The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-26
CITY NEWS
THE FIGURES TALK
Queries From Outsiders as to Mime
= apolis Future Are Answered
4 With Force.
Striking Figures for skeptics by
Wallace G. Nye of the Com
mercial Club.

The volume ssof correspondence of the
public affairs committee Of the CONNER
cial club is continually increasing and
takes In almost every subject from re-
quests for lists of manufacturers and job
bers to lengthy inquiries as to the chances
Of the future of the city. A recent letter
from a gentleman in the east who has
property interests here contained many
inquiries which had been made of him
and which had special reference to the
probabilities Of the continued growth of
this city. A probable decline in the 1um-
Der industry and the possibility of Minne-
apolis' manufacturing and jobbing busi
ness eClipsed by Duluth seems to be causes
of the greatest fear for the future of Min
neapolis. 1T is the general IMPRESSION"
the gentleman wrote, that the bank
clearances of Minneapolis and its reputa-
ton as manufacturing city are due to
the volume Of the lumber and flour manu-
featured"
In replying the committees secretary
W. G. Nye. pointed out the fact that not
withstanding the lumber output last year
showed a great decrease over that Of 1901
and that there was only a moderate in
crease in the flour output, the bank clear
fngs increased to $720,000000. Is per cent
more than the previous year. showing
that the city has other industries than
flour.
Growth In Manufacturing.
Of the manufacturing business of the city
In the decade from 1890 to 1900 taken
from the census returns were also sub
mitted by Mr.. Nye to the inquirer and
as little Of this growth was due to lumber
or flour. the figures prove that the city
Capital employed ...... $40 600 600 $50, 600, 900
Value of product ...... $1,000. 900 $4,000. 900
Number of wage-earners. $1,000 $1,000
The comparative growth of Minneapolis
with the two other large cities Of the
state was also shown by the following
percentages Of growth taken from a CEN
sus bulletin.
r,D,.,no,,, Enai q Ear1 e froSssset;;
~. Paul ............. "a % 49,;
Duluth .............. 26S 237 %
That there would in the course of some
years be a decline in the manufacture of
lumber at this point was acknowledged,
but the correspondent was assured that
the we'll equipped mills of this city would
continue to attract pine here as long as
there was any accessible. and that other
Industries had been established and would
be established here to such an extent that
the passing of the sawmills would not
be felt.
The recent establishment of extensive
yards in this city for handling the pine
from the mountain and coast regions was
pointed out assurance that this
city would continue to hold its place as
the chief lumber center.
The Jobblng Trade.
The growth of the jobbing trade of Mill
neapolis during the past decade has been
greater than the splendid Increase in man
ufacturing.
The advantages held by Duluth in
cheaper rates to the east are only for a
few months of the year, and are offset
by the fact that Minneapolis lies nearer
the territory to the west and southwest
Ten railway systems operate twenty
lines Of road, aggregating about 10000
miles, dverging from Minneapolis in all
directions.
AS evidence of the prosperity of this
clty, the attention Of the correspondent
was called to the increase last year not
only in bank clearings. but in postoff1ce
receipts, which showed a gain of nearly
20 per cent.
The building statistics. showing that
Minneapolis ranked ninth among Ameri-
can cities last year ina the value Of new
buildings. were also cited.
TO tina query to real estate values,
Nr. Nye reviewed the depression in prices
which occurred in 1898 and the following
years, and expressed the opinion that
prices OF real estate in this city were
lower to-day than for property similarly
located in other western cities. and that
purchases of well selected property at
present prices will prove to. be safe and
profitable investments.