The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-06-02
Manufacturers Record of Balti-
more Comments Upon Enterprise
and Stability of City.
ACTIVITY SHOWN IN ALL LINES.
Virgins Ferry Fight Referred TO
us an Evidence of the Value
of Railway Termi-
mails.

The Manufacturers Record Of Baltimore.
which ranks among the leading industrial
journals of the world, m upon the
progress ST. Louis is making in every char
acter of municipal activity. While the i'm
petus given by the approaching Worlds
Fair is taken into account. the correspond
ent does not hold that this enterprise Is
alone at the bottom of the city's wonderful
growth.
Beginning with the city Government, at
tention is called TO the fact that only since
Mayor Rolla Wells and his associates have
been in office. have steps been taken TO
stop boodling and overhaul the boodLers III
public places" The result Of a good ad-
ministration is evident. says the correspond
ent, Albert Phenis. IN the improvement OF
streets. st. Louis now has about 40 miles
of asphalt. block and macadam
and this is constantly beng lncrsasGd; :,
Extraordinary development Is apparent In
railroad building in the territory domlnatei
by st. Louis" says the Record NO less
than 1909 miles OF new lines are unaer Gon-
structiOn in Missouri, Arkansas. Indian Ter
ritory, Oklahoma and Texas. and in all this
section new enterprises are not OF infrequent
announcement. The fight which has been
wage on the Rock Islands attempt to Sc
cure possession of Virgins Ferry demon
strates how important a hitherto neslected
property has become in the estimation Of
the biggest magnates of the railroad world"
St. Louis does rot depend upon Eastern
capital to finance its enterprises. 1t has
capital to spare, as was evidenced by the
recent 100000 loan to the Mexican Central
Railroad. The Tennessee Central is also in
debted 10 this city for the millions which
have made that enterprise a success. In Il
general summary the Record says:
1T will give further insight to be told
that the nineteen banks and ten trust COM
panies of st. Louis have a capital and sur
plus of more than 10000 600. while their de-
posts are almost $2OO.O00.0O0. The bank
clearings were nearly S2,Z71. OO0.OD in 1901.
an increase of more than SSO,0GO.O0o over the
figure of 1900.
while in manufacturing st. Louis does
rot hold the lead she should and will, there
is a very considerable manufacturing inter-
est here, the value of products at the fac
tories for 1901 being given at some
S+O0.O0.o0 and wages paid out aggregate
about 81. I50.OpO a week, or some 100000 a
year. The statement is made that coal is
cheaper in st. Louis than in any other city
of the first class, and Government indorse-
ment of the claim is exhibited.
In jobbing lines st. Louis holds q strong
place, and Is destined to further greatness.
is the third American city as a market
for dry goods. clothing and groceries,; the
second largest shoe-distribu ting point and
flour market. and first in millinery, drugs.
hardwoods. fruits and horses and mules. She
supplies the West and Southwest with much
those sections consume and use, and she Is
even extending her sphere of usefulness by
adding new lines and by penetrating new
territory"