Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-08
Something for st PauIites to Read ana
Consider.

miscellaneous.
Something for st PauIttes to Read ana
Consider
The representative men of st. Faults
capitalists, leading business ard professional
men-by and through whom the cityis known
abroad, are, to put it mildly, peculiar. In the
conduct of their private affairs they are noted
for the sagacity, enterprise and lioerality they
bring to bear. The miles upon miles OF
elegant and substantial business blocks, hand
some and costly private residences, and the
magnitude and rapid growth of the city's
trade, is proof of this fact. 1t is also true that
when aroused by danger threatening some of
the great interests of the city-not especially
those of any one individual, but extending
to the whole community these representa-
tive men have been known to act together,
and Dy an exhibition Of little OF that sa-
gacity, enterprise and liberality found so po-
tent in the management of their private bust
ness, have not only averted what threatened
TO be calamity, but SO changed its direction
and purpose as to transform 1t into an agency
for good. But it is also true that these repre-
sentative men have seen threatened danger ap-
preaching, have from its very first appearance
correctly diagnosedits elements, minutely noted
its object and the injury to result from it if
allowed to eliminate, have grasped the gen.
eral details of @ plan by which the blow
could be averted without serious detrlment to
their immediate private interests, while IN the
long run it would be decidedly advantageous,
and yet have set quietly down and let the
blow fall, not so much as raising their voices
in protest to prevent it. The pages Of the
unwritten history of st. Paul are dotted over
with monuments to the memory of splendid
public opportunities frittered away aud lost
forever by selfish Indifference on the part of
these representative men.
A year ago the month of March last Com
modore n. w. Kittson, who had spent an Or
binary life time assisting in the development of
Minnesota and the Northwest, commenced
purchases fora great horse breeding eStab-
lishment to be located near st. Paul, and
from that time to the present he has expended
over 100000 in the enterprise He has now
nearly or quite hundred head OF horses,
thoroughbreds and trotters, included in which
are some of the most famous
turf performers in the country, his string OF
trotters and PAGERS especially beng superior
to that owned by any other one man. He has
in that time built on his breeding farm just on
the outskirts of st. Paul, one OF the largest,
finest and most complete homes for horses to
be found in this country-a credit to st. Paul
and the state.
While Commodore Kittson will use some of
his most promising animals in public speed
contests, all save three have been purchased
for breeding, and to that service they will be
devoted eventually, their turf careers being
solely to establish their merit by the recog-
nized test of speed, and, also, necessarily TO
invite attention to his breeding operations.
The Importance of this step of Commodore
Kittson's to the future of Minnesota can not
now be estimated. 1t is still an undecided
problem whether blood stock can be bred in
Minnesota TO compete in style and quality
with those reared in milder climates, for the
same outlay, so as to be brought into compe-
tition with the produce of these mider To-
calites upon even terms. Already III the
southern portion of the state the cultivation
of wheat is becoming improbable, and the
question with the farmer is TO what purpose
shall he devote his land. A number of enter
prising gentlemen-De Graft, Barden, King,
Post, Hopkins, Bradford Grafton, Finkle and
many others-believe that Minnesota is well
adapted to stock raising, and that as wheat
goes out stock will take its place aud prove
equally if not more profitable in the long run,
than does the great staple and are acting upon
that belief.
Commodore Kttson's enterprise will go far
toward demonstrating this now open ques-
ton of whether stock can be raised in Min
nes0ta ron upon .na ot large ; scale
situated states, and sold in competition with
foundation with rare good judgment. Moth
ing but the best blood, as demonstrated by
the career of their sireS and dams, and also by
their own performances, have been purchased.
His animals, sires and dams, are of the most
approved breeds, untainted with disease ofany
kind, and free from all bodily deformity. The
munificence of his expenditures and the ma
tional fame of some of his purchases have at
tracted more attention to Minnesota, as the
home of fine stock, than have the really enter
prsing operations of all Others of our breed
ers. And to continue his work in
this direction the choicest Of his great stable
are to be sent to meet in speed contests at The
great turf ccnters, the finest representatives of
the great breeding establishments ofthe coun-
try.
Commodore Kittson is st. Paul man. 1t
is the home of his adoption. Many of its
people are endeared to him by many years
of business and social association. He de-
lights IN the rapid progress the city has made
and in tie bright prospects for its future. But
his great undertaking. Absolutely nothing.
On the contrary, it is, so far as deeds go, or
rather the failure to do, discouraging the en-
terprise, trying TO make him feel that
he has made mistake, and saying to the out
side world this proceeding of Mr.. Kittson's
does not have our countenance, and it is
matter of Indifference to us whether he
buCCteuo Ut ldllS. Lie uONc 10 vi OWu
choosing. Let him carry it through. We
wash our hands of it entirely.
How is this said? Let us see. A necessary
adjunct to fine breeding is racing, speed con-
tests. The best of the produce of all breeding
establishments go to the turf. The value of
turf performers largely regulates the prices
OF horses, their value being graduated accord
ing as they approach to the standard of the
racer. Speed contests is the great national
sport of America. The most eminent
men of the country delight in and
patronize it. As "a consequence, cities of any
pretensions have their tracks and racing
meetings. st. Paul is an exception.
When Commodore Kittson located his breed
ing establishment upon the former driving
park, thus depriving st. Paul of fair and
racing grounds, movement was inaugurated
for union exposition grounds and driving
park, midway between st. Paul and Minneapo-
lis. The time for carrying forward such an
enterprise seemed propitious. st. Paul was
entirely unprovided with such grounds, while
the Minneapolis grounds were held by an I'M
certain tenure liable to be ended at almost any
time. Meetings were held, committees appoint
ed, and grounds found admirably located
for the purposes designed, and for the accom-
mediation of the two cities.
1t islot necessary now to speak in detail of
the many advantages that would have been
secured by the proposed union, and the benefit
that would have resulted to the two cities
and the state through the holding of annual
expositions and race meetings. Commodore
Kittson appreeiated the fact that it was a