St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-20
AT WEST SUPERIOR.
The Phenomenal Growth of a
Busting City.

BUSTING city.
Special to the Globe
WEST SUPERIOR. April 19.-The
growth of Superior last year, or more
particularly West Superior. was I'M
questionably the greatest period of de-
velopment ever experienced by any
Northwestern town with resources
purely commercial. But despite the
rapid influx of population and the hasty
construction of buildings which natu-
rally followed for business and dwell
ing houses, the city has escaped to
surprising extent that appearance of
temporary settlement which is so often
the undesirable accompaniment to
new town. This condition is largely
due to the fact that the permanency of
good institutions were assured; it was
no experiment their attempt to build
city here, for they were assured OF
sharing with Duluth the rapidly grow
ing traffic by lake and rail. which has
assumed enormous proportions when
compared with two or three years ago.
All of the public and many of the
private institutions which have been
built would reflect credit upon q city of
$4,000 inhabitants. it being self-evident
that but few years would elapse be-
fore the city would demand better
buildings if the projectors did not make
calculations to that end at the present
time. Striking examples of such faith
and fOrethOught are to be found in our
hotels and school buildings. more es-
pecially. The West Superior hotel.
which was opened TO the public this
winter. was built and is maintained by
the Land and River Improvement COM
pany, and, with the possible exception
Of the PlankingtOn house. Of MilWau-
kee. is without q rival in the state in
point of general excellence. This is
notably true. also, of many business
blocks already built or assured for this
season. Heretofore there have been no
competitive influences at work seeking
to draw the business portion Of TOWN. to
any particular center. The Land and
River Improvement company. the orig
inaI owners OF the town site Of West
Superior. have spent large amounts
OF money in improvements calculated
to give certain parts of the town an
impetus, either for residence buildings
business houses or manufacturing, as
the location might seem desirable and
advantageous. The company has been
very successful in their efforts toward
the upbuiiding of the town. as the en-
cOuragements which il offered to those
who would improve their property were
on q very liberal scale. The evident in
tentiOn of the land company to induce
business south of Winter street. Oh
Tower avenue. and also the better class
of dwellings,. has at last developed what
Is evidently competitive influence.
Heavily interested prOperty'OwnerS on
Broadway and Winter street, both very
promising thOroughfares. are making
desperate and apparently successful
don
ness their way to certain extent. Just
now these two SyndicateS have their
horns locked regarding the location of
an opera house. Each propose to erect
building designed for such purpose and
no one who is acquainted with the
status of the subject as 1t now Is. would
be surprised to witness the novel pro-
ceeding of two such buildings in course
Of construction at the same time.
These competitive influences are re-
garded by the average citizen as very
much tO-De desired condition of affairs.
While no other body of men forming a
corporation and acting under the same
circumstances as the Land company,
could pursue more liberal and public
spirited course than they; vet it is con-
sldered that the best interests of the
town will be advanced with competing
powers actively at work. The head of
the lake has many assurances of an
active season in all branches of bust
ness. A good crop of wheat in the
tributary country would give the latter
part of the season here a wonderful
stimulus. and such is confidently hoped,
for.
After considerable YeXatiGus but I'M
ayOidable delay, work was resumed on
the Eastern railway coal dock in this
city Yesterday. Work has at no time
been entirely suspended. but is now
being carried on with every perquisite
available for heavy eXcavating. One
steam shovel and a dummy engine for
hauling caIS OF dirt TO the dock are now
in operation. Another steam shovel will
be employed later on. A large amount
of material for filing is being hauled in
from HolyOke also. The average length
of haul from the excavation is 800 feet:
the total amount to be eXcavated G00.OC0
yards. 1t Will be practically impossible
to complete the dock this year. and the
chief object now is to have a portion
ready as soon as possible for this sea-
sons business. 1t has been leased by
the Ohio Coal company. and it is under
stOOu that the Northwestern will operate
Il portion also. 1t will be the largest
coal dock in the United States.
The poStOffice will Oe removed from
its present location Saturday to the new
quarters selected Immediately north of
the Hotel Tower.
c. S. Barker has commenced the work
of Strengthening the ship channel
through the middle ground in Superior
bay. The dredge Milwaukee is en-
ployed.