The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-09-17
Minnesota's Mines.

a few days ago | attended a meeting
which has been called TO organize n new
board of trade in this city. This had
been rendered necessary, in view of the
rapid and Unprecedented increase in the
grain production of the state. Compe-
tent judges estimate the wheat crop in
this state for this year at 36.000000
bushels valued, at low estimate, at
S2S,0OO,O0O. This il less than 80 cents
n bushcl. The present price is S5 to S74
according 90 grade II may 90 higher
Less than 100 days ago no part of this
great wealth existed. In the words of
one OF the speakers of the occasion
Little more than ninety days ago.
bushcl of grain placed in the fruitful
soil. by dew and rain and sunshine. and
that unknown and incomprehensiblc pro-
cess called life and growth. has deyel-
opcd to twenty bushels. The seed sown
in Minnesota in April has matured IN
August into over forty millions of bush
els of golden grain. Out of the gencr-
ous soil from darkness and obscurity and
mould has been lifted over thirty millions
of dollars worth of property that actual
y had no existence one hundred days
ago. doubt whether California and
the golden slopes of the Pacific have
ever in single year lifted 50 much of
the yellow metal from out of their
mines
Another speaker said that I'VE have
only begun to dream Of the future of the
great Northwest, and it is only necessary
f1r the board of trade to work with one
accord and will be but Il short time when
st. panl, the uatuidi outlet Of tlc
northwestern states and territories. will
take her proper place in the estimation
OF the country at large
This is interesting reading, because it
is true and because il is a most crafty
ing exhibit for state so young and so
sparsely settled as Minnesota. There are
now about three thousand miles of rail
road in the State and more are building
constantly. St. Paul handled last year
one million bushels of oats. two million
bushels of corn, and nearly million
bushels of wheat. This year it is said
these figures viii be nearly doubled
New elevators are being erected among
the railroads in this immediate vicinity,
building III the city is very active. n mag
nihccnt Union depot is now being CON
stiucted for the use of the railroads cen
tering here, and as the last and best eyi-
dencc of a healthy activity in business,
all the hotels are crowded to their utmost
capacity The population of st. Paul is
4l,i5L while her sister city Minneapo-
lis. six miles west, boasts 4S.20l. Near
ly a hundred thousand people in two cit
les that could boast but few years ago
not over seventy thousand between them.
This rapid and continuing increase in
population is based on the material pro
perity of the state and the growing
wealth of the people.
] was very forcibly impressed with n
doubt expressed IN one of the speeches mt
the board of trade meeting, whether the
Pacific slope had ever in single year
produced enough money from its mines
to buy this years Minnesota wheat crop.
As matter of fact, the Pacific coast
has in one or two years produced sniff
cient to buy this crop. But at what u
cost III money. in manhood. in moral
character, and what wrecks have been
left in it wake! The lesson of Minneso-
Ia suggests moral and n contrast. 1t
shows what may be accomplished in Il
very few years in q virgin county. Hun
dreds Of foreigners whom | remembered
as coming into Minnesota nearly ten
years ago, with barely enough money to
bring them here, are now the owners of
fine farms; they have money in bank,
they have cattle and house and barn
and are on the high road to fortune.
Rough, uucouth, unlcttcred. and uulearn-
al : | L Il
eNcrting an influence in local affairs.
Many of them hold official positions in
the counties where they reside They
are all bright, enterpriaing, frugal. hard
working and good citizens Each knows
that he is unit of the whole people, and
as good ''as any one" Ambition spurs
some Of them to be title better If
Swcdcs. Danes. Germans and Nerve.
gians can do this, why not some Of the
thousands of our native-boln citizens
who are holding on by their eyelids to
chance in New York, with every pros
pect and an eyer-prescnt fear that they
may at any moment drop into the gulf
OF hopeless and helpless bankruptcy?
Minnesota offers rare advantages. After
an experience OF very nearly five years
IN travel through the West, and a resi-
dence of over three years in California, |
recognize the coming greatness of Min
heSota. As wheat-Iaising State it will
un doubtedly surpass California in few
years. In the latter State there is never
any assurance from one year to another
that full crop will be harvested. \ dry
winter upsets all calculations. In Min
ncsota fair crop may be depended on
with absolute certainty, and an cxtraor-
dlnary yield very frequently.