The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-18
Thirty Years Ago,

Just thirty years ago, a mass meeting was
| held in St. Paul to ascertain the sentiment Of
| the people towards the building of the pro-
| posed Wabasha street bridge. The legislature
| OF the preceding winter had passed an act ap-
| pointing a commission, and giving the city
| council authority to submit the proposition
| for bond issue to vote Of the people The
| commission consisted Of D. w. Ingorsall John
| Holland G. D. Strong, William Lee, William
Dawson, John Nicols, George Mitsch D. A.
| Robinson and H. S. Fairchild The meeting
| was largely attended and a resolution was
| unanimously adopted, ordering the PROPOSE
ton. Later the city council, by a popular
vote, ordered that the proposition have
place the ticket
A high school course was established in the
upper story Of the Franklin school, by the
board of education, with B. F. Wright as
principal. This was practically the first high
| school course established in the city.
The Lake Superior and Mississippi River
railway, what is now the st. Paul & Duluth.
was opened as far as White Bear lake. The
occasion was celebrated by a picnic and ex-
ercises in keeping with the nature of the
event on the shores of White Bear lake. Ad-
dresses were made by William L. Banning,
president of the road; w. r. Marshall, and
once Gov. Alexander Ramsey. In describing
at the time says: 1--WE passed acres and acres
of corn in the shock. Scattered all over the
fields were rich golden-hued pumpkins which
looked like apples Of gold in pictures Of silver
and showed that the early and late rains
had fallen in their time and the God Who
giveth all had abundantly blessed the hus-
bandmen. AS sped along towards the
lake focks of prairie chickens and ducks rose
and sought the distant wood and just beyond
little Canada two or three deer were spied
seeking covert before the advancing waves OF
civilization
A foot race between an Iowa and st. Paul
man run at the fair grounds. large
number of people turned out and of course
the betting favored the local contestant The
Iowa man won. and nearly $4,000 changed
hands From that time foot races in st. Paul
were decidedly out of favor.
The city council authorized the rebuilding
of the West st. Paul bridge connecting with
the Owatonna road.
Mr.. and Mrs. B. Presley celebrated the
niversary Of their silver wedding. They were
presented with a handsome silver service by
P. H. Kelly, P. F. McQuillan, Mr.. Raquet
and Thee. Borup.
The original edifice in which the congrega-
ton Of Christ church held services was de-
stroyed by fire and the following year the
present building on Fourth street was con-
structed.
The city council ordered all the houses
in the city numbered. On some of the older
dwelling houses can be seen at the present
day the original tin number plates which
were put up in the fall of 1868.
A new organ was placed in the cathedral.
1t was attended by notable services which
packed the large structure to the doors The
organ was the finest which could be secured
and for years it has fulfilled it's mission in
the cathedral. Conrad Zenzius was organist.
The political horizon was enlivened by the
constant warfare which was ragged between
Ignatius Donnelly and Alexander Ramsey.
DonnelIy had bolted the Democratic party
and ran for congress on his own hook. 2.
NJ. Wilson nominated by the Democrats
Frequent debates took place between DON
nelly and Ramsey. In one of his addresses
Mr.. Donnelly alluded to the building of the
court house and the railways and other i'm
provements which had come to the state as
''the most important events since the compile
ton of the world, and would from all time
be handed down into posterity." 1t was In
connection with his services to the commun-
ity that Mr.. Donnelly spoke of these things
and incidentally took the credit upon him
SELF
Mr. Ramsey. however, on a number of oc-
casions took the wind out of Donnelly's
sails" on local and national issues of the
day.
The grasshopper plague completely devas-
tated the Red river valley. There were but
few people in the valley in Minnesota at the
time, but settlement Of nearly Is, 900 In the
British possession was the verge of starv-
alton long before cold weather set in. Con-
tributions came pouring IN from all parts
of the country from bounteous harvest.
call was issued by ]. j. Hill, H. H. Sibley,
Russell Blakey r. N. McLaren and Norman
w. Ktttson for contributions from the citi-