Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-30
THE LAND OF LAKES.
A Philadelphia Tourist on Hts Travels t
the Northwest.

Correspondence of the Philadelphia Record.
METROPOLITAN HOTEL,
ST. PAUL. Mimi, Aug. 10, 1878.
Since wrote my last letter at Chicago,
have extended my journey to the westward UNI
til am now at the capital of Minnesota. I
am well repaid for the fatigue and discomfort
of my thousand-mile excursion into what was
in my boyhood a vast wilderness, but is now
region mighty in agricultural resources and
filed with populous cities. left Chicago on
the morning train, over the Chicago and North
western railroad. During our journey to st.
Paul we had the pleasure of beholding scenery
which is everywhere interesting, and in some
ly tempted to descant upon the beautiful
scenery of this route, but as I have promised
to devote this letter to st. Paul. shall only
pause to remark that Madison, the capital OF
Wisconsin. has most lovely situation amid
group of lakes; that the picturesque
ing stream v Of the elal Wisconsin amd Wl and
Baraboo valleys is entrancingly beautiful, and
that Devils Lake. embosomed amid circle of
steep and lofty hills. whose dark shadows are
most faithfully reflected from the lakes clear
depths, certainly forms picture equal to any
which has ever adorned the canvas of the old
masters. But all these scenes pass away like
dream, and on the morning of the next day we
awake to find that we are just entering the CAPT
! tai and metropolis of the great North Star
State.
As sat on the hotel piazza this evening,
muslng over the events of the day. the sights
and scenes which I had witnessed in nv ram
bles about this city. formed striking and
highly interesting mental panorama
st. Paul is built on series of natural ter
| races, rising one above another from the bank
OF the Mississippi to high plateau about 200
feet above the surface of the river. A level
tract between the river and the first terrace
is used levee and for railroad yards
Here the steamers load and unload their car
goes, and receive freight from the railroads or
| transfer freight to the long line of cars which
! cover the scores of tracks which are thickly
| crowded along the levee st. Paul is at the
| head of navigation on the Mississippi and is
| the great entrepot for the trade between the
South, the East and the great North
| west. As l stood on one of the docks,
| at which several steamers were
| discharging and receiving their cargoes, while
| train after train Numbered along behind me
bearing its burden of passengers or freight, the
scene was one of surprising interest for the man
who glories in his country progress and has an
admiration for commercial enterprise. The
roustabouts on one steamer were carrying
ashore chests of tea from China, cases of dry
goods from Europe, and machinery of various
| patterns from the workshops If our Eastern
cities. The crew of another were busily en-
| gagged in transferring to her broad decks bales
OF Iurs from the British possessions large guam
| titles of deerskins and barrels of mineral ore
from Lake Superior and the Black Hills. Still
another was receiving the cargo of the magnif-
cent wheat for which the Minnesota region is
famous The vast immigration into this State
was evident from the groups eff Germans,
French, Irish and Swedes scattered about the
levee and in the railroad depots. Third street
is the principal business thoroughfare. The
favorlte building material seems to be blue
imestons, which when polished closely resem-
bles marble, and is found underlying the city.
Many OF the leading wholesale
tial size and style, equal to any
thing to be met on our own Chestnut or Mar
ket streets. l consider Third street the finest
business street in the West outside of Chicago
and st. Louis. Summit avenue skirts the ed ge
of the high plateau 1 have mentioned. The
| commanding situation of this avenue has
made 1T favorite street for fine residences.
and throug hout it's whole length, as well as on
other Streets may be seen elegant villas and
handsome grounds, which denote tn t wealth,
luxury and good taste have chosen this city as
their abiding place.
St. Paul has had rapid growth, and her
grand commercial position is to me salts
factory ground for believing that her present
population of $4,000 will be $4,000 within five
years, and if the present prosperity and extra
ordinary development of the Northwest con-
tinue. her future greatness cannot be esti-
mated.
For travellers this city possesses many great
attractions. The picturesque situation, the
grand scenery which surrounds it, and the
exhilarating air, almost Intoxicating in its
tonic properties might be dwelt upon
to infinite length without doing justice
to the theme. The weary tourist
CATER long jaunt in the
dusty, rafting railway coach)
will find in the handsome and spacious hotels
of st. Paul an accommodation and cuisine I'M
surpassed even by our own Continental and
Colorado. This house, the Metropolitan, with
its long, wide corridors, its broad
piazzas, its superb appointments, and
dinners in which game and
fish of the choicest flavor are always found,
will linger in my memory as one Of the most
charming of hostelries. And now, lest ep thu
| siastic admiration for my present surround
ings should render my letter tedious, 1 will bid
| adieu to st. Paul for the present. E.