St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-09
THE EIGHTH WARD BOOM.
Its Growth and Spread Phenomenal.
Giant Building Operations On.
Soon to Be the Center OF the Best Res
idence District of the City.

No better evidence of the wonderful and
steady growth of Minneapolis can be found
than that presented by the Eighth ward
all that portion of the city lying to the
south and west of the range of hill that
eliminates in Mount Curve, and after
winding off reappears in Forest heights and
Prospect park. Three years ago, when the
Eighth ward was created, the vast territory
was covered by only a few scattered
houses, following the line of the motor
track. Five years ago this territory was a
clear stretch of open country, reaching
from TWenty-fourth street to Lake CAL
houn, and could have been bought for $500
or $500 an acre, including the Lyndale
farm. A year before that it was
corn land and wheat field, with a
road winding from the residence
of Dorilus Morrison to Calhoun and not a
dozen houses in sight. The change
wrought is almost incredible. To-day
hundreds of handsome houses line the fine
streets and avenues and within the bounds
mentioned $4,000 people reside. The
growth and spread are phenomenal and at
| the present rate continued for three years,
| it will be necessary to cut the Eighth ward
| into three, each of which will be larger
than any of the present wards. Using the
present time as a basis, there will be over
| 1900, 900 spent in building in the ward,
this year, and when it is remembered the
| buildings are all wooden residences, cost
| ing, with few exceptions from 1000 to
| So, 900 each, the number may readily be
| estimated.
| 1t has been. of course, absolutely i'm
| possible for public Improvements to keep
pace with this wonderful spread. Miles
and miles of streets have been formed by
new houses, with the virgin prairie
soil unbroken between them. One
hundred and forty miles of street
are upon the map, IN this
ward, without a stone laid, curb set or
sewer digged. An effort is being made to
push the water pipes as rapidly as possible,
for the double purpose of supplying fami-
lies and of affording protection from fire,
but it will be years before the water system
can be anything like extended through the
ward, even if the growth should be checked.
| Of gas there is none, but the electric light
| ing system is very thorough and the ward
very passably Illuminated. The matter of
street grading and laying of sidewalks is
| now paramount and that of sewerage will
next be taken up.
A year ago, or perhaps two, Twenty
! sixth street was an imaginary line, mark
| ing the ''solid" part of the city. This line
| has now gone four blocks, or third of a
mile out, and Lake street is the boundary,
| though the heaviest growth is now still
| further south. First, Stevens, Second and
| Third avenues are pushing out rapidly.
| while Chicago avenue is building out
toward FOrtieth street, or actually beyond
| the city limits. When the southern boundary
| line was established, it was supposed it
would include the growth for years to come,
| but at the present ratio of increase the
very streets will cross the line within two
years, and hang over the edge like a fringe.
| West of Nicollet avenue, south of Thirty
| first street, the building is pushing along
with the same rapidity. Blaisdell school,
| once isolated and alone will soon be sur
| rounded, while the high plateau toward the
| new Bethany Home is offering tempting
sites for residences. All of the Calhoun,
| Harriet and Lake of the Isles additions and
| territory are held very high, in anticipation
of the time when they will be occupied by
choice residences.
Owners and real estate men are not url-
mindful OF the time, not very far distant,
when as business pushes out the Eighth
ward must become the principal residence
| portion of the city, and in view of this fact
it is to be regretted that some of the streets
| are narrow, while others, with small lots,
are built up too closely. Every month
marks the erection in the ward, of the per-
manent home of some man of business and
| indications are on every hand of the neal
approach of the time when the Eighth ward
will no longer be suburban in character, but
| become the center of the residence district.