St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-08

As is usual during Fourth OF July
week, the real estate market has been
very inactive and sales quite limited.
People have been too much occupied in
making preparations for the great ma
tional day to attend much to business.
Besides this, the hot weather has come,
apparently to stay, and the result is
that all people that are so situated as to
be able to go to the lakes are hurrying
away as fast as possible. 1t is quite
probable that as long as the hot weather
lasts the realty business will be quite
limited.
In general way, the most that can
be said of the market at present is that
a good, steady, reliable business is being
transacted. devoid of all speculative
ideas. Many people are coming into
town, and have been since the spring
opened. AS general thing, these peo-
pie have come to stay. The ACTIVITY.
business habits and commercial ways of
the city. together with its general pros
perity, have gone abroad through the
thousands of people that from time
to time have been here, and every
where the reports are the same. The
hustle and activity of st. Paul and the
rafting go-ahead disposition that they
witness here holds them. They see at
once that there is business here, and
they determine to come here to live.
~
1t is doubtful if any year in the history
of st. Paul has seen so many people
coming here to remain permanently.
The frothy, come-and-go people seem to
have gone by. and given place to set
tied, calm and-buSineSS-like class, who
come here to take hand in building up
this great empire of trado, business and
political influence in the Northwest.
Heretofore. to a considerable degree,
those who came to st. Paul came for the
purpose of investing money during pros
porous times, and when the season was
over and business became dull, to return
to the East.
This period in the history of the city
seems to have passed. In most cases
those who come now come to remain,
and one of the first things that they
think of after they get here is TO secure
a homestead. where they can locate
their families. This is the reason why
the market has this firm and sub
stantial appearance. Those who buy
are not buying for speculation. Prob
ably at no time in the history or st.
Paul has the market been so free from
speculation. A good, steady, safe busi-
ness is being transacted, which in every
respect is solid All real estate dealers
agree upon this point, that people who
are now coming to st. Paul come for the
purpose of remaining, and that most OF
them seek for lot upon which to erect
q house. In most cases they leave but
a small percentage Of the cost OF the
whole outfit on mortgage. with the eX-
ception of the business property that is
Sold most of the other sales that go to
make up the bulk of the real estate
transactions this season are for perma-
nent residences.
To secure these hOmeSteads strangers
who come here are compelled to go a
considerable distance from the center of
the town. They can not purchase prop
erty in the center of the city, nor near
its center, for the simple reason that it
costs too much for that purpose; and be-
sides, in most eases the location would
not be suitable for residences. Stran-
gers, therefore, who come to st. Paul to
cast their lot in building up this city
are compelled to go to the outskirts of
the city, and even beyond, to secure
eligible locations.
This being the case, what is the first
proposition to be considered? 1t is SIM
ply this: How are they to get there"
This question is, i'll reality, one of the
most important that the people of st.
Paul have ever had to consider. There
is no question aRont the facts. A large
population is coming in here, and
it is coming rapidly. 1t must
be accommodated. They cannot
be accommodated in the center of the
city nor near it. The property there is
to high-priced and inconvenient, and
unsuitable for residences. This addi-
tion to the population must go one,
two, three and even four miles away
from the center of town, where real eS-
tate at moderate prices can be obtained,
and where quick and easy access to the
heart of the city can be had. The land
outside is plenty and cheap, All that is
needed is easy and quick transit. This
must be furnished if those that come
here are to be made permanent resi-
dents.
The matter of rapid transit is the
most important subject that can be con-
sidered by the people of st. Paul at
present. 1t is necessity and presents
to all the sharply defined question of
''TO grow or not to grow?" 1t is either
OIlc lUlIlS VI OblltI. Vic III lllt III Sb
questions asked of the real estate dealer
is in regard to how the buyer is to get
TO the property, and it is one, too. that
the dealer in realty finds much diff
Guilty in answering.
*.*
Take it all in all, with its bold bluffs
around the town, its lofty. magnificent
hills and beautiful river, the city of st.
Paul is second to none in the United
States. The towns of New England
have been nearly two centuries in
building. Before st. Paul has been one
quarter of that time hardly a compari-
son could be made between them and
this city. 1t is high time that the peo-
pie of st. Paul should comprehend the
situation in its broadest sense, and un-
derstand it thoroughly. Not only
should they do this, but they should do
that which is more important still, viz:
Supply the necessary means of reach
ing these distant points. This city has
grown so rapidly that many can hardly
comprehend its present necessities, and
this forms some excuse for those peo-
pie who hesitate to believe and see the
situation just precisely as it is. The
steps taken by the city authorities to
furnish the proper means of transit
should be taken judiciOusly. guarding
all the rights of the city, yet dealing
fairly and even literally with any COM
OanV or cOrDOratiOn that pives the oit,,