St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-11
THE RIVALRY OF DULUTH.

When the railroad development of
Duluth and West Superior was assured,
there was much speculation in both st.
Paul and Minneapolis as to what the
effect was likely TO be on our position.
1t is safe to say that up to the present
time 1t has not been in the slightest de-
gree adverse. The real strength of st,
Paul is, and has for a long while been,
IN its jobbing trade. This branch isin
It's infancy at the head of the lake, and
the capital and skill OF our great houses
have kept them quite free from any real
competition from any source west of
Chicago. The basis of MINNEAPOLIS
wealth has been in its milling interests,
and there has been no milling worth
speaking of in either Duluth or West
Superior. Speculative capital has I'M
Questionably been. drawn from the
Twin Cities forlnvestment in real prop
erty under the attractions the quick
growth of Duluth and West Superior
has offered; but the value of land
boomS to a town is matter about
which two opinions can honestly be en-
tertained.
The new regulation of the allied raj
roads in reference to the rates for the
transportation of grain promises at
once, however, to put a different aspect
on all this as far as Minneapolis is con-
cerned, and..if extended to other COM
mQdities, may in the future expose us to
rivals of whose prowess there is no
question. The Milwaukee, the 500. the
Omaha and the st. Louis roads have
combined in order that they may meet
the Great Northern's rates, to land
bushel of wheat from any point OH their
lines at Duluth for the same figure
which they would charge for the same
service with Minneapolis at tile termi-
nus. Wheat has heretofore commanded
five cents more TO the bushel at Duluth
than ar Minneapolis. because Duluth has
been in that proportion nearer the sea-
board. There is no good reason why a
farmer should ship his produce to Min
neapolis when the same freight charge
will carry it to market where it will
net him 20 per cent greater than he can
there receive. The people of Mime
apolis are very right in the position they
have taken that such a discrimination
against them, if persisted in, portends
the ruin of their chief industry.
st. Paul is still unaffected by this
move, and probably will continue to be
so for many years. Even if the same
roads should combine to carry the COM
modities handled by our jobbing trade
from Duluth. without regard to the dis
lance which intervenes between us and
the head of the lake, the result would
not be felt here to our disadvantage.
The jobblng business is one which con-
| tinues in all seasons, and the frozen
lakes of winter give Duluth no margin
to work on against rs. Even in sum-
mer the insurance factor makes it fire.
| quently more profitable to use the rail
roads for the transportation of goods
from the East. Tremendous capital is
needed to maintain wholesale establish
ments of the kind which we have in ST.
Paul. and line of customers, prestige
and popularity are secured only after a
long term of experience and acquaint-
ance. We have nothing to fear in St.
Paul for while. and perhaps the inter.
state commerce law will afford protec.
ton to our neighbor. But the whole
subject is one of great moment. and i'm.
presses on. us the need there is for an
increase IN the population and wealth
of the country back of us,sthat it NAV
support three great cities instead OF
! two.