The tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1890, 1890-01-25
MANUFACTURES.

st. Paul is becoming aroused to the i'm
%portance of factories. Her people dis
Germ that swapping lots or houses and
erecting big buildings are not a firm
basis for a great city. The jobbing trade
is likewise an uncertain basis in this time
Of commercial change when the small
merchant in Saltwater can buy in New
York or Chicago on almost as good terms
as the wholesale house in st. Paul or
Minneapolis and procure his goods as
cheaply by lake or railroad. Accordingly,
the Pioneer Press recently made inquiry
as to the industrial prospects of st. Paul
and has ELECTED much information which
concerns all young towns as we'll as the
Minnesota capital.
The opinions which Mr.. James J. Hill
expressed bear the impress of his practi-
cal mind. He said:
There is no question but that st. Paul
should have a great many more factories
Of both st. Paul and Minneapolis to en-
courage and build up manufacturing.
But it would be detrimental to our inter
here of some kinds of manufacturing.
We are at the point now where it is a
matter of the utmost importance to at
tempt only such kinds of manufacturing
as we can succeed in. 1t is hard to say
portant undertaking of the kind would
do us.
Having %expounded this matter
further Mr.. Hill gave a wise
hint as regards unity: 1.-THE Twin
Cities should act together and as a unit
npon this manufacturing question. The
committee should be made up out of both
cities and of men who were broad enough
to know that all petty jealousies must be
forever buried, and who would pull to.
gether for the common veal"
Mr.. Hill then proct eded to deal with
the fuel question and made remarks
which closely concern Great Falls and
should be studied carefully here. He
said:
The fuel question is often looked upon
as a great barrier to extensive manufac-
turing here. Perhaps it Is a barrier to
some extent, but it is certainly not to any
bass s dipke the extent manyn s.opble think.
nIaus INC Teatess MISUNDERSTANDING centers
~ the west without the use of fuel at all.
III explain: Between the stone bridge
In Minneapolis of the Manitoba road and
the state university there is an undeyeI-
oped water power equal to $4,000 horse
power. At Meeker's island there is an
undeveloped power equal to 10000 horse
power. There is $4,000 horse power
which can be developed and distributed
throughout both cities by the agency of
power, so that factories of INV
size IN any part of either city can be fur
ample power at an expense almost
trlhlng as compared with steam power.
Even the poor seamstress could afford tn
have enough of this power in her private
fesldence to run her sewing machine,
1t costs the large Touring mills of Min
neapolis 4 cents to make a barrel of tlonr |
water power and it costs them II cents
Q make a barrel of flour by steam mower
Now the $4,000 horse power of water
would lose nearly 10 per cent of its vol
of power by its transformation into
Electrical power. So that if the barrel of
lour were made by the electrical mower
OF the water, it might cost 4 cents
the fraction of a mill. The cost nj
team power is estimated to average $40
er annum per horse. The cost of The
ntire 10000 horse power at Meeker
Stand, if distributed by the electrical
gency mentioned, would not aggregate
} the manufacturers over $2O0.0OOI per
mum. Thus you see the expense If
perating by steam power would be at
asst three times rs great as by the cleo
lcal power. My personal idea of this
AFTER is that it would be a wise policy
n st. Paul to concede to MinneaDolIs The
rrltory west of the Transfer. and then
9TH cities should turn in together with. ,
1t delay and develop this vast water l
'wer and distribute it throughout the t
ties in the way l have named. The
'eatness of the Twin Cities would he 3
rever assured. ,
1t VIII be seen from this that Mr.. Hill
deems water power of the highest i'm
'%rtance; (2) that $4,000 horse power.
licli is Il tritle compared with the ca :.
city Of the cataracts and rapids here. :;
nj" In MIR. Hlll's opinion provide mo- :,
. power for numerous factories. IN ',
Il he regards tho electricity which such :.
Ter power would produce as a power :
> " available agent for large or small -
y
hr. Hills statement should make the
op!e %! Great Falls proud of the match ,,
$ water power at our doors and con- -,
CO them thai 1t is the manifest DESTINY =;
III 5 ci,y to be the industrial met,opo. y.
ul Montana. /"