St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-01
Room 10 Grow.

What the future may develop in re-
tail way along the avenues OF trade
which have not yet reached their ma
tural and destined growth Offels such
wide scope for speculation that the
mind heSitateS TO forecast as the iu-
agination would impel.
Fourth, Fifth Sixth, Seventh and
Eighth streets cannot rail to become
main retail thoroughfares. While none
of them are likely to become such from
end TO end, as seems 10 be the destiny
of Seventh, from the wholesale district
to where they end in other streets they
may reasonably be expected to yet show
rows of stores, except on Third above
Pleasant avenue and OH Sixth above
NTH avenue.
If Third street shall be behind in the
march of retail trade towards its natural
centers the blame can lie only with tho
property owners and merchants. Con-
Senting TO be passed by, or to desert
their present quarters Tor new locations,
small factories and supply depots may
be expected 10 rapidly pre-empt tho
most desirable buildings, and once in
possession they will not DO gotten out
again, unless, indeed, the admirable
ideal at one time pictured for the street
shall be realized in years to come.
the river side OF the street, and facing IL
magnificent boulevard and promenade
would be art galleries, library, fine pub
lie buildings, milliOuaires' palaces. eX-
elusive and beautiful clubs, lheaterS OF
noble architectural design, dIVlnely
planned institutions of public use aud
utility, grandly constructed auditOriumS
where multitudes might gather for en-
ioymeut of the best the world could
give in music, orators, art, athletics and
sciences, public balls for meetings Of
delegates in conventions of thousands.
The realization OF such beautiful
dream is not impossible, of course, but
present does hot seem probable.
The vicinity of Rice park, with the
new public building inevitably drawing
people that way, must within a few
years become Il retail center. 10 de-
lnoisl many OF the buildings in that
neighbOrhOOd would be public benefit;
but there are many weli-built structures
which could readily be converted into
elegant store quarters. That something
like this will occur on Fourth, and also
OIL Market and Washington to Sixth,
there can be little doubt.
A portion of the upper end OF Waba-
Sha street is almost III virgin state,
awaiting the advent If stOre-building
Fine residences arc at present stand
ing, and Others planned 10 be erected,
in numerous PORTIONS Of the city which
it seems must surely be utilized for
business purposes as we take on more
and more the cosmopolitan character
that VIII eventually place st. Paul IN
the front rank ot tile great cities OF The
land. Cedar street, West Fifth, West
Sixth, Exchange, from Third to
Wabasha; Smith avenue, Ramsey
street at its lower end and several OF
the streets in lower town may be men
toned in this connection without exag-
geration. They are part of district
that today has only begun to realize
dlmly the possibilities ahead, and even
men of middle age, in fair health, may
reasonably expect TO seq the day OF full
development OF the sections mentioned,
and others overlooked as centers, or
combinations of centers, Of the retail
'Sad-s NJ st. Paul.