Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-15
Mr johnson. / FOUND that zeal estate Yves

u Il
high--yery high: and then, too, was
quite good deal surprised 20 find so many
stores and houses for rent. Notwithstand-
inc this fact. though, there was still n good
deal of building going on. The Lumber
Exchange is "a magnificent brownstone
building, twelve stories high, and contain
ing 200 or more Offices; and understand
that there Is another building IN course OF
construction TO be fourteen stories high.
OF course the land on which these build
ings are erected Is valuable; but it rather
puzzled me TO see so many vacant lots
near by. Minneapolis is nothing like
as compactly built as Richmond, and
| should judge that any stranger passing
through the two cities would say that there
was a good deal more business done in
Richmond than in Minneapolis. There is
comparatively little wholesale business
there, hut ! understand a considerable
Wholesale business Is done IN st. Paul,
only nine miles of. The country around
~ apparently rich and prosperous. but l
think the two cities are located too near
the Canada line 10 hope for very. much
business north of them, unless In the
course Of time there should absolutely be
free trade between Canada and the United
States. When YOU get tins side OF ST.
Paul. Chicago and the other Lake cities
stOu;ly contend with their more
northern neighbors for inc ira1e'
consequently the principle outlook for
extending the business relations of Mnne-
apols aud ST. Paul is from the new States
Of North and South Dakota and Montana.
| scarcely think the outlook for future
business iustifes the very high price that
real estate is held at in these cities. Take
n bird's-eve view Of Minneapolis and 1t
could better be compared TO big, over
grown boy, which, however, IN the course
of time, will develop into well-propor-
toned manhood. But in the very nature
of things il Is impossible for that develop
ment To come fast enough to justify the
expectations, 81 even bring reasonable
profit to the large investors IN real estate,
except in O few and favored Localities.
A GREAT HOTEL.
How about the hotels?
The city seems 10 be well supplied with
hotels. The West Hotel. whore ! stopped
and where the convention was held, IS Ger
tainly one of the finest | ever saw, and the
service was fully equal TO the best houses
IN this or any other country with which
| am acquainted. 1t IS indeed house OF
which Minneapolis and the people OF the
Northwest can feel proud. The. building
| understand, cost 81 100000, and the daily
running expenses are about Sl'UUJ. am
Informed. however, that it IS not paying
investment, and some time ago there was
talk of closing the house, but It Is owned
and operated 10y wealthy man who can
we'll afford to stand any loss that may be
incurred. | am Informed that he IS en-
cOur9ped in his efforts to keep the no.
tel up by several Of the wealthy
and entcrprising citizens boarding thor
families with him; two families paying az
much as S25 600 year for board. THINK
that ~ Minneapolis had hotel Tor about
: 900 600 or 81 ,000.0 600 in place Of the West
House and Richmond had the balance OF
that money invested in a nice hotel both
cities would be n great deal better OF, ana
the capital that is now invested and bring
inc comparatively little returns would be
productive and very profitable. Besides
the West House there are several other
very nice hotels that are well kept and
literally patrOnZed. | regret that my
stav in the city and the Northwest was 50
short. ms there are many interesting details
thst / would have liked 10 look more fully
into for the benefit of our Chamber of
Commerce as well as for my own satIsiac-
ton.
RICHMOND.
Now. as n business centre ] would de-
cidedly prefer to take my chances IN Idcn-
mOnd TO Minneapolis. We have cheap and
easv TRANSPORTATION from here to every
part of the United States, and by water to
all portions of the world, and the coun-
try living north, south. east, and west OF
Richmond, if diligently cultivated by our
merchants and manufacturers, Is capable OF
sending in volume Of trade ten TO TWEEN
ty times as large rs that we have AT pres
ent. Atlanta IL the only city IN the South
outside Of the yellOw-fever district that
can be considered our competitor for the
trade Of the southern States, and happen
to know that the freight charges from the
great seaport towns of the North 10 At
lanra are from six TO eight times rs much as
they are to Richmond, consequently we
have q vast sweep Of territory which
would gladly trade with Richmond were
sufficient inducements offered. Our mcr-
chants are generally opening their eyes %
this fact. and consequently the wholesale
trade of this city is IN a more prosperous
condition than ever before. New houses
are being constantly established. and l
venture to predict that in three years time
we will be doing three times the amount OF
wholesale business that we are now dong.
With sufficient encouragement manufaC-
turers. too, may be induced to locate with
us, thus largely increasing our population.
The new and enlarged work of our Cham
Der of Commerce. | think, viii be felt
now right along. Already our new Score
tary finds his hands more than full Of DuSl-
ness; but did not intend TO expatiate on
tho possibilities of Richmond. however
when visiting these cities in the North
west could not help comparing notes.
RAILROADS.
In conclusion | want TO say that, owing
to the arbitrary action OF many of the rail
road companies in Virginia, much of the
trade has been diverted from Richmond
that should properly come here, and
think that our Chamber of Commerce will
more carefully look after these matters III
future and endeavor through our Legisla-
ture, if no other means viii ACCOMPLISH the
end. to show these corporations, who have
been given valuable franchises by the
State. that this city is not to be
Disseminated against. There are many
people who live within a short distance
comparatively of this city and yet have tC
| order goods from other cities or pay exor
| bitant freight rates and suffer considerable
| Inconvenience IN getting their supplies
| from here. / hope at au early day TO sec
all Of this changed and this trade tlOwine
| in the right channel, and to see Rchmonc
| move forward and prove the queen city o.
| the South.
Cows Sick with PIcurO-PneumOnla.
New York Timos.l
Ir1 %