St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-04
Improvements Ia the City.
GROWTH OF ST. PAIL.

st. Paul, during the last few years, has had
8 rapid growth, and now ranks as the COM
mercial and financial metropolis of the great
northwest. Twenty-Five years ago St.
Paul was nothing but small village located
on the east side Of the Mississippi, and to-
day it is a rapidly growing city of 100, 900 in
habltants, The business Of the city, which
then only aggregated five millions a year,
has grown to over one hundred millions,
while the small buildings which were then
used tor business houses have given way to
magnificent palaces Of iron, glass, stone and
brick. In 1860 the population of st
Paul was 10, 900. 1870, 10000;
1880, Il, 49S, and the estimate for 1884 is
100. 900. From all information and data
collected it appears that the estimate is
smaller than the true number of inhab-
itants.
LOCATION AND HEALTH.
ST. Paul owes It's phenomenal growth as
much TO the situation and health Of the city
as to the enterprise OF its own citizens. Be
ing situated at the head of navigation of the
Mississippi river, II is the distributing point
for large area of territory, while the sloping
ground upon which it is located makes the
drainage perfect, thus guarding against
all kinds of fever and epi-
demic diseases. In 1883 there were
only twenty-five cases Of dipthera reported in
the city. The dry air makes lung diseases
almost unknown, and its perfect drainage
further guards the health of its citizens. 1t
Is certainly the henlthiest city OF its size in
the world. The average annual death rate
is only l1.72 per 1000.
BUILDING REVIEW.
For the year 1889 st. Paul stood fourth on
the list Of cities in tina United States with ref
ereuce to the amount expended in the con-
stvuction of now buildings, being surpassed
by New York, Cincinnati and Chicago The
amount OF money put into new buildings,
together with the estimated cost Of
those begun but not completed in
1883 was Sk,93S, $50; white the number
OF buildings erected during this year will not
fall Tar short Of $4,000. The following is a
record Of tho buildings for which cash was
paid down during the year:
No. Bldgs. Amt, Ex
business blocks, stores. So. $500 $3,64l, roo
Frame business buuilugs..... l0t 24l, 900
PubiiQ buildings. -. .st~s.. 10 Te,3O0
Restdences.......... S,0S7 4,Hk050
Total. .S3,4sO SIS, $50
This number is materially increased ifthe
numbeT OF buildings not completed, but
commenced In the fear 1883 are taken into
consideration. 1t viii cost over 100000
to finish the buildings now in course of
erection, aud from the estimate of architects
and builders the improvements for the year
1884 will aggregate S18,000,o0O,
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
The city spent during the last year over
$1,000, 600 for public improvements. Nine
miles Of sewer were built at cost Of $245, =
600, making total sewer system OF twenty
six miles. In the last year 4S miles Of
street were surfaced with stone, 10. miles
with gravel, and 1.6 miles were paved with
cedar blocks, The total graded and paved
was eighteen miles, with six miles of stone
curling, AZ a cost of 1925, 900. Tweuty-stx
and half miles Of sidewalk were laid at an
expense OF $4,000, and the work of laying
uniform sidewalks OF Ohio sand
stone on the principal business
hocils'is still under way. There are under
contract twelve additional miles OF street
The Seventh street fill, now under way, and
to be completed this year, will cost S2s5. 900,
end the estimated cost of the bridge to be
built across the railroad tracks on Third
street is $780, OO0 The cost Of the Missis-
sippi street bridge will be $50, 900, and of all
bridges 10 be constructed during the year,
5000, 900. A new water works system is
now under way, and viii soon be completed
at q cost Of $S00,o
CITY FINANCES.
The total bonded debt of St. Paul is So
oS5. +40T1. or this amount Sei0. 900 were
issued during the year ending June |, 1854,
aud 500, 900 Of it covers the cost Of the sys-
TEN Of water supply, which was recently
transferred from private to public ownership.
or the latter, the revenue from the water de-
partment pays the interest, aud there is =
surplus which will be sufficient, at the date
Of maturity, to discharge the principal.
During the year past the water bonds com
mended per cent. interest, and sold at 3
per cent premium. OF the total bonded
debt taxes are levied for interest on but
Sl,9S5, 4$0.7l, and no floating debt
exists. AS bonds fall due thew are
psid by direct tax lsvies. The excess of mu-
nicipal liabilities over assets is So, ass %.