St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-07

One of the busiest centerS in st. Paul
IS the commission colony on Sixth street,
between Wacouta and Broadway. Few
persons are aware of the magnitude Of
the business yearly transacted by the
commission houses of st. Paul, ana a
curSory walk around the various estab-
lishments gives but the fainteSt idea Of
its mammoth proportions. There are
several prominent houses doing an an
nual turnover of over 100000, and
yet casual visit at their place OF bust
ness would not indicate that they were
doing business aggregating $4,000
year. Appearances are deceptive in the
commission business, as well as in ev-
erything else. 1t is not always The most
pretentious establishment that is doing
the most work or making the most
money. Far from it. 1t is
surprising the small attention
that has been paid to the
commission business in st. Paul, and
yet here is business in which millions
of capital has been invested, and which
affords employment for hundreds of
men, women and children. The growth
of this business has not only been COM
mensurate with the growth of the city
the growth of the state-but 1t is equal
to the much talked about jobbing and
manufacturing of st. Paul. 1t is al
most within the mark to say that out
side the jobbers and wholesale dealers,
the commission men do business which
more than equals that done by any other
class of tradeSmen. From its very in
ception the commission business was
lucrative one in this city. The first
commission house was that of B. Pres
ley IL Co., and in connection with
this establishments singular fact is to be
told. The business was commenced by
the late Mr.. Presley in small shanty
on Third street over fifty years ago.
The beginning was small one, but the
business has grown stupenduously and
to-daywhile Messrs. Presley & Co. con-
duct their mammoth trade on the same
site upon which Mr.. Presley first To-
Gated, the small shantY has long since
given way to a most imposing brick
block. The commission trade, however,
was by other firms at first transacted on
the levee. This was in the COS. The
various houses then largely depended
for their supplies by steamer most of
the products coming from Wisconsin.
But as the state began to fill up and the
trade expanded, the necessity for going
outside for products gradually lessened.
The fruitful soil of Minnesota began to
furnish the needs of the people who
ho I'M re NO = Il
almost three-fourths of the grains,
fruits, livestock, ETC., are to be obtained
IN the state. AS an illustration of the
growth of the commission trade, it may
be mentioned that one firm which was
established in 1866 aud did business
OF $50, 900 for the year, now does busi-
ness aggregating S2,000,000. The COM
mission men have been migratory set.
The trade was not long located at the
levee, but in 1869 many of the firms took
up their stand on jackson, near Sixth.
Several commission men had their
stores in the now historical building
known as Motifs Castle, corner of Sixth
and jackson. Up to 1869 there were
mere handful OF men engaged in the
commission trade, but between 1869 and
1876 large number of new men opened
houses. and the business increased very
rapidly. In 1873 another change of To-
cation occurred. This time the commits
sion men emigrated to Robert street,
which continued TO be the center I'D to
three years ago. AT that time the board
of trade conceived the plan of coloniZ-
ing the commission houses in several
blocks. and syndicate was formed with
the result that several blocks on Sixth
street, between Wacouta and Broadway.
were covered with buildings specially
adapted TO the commission trade. The
new buildings did not at first take"
but year ago general move was made
towards them and now nearly every
store is occupied, and it is only ques-
ton of time when every commits
sion firm will be housed within
the colony. Already three large
blocks are covered with these
stores and a fourth is already projected.
There has never been any systematic
effort to secure
The Turnover
each year of the commission, but, in
GLIDING all houses, the following figures
which have been compiled with great
care and after considerable research
will be found to be within the mark:
Year. Business. Year. Business
ISL. .S13, 646, COO 1Ss6. - $50. DAB 900
1882. 81, 270. cool 1887 So 951 0O0
1888. 24S34. 900 1888. ....... 80, $4,000
1854. 255Sl,O0O 1889. ...... 47,59S. 900
1SS5-........ 2s3I7 1000 1870 ~. 6O,72OOOO
The commission men have been a
great factor in materially aiding in de-
veloping the Northwest. Minnesota is
gridironed with railroads, radiating
from st. Paul like the spokes of wheel,
over all of which, and upon every train
are the travelling representatives of the
St. Paul commission houses. These
houses enable the merchants of the
Northwestern states to obtain their sup
lies in adequate quantities near home,
and goods formerly difficult to obtain in
country towns, and
Regarded as Luxurtes,
are now handled with such facility that
they have become actual necessities.
The total amount of sales by commits
sion houses indicates gratifying ex-
panslon of our commerce.
81; Paul as a distributing point
reaches far out for her supplies, bring
ing 10 this market the products of the
countries of Europe upon one hand and
OF Asia uDOn the nj her Tho vast oraa