St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-19
He Dilates at Length on the
. Site Of the Wonder Of the
Hawkeye State.
Its Record and It's Products
What Has Happened and
Is Expected.
Its Railways and Banking
It's Enterprising Citizens
Packing and Jobbing.
corresnondence St. Paul Globe.

ing st. Paul, If ON my way to the
Pacific slope l should at any time find
matter sufficiently interesting to your
valuable and widely circulated paper,
that should make it the subject of cor
respondence. You remarked when |
left you, 'When You are at Sioux City, if
it is as it is claimed to be, a wonderful
city, give us your opinion of it," Icould
not do so in the same space usually
given to correspondence Of this kind,
but if you will allow me to spread my
self for a couple Of columns will tell
you another story Of "'rhe Arabian
Nights" Where now in 1888 stand
magnificent buildings, and where the
hustle of business is seen and the hum
of the most crowded of Eastern cities
breaks upon the ear, i'll 1913, just
thirty years ago, William Thompson,
the first white man. drove his stakes
and said: "Here will | make me
home" 1t was then the home OF the
Indian, and nightly the cries of the
coyote were heard and the sneaking
wolf made its way across furze and over
the beautiful rolling prairie to the
banks of the Missouri. Thompson,
number increasing as time passed. after
many skirmishcs with the unfriendly
Indians, sufficiently established them
selves to be recognized. The prairie
schooner brought added population and
supplies, until to-day a population of
over $4,000 go about their daily routine,
wind in aud out through the channels
of commerce, unthinking that where
now they walk on well-paved streets
under the glare of the electric light, the
shouts of the busy teamsterS ringing
in their ears, thirty years ago
the Sioux Indian camped, and
nothing was heard but the song Of the
red man and the crack Of some wander
ing huntsman's rifle. | have been on
her busy streets now for two days. l
have watched the life that everywhere
pervades it. | have seen the sun rise on
happy. contented city, and watched it
slowly set, as if hating to bid goodbye
for the day. The clerks, mechanics,
professional, and the ever-present real
estate men. boarding one or the other
of the street ear lines, go to their
homes in the enjoyment of the idea that
they are in a growing town, and that
each and every one of their labOrs adds
Ito her greatness. | tell you that when
every man, woman and child in place
takes pride in it and puts confidence i'll
2 it, that place is bound to grow and be
/ great, even If it we're not situated as
Sioux City is, at the natural gateway OF
the Northwest and in the center of the
corn belt. Let me tell you how this
wonderful place is situated.
For all the elements that combine to
make the location of great commercial
center, together with a healthful and
beautiful city, the location of Sioux
City cannot be surpassed on the banks
of the Missouri. Situated just below
the confluence OF the Big Sioux river,
which gives the municipality its western
boundary, with the Missouri, which
here flows nearly east, turning south at
the lower border of the town. with the
Floyd river flowing through the middle
and Perry creek emptying into the Mis-
souri, river about a mile above the
Floyd, find here just that combination
of hill and fiat that affords the ampleSt
scope for the development of commerce
and manufactures, together with Salu-
brous and attractive homes, elevated
above the dust and smoke of business.
On the western verge OF the town the
bluffs of Highland park, with their we'll
wooded slopes, rise overlooking the
waters of the Missouri and the Big
Sioux and sloping gently towards the
valley of Perry creek at the east and
north. Nearer to Perry creek these
bluffs rise again into the high point of
Prospect Hill, overlooking the Missouri,
which swellS its muddy current close
under the precipitOus slope. while
around its base the track of the
Chicago, Milwaukee q st. Paul rail-
road wendS its snake-like way with
many tOrtuous curve, seeking Da-
fI,n Hfnnr
Prospect hill one looks south across the
Missouri over the broad and fertile
fields of Nebraska, taking in one sweep
of the eye the ambitious little towns
that nestle i'll the forests of Dakota
county. Towards the west, beyond the
Highland Park, lie the expansive flats
of Union county, Dakota. All around
the hill and UP its tanks are already
rising the homes of the thrifty artisans
who do great city's work. Looking to
the north the valley of Perry creek
widens into broad amphitheater in
which are dotted snug houses, the city
water works, the Sioux City machine
shops, and over beyond, Rose hill,
whose crest is already crowned with
some of the handsOmeSt residences of
the city; while looking east one sees the
city with Sawyer'S Bluff and Morning
name of Morning Side gives it place
in the hearts of all. 1t is as level as
Nature could make it, and commands
view of the whole city, besides one of
the river and its winding banks
covered with trees. In the morning, as
the sun rising throws its smiles upon
the sleeping city, as it first kisses with
its beams the ever-fiowing river, and
pierces through the thick foliage on the
banks, the sight is one never to be for
gotten. Already number of costly
residences have gone up, and more are
in process of erection and contracted
for. 1t seems to me as if,par excellence,
this was to be the residence portion of
Sioux City. 1t is approachable by motor
line, and it looks as if, standing on the
bluffs overlooking and viewing the city,
that one living here can enjoy the quiet
of the country and still view the tall
spires, smoking chimneys, massive
buildings, and in the distance hear the
hum of mighty metropolis. Morning
| Side is so protected that the smoke of
the city is taken up and is only seen
way up in the air,as if proving evidence
of the t0iling hands and willing hearts
beneath it.
From Prospect Hill to Sawyer's Bluff
is about two and half miles. Taking
! this flight and looking back from Saw
yer's bluff, lone feels as if he looked upon
another and different town. Down the
bank of the Missouri and hugging the
hillside is the Sioux City & Pacific rail
road, while apparently springing out of
the body of the hill itself will
shortly stand the great bridge
of the Northwestern railroad across the
Missouri. SaWyer'S bluff is part of
| the 400 acres of the Stock Yards COM
| tracks, the great piles of brick and acres
| of sheds, ice houses. and all the attend
| ant structures, most strikingly attest
the presence of the Union Stock Yards
and the packing houses. Beyond are the
railroad yards, stretching up the Mis-
souri, and up the Floyd. On the right
and to the north is now only partially
| nccunied by the SWarlning nOnulatiOn