St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-26

MIR. Berkey's proposition, and before
adjournment 5000, 900 was subscribed
Consequently. we now can boast of a
resort of which any city should be
proud"
With many regrets we left this
charming spot; and, hailing a cab,
slowly drove down n boulevarded street
towards the business part of the city.
The termination of tins avenue was
Como park.
This looks like Como avenue" said
/, "but hardly recognize It,"
Yes: 1t is Como avenue. 1t is, as
you see, quite wide; some POO feet, L
think, and boulevarded the entire
length. Banker Merriam donated $780,
600 to be used in
Eomlevarding the Avenue,
and the property owners voted to levy
an assessment for widening and paving
the same"
Hating before a magnificent bronze
statue of Father Hennepin, my friend
said it was bestowed by Mr.. Bickel, of
the Germania bank.
At this juncture | noticed Thomas
Lowry driving toward us. i inquired
whether the electric lines were COM
pieted at the stipulated time in 1891.
Not by ahy means, About a month
before the expiration of the extension
ordinance passed by the council in No
vember, 1890. Mr.. Lowry donated the
grounds upon which the Dickinson de-
partment store stood as a site for a pub
lie library. In March, 1890, the electric
lines not being completed, a resolution
was introduced in the council declaring
the street railways charter forfeited.
and providing for the purchasing of
the plant by the city of st. Paul. In
the discussion of this resolution refer
ence was made to the generosity of Mr..
Lowry, and his loyalty to the interests
of this city, notably the gift of the
library site, the free use of his Arcade
building to the harvest home festival.
the reduction of fare to Minneapolis.
and honoring the city's representatives
with a free hack ride TO view the i'm
provementS made 10y the city railway
company. But over two-thirds of the
council voted in favor of the resolution.
Mayor Smith. although a stakeholder in
the city railway company, signed the
ordinance. The city subsequently pur-
chased the plant. and we now have one
of the finest street railway systems in
the world"
We were now approaching the
Wabasha street bridge, and Jones pro-
posed that we visit the manufacturing
district Oh the West side. I,was amazed
at the sight before me. What a few
years ago was the remnant OF st. Paul'S
pioneer days now was lined with varI-
Gus industries. An elegant union
depot loomed up in the distance.
'How do you account for these enter
priSeS ?" | at last ventuIed to remark.
Before l left this city. instead of ell
cOuraglng manufacturers to locate at
st. Paul, the property owner would adj
vance the price of real estate, and force
the enterprise to seek quarters else
where"
"Well, you probably remember there
were some thousands of empty resi-
denceS and hundreds of vacant stores
at that time; The business men. realiZ-
ing the peIilous situation, issued a call
for a meeting of all citizens interested
in the welfare of the city. The meeting
was held at the Auditorium. Nearly
all of our prominent citizens attended.
1t was unanimously resolved that a sub
ScriptiOn of S2,000.000 be solicited for
the purpose of aiding manufacturers
to locate in st. Paul. Messrs. Kalman.
Oppenhelm and WilliuS individually
subscribed $4,000, and before the as
Sembly adjourned I'VE half of the pro-
posed amount was secured. In three
months the s.. 1000, 600 were secured, and
as Il result twenty new enterprises were
added to st. Paul"
'Was this amount given as a bonus to
the manufacturers"
Nearly all was placed as stock in the
corporations. In a few instances a
bonus was given"
Il suppose the population of st. Paul
has increased very materially III conse-
quence of the liberality of our citizens,"
l intimated.
Yes; it has almost doubled in the
past three years. 1t is very difficult to
find an empty residence OF vacant store
at present."
1t was now 5 O'Clock, the e%ight-hour
day was a permanent fixture, and the
whistles i'll concert drowned our voices.
Hundreds of happy workingmen were
vending their way home to wife and
little ones.