The Minneapolis journal., 1905-07-15

IA DVERTISING, extensive in its
~ reach and very effective, is being
done by Minneapolis this sum
mer. The confusion in it's streets IS
the best evidence that the city is grow
ing. Street improvements, street rail
way improvements and new buildings
have filed the avenues with debris and
material, making them almost lmpas-
sable. Yet the citizens are bearing
the inconvenience and discomfort occa-
stoned by the changes because, OF the
satisfied feeling that the city is keep
ing pace in physical appointments with
the swelling Of it's population.
Visitors to the city are more numer-
GUS this season than for years past,
even altho Sunday excursions have been
discontinued. The influx is due, to ia
syorable vacation rates granted by the
itions to Minnesota points, reached by
way of Minneapolis. Strangers are
passing thru in throngs, too, bound to
s or from the Portland exposition. Stop
over privileges are so liberal that, Min
.neapolis being a transfer point, advan-
Itage is seized by the tourists to take aa
Journal automobile tours put the
strangers directly In touch with the e1-
tensive changes being made in Mime
apolis and with its building progress,
as well as with the established park
system and the already completed and
occupied fine homes and business struc-
i lures. The tourists form a fine adver-
tising medium and voluntarily and will
ingly spread the news that Minneap-
oils is great place to visit and q
greater place to live. The city could
spend thousands of dollars in less prof
liable advertising than this novel
method Of allowing the city to speak
for itself.
The most noticeable changes under
way are street paving laying of con-
dufts by the electric and telephone com
panies, relaying and new construction
work being done by the street railway
company, building and remodeling Of
business blocks, expansion of tie home
district by an enormous amount OF new new
building. Not the least important point
in this prevailing condition is the fact
that the city Is up to date, only the lat
est construction being used in each line
Of work.
Keeps Up with Population.
Minneapolis struck period this year
when it has to make tremendous gains
to keep up with it's population growth
and business expansion. The street rail
way system of handling cars thru the
business streets was found inadequate
and two new loops had to be constructed
at once, for the regular lines and for
urban system. Business was pushing sc
far out that cross streets between Hen
nepin and First avenue S, the two great
street railway traffic streets, had to be
paved at once wherever this improve
ment has hitherto been postponed. Flee
trio companies had to keep up by laying
Fconduits before the concrete paving
bases were put in, and all sewer, water
and gas connections were also ordered
in at once. Business had outgrown its
building facilities. and scores Of new
structures have been completed or arr
under way this summer. To keep aheat
of the accompanying influx of new citi
zens, houses and fat buildings wer,
started this spring all over the residenc,
part Of the big city. The sum total O.
the improvements. is tremendous
The most satisfactory feature of tt,
changes is the fact that the street rail-
way company, the city and the electro
companies are using the most moderl
style Of construction in their work. Th
'sdeep' steel rail laid on tie and con
crete base and is calculated to remain
untouched for fifty years. It's electri
connections overhead and beneath ar
Of the latest pattern. The electric wir
companies are enlarging manholes an
using the latest form of conduit cor
lstruction in extensions. The city
building the most approved concret
BED for it's new paving. Business house
are being built of concrete and steel, o
reinforced concrete, after the lates
models used in the larger building Ger
ters. It all goes to show that Mime
apolis is cosmopolitan rather than pre-
vincial.