The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-04-21
LETTER FROM ST. PAUL.
ST. PAUL, April 18th, 1881.
Editor Free Press -

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| Editor Free Press -,
1t is not because there was nothing
to write about, that ] have favored
you with my silence the past eight
weeks. Oh! no. The weather would
have furnished u weekly Gf not more
numerous) topic, though perhaps q
little mon0tonous thousands of lin.
seasonable new Corners have been
pouring through this city, bound for
the unlimited Northwest, to say moth
ing of the increasing clatter 6f this
rafting city, all of which, l have had
little time to interview, and none to
write about.
In view of this rush of immigration
beginning thus in mid winter, and
mostly going out over the lines of the
Manitoba and Northern Pacific rall.
roads, the prevailing supposition that
1.-The Land of Plenty" by which the
country along the st. p. 4 S. G. rail
road has come to be known, has
rather "got left" No greater mis-.
take was ever made. Because the
name of this railroad has been changed
so that it now begins in Chicago and
ends in Omaha, with st. Paul in the
middle, it does not follow that all
travel from Chicago to points in
Southwestern Minnesota and North.
western Iowa must come via this city.
Nor does it follow that because the
tide we see. sets west and northwest,
there is no movement in the other
direction. There are five or six
parallel lines of railroad, by any one
of which parties from the East can
reach the country between here and
Sioux City nearer than to come via
st. Paul. Would you think it strange,
If people generally be found selecting
the "inside track!' SO It is to be
presumed that more people visit this
country than the surface observer at
st. Paul has suspected. And that
this theory is supported by facts, l
cite a single item. The sale of lands
along the line of this road since the
lst day of January, 1881, through
one bureau alone, (Close Bros. & Co.,
of lie Mars To-. and G.. w. Slayton Of
this city, have amounted to $4,000
acres, and mostly for settlement and
cultivation. 1t is possible that one
other railroad company has disposed
of more acres in the same time, but
/ doubt il another company In the
whole list Of land grants. can show
so large II PERCENTAGE. And if this
record has been made during winter
of Unparalleled storms, what.may we
expect when the enticing loneliness of
a western summer is again with us.
OF course the "new Northwest" by
which is meant only that pretty
good sized block which is tributary
to st. Paul and Minneapolis, is making
giant strides in growth, and fast
becoming new empire, all of which
is faithfully heralded by the news.
papers of these twin cities, whose
editors believe and not without reason,
that the seat of tins empire Is right
here. The influence of the magnif.
cent growth, is but just beginning to
he felt here, and the man who reads
the next census returns, will open his
eyes wider than ever when he sees
st. Paul and Minneapolis have each
turned the loo, 900 corner.
These two cities, almost near
enough together to grow into one,
nearly even matched for population
and enterprise, yet how unlike each
other in many respects. AS mer.
camille center, st. Paul is undoubted.
ly long way ahead, and the distance
is likely to be increased with each
successive decade, in spite of any
effort her good natured rival may put
forth. The business men Of st. Paul
hold the winning cards in this game
and know how to play them.
The difference i'll favor of Mime.
apolis in the way of manufacturing,
is still greater. Whether that dis.
parity land consequently the difference
in population of the two cities shall in.
crease or diminish, will depend very
much on whether the business men of
st. Paul shall substitute wisdom tor
foolishness on'this question In the
past, it has been confessed that Min
neapolis was bound to do the manu-
featuring for the entire Northwest,
and it was no use to try TO do any
thing in this line in st. Paul. With
her vast water power, supplemented
by government aid, Minneapolis un-
questiOnably has an immense advan-
tage for all kinds of enterprises that
do not produce fuel for their own
power, but when, as is already the
case, it becomes necessary to resort
TO steam power, l fail to see why it
cannot be employed as successfully in
st. Paul us in Minneapolis. When
st. Paul wakes up, and shows some
enterprise in this direction, the gap
in population may begin to close.
There are two other impediments
to the growth of st. Paul, which
must be removed before it can hope
to attain its coveted position as the
first city in the State. In the first
able tenement houses must be pro.
vided at moderate rent, for hundreds
of mechanics and artiZans who are
wanted here and who are .rsady-t0i
come, if the cost Of living is brought |
to correspond with wages offered. and |
secondly, radical change in the
school system of the city must be !
effected, or the great middle class,
who are striving and hoping to be-
come something more than mere
beasts of burden, will continue to |
shun it. The apathy of the people |
residing here, on this subject is mar.
velous to me. With ward schools
poorly managed, and a pseudo high
school of which even Japan would no
doubt be ashamed, it is no wonder
that the Pioneer Press should say, as |
it did in its yesterdays issue: at |
is disheartening to find st. Paul so
far behind her sister city in all that |
concerns her educational interests. y
No doubt the difference alluded to |
contributed materially. to the rapidity
with which Minneapolis has beenr
taking the lead in population of late,
t,,I no