Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-26


Attention was next called to the Canadian
Pacific railway and the government railroad
work; $2,00O,O0O is annually appropriated
for such work, and upon the completion of
this great through route it
will open for Minnesota another
through and direct route to the sea-
board available for 365 days in the year.
The advantages of climate, cheapness of
construction and other points were compared
as between the Union Pacific and Canadian
Pacific, which, when completed, will be
$500 miles in length, with naval depot for
protection at each end. Scientific surveys
had proven that the climate over a greater
portion of the route was warmer even than
country far to the south of it, and that
there were millions of acres of fine agricul-
tural lands ready for Development The
warmth of the climate is owing to the i'm
mense thermal current that strikes in next
to the Alleutian Islands, and the
warmth is not absorbed by the high snow
capped mountains further south. The Sas-
katchewan river, navigable for 1000 miles,
was referred to, as we'll as the country con-
trolled by the Hudson Bay company. Min
nesota was pronounced as the keystone
State to the navigable waters of the CONT
nent.
Mr.. Dowse stated that settlement only COM
menced in 187O-'71. and that it's population
now numbered about 10000, The province,
it will be remembered, is only about 1OOx12O
miles square, yet the inhabitants traded to
the extent of $768,415 during the Last year,
80 per cent. of which was with Minnesota.
Eighteen thousand of the inhabitants are
English speaking people, six or seven thous-
and are Mennonites and the remainder half
breeds and Icelanders. The importance of
this trade to small manufactures and whole
| salers was dwelt upon and a high tribute
paid to the representative travelling men of
Minneapolis houses who had already visited
the section. A direct railroad connection
would soon be made and communication
could be had in twenty-four hours. Hereto
fore dealers there had to purchase six or
eight months stock in the fall, and
it had kept out all but capital
lists. With the railroad connections
small dealers will enter into the trade. The
people prefer to trade with Minnesota, owing
to pleasant neighborhood relations. Now is
the time to make strike to permanently
secure this trade.
! At the conclusion of the remarks of Mr..
Dowse a general discussion took place, after
which the following resolution was read and
adopted:
| Resolved That we tender to Mr.. Thos. Dowse
our thanks for his concise and lucid statements
| respecting the development, the trade and COM
merce of the British possessions to the north
| and west of Minnesota, and that we recon-
mend to our citizens to use all honorable means
to secure to Minneapolis her share of benefits
arising from the rapid development of that
! section of country.
REMARKS BY MAJOR BAssETT.
| The main object of the meeting now being
disposed of, Major Bassett stated that he
again wished to present to the board the i'm
portance of diversity of industries. Min
neapolis must do this or lose great portion
of her prosperity. The only business that
seemed to pay now was the banking bust
ness The minute man got a little money
he put it into bank or started bank of
his own. Banks employed no labor to speak
of. Capital must be put elsewhere, diverted.
He had recently attended meeting of the
Workingmen's Union, and by the report of
canvassing committee, had ascertained that
1000 laboring men in Minneapolis, most
of them heads of families were out of en-
ployment and as many more were working
on half time. The coming summer would
be the most trying that the laboring men of
Minneapolis had ever seen. Owing to the
short cut of logs the usual number could not
|
men had not the faculty of finding work for
themselves. Capital and brains must fur
nish work for them and then times will be
better. If industry is not provided for the
unemployed of Minneapolis, the mortgaged
house and lot which many own, will pass
into the hands of the real estate dealer and
the value of real estate will rapidly de-
crease. There are great many things
which will be sold in the Province of Mani
toba that might Just as well be manufactured
in Minneapolis. Capital must be provided,
and a diversity of labor employed in order
to secure prosperity. Rates Of interest and
taxes were far too high, and must be reduced.
There are more people in Minneapolis than
can live here. People were withdrawing
from business, instead of entering into it.
Alderman Corser agreed with Mr.. Bassett,
and had means of knowing that the case was
exactly as he presented it. We wanted
more industries and greater variety.
Even now some capitalists had
promised to locate a stove manu-
factory in this city if bonus of $4,000
could be given them for the purchase of a
desirable location on the line of railroad.
Their location here would involve an ex-
penditure by them of from $4,000 to $780,
600 of money in this city, and they would
employ large number of men. An attempt
had been made to raise the money, and all
but about 300 had been secured, but the
whole scheme might drop through for the
lack of that small amount which it seemed
impossible to secure. Any one wishing to
contribute had the privilege without further
invitation. Meanwhile the parties had had
liberal inducements to locate at st. Paul,
but they preferred this city. It seemed a
shame that the small amount could not be
raised.
Major Bassett also spoke of the proposed
removal to this city of a we'll established
threshing machine mandatory, with cap
ital of $4,000, which, upon removal, it
was proposed to increase to 100000. st.
Paul was also trying to secure this prize,
and had offered inducements. This city
was preferred, however, and all that was
asked was request similar to that of the
stove works. location on railroad, and
perhaps the taking of few shares of stock,
which were paying - per cent. in annual
dividends. 81
Capital must employ labor and make it
be prosperous.
MIR. Samuel G. Gale submitted the follow
ing resolution:
Resolaed, That Joel Bassett, E. s. Corser, @.
A. Pray, ). q. Gale and A. B. Barton, be app
tures with request that they collect all in
formation within their reach on the subject,
and give such aid and encouragement as they
can to parties seeking locations for manufac-