Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-03
RAILROAD DEVELOPMENT.

PoStou 81 1uuCu lIO1u tu6 Splu0-StluouIuSS
labors of Tack Chandler few weeks ago.
RAILROAD DETELOPMENT.
II any have had doubts Of the future
destiny Of the State of Minnesota and the
city of ST. Paul, those doubts will have been
removed by perusal of tbs article in yes
terday's GLOBE on our railroad development
during the past year. There IS no better
gauge of the natural advantages of country
than the progress of railroad enterprises.
Capitalists do not invest their money in the
construction of lines of railway through a
barren territory that promises little develop
ment for the future. They first seek those
regions that are fertile in natural productions
and Inhabited by frugal, Industrious and
enterprising people. While in measure
they seek to develop the country, they take
good care to insure themselves that it is
capable of development, and that there is
promise in the future that their investment
will pay. No higher compliment could
therefore be paid to tho natural resources of
Minnesota than the fact that during the
year that is about to close, the capitalists of
this country and Europe have sought invest
ment for their surplus means in the con.
struction of new lines of railroad within our
borders, and are yet ready to still further
add to the extent of our iron arteries.
During the year 1873 there have been con.
structed within the limits of Minnesota q
total OF three hundred and forty three miles
of new road, connecting with the lines
previously constructed, and centering almost
exclusively in st. Paul. These additions
make the total mileage of railroads within
the State up to the present time two thousand
five hundred and thirty three miles, which
| shows an investment in these enterprises
including equipments, of over one hundred
and thirty-five millions of dollars!
This development is extraordinary when
we consider the short time that has elapsed
since the first introduction Of the iron horse
into the State and the many disadvantages
we have been obliged to encounter and over
! come. The panic of 1873 and the depres-
sion of business that succeeded it, put q
stop to all railway enterprises in
every part of the country. Then the
grasshopper plague visited us, and repealed
investment. But the elements of prosperity
inherent in the State could not be baked by
| such untoward events, and at the frs
symptom of returning stability in our fnan-
ces, capital crowded forward, eager to avail
| itself of the splendid opportunities for prof
| liable employment presented by our rapidly
developing industries. The ball was set il
motion early in 1877, and 1873 gave it ar
impetus that has been most gratifying, while
the year 1879 promises to show still great
er degree of progress progress that viii
no doubt assist materially in adding to the
population and wealth of the State, anC
| make of St. Paul the great commercial en-.
porium of the Northwest, commanding s
trade magnificent in its proportions, far.
reaching in extent, and profitable alike tc
| our business men and manufacturers and to
the transportation companies that have
stretched their arms out toward the frontier
of civilization.
Minnesota has now greater length OF
railroad than any country in South America,
and in Europe it is exceeded only by Great
Britain, Russia, Germany, France, Spain and
Italy. Our roads are all thoroughly equipped,
and capable of transporting all the products
of our remarkably fertile soil to market, be-
sides returning to the producers the mer-
chandise and manufactures they may re.
quire. They have connections extending
far into the adjoining territories of Dakota
and Manitoba, and before the next year shall
have closed their ramifcations will extend
into the mining districts OF Montana and the
Black Hills. To supply the population that
is now and will hereafter be gathered in the
vast territory traversed by these railroads
will be the privilege of the merchants of St.
Paul, and if they but wisely use their ad-
vantage, the future of our city will be bright
with prosperity and commercial greatness.