The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-07-08
THE GROWTH OF THE NORTH
WEST.

The rapid growth of the United
States has been matter of wonder
ment to the slow-gOing nations of the
old world, just as the phenomenal
development of the northwest has
been surprise to the people of the
eastern portion of the republic. 1t
is hard even for the people, of the
northwest to bring the mind down to
the fact that 30 years ago the greater
portion Of Minnesota and all of the
Dakotas was one vast wilderness, yet
such it was. All the comforts of civ
iliZatiOn which we now enjoy; the
vast net work of railways which span
our prairies, the cities which dot the
face of nature, the industries which
give employment TO a vast army of
men, the farms which represent the
granary of the world, are the growth
of less than generation.
In the current North american Re
clelc Gov. Merriam writing upon "The
Needs of the New Northwest" speak
ing of the great change, says that
when he came to Minnesota in 1861,
there was not railroad in the state
st. Paul was town containing about
5000 people, and Minneapolis possessed
of a magnificent water power, had
not attained the Importance of her
sister city. Duluth lived in the i'm
agination. The entire western and
northern part of Minnesota, and
the two states known as the Dakotas,
were given over to the Indians, with
here and there white settler" In
commenting upon the changes that
have been made he says
The changes have been so rapid as
to almost make us marvel at the ORR
gin Of the power that wrought them.
Transportation facilities now extend
across the entire country. The Twin
Cities number nearly 100000 people.
Duluth is one of the great primary
wheat markets of the world. The
farm lands of Minnesota and the two
Dakotas produced something like one
hundred and fifty million bushels of
wheat, last year. Montana is now
great silver and copper producing
state. In addition its wide ranges
offer inducements and oppor-
tunities for enlarged traffic
in cattle and sheep. Idaho is rich in
minerals, while Washington fairly
teens with great crops of grain and
wonderful forests of timber which are
now coming into use.
A country that is capable of such
changes in such short period of time
| is also capable of future growth
of equal importance, but there are
dangers to be guarded against and up
on this the Governor says:
Primarily the strength of
community lies in the character, the
force and the intelligence of its citi-
zens. Let encouragement be given
to all well-disposed, law-abiding,
emigrants to come to this new coun-
try and settle here, prepared to be-
come Americans. Keep out by the
force of legislation, every individual
tainted with communism, anarchiSm,
or the like. The continued importa-
tion of an element not in
harmony with the ideas
of the republic is a source
of danger to the future of the country
and should be summarily stopped.
The northwest will not be benefited
by becoming a dumping-groun for
the refuse population of the countries
of southern Europe. Our immigra-
tion laws need revising to protect the
new states from the evils that are
are likely to come upon them through
the indiscriminate and faulty enact
ments now in force.
There is no doubt but that the
northwest is destined to become the
seat of power of the nation. The
ideas of its people are broad andliber-
al they believe in living and let live
in that broad sense which promotes
the greatest welfare of the people.
They are possessed of that push and
energy which knows no failure, and
which are destined to reach the full
est realization of all that has been
pictured for the advancement Of man.
This can be accomplished because the
opportunities at hand are practically
| limitless and the people stand ever
ready to grasp them.
The greatest of inducements have
been held out to eastern capital, but
as Gov. Merriam well says, that in Sc
curing it assurances should be given
that it will not be discrimin ated
against by local legislation.
In reaching the highest ideal of
citizenship that is pictured for the
northwest, all it's citizens should
take an interest in public affairs, for
if its government becomes weak or
corrupt through the neglect of the
many its general prosperity must lam
guish and its moral tone be lowered.
But with all working together for
public and private good the highest
type of civilization can here be
wrought out.