Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-01-08
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
THURSDAY, JANUARY s, 1885.
THE TWIN CITIES.
The Rivalry Between st. Paul and Minne-
apolis.

apolis.
st. Paul letter in New York Times.
Almost everybody has seen plenty ex-
amples OF the rivalry which is bound to
spring up between growing cities which
arc situated anywhele near each other,
but to observe the thing in its highest
development one must invade the north
west and inspect st. Paul and Minneap-
oils. The attitude of Chicago and st.
Louis toward each other is the msrest |
child's play by comparison with what is
going on up at the head of Mississippi |
navigation. 1t is neck-and-neck race
between these two northern cities. So
close together that they almost clasp
hands, they have been struggling to out
reach each other ever since they were
first located, and neither one has up to |
now gained the slightest apparent head
way oyer its rival. The st. Paul man
refers to everything in Minneapolis with |
the loftiest sc0rn. The Minneapolis man
speaks OF the entire contents Of st. Paul
with scathlng severity. st. Paul people |
declare that the whole of Minneapolis is
built upon money loaned by the former
city, which processes to have a mortgage
on the whole concern. Ask anybody in
Minneapolis how il is that st. Paul maa-
ages to exist, and you will be told that
1T is simply because the trade of Mime
ap0lis passes through the other city.
Although only ten miles intervene be-
tween these two most wonderful centers
of the north, there is "a pretended igno-
rance in each place concerning what pas
ses in the other that is simply uDroari-
GUS to observe. Speak to Minneapolis
citizen or we'll known member of the
opposition community and he will stare
at you In an enquiring way, which says
very plainly that until row that he has
never heard the name. Just now there
is an angry discussion going on through
the newspapers OF the two cities as to
which place has the largest number of
school children. To read the long edi-
terials s0lemnly written on this topic
one would think the fate of nations hung
upon the outcome. One city points with
pride to the fact that its directory con
tains the most names. The answer is
that the man who compiled the Volume
had eminent gifts as writer. of fiction,
but small regard for the undressed truth.
So it goes all the time, and if either city
could absolutely prove that it had out
grown its neighbOr by 1000 souls, there
would be a condition of simply beatitic
joy in that particular quarter.
This hot rivalry between the places
named is productive of many things
which are mainly beneficial TO both cit
les. Whenever, in one of tho two centers,
capitalist builds structure finer than
any that has previously been erected,
some other capitalist in the other city
Immediately sets out to top" him. The
warfare Is just row closed in upon two
immense hotels. A millionaire named
West, living in Minneapolis. and desir
GUS OF perpetuating his name, started in
upon the construction of magnificent
pile which will, when completed. have
cost cool million and a half. 1t has
just been opened, although it is by no
means flashed, and it is unquestiOnably
the most palatial place devoted to this
800 rooms, and such of them as are fur
nlshed at all are superbly gotten up. Ev-
erything Is done upon a scale that ap-
pears to be simply reckless. The rOtun-
da, which is in the middle Of the house,
is vast and imposing. Carriages drive
up to the door under tremendous and
massive arch of white marble. And in
spite of the fact that the hotel is hardly
opened and has but little trade as yet,
the clerks will put guests on the top
floor with the same infiexible equanimi-
ty which you have probably noticed In
older and more crowded communities.
The ruling passion is strong even in new
hotels. There is not the slightest posi-
bility that the vast hotel will pay its
OWE expenses for ten years to come.
The cost Of running it is going to be i'm
mense. When the millionaire who start
ed the scheme had it well under way he
died and left it to his nephew, who al
ready owned one hotel Young Mr.. West
does not appear to be particularly pleas
ed with the gift of his uncle, and he is
freely declaring that unless tho citizens
subscribe handsome amount to enable
him to carry ON the house he will close
it up. He Ia not likely to be counting
without his host, because the Minneap0
lis people will never consent to be sneer
cd at by the st. Paul populace as having
made a failure.
am thus free in the description OF
the hotel because it illustrates the com
mon feeling between the two cities. II
would never do for ST. Paul to let Itself
fall behind Minneapolis in the matter OF
hotels, and thus it came about that 9
millionaire OF this place upr0se and grid
Cd up his lOins and went out to do thu
other money king mortal battle. Thu
st. Paul mans name is Ryan, and hi!
barrel is apparently very deep and very
well loaded with cash. The city agreed
to make him present of large plot o.
land, and he proceeded 20 build his hotel
1t is not yet finished; but the building |!
enormous. l belieYe that it is mucl