The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-09-07
WEDNESDAY MORNING. SEPT. z.

What the city is indebted to, however, for
the first steps toward the success she has met
is her lumber trade Although the immense
pine forests have yearly been thinned out and
deprived of their fruit, the lumber trade is
still one of the most important interests of
Minneapolis. Fourteen saw-mills are now
within its limits, and furnished in 1880 1867
452, 1872 feet of lumber with value OF $20,9o0,-
900. Notwithstanding the milling industries
are the prime factors in the city's growth and
wealth, her wholesale trade is gaining steadi-
ly each year, reaching in 1880 value of $l7,-
064 900. The success with which the wholesale
and retail trade is carried on is attested by the
rapidity with which substantial blocks are go
ing up which in time will make that
portion of the city as compact and complete as
similar localities in the older cities OF the
East.
Another factor in the prosperity of the city is
in the fact that great railway facilities are
opened to her for communication and trans
portation with and to all parts of the country.
Six lines center here, and the connection by
these arr such as to make transportation to any
part of the State or country COM
paratively easy, while it opens means for sup
plying the new country OF the Northwest as
well as transferring her products to the eastern
lines. 1t is amazing to witness the rapid
strides railroading is taking in this section.
While in 1850 the State could not boast OF
mile, now her land is being crossed and re-
crossed by the iron rails, and too, by roads that
business is enormous while few are unable
to handle all that is offered them.
A particular in which many Western cities
may, perhaps seem to go too far is in the publ
cation of newspapers. Most places of five
thousand people, or over, instead OF giving
their support to one good daily with all the adj
vantages of correspondence and teiegraphlc
communication, boast of from two to three;
and how so many sheets can live and keep the
proprietors alive, is conundrum. Minneapolis
=. 6 4. L. IL NJ rInnh hast rnn
dailies, but two of them, the Pioneer Press and
Evening Journal are issued simultaneously at
home and in St. Paul. The Press, although on
a solid foundation financially, with a large
corps of correspondents and a special wire to
the East, combined with a subscription list of
some twenty thousand, does not exert,the infiu-
cree or have that salutary effect on the peo-
pie that ought to be ere dited to paper OF its
stamp. The Tribune, strictly home paper.
pays more attention to the manufacturing and
agricultural interests OF the city and State; IL
is important to remark here that all OF these
journals are of Republican affiliations, fact
which reflects credit upon the city, the people,
and the papers themselves.
The people of this rising city are to great
extent of New England In examining the
census of any other western city with a view to
nationality, one is surprised at the powerful
quota foreign countries supply. In Milwaukee,
for example, nearly half of her people are
Germans. In any other western locality that
nation has large representation, to which can
be added the Irishman, Swede, Scotch and
Norwegian. Minneapolis, however, counts an
overwhelming majority of native-born Ameri-
cans, good number from the rocky coasts and
pine clad hills of Maine. Coming as they do
from that section of the East, descended from
old Puritan stock. and dwelling here for COM
paratively so short time, of course we find
many of those sterling qualities imbedded in
the hearts and minds of these now western
citizens. And yet in taking up allegiance with
the fame and fortunes of Minnesota they have
lost or voluntarily thrown aside many OF the
worthy characteristics of the New Englanders'
Instead of the easy, calculating and moderate
man Of the East, we find the impetuous, bust
nesslike ard lucky individual of the West. He
settles here with the idea of accommodating
wealth, and apparently throws aside all ease
and pleasure that he may attain his object.
Generally he is successful. The opportunities
are great; the chances for investment broad
and there is the necessary providential luck
incident to the locality. Everybody seems
TO be busy, always something to do. Appar-
emily chance for the live and ambitious man;
but only misfortune and despair for the slug
gard and the one who lays on his oars waiting
for ten thousand dollar job
Society is in its infancy, not extended, and
wanting that restrained ard conservative spirit
of the East. The people as a general thing are
kind ,open-hearted, lavish and free, but too busy
to give much attention to such matters.
Naturally there is great pride taken by the
people in the city and her history, what there
as the looming city, and perhaps on good
ground. Her situation, geographically, is
good; her water power unsurpassed; her bust
ness hourishing her people busy and contented
and it must be confessed that she certainly has
brilliant future. Phil.