Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-09

population of over &C, 900. The growth ofthe
city during the coming ten years, will neces-
sarily be at an increased ratio over the past
ten, for the following important reasons.
First, its slowest growth (from So to 6S)
was owing to hard times, and the civil war
and second, its wonderful railroad system Gas
just completely opens up trade which for
amount of business and extent of territory, is
truly wonderful.
Its building stone (of which it has enough
to build two cities of the size of London) is a
species of marbleized limestone, and looks
very beautiful.
I The city stands on the eastern bank of the
Mississippi, on the outside bend of sharp
elbow in the river. The land rises as it re-
cedes from the river, and bears little resem,
blance to three quarters Of an old fashioned
round apple pie, with the single piece occh-
pied by the river, gone.
The numerous drives about the piuHs OF
plateaus, are truly delightful and highiy ap-
preciated.
The buildings of the city both public and
private, are grand and beautiful, evlnclng
wealth, Guilty ated taste and becoming PRIDE.
Eleven wears ago this day railroads in this
railroad train left st. Paul for the rural dis
tricts. Wealth of soil, indomitable enterprise
and the necessities of commerce, have so ur-
gently demanded, that they now furnish St.
Paul with 10 railroads and SO running trains
daily.
Twenty-Five years ago these wild and ro-
mantle bluffs were one bowling wilderness,
and the birch bark canoe was the only craft
that foated on the upper waters of the old
| fharn Ys
making about 500 arrivals annually. Then
the commerce consisted of one eyed half
breed dickeriug for few hundred dollars
worth of furs. Now, the wholesale trade of
the city exceeds seventeen million dollars,
being more than half million for every one
thousand inhabitants. As evidence that this
growth of wealth and population is OF no Wis
ionary or fictitious paper character, the fact
stands recorded, that the citys Eastern ex-
change last year amounted to one million and
quarter of dollars to every thousand inhabi-
tant. Verify the days of Alladins lamp are
yet with us.
The prices for all kinds of labor range high
in this city. ! copy the following figures
from laundry bill, collars cents, handker-
chiefs ), cravats 20, scarfs IS, vests 20, coats
% and pants 40, and yet the supply of pure
soft water is unlimited. The water works OF
the city are even greater than those OF Lon
don, out no one grunDles III HieH piiCee, anu
everybody is getting rich.
The flood of visitors here from all parts OF
the world, is wonderful. The streets resem-
BILE one continual day of celebration. Some
come for health, some for sport, and some
| for investment; but all act as if they were
bound to have good time.
| A prominent feature of this wonderful city,
| is the reading room of the Chamber OF Com
merce-made free to everybody, and keeping
on file about 500 of the leading papers of this
country and Europe. am told that the nam
Der OF papers here filed, exceeds that IN any
other room in the world.
The Secretary and Superintendent OF the
room is Ossian f. Dodge. formerly editor and
proprietor of the Boston Literary Museum
and known for many years rs the Boston No-
calist. n. y.
The Harvard Freshman boat crew, while
out practicing at Springfield, Mass, on Sat
urday morning, for the approaching college
regatta, met with an accident that very nearly
resulted fatally to at least one of them The
Union says that they were proceeding up the
river about 10 80 o'clock, and as the way was
clear when they started were paying no atten-
ton to surrounding objects, but were giving
all their thoughts to their rowing. Suddenly,
when opposite the east shore ferry landing,
they discovered the Agawam ferry-boat full
upon them. The discovery Of their position
was too late to prevent collision, and the
next instant the swinging bridge to the for
ward end of the ferry-boat was crashing the
sides and outriggers ofthe frail craft of the
boatmen. Four of the oarsmen saved them
selves by climbing upon the ferry-boas a
fifth jumped into the water and swimming to
the ferry-boat climbed up the sides, but the
sixth, Mr.. Gray, who was rowing stroke, be-
came entangled in one of the broken outrig-
gers under the water, and came very near
being drowned. At this instant Mr. Webb,
Yale student, member of the class Of '7G,
who was on board the ferry-boat, jumped into
the warter regardless of clothes. and by his
assistance Mr.. Gray was rescued. The boys
we're taken ashore and their boat recovered
soon after.