The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-12-11

nave tlleVeo MI. D. n. AAo~H - 1--WE. -" ~S'>
traet, and entered into new arrangement up
on the same basis, With McHrs. JAMES and
Jous NArrxa, o responsible and energetic
firm, and that the work will.be pushed forward
% RAPIDLY o. the means oethe company and the
untavorable season will admit.
The bridge is to cross from wabashaw street,
and to b. extended distance Of about thirteen
hundred feet to the opposite shore. 1t is to
rost upon nine piers, the highest Of which arc
about seventy feet above the high water mark
Of 1850, SO ns to enable the largest class bos's
10 pass under the structure without any difh-
Guilty. The first pier will be built ut point
that will probably be the outer edge Of the
wharf, and the second at distance Of t~o hun
dred ani t,reray feet ION the first, 10 a. TO III
low the largest RATS TO pass under without
coming in contact with the abutments. The
remaining piers are about one hundred and
forty ieet apart. and gradually descend in height
until the low ground 10 West Saint Paul is
reached. The roadway Of the bridge Is to be
On inclined plane, Of about five ieet To tho hun
dred, anil is TO have two tracks, with loot
paths on each side for pedestrians The work
is designed to be built in the most approved
manner, and under the direction Of its compe'
tent engineer, Mr.. SEwAlI, will be unsurpassed
by any structure OF the kind in the whole coun'
try, and will reflect credit upon the enterprise
Of, and he on ornament To our young and Hour
ishing city.
hut lew persons properly estimate the i'm
portance Of this work 10 .hs commercial vel
fare Of this city. 1t is lact that the great
bulk OF trade which is now 70 rapidly building
up Saint Paul comes from the west side Of the
river. The lands 10 Dakota and other counties
west having been kept out Of market until they
were taken up iu small quantities by actual
settlers, the country now IL much more dens-
ly populated than Ramsey county, in which
Saint Paul is situated. As an evidence Of the
dependence Of this city upon the trade and PEG
pie Of the country west Of this, w will state
fact that was told us, day or two since. by III
intelligent and observing gentleman, thai 81
least i,rothrds Of the marketing brought 10 SAINT
Paul comes from the ,rest side Of the river. We
have heretofore .nonopolized the business Of the
west, because We had no competitors. The
case Is different now. Hastings aud other
towns are drawing the trade thst naturally
would come to Saint Paul were there any GER
tainty Of getting across the river. We oil
know the annoyance and delay which de-
pendence on our apologies for ferries has caus-
Cd, and that al times, when the wind was blow
ing, it has been impossible to cross ut all. The
uncertainty Of crossing has, therefore, the effect
Of keeping away oil who are not compelled, OF
necessity, to come here TO dispose Of their pro-
ducts and to buy articles which they cannot
gut elsewhere. This stats Of Affairs will contin-
ue, and the legitimate commerce OF this city
continue TO be drawn of, until the Mississippi
is spannci by substantial bridge, such as Is
proposed TO he erected. II docs not, therefore.
require any sagaciiy 10 see the vital Importance
OF the carly completion Of this work to the
prosperity Of this city. The company who
have tho work in hand are determined 10 push
it forward to the best Of their ability, but q
few men cannot alone carry forward such an
enterprise with the expedition 70 desirable and
important To the city ; and VIC are sorry to say
that many Of the citizens Of Saint Paul have
not responded TO the solicitations TO take stock
with the promptncs and libGality usually so
characteristic OF them. Some, ever, after hay
ing assured the company OF their willingness to
subscribe, and after having put their names
upon the subscription paper, a, the eleventh
hour, when the company had entered into
contract, declined paying their assessments up
on pretcxts unworthy Of a liberal spirit; whilst
Others, not content merely with declining 10 pay
their assessments, have thrown obstacles in the
way Of getting subscriptions from others, by
representing that the bridge would be an OBJ
struction TO navigation and an injury TO prop
eriy in one portion Of the city. An e1amna-
ton Of the plan Of the bridge, in the of'ice OF
the Secretary, Is only necessary 10 prove the
eroundkssnc.~ Of thc objsctiou in relation 10
navigation, and the lact that the prsent and
largest stockholders are thoe most deeply in
Grcsted in the upper town should be an efetivc
answer TO the iallacy Of the Last
A. On investment, without rgaru w toe m
cidcntal advantages to the property Of the city,
there certainly can be no safer way OF investing
money. We are credibly informed that the
bridge at st. Anthony, during the present. year,
has paid nearly speniyJf~ pr AMI on the orig
inaI cost Of construction, bat that the company
doubic,l the stock, and that On the increased
amount it paid abost ti,nyfvs pr ce'a. profit,
There can hardly be doubt but that the bridge
here will yield as handsomely as the one ut ST.
Anthony. 10 few years West 81 Paul viii
cootain population as large rs that Of Min
napoIis, anil the intercourse between that place
and the country west Of it and this city, must
scccsarily be very great and. consequently,
each year the divij<s,is On the stock will in
cfeAe in amount
Viewing this matter, then, in every light, ve
can coocsive no reason why any citizen interest
Cd in the growth Of st. Paul shoah hang back
or allow this important enterprise to languish
6r IN ins,aat for the want Of Sufficient MONEY
a a. m