The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-28
THE DOOMED CITY.
Its History Briefly sketched and Its
situation Described.

| rs Nv SAetcned and Its
situation Described.
The first permanent settlement on
the site Of st. Louis was made in Feb
ruary, 1894. and was in the nature Of a
trading post. established by Pierre La
clede Liguest Long prior to this event
there had been some exploration of the
vast region of the Mississippi and its
tributaries by Marquette, Joliet, La
sale. Hennepin and others. But, al
though a few widely separated military
and trading posts had been established.
there was no accurate knowledge OF the
character and resources of the country.
Laclede's expedition was nearly con-
! temporaneous with the treaty of Paris,
| 1853 by which the title of France to the
region in the valley of the Mississippi
was practically extinguished, Spain be-
coming owner OF all louisiana. west of
the Mississippi. and England of all the
/ territory east of that river. excepting
New Orleans. The few French north
of the Ohio were nominally surrendered
to the English. including Vincennes,
Cahokia, Kasckasia and Fort de Char
tres; but there was no immediate for
NAL assertion of English control, and
French sentiments and manners and
customs remained undisturbed.
In 1771 st. Louis was farmally occu-
pied by small body of Spanish troops.
commanded by Don Pedro Piernas and a
period Of somewhat over 80 years OF
Spanish rule followed. during which
few local events of noteworthy charac-
ter occurred. On May 25. 1850. the fes-
tival of Corpus Christi. the post or viii
lage was attacked by Indians and about
- al .Nta
savages were beaten off and did not re-
new the attack. In 1900 Spain ceded
back to France all her territory of
Louisiana. and three years later, April
30, 1903. France ceded to the United
States all her right. title and interest
In the territory for $4,000 900 francs.
At this time st. Louis and the ada
cent district had a population of not
more than 3.OOO and the total popula-
tion of Uper Louisiana was between
5000 and 5000. including 1900 negroes.
There were not more than 200 houses in
the embryo city. which consisted main
ly OF two streets parallel to the river.
For 80 or so years after the landing OF
Laclede the progress OF the town was
necessarily slow. In 1910 the population
was less than 800 and In 1880 II had
not reached 5000.
From the latter date progress be-
came steady and rapid and the real
growth OF the city was compressed
within half a century. An extensive
confiagration occurred in 1s49 which
destroyed most of the business houses
on the levee and main streets. Dur
ing the civil war the commercial ad-
vancement of st. Louis was seriously
retarded. but the city continued to ex-
pand in population owing TO Its advan-
tageous geogra phical position.
St. Louis is situated on the west
bank of the Mississippi river. 20 miles
below its confluence with the Missouri
river and 200 miles above the influx OF
the Ohio. IL is distant by river about
1900 miles from New Orleans, and 729
miles from ST. Paul. and occupies a po-
sition near the center OF the great ba-
sin through which the mingled flood
Of the Mississippi and Missouri and
their extensive system OF tributaries
is carried to the gulf of Mexico
The site embraces a series of undu-
lation extending westward with a
general direction nearly parallel TO the
river. which. AZ this point. makes n
wide curve 20 the east. The extreme
length In a straight line is II miles. 4
the greatest width six 60-lO00 miles.
The length OF river front 10 and 15-l00
miles and the area, including consid-
cradle territory at present suburban
in character. G2is square miles. The
elevation OF the city is about 42S feet
above the waters Of the gulf Of Mexico. I