The herald., 1896-01-20
TRAVELLING FOR PLEASURE
Large Party OF Minnesota Excursi0nists
in the City
Minneapolis Business Men and nembers Of
Their Families-A Chat With One Of
the Representative Men

Among the Minneapolis excursonists
who arrived in the citv Saturday is P. D.
Boutwell,, well-known bHsiness man of
that city. MIR. Boutwell, is accompanied by
his wife, and they are very pleasantly quar-
tered at the Natick, where they will remain
for some weeks.
A HERALD reporter called on Mr.. Bout
we'll yesterday afternoon and from him OBJ
tanned some points of interest about the
party and their trip across the continent.
There are thrty-eight people in the party,
and they left Minneapolis on Monday last
in two special cars, coming by way of New
Orleans and Ell Paso. The excursionists
are Minneapolis business men, and the trip
is made for pleasure and incidentally look.
ing into extending trade relations with
Southern California. They expect to re-
main on the coast and will return home via
San Francisco and the sound country.
MIR. Boutwell, who, by the way, conducts
one of the largest furniture and housefur.
nishing houses in the northwest, speaks
very encouragingiy of the business outlook
in the east. A good feeling prevails, and
there is growing confidence that looks
well for the future prosperity of the coun-
try. Collections are very good, and there
is every indication of continued improve
ment in the trade situation. Business, he
says. is gradually getting into big hands,
and if man has capital to handle large
lines he can make money. The past sea-
son has been an especially favorable one
for the farmers, and in consequence money
is comparatively easy.
AS to politics, Mr.. Boutwell, said that it
was too early in the campaign to have
caused any decided interest. Minnesota
was of course largely Republican, and
whoever gets the Republican nomination
will probably carry the state. Tom Reed
and Nc kinley are generally conceded to
be in the lead, and either one would be ac-
ceptable to Minnesota Republicans. Sena-
tor Davis of Minnesota is very popular and
the people would like to sec him selected
as the presidential candidate, but of course
this is out Of the question, as he is not To-
Gated right, geographically.
The feeling of rivalry between the cities
of st. Paul and Minneapolis, Mr.. Boutwell,
said. is rapidly dying out. Minneapolis is
slowly but surely forging ahead in the
fight for commercial supremacy, and it is
now generally conceded that it has the
best of the situation. Minneapolis, he
said, is the greatest lumber and flour mar
ket in the world. Here are situated the
great Washburn and Pillsbury mills, and
the estimated output of flour is put at
100000 barrels per week. St. Anthony
Falls furnishes water power for the manu-
featuring plants now in operation, and
double the amount now required is going
to waste.
The trip across the country, Mr.. Bout
we'll said, was very interesting, but was
without special incident. The travellers
were much impressed with the magnitude
of the cattle interests in Texas. The cot
ton industry also attracted much attention.
Mr.. Boutwell, said that he had not yet
formed any idea as to Los Angeles and
California, as he had had no facilities for
investigation as yet. The city, so far as
he had seen, was very attractive, and he
had no doubt but what he would get the
traditional California fever in due time.
He would remain in Southern California
several weeks, visiting points of interest,
and making Los Angeles his headquarters.