portion Of the trade to some other point
In view Of this, let US move energetically and
where We can Put down stake favorable to
our interests, do so. Let US build railroads into
the interior Of our Tsrrtory-not out Of it |;
wealthy companies wishing our trade, will do
that soon enough, and that, too, without grant
Of land from Government by which they can real
ize $3,DOO,0 600! We must also encourage the
establishment Of manufactories-the growth Of
every town in the territory-thc opening Of farms
and tho developement Of the soil-in fact every
thing which conduces TO the bsnefs Of the whole,
thereby creating new sources Of trade for our al
ready rapidly advancing city.
TIE NEBRAsxA BILL.-We learn from the N. Y.
Tribune, that this Bill has been taken up in
the Committee Of the Whole, by vote Of 109 to
Se. The opponents Of the Bill are determined
that it shall not pass and if they can't prevent it
any other way they intend to withdraw from the
House and thus leave It without quorum. Gen.
erslly, we believe in susmitting to the voice Of
the majority, particularly in this country, where
frn> nv Ere % puJes Int n, THE rasa xvhsra al