St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-06

have kept steadily at work with
fair complement of men at a fair wage
My personal observation is that none OF
the cities of the East have succeeded in
doing this. Most of their factories
have been compelled to close down for
several months, and those that have
resumed operations are running short
handed, on short time, and at greatly
reduced wages.
1t is conceded that st. Paul is the
jobbing center of the Northwest, and
can see no reason why she should not
do fair share Of manufacturing for the
same territory. Within the last few
years there have been developed in our
state iron mines of character and
magnitude that but few understand. At
present the immense quantity of ore
being mined is shipped to Eastern
markets. L predict that in the near
future large portion of this ore will be
reduced and worked nearer home, and
st. Paul should be i'll position to bid
for some Of these mills.
The fuel problem Is a matter that, IN
my Judgment, should receive the earnest
consideration of every business organ
izatiOn and business man in the Twin
Cities. With this problem solved we
would rapidly grow into manufacture
ing center of considerable Importance,
as our facilities for distributing the
finished wares are unsurpassed. The
matter of cheaper fuel, therefore, is a
most urgent and important one. l have
watched with considerable interest the
various discussions and newspaper
articles relative to the proposed ship
canal from st. Paul to Duluth. This
agitation, to some degree, at least, is
c0mmendable, as it serves to keep be-
fore the people the necessity of cheaper
transportation than we now have to and
from the head Of the lakes; yet the
enormous cost of such a waterway
makes the scheme shadOWy and imN
practicable. An air line railway Of low
grade from the Twin Cities to Duluth,
one on which the greatest possible
tonnage of freight could be hauled at
the lowest possible cost, would, think,
be practicable, and be the means of
furnishing us reasonably cheap fuel.
The casual visitor to st. Paul is
naturally impressed with the fact that
we are not much of q manufacturing
city. The impression is an erroneous
one We are. on the contrary, consider
able OF a manufacturing city; but, I'M
fortunately, our manufacturing estab-
lishmentS are not central or confined
in one district. as they usually
are in most of the manufacture
Ing cities of the East, but
are located in the various suburbs.
This is a mistake that owners OF many
factories now regret. Their taxes and
insurance are usually higher than they
would be in the city, and yet they are
without the protection and convenlenceS
afforded by the city. TO stranger
these isolated factories are hard to get
at, and oftentimes valuable orders are
lost them for this reason.
If all the factories in st. Paul and her
suburbs we're situated, say, on the West
side. it would at once impress every
visitor that we were the Pittsburg OF the
Northwest, and would also tend, L think,
to attract other establishments. Every
possible inducement should be offered
to entiCe both new enterprises securing
| a site here, as we'll as those now located in
the suburbs, to locate on or near the
West side leyee. They would be far
enough away so that any smoke ordlN
| nauces would not interfere with their
operations, and yet, practically, would
be in the heart of the city, so that a
buyer could as easily reach them as he
now reaches the JObblng houses. L
should like to see the city, if possible,
acquire the entire unoccupied river
front from WabaSha street down to and
below the proposed Broadway bridge,
the same to be leased, at the lowest
possible rental, to any responsible con-
Germ that would establish manufact-
uring plant. We have, undoubtedly, as
far as location is concerned, the most
desirable manufacturing sites Of any
city in the West; and no effort should
be spared to have these sites occupied.
st. Paul seems to be afflicted with
more than her share of the chronic
grumblers. While their mouthings do
not work any very serious harm, yet
they can be quite easily spared. The
Pessimist has been abroad now quite
long enough, and it is nigh time that ne
be relegated to ''innOcuouS desuetude."
st. Paul has not by any means seen her
best days. 1t is true that we have no
boom, and | earnestly hope we may
never be afflicted with another. pre-
dict for the manufacturers of st. Paul
prosperity such as they have never be-
fore enjoyed-not a prosperity Of the
boom type, but a permanent, healthy
growth and increase of their business.
The really splendid showing made by
our factories during season OF almost
unparalleled depression should stimu-
late and encourage every manufacture
ing plant to renewed energy. The
dawn of a better day has already ap-
peared, and general business is slowly,
perhaps, but surely improving, and
now is the time for every manufacturer
to put his house in order, that he may
take care OF the increased business that
is sure to come.
N