The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-06-27
ST. PAUL LETTER.
ST. PAUL, MINI,
Inne q 1SS2.

June 8, 1888.
Editor Herald Please allow me
SPICE in your valuable paper for a
few items from st. Paul, which may
be read with interest by the many
readers of the HERALD.
Since | have been a resident OF 81.
Paul | have closely kept track OF the
rapid growth of not only ST. Paul
alone. but of the State, and the
whole Northwest, embracing Dako-
ia. Montana. and the valley OF the
"Red River ofthe North"
The progress the New Northwest
is making in material developments
is beyond comparison the most mar
velous in the annals of the human
race. Less than fifty years ago the
vast region from the Saskatche-
wan " and north of it TO the Nebras-
ka. and from the latter to the Cor
dilleras," was practically an un-
known wilderness, but little more
than explored by civilized man.
To-day it embraces some OF the
finest States and provinces on the
Continent, and is the recognized
granery of the world.
A vast network Of railroads, more
extensive than that Of any country
in Europe, has been laid and thou
sands of miles are being added every
year, opening up with each return
ing sun, almost, new fields OF mex
haustibie wealth TO the enterprise
and thrift of Western civilization.
Population and capital are flowing
in like mighty Aood-tides Of the
ocean. and the trackless wastes OF
Yesterday are converted, as if by
magic, into the waving wheat fields
of to-day. Towns are springing up
in every direction, while places
favored by situation and other
natural advantages, grow rapidly
into important cities.
Favored by a soil of unsurpassed
fertility, and by climate peculiarly
adapted to the production of the
worlds great cereal staple, wheat, as
well as the other harder products Of
agriculture, and with an area one
half as large as that of all the states
of the Union, it is at once the most
extensive, and so far as natural ad-
vantages are concerned, the richest
agricultural region under the sun;
in other important respects 1t is
hardly less favored.
Its mineral resources embrace
every variety of ores that enter into
the useful arts, while its timber sup
ply is abundant and its water power
is unequaled.
Settled as thickly as the east
ern states, this magnificent region
would contain a population of
of two hundred million inhabitants,
or divided into States, it would make
eighteen as large as the great state OF
Illinois. Considering the nature and
extent of this new Northwest, as
this great and imperial section has
been appropriately termed, and con-
sidering the wonderful rapidity with
which immigration is pouring into
it from all countries, in streams of
tens of thousands monthly, it re-
quires no great power of foresight to
see that here, in the natural order of
things, will stand some of the great
cities of the early future; cities that
will not suffer by comparisonin pop
ulation and wealth with the greatest
on either side of the Atlantic.
The most striking increase of pop
ulation has been right here in St.
Paul. In 1870 the population of St.
Paul was $4,000; in 1880 it num-
bered 1900, increasing nearly 245
per cent in a single decade. But it
is still more wonderful to know that
since the census of1SS0, it increased
in population from 41,000 to $4,000
in 80 according to the lowest esti-
mate, based upon both the directory
and the statistics of dwellings stand
ing prior to, and erected during the
year 1889.
Notwithstanding that much ofthe
territory tributary to st. Paul is still
practically an uninhabited wilder
ness, with settlements only here and
there, mere muscles of the immense
population now so rapidly gathering
around them, the trade OF the city
has grown to vast proportions, and
is annually increasing at an unpree.
edented rate.
The volume ofour wholesale and
iobbing trade is limited only by the
means and facilities of our mer.
chants fol accommodating it. In
1882 it amounted TO S62, ,52S, 900 and
the demand was such that that sum
could have been doubled without
forcing business in the least.
There is no more reason now why
the retail custom of Minnesota, Da.
kota and Manitoba should go to Chi.
cago, than there was thirty years
ago that the retailers near that city
should go to Cincinnati and ST. Louis
for their supplies.
The situation of st. Paul. the
topography and nature of the new
Northwest, and the river and rail.
roads have made this city a trad,
centre, for many years to come, a
least, of this entire region, and i
could hardly escape becoming if i
would a great city, with the growth
and development Of the country. q.
The geographical position of ST
Paul, together with It's systems o
rail and river transportation, is sucl
as to make the western part of Wis
consin, all of Minnesota and Dakot,
and much of Montana, Manitob.
and Southwestern British America
directly tributary to this CITY. o
course it is not to be claimed tha
this entire region is wholly depend
ent upon 81. Paul as a market. bu
such is the situation and nature O
the country that this place is tn
natural trade centre not only of tn,
territory named, but of a still create
area and considering the wonderful
progress in this city in trade anc
manufacture, and as a great receiy
ing depot for the products of the new
Northwest, it is entirely safe to sa,
that st. Paul will control by far tn,
greater portion of the country men
toned.
4.