St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-29
A LEAP NORTHwEsrwARD.

The Eastern people are struck with won
der as they read the census returns of Min
nesota, Dakota and Iowa. What they had
heard of our increase in population and
wealth was not believed, and they looked
upon it as an idle exaggeration. With the
depression prevailing throughout the East
during the last five years they could not be-
lieve it possible that so much business activ-
ity could exist in the West. Therefore they
were not prepared for the facts which our
census has disclosed. Discussing the won
derful gain made by the cities Of st. Paul
and Minneapolis the New York Herald
says: at is evident that the center of the
population of the United States. which in
1870 was close to Cincinnati. and in 1880
still fingered in that neighborhOod, has
taken a long leap northwestward. Nor can
any traveller through the Northwest fail to
be convinced that the gain is stable. The
evidence strikes the eye at every glance on
town or country. Little wild land remains,
the conquest of the wilderness by the plow
is almost complete, nowhere in the Union
are there more smiling signs of agricultural
thrift and prosperity; while the cities
abound in sudden structures as marvellous
as ALADDIN'S palace-warehouses. shops,
hotels, railroad stations, water works, rival
ing the best in the East in their solidity
comfort and luxury, and manufacturers are
multiplying which threaten soon to sup
plant Eastern products. If the traveller is
seeking opportunity for sarcasm in the
midst of his wonder he may find it, to be
sure, in the concentration of the energies of
these people upon merely material develop
ment. Bat if he will look at the school
buildings, the public libraries, the college
foundations, the large preparations for edu-
cation which are visible on every side, he
must confess that what the fathers deny to
themselves in their maddening pursuit of
business they mean to secure TO their chill
dren.'
The state census returns of Minnesota
and Iowa afford a strong confirmation to the
Herald that Dakota, their Western neigh
Dor, has been rapidly overcoming many o.
the objections which were alleged against
carving 4 state out of a portion of her do
main Of $50, 600 square miles. when appli-
cation was made TO congress in 1882. We
are compelled to accepta veracious the phe
nomenal figures which aScribe to the entire
/ territory more than four hundred thousand
| Inhabitants. If the people of Southern
| Dakota-now estimated at two hundred and
| fifty thousand in number-should apply
with manimity it will be much more diff
cult for congress to refuse the demand than
il was when it was proposed to divide the
| immense area and admit the southern half
into the Union three years ago. During the
interval, however, spirit of moderation
has been growing. both north and south;
the ardor of large number for severance
has abated and there is a disposition to
| keep together, await still greater growth
and more general diffusion of population,
and then seek for state organization for
the territory undivided"
The Herald expresses some surprise that
the only opposition to Dakota's admission
should come from Chicago. But this is ac-
counted for by the fact that the pork and
grain metropolis on the shore of Lake
Michigan is jealous of the passage of polit-
ical power beyond Illinois SURPRISING any
jealousy, as the Herald states, ever dis
played in the East against the westward
course of empire since it crossed the Ale
ghenieS.