St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-11
That Is Rich and Productive
Enough to Supply a
World.
st. PauI's Natural Advantages
Analysed by a Student
Of Commerce.
Fruitful Fields Stretch Away
on All Sides Of Her En-
viable Site.
Less Than One-Seventh' Of
Tributary Domain Is Under
Cultivation.

ST. Paul, the capital Of the state OF
Minnesota, the beautiful Queen City of
the West, sits upon the terraced heights
that rise i'll crescent form like mighty
rampartS about the northern extremity
of the world-famed Mississippi valley.
and at the head of navigation on the
Mississippi river.
In these days of profound peace, it
may be matter of no moment what
ever to the teeming millions of prosper
Gus and happy people who inhabit this
most wonderful valley of all the earth,
that nature has thrown about its North
ern frontier these ever enduring bull
warkS. But surely it we'll accords
with the spirit and sentiment or TINS age
that these heights, situated as they are
midway between the waters OF the
Atlantic on the east and the Paclhc
coast on the west, and midway also be-
tween the far inland Northern sea and
the great Southern gulf, should be
transmitted into the magnificent throne
of metropolitan city, queenly IN her
beauty and StatelinesS, commanding IN
her position of commercial vantage
ground, strong in her multiplied faclli-
ties and limitless resources, no less than
in the brain and Drawn and hearts
of her citizenry. At her feet lies
The Valley of valleys.
1000 miles in width, 1000 miles in
length. To her right are the uncounted
fruitful fields that present their golden
bountieS into her lap. On her left stand
unmeasured pine forests, and beneath
them repose ineXhaustible fields of ores
that will continue to pour forth their
stores when generations nave passed
away. And yet behind her lie the fer
tile virgin regions, almost Infinite In
area, and all of which, save mere
fraction, is yet pregnant with all the
richness that ages have stored up in
their soils awaiting the sturdy pioneer
and his eager plough share.
Railroads that traverse empires con-
center at her gates. From her Wharves
and warehouses the Mississippi river
sweeps down to the sea, not only itself
furnishing cheap freightage for her
commerce, but always regulating and
holding in check railway tariffs, and
thus forever assuring cheap freightage
on every rail to the East and South.
Her location apprOXimating the circu-
lar form, and rising terrace above ter
race from both sides of the Mississippi
river, and underlaid with sandstone,
gives her at Oncelincomparable pict-
uresqueness and the most perfect nat
ural drainage. Her supply of pure
sparkling water from adjacent
lakes is ineXhaustible. Her bright,
clear and inVigorating atmos-
phere renders malarial diseases
impossible and constitutes perpetual
invitation and inducement to those who
have lived in climates less favorable to
health and longevity. During the de-
cade between 1880 and 1890 her popula-
tion increased 220 per cent, or nearly
100000 souls. Her schools, churches,
benevolent institutions, business and
facilities for doing business increased
In much greater ratio.
A Noble Heritage.
The state OF Minnesota, of which this
city is the capital, contains in round
numbers, 53,0O0,000 acres, being equal
to the total acreage of New York, Mas
sachusetts. Connecticut, New Hamp-
shire and Vermont. OF this vast do
main less than one-seventh is yet under
civilization. Millions upon millions of
acres of as fruitful land as the
sun beholds in all his rounds
have never felt the pillow share or yield
ed an ounce of their prodigous treasure.
The vast ore beds in the northeast have
barely been explored, and their excel
lent quality and marvellous extent re-
vealed. Their development and the
commerce they shall create are said to
be some of the great realizations of the
near future. The local railroads have
contracts to ship out 100000 tons of
ore this present year. There are num-
erOuS waterfalls of uncalculated power
that as yet have never turned an axle or
moved a wheel. Some 5000 beautiful
lakes give picturesqueness and value to
her magnificent prairies. Upland wood
land and meadow are fairly distributed.
Six thousand miles of railway ale al
ready operated within her boundaries.
Her assessed values doubled between
the census years of 1880 and 1890 with
almost fifty millions to spare. Men do
lot increase their assessments for show
or "boom" purposes. During the same
decade the population in Minnesota in
creased 621@ per cent. According to the
United States census, her gain In popu-
lation during that decade was in round
numbers $4,000 greater than the gain in
Ohio; &C. 600 more than Michigan; $1,000
more than Kansas; $4,000 more than
Wisconsin; 1S0,0 900 more than California
and 237, 600 more than Iowa.
Climax Vet Far Distant.
1t must be remembered, too, that the
past has been largely an era of prep
aratiOn for vastly greater production
and advancement in the future. Her
people have been much engaged in
building houses, roads, bridges, rail
roads, mills, factories, elevators,