The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

of the two places do not approach the
Minneapolis figures in any classlflca-
tion-number of establishments, capt.
tai, wage-earners or product. And this
holds goods even after deducting from
the Minneapolis figures the product of
the flour and numbering industries.
Within, the twenty-five years Min
neapolis manufacturers have extend
ed their selling territory from a cir
conference Of a few hundred miles at
the outside to almost worldwide linn
it's. OF course, foreign territory is
open to but a few lines. Minneapolis
flour is exported across both the At
lantic and the Pacific; and not a few
of the other manufactures reach for
eign parts under certain conditions.
But for the most part the Minneapo-
lis territory is the western part of
the United States; and In a still more
restricted class Of products - staples
which come into competition with
staples Of substantially the same quail
ity- the Minneapolis territory is the
immediate observation-disclosures is, Min
nesota, North and South Dakota,
Montana, western Wisconsin and
northern Iowa.
In the latter area, however, there
is a population Of perhaps 100000
people who can buy N1innea polls wares
duced at any other point. In this ter
}rltory Minneapolis manufacturers have
almost a monopoly; that is. the dis
tance from other producing markets is
such that without discrimination Min
lneapolis manufacturers. can have the
benefit Of a lower. freight. rate.
bEE- But in many lines Minneapolis
| manufacturers are not. confined to a
local or logical territory. The manu-
! facturers Of all sorts Of building ma
/ terials are in position to compete in
almost any part Of the country and
1 frequently accept orders for constrHe-
! ton in distant parts of the south, and
! east in competition with bidders from
nearer points. To the west every spe-
cial line manufactured In Minneapo-
lis is sold to the Pacific coast. Shoes
. go from Minneapolis to every state
I west of the mississippi. except Louis
! lana, are sent to Alaska, go to Mexico
! to some extent, and in competition
with local products, are sold in. Chi
cago and even further east In the
same way Minneapolis clothing is sold
+, in distant western states, and each
year sees some new line pushing its
| way across the Rocky mountain and
extending it's zone Of sales.
!. The twenty-five years have brought
T! all this change in the extent Of the
|
manufacturers; and the change has
been worked thru the building of rail.
roads and the opening Of new trans.
portation routes, both east and west
as we'll as thru the enterprise anG
I progressiveness of Minneapolis manu-,
facturers.
In 1878 the Importance to Mime.
apolis OF the lake route for bringing
freight from the Atlantic seaboart
clx ne T.,,,
& Duluth railroad line had beer
opened but few years and lake yes
sells We're small and few. With thu
i growth of lake commerce, and espe
cially since the discovery and utiliza
ton of iron ore in Minnesota, thu
lake marine has developed marvellous
I, ~. Transportation routes have beer
opened thru from the eastern cities
and freight rates have been made 81
low that Minneapolis has been pu
on an equality with Chicago.
That is, an equality with Chicago a!
!. far as bringing in eastern goods il
concerned, but at a great advantag,
4 over Chicago as far as distribution
. Ito the northwest is concerned. With
out discrimination on the part Of tn,
railroads Minneapolis would have al
advantage of 400 miles in rates ant
time at all points directly west o.
llOi GliWSSI, dAu US On Suudl Lei VIII
Chicago at all points west of a linz
drawn from the eastern end of LAX,
Superior thru Kansas City.
To the manufacturer this mean
that he can bring in such material
as must be bought in the east a
cheaply as the Chicago manufacture
can secure them; while after they ar
; converted into finished product he cal
| send them westward to the consume
: with an advantage of 400, miles freigh
rates and from one to two days time
The same conditions apply, o
course to the wholesale trade of Min
I neapolis: and the effect is even NOR
apparent, for a large proportion Of tn
!. goods handled by the johbers mus
come from eastern points. The manu-
| facturers obtain many raw material
, in the immediate vicinity of Minneapo
: lis. Hardwoods abound for the us
of the makers Of all Kinds OF vehicles
| tools, agricultural implements, furni
ture, cooperage, ETC., while pine an,
I spruce supply another class OF, manu-
facturers---the sash and door makers
the box makers and the paper makers
; Clay for brick is abundant, grain TO
: cereal foods is raised at the doors o
the city, and sugar beets grow to per
J, lection to supply the sugar factory
!, 1t is this hountiful supply of man.
:. staple raw materials, the cheap freigll
j, route from the east. and the favorabl
\ outlook towards a great consun1in
territory towards the west--a terri
J tory which is bound to grow enor