St Paul, the capital of the state of Minnesota, occupies a commanding and elevated situation on both banks of the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Minnesota River, one of its principal tributaries. It is the outgrowth of a small hamlet of voyageurs, chiefly Canadian, employed in the fur trade, and
Copyright 1892 in U.S.
by J. B. Lippincott
Company. in selling whisky to the soldiers at Fort Snelling in the vicinity. The first log-huts were erected on the site of the city in 1840, and in 1841, at the suggestion of a Roman Catholic priest who made occasional visits, a small log-chapel was erected and dedicated to St Paul, which has given the name to the city. In 1842 the first family of American ancestry arrived, and in 1846 the hamlet had become of sufficient importance to have a post-office. In the act of the United States congress passed in 1849 authorising the organisation of Minnesota Territory, St Paul was designated as the capital, and from that time has occupied an important position. At that period the town did not contain a brick or stone building, and the number of inhabitants was about 500, which in 1891 had become nearly 150,000. Upon the lower plateau of limestone rock are the capitol, post-office, court-house, and large stores; the best private residences are on the upper plateau, overlooking the Mississippi. The Summit Avenue is noted for its width and the beauty and costliness of the houses. The sanitation of the city is excellent. Ample provision is made for education. In 1851 there were two small wooden school-houses; in 1891 there were 45 school buildings, 468 teachers, 18,000 pupils, all under the supervision of a board of education and superintendent. Besides these schools supported by the public are numerous private schools. There are several colleges, not under the control of the city or state: Macalester College, the oldest of these, was chartered in 1853, and that year opened its preparatory department, known as the Baldwin School; Hamline University, chartered in 1854, is under the control of the Methodist Church; and St Thomas College is a Roman Catholic institution. The water-works furnish a daily supply of eight million gallons. All parts of the city are reached by electric street-railways. The free City Library contains 30,000 volumes. There are 138 churches, of which 19 are Baptist, 10 Congregational, 22 Lutheran, 23 Methodist, 14 Presbyterian, 12 Protestant Episcopal, and 19 Roman Catholic. In a central depot ten railways receive and deliver passengers. St Paul is the centre of the wholesale grocery and dry-goods business in Minnesota. Pop. (1860) 10,701; (1870) 20,030; (1880) 41,473; (1890) 133,156.