The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-03
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perior facilities for the transpor-
tation and distribution of fin
ished products throughout a series of
valuable markets and over great ex-
panse of country. The situation of the
city is not in the near vicinity of raw
materials, nor at the site Of a great
water power. Smelters and furnaces
and coal beds are at considerable dis
tances material must be imported, and
steam power must be substituted for
water force, the necessities in each in
stance involving large expense.
But these disadvantages are over
come by the demand of a large tribu-
tary territory, by the happy CONNER
cial condition of the city and by the
Intelligence, enterprise and Industry of
the local manufacturers. Demand will
In time create a supply, full facilities
of transportation viii connect them,
and men with enterprise and push will
do the rest. The manufacturing in
terests of ST. Paul have developed
with the growth of the territory trib-
utary to the city, until now manu-
featuring is one of the chief factors Of
our wealth and general strength and
solidity
st. Paul is not only general or "alI
around" manufacturing city, but in
many specialties it actually leads. 1t
is an actual fact that in certain spe-
cialties more fur goods, in the aggre-
gate, are made up in St. Paul than in
any other city in the world. Let the
statement be emphasized-than any
other city in the world, not excepting
Leipsic, London or New York The
largest hoist and derrick plant in the
country Is here. So Is the largest
law book publishing house. The out
put of a can factory is greater than
that of any other similar institution
in the United States. There are foun-
dries, machine shops, structural iron
works, shoe factories and clothing fac
tories, equal in appointments and RI
Valing in production those of the larg-
est distinctiVely manufacturing cen
tiers. These institutions have grown
in most cases from humble beginnings,
but have grr Wn rapidly and are still
growing.
"a FACTORIES OF Fifty Years Ago
In 1854 there were no manufacturing
establishments in St. Paul other than
the small shops which supplied local
and individual wants. There were a
Few village smithies few wagon
making shops, cabinet shop or so, a
Tin shop or two, some shoe shops and
the like, and all of these were very
humble, though they constituted the
factory force of the young municipali-
~. The conditions in this respect were
practically the same as those of to-
day in some remote country village.
In 1855, according to Goodrich's
business Directory" Edwin Cole, on
Fifth street, above Wabasha was a
manufacturer of wood-seat chairs.
settees, stools, ETC." Owen & Birdsall,
on Fourth street, west of the court
house, and Durick & Brougher, at
Robert and Fifth, were general black
smiths and prepared to do "all kinds
OF ironing for wagons" J. H. Schur-
meier had wagon shop at Fourth
and RosabeL A. H. Lavender, In
lower town, was also a general black
smith and wagonmaker, and these were
the most important of the factories"
at the time, not forgetting the .sSt.
Paul Iron and Brass foundry" which
In 1857 became the "St. Paul Steam
Engine works." with Francis Gilman
as proprietor. and was prepared to
make every variety of castings In
Iron and brass" In 1857 Conrad Cot
zian established little shoe shop on
Jackson street-but that is another
story.
But in 1859, Notwithstanding the adj
verse financial conditions of 1873.
there were ten blacksmith shops. six
wagon and carriage factories, two
gunsmiths, four saddlery and harness
shops, four carpenter shops where
sash, doors and window blinds were
made, three cabinet or furniture shops
and one Touring mill, the Eureka
Mills" r. Marshall, proprietor, which
was located on the road to St. An
thony.
The War of the Rebellion and the
Indian wars, during the period from
1851 to 1865, hurt ST. Paul and inter-
fered with the citys DEVELOPMENT.
greatly The town increased in nonu-
latfon and proportions, the business
increased. the number of industries
multiplied, but the good progress would
SSSAA La b-llCI IldQ i not 06Gn
Tor the war. When peace came a new
era commenced ard the CITY entered
upon career of unusual prosperity.
Capital came in from abroad and mon
ey was plenty. business f1ourished.
real estate doomed, operations of trade
and manufacture were brisk and en-
ployment for all classes was plenty.
Railroad building, which had been be-
gun in 1852, when the great war was
on. was well advanced and was rap
idly advancing, and vast area of
territory, of which ST. Paul was the
entrepot, was being settled.
Twenty Years Later
In 1870 there were enumerated in the
report of the chamber of commerce
about 120 manufacturing establish
ments. Although large majority of
these would now be considered In,
consequential, they were of Importance
at the time, since great share of their
products went outside of the civ.
thereby fixing and establishing St.
Paul as market place. These infant
industries were built up and grew
upon the demands of the puhlic and