Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-11-28
A(lnntsota Uimts,
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER "a, 1854.
A NEW LINE OF BOATS.


Previous to dipping too deeply into this matter,
1T us give the subject n calm investigation, and
see where We will land, after having taken our
fight. That we want line of boats owned by
the citizens of ST. Paul, there is question, but
there is question as to how that line shall be
procured and sustained.
1. Will business men, or rather capitalists, in
vest their money in this kind of property, when
they can do better with real estate?
=. II they ,riH join together and purchase a
line, will the citizens patronize them?
8. Can this line come in competition with a
moniel Company and sustain itself?
Now it seems to us that these are important
points, and it is all useless TO make the attempt
and then fail in it. because in that case, we should
be putting ourselves in much more humiliating
position than we now are, and giving those who
have power us, greater power to rivet the
chains more firmly.
SWELL" says en- husiastic ncighbor, "what
would you do? We want line of boats" We
would first ascertain if there were sufficient
number of gentlemen who We're willing to embark
in the enterprise, and who woudp pledge themselves
to take so much stock. That done, we would
wait upon every merchant, business man and citi-
zen, and get them to pledge themselves to support
the line and no other.
.'But,'' continues our neighbor, s. that will
never do. The Galena Company is wealthy
Company, and the moment the new boats make
their appearance, the old line would lower their
fare, and the pric, of freight, and as people gem
orally are governed 10y elfinterest, the probable
ity is. that most of our merchants would patron
izc that line, III preference TO the new one. And
AGAIN, all The emisrants coming to Minnesota,
would come on those boats which carried the
cheapest. We thuk You could not get our mer-
chants to patronizc the new lines Very we'll,
then, that is the point we wish to reach,-how
can the boats be sustained without the undivde |
support of our people? and if the people won't
pledge themselves to support them under all cir
cumstances, the boats cannot live, and the whole
thing will prove failure . because, while the Ca
lena Company is rich enough to run their boats at
loss Of thousands of dollars, the new line would
need every dollar to keep its head above water
s:Well, never thought of that" said our friend
as he walked off scratching his head. And SO is
it with many others, who merely look at the sur
face of the matter, but when actio1 is necessary
they find no substance.
Now in all this let it no. be said that we arc
opposing a new line of boats far from it, we
should be glad to see ,he ert,rprzc succeed, but
this getting out of the frying pan into the fire
don't pay, and this continual slurring Galena and
her business men, will only tend to defeat the very
object we have in view. Let then, our citizen:
view this matter soberly, calmly let them go tc
work Systematically; let them pledge themselves
to support the boats whether freight and passage
up or down, and if they will not pledge them
selves to do this, let them abandon at once tho
idea of new line, for their continual harpine
without action is one of the worst elements which
get into community.