St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-08

AN OLD-TiNIER.
John Hart Talks Of Progress Of

John Hart Talks of Progress Of
Two-Score Years.
When the old st. Paul &c Pacific rail-
road started it was accompanied by a
very great change in the development
of these cities and of the country around
us. 1t was the first railway in operation
here, and ran at first between here and
Minneapolis in 1861. 1t. together with
certain extensions, has since become
part of the Great Northern railway sys-
tenn. As soon as the railways started
they caused the location of villages and
towns along their lines and settled
up the country districts. They gave us
facilities for reaching both old and new
residents. and OF getting our goods to
them. While the population and trade
of the Mississippi valley had grown
largely through the river transportation,
the back country received its impetus
from the railways. Of course, the valley
felt some of the effects of the railway en-
terprises. Instead of having TO lay in
abnormally large stocks in the fail to
fill demands up to the opening of naviD
CATION, we have become able to secure
supplies by rail. and, in fact. the major
portion of the enormous volume of trade
now done here is handled by the rail-
roads. They have almost entirely super
seeded the steamboat lines. Yet the
river is still of great value in adjusting,
the questions of freight rates. ;
When | came here in 1857 there were,
only three small concerns i'll st. Paul in .
my line of business (cigar manufactur-
ing). These three concerns were on the,
retail order. The proprietOrs worked !
themselves, and did not have more than
one or two men working for them, &,
in any instance. Their products
were mostly for the local trade
of the city, which then numbered
about 5000 Inhabitants. Some of their
products were sent out into the country
by teams and messengers. In 1861 the
war and the railroad caused an in
crease SO that three or four Of the cigar
factories here employed as many as
twenty-five or thirty hands apiece.
Prospective railroads also had some
what to do with the development in
trade and increase in population OF
those days.
Improvements followed as road after
road opened up new country. Proba-
bly, the most notable increase in my line
of business came with the extensions of
the Northern Pacific railway through
Northwestern Minnesota, North Dakota
and Montana. Millions of dollars were
spent in railway construction. and
vast amount of money was used in set
Ting the country districts ana IN build
ing new villages, towns and cities.
From 1882 to 1888 were the most pros
porous ears ever seen in this North
western country. We felt this in our
line of trade in the employment of up to
600 hands during 1883 in manufacturing
cigars in st. Paul. Many lines of bus
mess have grown In as creator greater,
proportions all through the Northwest.
What may not be expected now with
this great and substantial development
along the new line-the Great Northern
railway? Here are nearly 1900 miles
of rich country, newly developed. capa-
bic of supporting easily tens of millions
more people than its present popula-
ton. A magnificent beginning has
been made. What may we not expect
as the development continues and the
marvellous resources of 'the Northwest
continue to be brought to light? These
resources include very many of the host
gifts Of nature for the use of mankind.
and progress is moving swiftly in the
development of this most valuable en-
nire