St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-26

rates that may be made by the railroads
against st. Louis. This official is known as
the traffic manager of the league. His name
is Joseph S. Leeds, and he connected
with the traffic department of the Missouri
Pacific until within few years. While act
ing with the Missouri Pacific the road was in
a pool, by which st. Louis was Disseminated
against. Leeds, either by orders from the
Jay Gould interests, or otherwise, disregard
ed the rules of the pool and made special
rates for st. Louis. The result was that the
freight came pouring into this city. After
a time the other roads in the pool discovered
the fact that the Missouri Pacific was not
living up to its rules and demanded that the
Gould interests discharge Leeds, or the road
would be fought by the pool. The situation
was such that Leeds was discharged, and
since then he has been in the
employ Of the city. Another man
is hired by this club to do nothing else
than read the papers and magazines of the
country and to look out for articles far and
against ST. Louis. If anything unfavorable
is printed an attem It is made to trace ;he
source of the article and tie writer. If he
is connected with one of The newspapers Cf
st. Louis he is warned not to repeal the
oifense. Another man is employed watch
the hotel registers and 10 report such dstn-
guished guests and apl.ai,ts as May VISIT
st. Louis. AS soon their presence is
known some of the committee on entertain
ment call upon them. They show them all
favors and do what they can to make them
carry away good impression of st. Louis.
Then there are other men who are paid to
keep watch of the state legislature and pre-
vent them from enacting any laws that will
be detrimental to st. Louisiana others who
are constantly on the lookout for new factor
les and other businesses which might come
to the city. The members of this league
dues every year to it's support and the as
sociation has so many rich men that it can
on short notice raise large amount of
money.
CONVENTION PREPARATIONS.
Just now the league is busy about matters
relating to the convention. A number of
convention committees have been appointed.
embracing the leading of the city, and
every detail that will contribute to it's sue
cess is being provided for. Mr.. Clark H.
Samson, the head of the committee on ar
rangements, has told me something of what
is being done. The people are evidently
bound that st. Louis shall be seen at its
best. new system of street cleaning has
been adopted, whereby man and cart will
be kept busy on every block all day long go
ing about and picking up any dirt that may
fall. The city is to have new street signs at
every corner before next June, and the mu-
nicipal- council has, I am told appropriated
a large sum for this purpose. The league
has adopted such plans as will give the
crowd no trouble in finding quarters. The
bureau of information will have an office at
the depot, and uniformed messenger boys
will be sent with those who visit it to their
hotels and boarding houses. New places for
the accommodation of visitors are now being
registered at the rate of thirty and upward
daily. Some Of these are several miles out
and others are close to the depot. Those
who want rooms in private houses without
day, and good restaurants are to be found
almost everywhere.
"THE BIGGEST ON EARTH"
This Business Mems league is aided by the
Mercantile club. which is another big St.
Louis institution, and together they are so
enthusiastic ever the greatness of their city
that you wonder it, after all, Chicago has not
moved away from Lake Michigan to the Mis-
sissippi. Among their claims are that est.
Louis is the largest city on the largest river
of the world that it has the biggest rail-
road station, the biggest great hardware
house, the biggest drugs house. the biggest
tobacco factory, the biggest lead works and
the biggest brick yards that are anywhere to
be found on this big round earth. AS to the
United States alone. they claim the largest
brewery, shoe house, saddlery market and
street car factories, while they boldly state
that they have the biggest mule market and
the finest street cars. The city has excel
lent streets. and it was the first town in
the United States to light its alleys by cleo
tricity. 1t has water works which have COST
or will cost when finished, Sc, 900. .000 and it
claims that its water is pure and palatabe
1t may be both, but strangers who have no
better stomachs than mine had better temper
each glass with finger of whisky until they
get used to 1t.
1t is said to be healthy city, and ought
to be, as far as drainage is concerned for it
has more than $10,000.000 invested in sewers.
1t is well-conducted city, and is far in ad-
vance of all the other cities in the South in
culture and educational facilities. 1t has one
public library of $4,000 volumes and the
Mercantile library has over $4,000 more. The
Washington university of st. Louis has more
than $1,00000O invested in buildings and
grounds, and the public schools of the city
contain so, 600 scholars.
All told. st. Louis is very wide-awake
town, and the people who come here in June
will find much to surprise them.
Frank G. Carpenter.