Morning journal and courier., 1884-05-14


 About the Crops.
 MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., May 8.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 The transition was surprisingly sudden from the rigors of our long winter to the milder season of spring; and yet, after the step had once been taken, nature seemed to rest satisfied with the effort. Vast quantities of snow and ice that had been undisturbed for months vanished in single week, with 8 rush and a swirl of waters. Then followed a month of moist, chilly weather that seemed quite natural to one used to the climate of New Haven. But now, at last, bright and lovely days have come, when 1t is not haz- ardous to go without an overcoat, or to sit without fires.
 This place has shared to some extent the universal depression on account of the low price of wheat, etc., but it has been manifest ed chiefly in the stringency of the money market and inclination to defer payments rather than in ces .ation of building and pushing of public enterprises. There Is said to be less speculation in city lots than usual and corresponding increase in buying for actual use. Hundreds of dwellings are going up all over the city, and it is remarked that g large number of them are for the occupancy of owners, rather than for rent. And yet contrary to the general prediction, rents have advanced fully ten percent, though many regard it as but transient rise, to be followed by cheaper rates. Rents as they now are may be safely said to be double what they are in New Haven.
 IT -L1s L,.-SI of erection, some of which are of large size and will cost heavily. The West hotel is nearly completed, and will probably be opened by the Fourth of July. The building itself is said to have cost million dollars, and the cost of furnishing will exceed $1OO,- 900. When it is done I will tell you more about it. Then there is the new postofice, the splendid Tribune building, Chamber of Commerce, new banking houses, mills, and 8 host of other structures too large to be de- scribed in single paragraph. The Union depots on which work is now begun, will be one of the finest in the couatry and will &C., commedate the twenty railroads that now send out more than one hundred passenger trains from Minneapolis daily. and that shipped last year 23O, GOO carloads of freight from here. All these roads have the use of the magnificent viadact that has been recent ly finished across the Falls of St. Anthony at total cost of $70O,0O0 exclusive of the ap~ breaches. The total appropriation by the Manitoba railroad alone for the viaduct, ap- breaches and Grand Union depot, is $3, ,OOO,- 900, which may give the reader an idea of the magnitude of the undertaking.
 Less costly in materials, yet very imposing in dimensions is the new drill hall, or ''Uni- versity Coliseum" as the citizens are proud to call 1t, that is just being completed on the grounds of the State University, Ostensibly for military drill, it's first use will be ss a aio hall fho WodnAr ia Kr be held hefe in June It is admirably adapt ed for such gathering, as it will comforta- ply seat 5000 persons, enjoys excellent acoustics, and has all the improvements sug- gested by modern musical art. Choruses are iE training in all the principal cities of the Northwest to participate in this monster fes- tival and when the time comes there will be such 'a tempest of sweet sounds'' as we fancy may be heard across the continent Only think of it! We are actually to have in these western vilds, the great trio. Materna, Scaria, and Winkelmann, the renowned Nils son, and numerous stars of less magnitude, in addition to all our local celebrities. There are 100 GOO Swedes in Minnesota, and they have resolved themselves intu committee of the whole to give 8 welcome to their charming cantatrice, Mile. Nilsson. Among the masterpieces to be produced at this fes- tival will be both the great oratorios, 'Crea- tion', and "The Messiah; Wagner's ''Meis- tsr-sanger', and parts of Tannhauser and To- hengrin, etc. The preliminary training is going on under the leadership of Mir D. BIakley, formerly chief editor of the Pioneer Press, but whose soul is no " devoted to har- mony and laudable determination to elevate the musical taste of the whole North vest
 There is unquestionably great deal of valuable material in the choirs and musical societies of this region. And yet, from what have seen of them, the opinion may be ex- hot khnx1 kIa effects attainable in communities where a whole generation has been drilled under a uniform system of musical instruction Pera init word to be said here, by way of digres sion, in favor of the system of vocal instruc- sion adopted in the public schools of New Haven. When see our Philharmonic so- cieties here struggling through some of their more difficult work and really doing them selves credit, considering the heterogene ous material of which they are composed, I have repeatedly found myself comparing with them the trained classes in Hillhouse High school, to the advantage of the latter. I wonder if the people of New Haven appreciate the systematic work done in their schools for de- veloping the voices of the children and youth
 There has been, and is still going on, revolution in municipal affairs that is highly encouragir to the friends of sound morals The city has been run for the last two years on what is known as ''the wide open" policy or O0lCaRO aQQ OllClQudIl; LQ0 result De1nR that Minneapolis came to be regarded as sort of paradise for gamblers, prostitutes and rumssllers. The mayor has actually been known to give fast young men from abroad what he called "the freedom of the city," which meant that they could go where they pleased and do what they pleased without fear of arrest and he has even been known to juin them in their cs~ousals. The law-abiding citizens of both parties united to overthrow this lax administration, and elected Hon. G. W. Pillsbury as mayor, with majority of over 2,O0O, and set of aldermen to match. They have begun the strict enforcement of law. Saloons are closed on Sundays, gam blers are frightened away, and the social evil ceases it's shameless parade. No one pretends that vice is exterminated, but 1t is something to have evil-doers compelled to take back seats. No licenses are granted to liquor sellers outside the limits of what Is defined as s.active patrol" and the fee within those limits has been raised from $10O to $500, be- ing the same for beer as for stronger liquors No attempt will be made to fight against high license, but the saloon keepers will test the rule as to ''active patrol' limits. The fact must be noted that in all this fight the Pro- hibition party has ranged itself in opposition to the Pills5ury movement, On the ground that there was no safe stopping place between free rum and total prohibition. They also felt chagrined at their treatment by politicians of the two leading parties. Many total ab- stinence men, however, favor high license, not as being absolutely the best thing. but as being unspeakably better than the ''wide open'' plan which was sure to curse the city unless checked by prompt law and order movement such es has now prevailed It should be added that, although Mr. PiIlsbury was the Republican candidate, there was a large section from the Democratic party that formally left the ranks for the purpose of electing him.
 Prof. Northrop's acceptance of the presi- dency of the Minnesota University secures for us man in whom all have confidence, and who will be able. no doubt, to solve some of the knotty problems that have batfl8d others. He will find his place no sinecure, but the field of usefulness is wide and attrac- tive, and with his energetic and magnetic mental force he will accomplish results of the most gratifying nature. Mere culture is not snough for these new regions; but there must be organizing faculty, creative skill, and ts- nacity of purpose--and these qualities the new president is believed to possess. The university is charningly located on the bluffs the Falls of St. Anthony, and in she midst of perhaps the most agreeable resi- dence part of our city. The appropriations from the State for it's support are liberal and the men under whose management 1t now is are earnest in wishing to see the in stitution take it's place among tho hast coI.