The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-05-06
THE TRADE OF ST. PAUL.
Annual Report Of Secretary Johns
To the Chamber of Commerce.

was submitted to the meeting Of the Di- ,
rectors this morning:
ST.. PAUL, April 10, 1875.
To the President, Directors and Members of
the ST. Paul Chamber Of Commerce: II
GENTLEMEN 1T has been decided that
your Secretary should present but brief
report of the business Of the city for 1874,
so I have prepared for publication merely
the totals rather than the details making
up these totals. l have selected few
leading features Of the business of 1874,
bv which general idea of our condition
can be obtained. One fact stands out
very prominently, viz: that though in
common with the rest Of the country, St.
Paul has felt the effects Of the prevailing
hard times, yet she has suffered less
thereby than almost any other city in the
Union Of equal prominence. The ratio of
our growth and development may have
been temporarily checked, but careful
examination of these brief statistics will
show that in most Of essential features we
have taken forward steps.
THE WORK OF THE CHAMBER.
Never since the organization of this
association has it been more potent for
good than during the past year. To every |
subject directly or indirectly connected
with the public welfare it has given
patient thought, and if every desired gain |
has not been secured, that wholesome agi- |
tation preceding every reform has been
aroused. True, We have not added much |
to our manufacturing Importance, but
certainly the day of our manufacturing
greatness has been fastened by the per-
sistent attention the Chamber has be-
slowed upon the subject. Our mammoth
elevator came only after years of agita.
tion-of talk if you please-and so.
gradually, we are raising the public to
comprehend the great value and impera-
tive necessity of the establishment of
greater number Of manufacturing estab-
lishments in our midst.
We point to the nev elevator, with its
unrivalled facilities for handling grain,
whether from teams, cars, or boats, IS
| the work of the Chamber. No one con-
versant with the history Of this city for
the past four years can doubt that if it
had not been for the agitation of this sub
iect in the Chamber, and the consequent
Capitalization of public sentiment and ac-
ton, we would still be without that great
edifice, which is destined to make St.
Paul most important home wheat mar
ket, rs we'll as the leading wheat centre
of the Northwest.
That West St. Paul is now part Of
this city that the embargo, toll bridge
!. levied upon our commerce, has been
| raised, are to be placed iargelys to the
l credit of this Chamber Of Commerce.
Through this institution Congress has
: heard the voice of the Northwest, de-
I handing the improvement Of the Missls.
sippi river through it our needy follow
8 citizens of Southwestern Minnesota have
!, obtained speedy relief, thereby allyine
: the trade Of that section to our own city
by the bonds Of gratitude; distinguished
4 visitors have received prompt courtesics
d our rivers and lakes have been stocked
with choice varieties of fish; the homes
n inspection of grain SO guaranteed tina
e every producer realizes that he is shell
tered by the combined honor Of . who'll
st city acting through its leading citizens
81 These are . few Of the visible results o
! your work for the past year. will men
ID ton ole more fact in this connection.
a. committee on the repairing and preserv
,e ing Of the bridge WAS appointed. The.
!. ,s worked faithfully, and through their Il
bors much light Was shed on the subject
it, The result is that the City Council ha
r had presented to it . plan for the presel
4 walton Of that structure, which. it
~ claimed, will save to the city annually
sum nearly equal to the full expense I
Mt operating this Chamber. and this is bs
one item in the works Of this body.
= Through your labors arrangements ha,
.st been made for the reduction Of the rate
of insurance, thereby making every citixe
he having any insurable property adebt'
t.. to this institution.
An lam pleased to announce that OF
-. membership for 1874 WAS 52S. being
an more than ever before obtained. Th
general interest in the Chamber mar
tested by our citizens. has enabled US
pass through the most financially stri
gent year since eur organization witho
me Increasing the membership fee, or resol
Fas ing 6 in other years, to special q
Fu- burdensome assessment
Ave POPULATION.
p As the State will take census Of
- population in the month Of june, VII
-. our numbers can Incidentally ascertain'
will not elaborate this division Of =
m. report. The school census taken m IL
-, showed that there were $50 more schc
~ able children than IN 1873. Th<
~. children are in 200 Of the whsle pol
~ lation, % multiplying these two factors
e. have 2,S42 During last year West
~. Paul VAS annexed to this city. Its
we. tire population VAS carefully ascertain
MO. at the time Of taking its school Gems
I'M. and found to Be !, 178, the two giving
~ St. Paul IN addition Of 4.32O souls. 4
gust the 18th IS shout the average date
the school census. The population
this city August Is, 1873, Was shown
ling Be 5000. The above data would LEAD
and the couclusien that the approaching u
tied census viii fix oar popalsaasn q II
a Of 10000 to 1900.
heir fAXADI1 RD0R8KIY.
erv valua3iou q real eu1xAe 1874 III 81
ma = pennnaapopesJ 1s74 %
Toaas taxalae lrsPszty II ~ 80. e