St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-25

mentS of social and business life.
But there are thousands of thoughtful,
conservative men who have an idea that the
glowing pictures of this giant city of the
Northwest are not too highly colOred. but
that they are literally and absolutely true.
1t is not necessary to indulge in eXaggera-
ton to establish St. Paul's claim to rank as
a rival OF Chicago, with future much
brighter and more promising than the big
city on Lake Michigan. 1t is not a vision
airy dream by any means for one to predict
that within the next twenty-five years st.
Paul will equal, if it does not excel. Chicago
in population. Of course Chicago has not
yet got its growth" so to speak; but it
will never boom again as it has in the past.
The important factors which have contrib
uted to its upbuiiding in the past. and
which enabled 1t to maintain its present
supremacy among the Northwestern cities.
are slowly but surely slipping away from
it, and its heaviest property owners and
ShrewdeSt business men are beginning to see
THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL,
and to admit occasionally. in reluctant
sort of way. that there is danger that Chi
cagO may not be able to shut out all COM
petitOrs. as it has done in the past. The
three things that have contributed most to
ChicagO's supremacy are; 1t has grown to
be a great "a lroad center; it has been the
depot for all lake shipments east and west.
and it has been able to control the grain,
lumber and the live stock trade. Up to
within a recent date it has had no formida-
Bile competitor. and has played its cards for
all they were worth, as anybody is Liable to
do who has monopoly. Everything from
the great Northwest went to Chicago by
rail, and from thence east by the lakes dur
ing the navigable season. Chicago was
veritable king. and ruled with an IRON hand.
But it is different now. as any well-informed
man-who desires to be hOneSt-wlll tell
you. Chicago has several rivals. or COM
pettOrs. which are already causing her Sc
rious trouble, and which will event
ually wreSt from her the bulk
of the vast trade of the North
west that she has been able TO control
heretofore. st. Paul is by far the most
formidable of these rivals. The railroad
center is fast building up at st. Paul.
There is not prominent road in the West
that is not headed for st. Paul. or will be
eventually. There are already six through
lines between Chicago ami st. Paul. and
more than that number of lines leading out
in other directiOns-north, south and
west. But few additional roads are now
building to Chicago or contemplated The
aim of all the Northwestern roads is in the
direction of st. Paul, and to this city.
within a brief period, will be transferred
the center from which all the great North
western systems will radiate. st. Paul is
also rapidly assuming Importance as COM
mercial center. and an enormous trade that
formerly went to Chicago is now being
done here. The Chicago merchants have
made desperate efforts to hold this trade,
but it has gradually slipped away from
them. and they have been compelled to re-
linquish territory of late years which they
fondly imagined at one time belonged to
them forever st. Paul has secured prac-
tically all of this trade, which has been
serious detriment TO Chicago. st. Paul is
also taking steps to shatter another mOnOp-
DIV which Chicago has had for yearS-the
slaughter of live stock and the dressing.
packing and shipping of the same. 1t is
one of the most important of the indus
tries of Chicago.
ST. PAUL IS ERECTING,
on a mammoth scale, buildings and yards
for carrying on this business. 1t will not
be on a halfway scale, but the facilities
will be ample to handle all the live stock in
the Northwest. This has filled Chicago
with dismay. Phil Armour has admitted
himself that another live stock center
would grow up west of Chicago. 1t Is
folly to think of shipping live stock from
the Northwestern ranges to Chicago,
Strengthening and dressing it there. and
then shipping it back here again. 1t can
be stopped at st. Paul to better advantage,
and then shipped East from here. 1t is as
plain as the MONDAY sun that before many
years roll by Chicago must yield supremacy
as a live stock center to ST. Paul. The
conditions are all favorable to the latter,
and there is no use to fight the inevitable.
1t will not be necessary, either, to ship this
dressed meat for the East through
Chicago: nor the grain: nor the lumber;
nor the flour while the lakes are navlgable.
The great bulk of it in the Northwest VIII
naturally go to Duluth, or Sault Ste. Marie,
because these places are nearer than CHI
cagO. and consequently easier OF access.
If Chicago thus has to combat conditions
which are inimical to her interests, as a
natural result she will be greatly weakened.
Her onward progress will be checked, and
ST. Paul will have an excellent chance to
overtake her, If Chicago loses her
MONOPOLY of the grain live stock. pack
ing, lumber and jobbng trade, and has to
reluctantly consent to divide with her
rivals. of course a great deal of her pres
tige will be lost, and she will suffer in
consequence. Then. on top of all this, st.
Paul will step in as a great railroad center,
and Duluth and Sault Ste. Marie as lake
ports. Each will draw from and weaken
Chicago. This is a logical CONCLUSION, if
one will carefully study the situation; but
few Chicago men would admit it now.
They are Oh the anxious seat-that is GER
tain. But they live in the hope that it
may not come to pass. 1t is not vision
airy dream. by any means, that before
twenty-five years have passed st. Paul will
be ahead of Chicago in population. At
any rate it W II be so close on her heels
that its newspapers will find little sOlace in
cracking stale jokes and affecting to look
with disddin upon the pretenSi0ns of the
city at the head Of navigation on the Mis-
sissippi river.
ST. PAUL,S ADVANTAGES.
Bird's-EYe View, Taking i'm
Coos Many Points of Importance.