The Republican journal., 1886-07-01
Letter from Minneapolis.

\ RIDE ABOUT TOWN. POLITICS. STRIKE
CORES pondence Of the Journal.
MINNEAroLIs, MINI. June 21st, 1856. Come
with me this beautiful day, which is neither too
hot nor too cold, and take ride about town.
We will start from Bridge Square, where is To-
Gated the taIIcst electric light mast in the world.
1t is % it, high. built of iron. and its eight
1000 candle power lights illuminate the sur
rounding streets. \ short distance away is Il
drinking fountain for horses and CATTLE and
less than hundred feet distant is the City Hall,
Il granite building, iatiron shaped. with three
stories and manSard roof. In addition to the
city offices there are in th, building the offices
of the Western Union Telegraph Go. and the
Erie Telephone 4 Telegraph Go. We are now
on IIenncpin Avenue, which follows the old
trail to the lakes. Crossing Second street, on
whose corner is located the City Bank, we pass
on and meet with no buildings of note until we
reach Washington avenue - the only avenue
running in the same direction As the streets eX-
ccpt Goth Street, which is known as Franklin
Avenue. ON the right hand corner before
crossing Washington Avenue is the lIcnnepin
60. Savings Bank. Crossing Washington Az
enuc we find on the right hand corner Il new
fire proof building of red pressed brick, known
as Temple Court 1t occupies the site of the
Old Academy of Music which was destroyed by
fire Dee. 18th, 1SN4. On the left, directly OPP
positc. is the Nicoet House. under which is
the Bank of Minnesota and the ticket offices of
the various railroads entering the city. Until
Aug. ISL this was the finest hotel in the city.
but Since then it has had to take second place.
On the right at the corner of Third Street is the
Security Bank, and directly opposite. across
Third Street, i the Boston Block in which was
located the Post Office until this spring when
the building was partially destroyed by fire and
the office was removed to the Stillman Block
on Fourth Street between IIcnnepin and Nicol-
let avenues. The Boston Block is now being
rebuilt, fire proof. When completed it will be
six stories high, and the tenants will he accom-
modatcd 10y two elevators running continually.
At the corner of Fourth street is the kasota
Building, built of ka>ota stone. six stories,
erected in 1851 Directly opposite on the left
of lIrnncpin Avenue are the IIenncpin and
rics high On the other corner of Fourth street
i Il large lawn containing about quarter of an
acre. and in the midst of trees i located Il one
story pitched roof house, painted white. in
which dwell> an Old bachelor known as
Elder Stewart, He is known by the elder
ly people of Scar>port and vicinity. as he
once taught school at East ScarSport. He has
been approached by many Il real estate man
who wanted his property for business pur-
poses, but his uniform reply has been: You
will have TO see my wife about it," He
owns other large real estate interests and is
said to BE- worth quarter of million.
We have now reached the corner of Fifth
Street. On the left is the Lumbermen'> EN-
change, a new fire proof ten story building,
built of superior stone. The lot was bought
of the First Baptist Church Society and
the price paid was SlG0,0o0. On the right
hand corner of Fifth street i located the West
Hotel. the grand entrance of which is on Fifth
street. The first story is built of marble, the
others of red pressed brick, with terra Gotta
trimmings. 1t is six stories high, and said to
be the finest hotel in the country. Three blocks
farther ON we come to Eighth St.. on the left
hand corner of which ground is now being
broken for Masonic Temple, which is to be
built Of stone and of very imposing design. On
the right hand corner the foundation is being
put i'll for q twelve story family hotel to be
built Of brick. ON the right hand corner of
Tenth st. is the IIenncpin Ave. NJ. +. church.
built OF brick. Opposite the foundation is laid
for public library One block farther away
ON Tenth street, corner Harmon Place. is the
First Baptist church. built of kasota stone. 1t
church cditice in the city. Rev W. T. Chase,
ID. D.. formerly OF Auburn, Me-, is the pastor.
On the left near Twelfth street we pass the st.
Pau'S Episcopal church, a wooden structure.
We are now in the residence portion of the
avenue. From Sixth to Sixteenth streets are
some very fine residences. At Eighteenth
street we pass Central Park on our left, with a
pond in the centre. The park is tastcfully laid
out with walks running through it, and thickly
studded with trees On the right, opposite the
park is Il marsh which will be filled to grade
the coming year, and ii will then become fine
residence property. Passing on we come to
Thomas Lowry'S residence on the right and
which extends to rhirticth Street, better
known as Lake street. We are now on rising
ground and when we reach the top of Lowry s
hill get fine bird>-eyc view of the city and
the Mississippi river rolling ON towards the
gulf. As we pass Twenty-fourth street. away
of TO the rjUht can tbn tran trrnu-ipr ~
the banks Of the Lake of the Isles. After
crossing Thrtieth street we catch glimpse of
Lake Calhoun and as we ride on and ascend
some rising ground we come into full view of
the Lake and soon arrive at the main entrance
to Lake View Cemetery, from the heights of
which we get a magnificent view. This is Il
beautiful spot. There are already many fine
monuments. and it is Il comparatively new
cemetery. We are now about five miles from
our starting point, Bridge Square. Some other
time we will show you other interesting spots
in and about this beautiful city.
The convention to nominate candidates for
State officers having been postponed politics
are very quiet but as soon as the nominations
are made the war will be on and no let up until
the day of election. This fall we elect Gov
ernor and Treasurer as well as Congressman
from all the districts. They are now repre-
scented by republicans, and it is quite likely the
most of them will succeed themselves if they
so desire, with the exception of Mr.. GilflIan,
who was elected two years ago for the first
time by very close vote as he did not draw
the full strength of his party. The Hon. Loren
Fletcher is an aspirant for the position.
Hon. j. &. Blaine's speech at Portland was
published in full next day by our enterprising
morning daily The Tribune and was read with
great interest here. If Providence permits
him to become a candidate for president in
1883 he will receive Il rollsing majority from
this State.
Not a horse car running in the city to-day,
owing to Il strike of the drivers, not for more
pay, brt because their seats have been taken
away from them and they are obliged to stand
all the time. What the outcome will be re-
mains to be seen. The drivers have the sympa-
thy of the community as well as of the Mayor
and police force. FB W.