St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-28

ton in the world.
Capital has been augmented to meet the
increasing demands Of our growing COM
merce and manufacturers, until the banking
capital and business of the city exceeds that
of all other cities and towns in the state of
Minnesota combined, making over $1,000
600 of capital and surplus, with deposits ex-
ceeding s12,00O,O 900, and annual sale of
exchange reaching the enormous aggregate
of S100,000,000.
CITY MATTERS.
The officers of our city have generally shown
zeal, ability and integrity in the discharge
of their respective duties, and although there
is room for improvement, as there always
must be while the inirmities of a human
selves that no city anywhere has govern
ment better administered than st. Paul. The
debt has not yet reached more than per
cent. of the fair valuation of the property of
the city subject to assessment and taxation,
although we have passed the point where ex
traordinary expenditures are required in aid
Of railroads coming to the city, or to estab-
lish and put in order sewer
age system, or to purchase
a proper system to provide water for all parts
Of the city, or to purchase school building
sites and buildings thereon, or to erect many
costly new bridges over ravines, rivers and
streams. All these extraordinary expenses
have been incurred and paid for. The mat
tiers which most demand and which are now
receiving the attention of the proper officers
of the city, are the extension of the sewerage
and water systems to the Fourth, Fifth and
Sixth wards and replacing the old plank
sidewalks with stone on all our business
streets. Both public and private interest de-
mand that city of 100 600 people, transact
ing a business of more than 800, 900, 900
annually, should not tolerate to be disgraced
with such sidewalks on its business streets
longer.
THE CURRENCY.
The commercial and business character of
our people causes them to take deep inter-
est in all that pertains to the public welfare,
as thereby they become connected with the
general business of the country, and know
ing that one part of the same body cannot be
sound while another remains unsound. To
those in whose minds there still fingers
recollection Of the uncertainties, dangers and
losses attending all business transactions be-
fore the war, resulting from an unsound and
inflated currency, issued by state banks,
chartered and doing business under as many
different systems as there were different
states, any suggestion of radical change or
thought Of abandonment of the present final
cial policy and banking system of the federal
government, is nothing less than menace
and threat of destruction to the business in
terests and prosperity of the country. The
financial and banking system of the nation
engendered by the dire financial necessities
Of war, has proved an unmistakable blessing
to all the business men and interests of this
country, and should be preserved for all time
and looked upon by all classes as one of the
chief blessings transmitted to us from that
period of gloom and destruction. There is
still room for improvement there can be no
doubt, in some details, but when we con-
slider the imperfections of human Judgment
we must conclude that change is more likely
to be for the worse instead of the better
THE PAST YEAR.
The year just passed will always remain
one of the most memorable in the annals
of the city. 1t has witnessed the compile
ton of the new capitol building and new
opera house and the commencement of the
new million dollar hotel, new court house
and new chamber of commerce building.
To all this the mind instinctively connects the
completion of the Northern Pacific railroad,
which together make it year never to be
forgotten. From it the city dates a new
era. The vast new and fertile regions
thereby opened to settlement and bust
al frih N IF
the Mississippi and to the commerce of
our city removes all limit to our growth
and development. The facilities for doing
business here are not surpassed anywhere
Eight trains leave daily for Chicago and the
east; four for Manitoba and the northwest
independent of the Northern Pacific; two for
Portland, Oregon, and all intermediate
points; four for the navigable waters of Lake
Superior; two for st. Louis, and not less
than six for the west, southwest and south,
each carrying through cars to the commercial
and political capitals of all adjacent states
and territories, while the whole number of
passenger trains that run in and out
of the city daily is 1874. The Wis
consin Central, Minnesota e. North
western, st. Paul Eastern, Grand Trunk,
Winona, Alma 81 Northern, Chicago, Bur-
lington 81 Quincy, and Chicago & Rock
Island are all taking steps to extend their
lines to this metropolis at an early day. The
Northern Pacific Railroad company, the st.
Paul, Minneapolis 81 Manitoba Railroad COM
pany, the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis &
Omaha Railroad company, each operating
long lines of completed road, have erected
buildings for their main offices in this city
and from them all the operations of their
lines of road are carried on.
A CONTRAST.
1t therefore seems proper that 1 should
give expression to sentiment that must be
common to us all, that at no period has the
future of this city been so bright with prom
Uses as now. 1t seems miraculous, even to
those who have stood by and watched and
participated in all the past events of its de-
velopment, that, Notwithstanding the great
financial crash of 1857, that in single
month swept away all the wealth and much
of the growth of the first eight years of its
existence, and the eXhausting and destruc-
tive influences of the great rebellion and In
dian wars that came upon our people before
they had commenced to rally from the disas-
tiers of 1857, and which for five long years
continued to absorb all the energies of our
people, still in the short space of thirty-five
years there has grown up here the city of to-
day. Thirty-fve years ago no city, no rail-
road, no street, no railway, no church, no
school, no home, nothing but earth, air and
water common to all and enjoyed only by
savage and uncultivated life. To-day the
100000 people, the 500, 900, 900 of business,
church edifices OF magnificent structure and
proportions, the elegant school houses, the
mansion and residence, the comforts and re-
finements of the highest type of civilized life
With the growth of the last thirty-ive
years before US under circumstances so adj
verse what may we not effect in the next
period of equal duration2 All the country
about US, east, west, north and SOUTH has. by