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

A. s. Elicit, ESQ.,, who represented the Chamber
in Philadelphia for some time during tho past
winter:
Hon. Il. H. Sibley, President Chamber of Com
merce.
DEAR SIR: Shortly before my recent visit to
Philadelphia, as the members of the Chamber
of Commerce will remember, I offered to devote
furthering the interests of st.. Paul, and pro-
noting immigration to our State, provided this
Chamber would give me the right to speak in
their name.
As the board were kind enough to honor me
with their confidence, deem it proper that
cuted their commission. On nv arrival
found that most alarming financial depres-
sion existed, and that Thousands of men whose
commercial and industrial pursuits had been
bhght ; by it's fatal influence, we're preparing
information could gather on the subject,
there are fully $4,000 people in the
Middle States alone, who have a serious
attention Of moving westward. found that
this great tide OF emigration principally
directed to the States of Missouri, Kansas and
Colorado, while the immense resources and
boundless fertility of Minnesota were compare
lively unknown.
The States have mentioned as the destina-
ton Of this great throng of emigration wero
represented by numerous agents, who sounded
tised them literally in the daily journals.
After my advertisements appeared, learnt
from those who desired to investigate the COM
parative advantages of the Western States, that
they knew not where to 60 to obtain full and
reliable information regarding tho North Star
State.
From January 18th to February 18th I de-
voted two hours daily land sometimes three
hours) to the work of supplying to all who in
quired information regarding the agriculture,
our State; and to candid, yet highly eulogistio
presentation of the merits of st. Paul. I may
also say that lost no opportunity to lay be-
fore business men and capitalists the manifold
advantages offered by this city for the estab-
lshment of all kinds of business. During the
time was thus occupied ''in missionary labor. .
conversed with fully 500 men who oonten-
plated emigrating, and including the list of
names forwarded to st. Paul, l mailed 100
papers and answered % letters requesting
information in relation to our State and city.
This is indeed a most propitious time for
gaining large accession to our wealth and
population. The people who are exchanging
their Eastern homes for ifo in the West, rep
resent the best features of our American civil
cation; they have been reared under the influ-
ence OF our own political system, and have en-
joyed the benefit Of common school training;
they are honest, intelligent, moral and enter
prising-in every respect most valuable class
of citizens.
I present herewith vouchers which explain
the use I made of the funds with which the
that our State and beautiful capital may reap
their full share of the vast emigration now
pouring Westward, / remain,
Your obedient servant, A. 8. ELFELr.
The thanks Of the chamber were returned to
Mr.. Elicit for his services.
The memorial of the late export convention
at Washington, forwarded by the secretary
thereof, was read and referred,
Mr.. Banning, from the committee on immi-
grafton, reported that the bill prepared by the
committee of the chamber, had been passed by
the Legislature.
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
Mr.. Banning offered the following resolu-
tions which, after some discussions, were
adopted: :,
Resolved, That this Chamber regards with
deep interest and satisfaction the comprehen-
sive movement for permanent location and
deepening of the channel of the Mississippi
river from Saint Louis to the Gulf of Mexico,
introduced in Congress by United States Sena-
tor Coclkrell and intended to secure uninter-
rupted navigation and rightly protect the lands
adjacent to said river from overflow and the
damage resulting therefrom. But it is respect
fully urged that any such improvement of said
river, that shall not extend from St. Paul, the
head Of navigation, to the Gulf, will not be
commensurate with the great interest involved.
Resolved, That the committee of the Senate
to whom the bill has been referred providing
for survey and report upon the cost of the
contemplated Improvement, are respectfully
asked to so amend the same as to include the
entire river from St. Paul. the head of naviea,
ton, to the Gulf, and that our members OF
Congress are respectfully urged to aid in secur
ing such amendment and such legislation Of
shall secure said improvement at the earliest
practicable period.
In presenting the resolutions, Mr.. Banning
addressed the chamber at some length, and i'd
verified to the difference of opinion existing
between the army engineers and Captain Eads
in reference to the practicabiity of the latter
plans for deepening of the river at the Gulf
He advocated general system of river i'm
provement from st. Paul southwark, and
thought the interests of the Northwest woulc
be subserved by coalition with the South ir
Its policy OF river improvement. Different
systems Of improvement had their special adj
vocates. Captain Eads plans were strongly
opposed by the engineers, but it appeared
compromise had been effected, which proposed
to settle the differences by an examination ant
report Of competent engineers.
The policy OF st. Louis seems to be to stol
improvements above that city so as to make il
the point Of trans-shipment of railroad freight.
to the river. That city has been throwing ou1
her connections with the western roads of lows
and Nebraska, and seems to be disposed to lei
the upper river remain unimproved. It is the
policy of our State to keep watchful eye upo1
this great artery of commerce and leave moth
ing undone to improve the navigation of thi
great highway to the sea. It was the only hop
of this city and the only dependence of th
grain producers OF the great Northwest.
PARKS AND PUBLIC GROUNDS
Mr.. McClung offered the following resolution
which was adopted:
ResolVed, That the committee on parks in
quire and report ut the next meeting whether
it is necessary and desirable to provide for an,
parks or public grounds easily accessible to tn
masses of the people within the limits of tn
CITY; whether such public grounds can b.
bought now or exchanged for other propert,
while property is low to better advantage thai
to wait till desirable points are occupied will
buildings and prices advanced; whether sucl
public grounds as would serve as ventilators ant
purifiers of the atmosphere could be utilizet
for school purposes with economy and withou
interfering with their character as parks
what grounds are owned now by the city al
public squares or parks, and what action shoul(
be taken to make them subserve the most use
full purposes with the least expense If til,
committee find that small parks within the cit,
limits are desirable, they are instructed to sue
gest their location and the best WAYS anc
means Of procuring them without an increas,
of taxation.
Adjourned.
HEAVY IMMIGR1TION.
Brisk Times on9 the st. Paul and Pacific
and Probable Large Area Sown t.
Wheat.