St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-03

opened their schools on the property OF the
church on Third street (this Is the same
ground now occupied by the Pioneer Press
Office and other buildings.)
PURCHASE OF PROPERTY FOR CATHEDRAL.
Good Father Ravoux continues his nara
tive: "After the Bishops departure for France
aware Of the necessity of securing some lots
for the Cathedral and other purposes, /
bought of Mr.. Vetal Guerin, twenty-one lots
for $500, and for 300 the lot on which now
stands the Cathedral. This last bought Of
another person who had already some lum-
Der on the ground for a building. He had
bought the same on credit of Mr.. Guerin for
$50. He decided me that lot for $40 profit.
l considered the purchase of the twenty-five
lots very good bargain for the church, as
also good one for Mr. Guerin, because it
was understood that the Cathedral and other
buildings would be erected on block seven,
and such improvements would increase the
value of Mr.. Guerin's property. The event
proved that was not deceived in my expec-
tation. The Right Rev. Bishop after his
return from France, paid the money for the
twenty-five lots and received the deed; had
but bond for the security of our bargain. :"
These twenty-five lots, which cost 5000 in
1851, are now worth not less than $500, 900,
possibly $500, 600, 80 Father Ravoux made a
most excellent bargain for the church. If
we understand the matter, the property runs
from Sixth street on Wabashaw to Seventh;
from Seventh to ST. Peter; from st. Peter to
Sixth, and from Sixth to Wabashaw, includ-
ing the old Cathedral, the new Cathedral, the
residence of the Bishop, schools, stores,
etc. 1t is now in the heart of the city, and
is very valuable piece of property.
DEATH OF BISHOP CRETIN.
OF the death of this good man, Father Ra-
voux says: The Right Rev. Bishop died on
the 22d of February, 1857 His illness had
been very long and painful, but he always
continued to be the good and faithful SER
want of God, bearing with the great
est patience all his sufferings.
More than once, when his pains
were most intense, I heard him exclaim ::
at is good for me to suffer for my sins. AS
| cannot work |, at least, ought to offer my
pains to God for the faithful and for all.
HIS FUNERAL.
The writer well remembers the funeral of
Bishop Cretin 1t was the largest ever held
in the city up to that time. The priests,
the children, the mournful music,
the sincere mourners. the immense
procession as it moved slowly along our
streets, demonstrated the great esteem in
which the Rev. Bishop was held. Indeed we
have seen many large funerals since then,
but none so solemn, and so imposing, and
SO sincere, and SO grand, as that which con-
veyed to the tomb all that renamed of the
once greatly esteemed Bishop Cretin.
HIS LOOKS.
Bishop Cretin was fine and
intellectual looking man, with a
very pleasant face, and a serene
yet sublued expression. He was
partially bald, wore glasses and had all the
politeness of the French. He dressed in his
ministerial garments, and was very devo-
tedly attached to the church, of which ne was
the honored head.
THE TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS.
Capt. Russell Blakeley may be said to have
originated this business, having sold out his
interest with j. c. Burbank s. Co. and taken
contract to transport goods from New York
to the Red River of the North and thence to
Hudson Bay. He with others built the first
steamer on the Red River, and carried on the
business successfully some years, when j. G.
q Henry c. Burbank followed it up quite ex-
tensively. This branch of trade was of great
benefit to St. Paul as well as to st. Cloud
and was only abandoned when pushed out
by railroads.
THE sQUEAKING RED RIVER CARTS.
This year 102 Red River carts
made their way to st. Paul. These carts were
ON two wheels only, and composed entirely of
wood AID leather, no iron whatever being
used about them. To them were hitched
singly, oxen with raw-bide harnesses, and
the train would come into the city in single
file, accompanied with half-breed drivers,
Enthusiastically dressed. AS no oil or grease
was used about the axles, the squeaking
noise these carts made was enough to drive
Christian mad. They brought in
furs and carried back some
gold, with groceries and provisions. In 1858
about 600 of these carts came to the city, and
then the trade began to decrease. The time
consumed on the journey from Pembina to
ST. Paul was usually thirty days, sometimes
longer, according to the condition of the
roads.
This is preparation of raw buffalo meat,
dried, pounded and mixed with tallow,
and then pressed into bag
made from buffalo hide.
1t was the principa! sustenance of the Red
River men who accompanied the carts, and
though unpalatable to man who gets ten
derloin beef steak at our hotels, yet it was
essential and valuable food for those whose
business it was to navigate our great plains.
And so these singular vehicles of com
merce have disappeared, and even the stage
and the steamboat that took their places
to degree have been sup
planted by the irrepressible railroad train
that now precedes even the march of civil
ization and pushes the Indian race on to
the extreme borders of the American CONT
nent. These elements of the past have only
combined to make St. Paul the focal point of
an immense trade, and this with her railroad
interests and population of $4,000, place
her pre-eminently before the world as the
great city of the new Northwest.
WOULDN'T TAKE HER SASS.