Arizona republican., 1901-12-11
GREAT N0RTHW EST
Ii Has Entered Upon Wonder
 full Era of Prosperity
Immigrants are Fast Filling Up the Vast Unoccupied Areas of Farm ing Lands in the Middle North west.

rane, president or the NOrtnWeStern ln- vestment company of St. Paul, is at the Hotel Manhattan. There is no man better posted in regard to that terri tory than M,'. Cochran and no man more closely identified with its ma terial development.
 Talking about his city and its tribu- tary territory today, MT. Cochrane said:
 The middle northwest, as a section has fully shared in the general pros perity prevalent over the whole coun- try. The harvest which has just been gathered shows a yield of more than average quantity in the small grains. notwithstanding the heat and partial drouth of the early summer.
 Flax has been an especially good crop and at current prices an enlarged area is likely for next year. though the linseed oil men are cautioning farmers not to overdo it Immigration of two classes is fast filling up the unoccupied farming lands naturally tributary to the Twin Cities.
 PLANTING COLONIES.
 "One class Is brought in by the rail roads and large land companies. who have thousands of acres on which to plant colonies. but another and more substantial class consists of farmers from the interior west who have soll their old holdings in older states at high prices and are taking up land for themselves and their sons in Mime sota. the two Dakotas and sometimes in Manitoba at the low figures at which acres can still be had.
 "The causes, with the additional one of a speculative desire on the part of investors to possess land in large tracts. have made an unprecedented activity in wild lands and a phenom- enal increase of corporations, having their headquarters for the most part in St. Paul. whose energies are devoted to the exploitation of this sort of prop erty.
 'The jobbers and manufacturers oI the Twin Cities have found their busi- ness during the past year only limited by their capacity to handle it." MT. Cochrane continued. "In St. Paul espe- cially one feature of the situation proves this. namely. the expansion Of the accommodations made necessary. Many of the Luger houses are seeking to increase their quarters either by the acquisition of adjoining buildings or by the erection of new ones on other sites. The inquiry of the smaller manu- featuring trad les from various parts of the country as to the feasibility of se- curing locations is another item of in terest which would at once strike an intelligent observer.
 MANUFACTURERS PROSPEROUS.
 "St. Paul is especially fortunate in the number and prosperity of it's smaller manufacturers, doing their business in an unobstrusive and often f,, ply of their operations impresses the busi- ness world. This was the history, for instance, of the Horne & Dang Co, which began in a timers shop. gradu- ally extended its manufacture of tin goods until it embraced all the leading users of cans throughout the country and lately was absorbed into the Amer ican Can company and made one of it's leading plants.
 Perhaps the most important local industry of the whole middle northwest which Is affecting the whole section and having already noticeable effect on St Paul. is the live stock business. At South St. Paul some of the big pack ing companies have leased the plant originally erect Chicago & Great Western rail- way and are multiplying the annual output of the provision and packing business at a lively rate.
 Their necessities have been a large factor in causing the Union Depot com pany of St. Paul to enlarge It's trackage facilities by the expediture of nearly $500. 900 to give stock shipments from the north and west free passage the city to the stock yards and packing houses. Good judges regard with sanguine expectation the growth of this line of manufacturing and be- lieve that its aggregate will before many years exceed that of any other line. not excepting either lumber or flour.
 MUCH BUILDING UNDER WAY.
 '.In real estate lines two points may be noticed. the absence as yet of any very general activity, coupled, though. with an extraordinary amount of build ing. The demand for residences for rent is almost unprecedented, leaving few vacant dwellings of any class. Many apartment houses of the more moderate cost are being erected. while owners have built hundreds of houses for their own use. ranging generally in cost from s3.O00 to $10000.
 "Unimproved property still feels the effect of the depreciation which fol- lowed the unhealthy activity of tho boom years. but indications are not wanting that another year will see in vestors buying vacant lots. because prevailing prices are abnormaily low and fully justify purchase for holding.
 RAILROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
 "In railroad circles the acquisition by the Northern Pacific of nearly S200.O00 worth of vacanr property for its own use. the building of an important spur track to accommodate the manufactur- CTS on the west side levee by the Chi cago. St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha. the enlargement of the latter's shops. and the entrance of the Burlington. Cedar Rapids & Northern. together with the expensive additions to the