Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-07-18
MONDAY, JULY II, 1854.
LAKE sUPERIoR-RAILROADs.


LAKE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Messrs. Bronson, Slaughter and Williams, for
merly Of St. Paul, and DR.. Day and Graham, for
merly of New York city, arrived from Endaian,
"a new town, on ST. Louis Bay, in the Chippewa
language signifying my Home!') on Friday eve
ming last, having been four days on the route
They are all looking we'll and hearty, and bring
cheering news. We learn from Mr.. Williams that
there are two towns on the Bay, on the Wiscon-
sin side-one named Superior" lying at point
where vessels coming through the Lake can read
lily make landing, and the other "Endaian," ly-
ing about one mile and a half farther on towards
st. Louis river, with an equally good landing
Both towns have been laid out by former citizens
of this city, who are now engaged in pioneer
lfe telling the forests, erecting shanties, &c. At
Superior there are many very good houses, and
several good stores, while at Endaian there have
been erected twenty-five buildings since last Octo-
Der. AS yet little has been done in these places
towards mining, as the inhabitants have been en-
gagged in prospecting, but it is thought that mine
raj abounds here and that extensive mining ope-
rations will, at some future period, engage the
attention Of the settlers. For twelve miles back,
the country is said to be fine agricultural coun-
try, and with the mineral, commercial, and agri-
cultural resources which the two places possess,
they will both eventually merge into one and
make large commercial city. Here, too, it ap-
pears to us, must terminate or start railroad.-
The general features of the country would seem
so to Indicate although the grant Of land recent
ly given to Minnesota by Congress, we believe
makes it necessary for the railroad to commence
at another point. Geographically considered
these towns possess natural advantages over all
others in the Lake Superior region, which fact
must aid very materially in their growth and pros
perity.
Are our people, therefore, fully aware of the
great Importance of railroad from Lake Supe-
rior to st. Paul? Are they aware that even now
other cities are stretching forth their arms eager
to grasp the great trade which will flow from this
point Are they aware that in five years from
this time the cities of Superior and Endaian (they
will more likely be one) will contain some five OF
six thousand inhabitants, engaged in mining, man.
ufacturing, agricultural, and commercial pur-
suits ?-that then the trade of this place will be
Paul, if she is lucky enough to get it? Are they
aware that this railroad should be built before
any other railroad ?-that if the trade is not Sc
cured now it will be lost to us, perhaps for ever
Are they aware that railroad from Lake Supe.
rior to st. Paul will be worth more to our city
than railroad from st. Paul to Dubuque, or any
other point below us? Can they not see that a
continuous line of railroad from Lake Superio,
to Dubuque will only tend to injure St. Paul and
benefit Dubuque, while if the railroad terminates
here St. Paul will receive the benefit? In this
excitable railroad time it behooves us to pause
and see where our interests lie, not rush h adlono
INTO the vortex Of destruction, borne onward with
the cry OF ''a railroad at any cost" The saliva.
ton of Minnesota does not depend upon a rail
road to connect us with the Atlantic States.-
There is no necessity for premature and needless
legislative action. If we possess any virtues
we will be sought after, and men of capital will
build railroads to U.S. instead of our fooshlv civ.
ing away $S,O0O,00O worth of land, to enable
men already wealthy to accumulate more wealth
We have markets in our own territory which
should be secured to us and not thrown omen to
other places, the inhabitants of which have nc
further interest in us than to make all the money
out OF us they can. Build q railroad from Lake
Superior to 81. Paul, and one up the GALLEY of Ht
Minnesota to strike If possible the Northern Pa.
c!hc route, and one up the Mississippi, and then
IRE haze something tangible. Let capitalists be-
low come up and tap us, but let our energies be
devoted in developing our own territory. But
says one, where are you going to get the money
to build the road? Sell the grant of land giver
us by Congress, and with the amount thus rea.
llzed, we can commence the matter, if We cannot
complete it, but in the name of all that is right.
eous don't give away that which is of so much
Importance to the future welfare of Minnesota.
Our main object in this article is to show thu
Importance of railroad from Lake Superior tc
st. Paul. That such a road will greatly benefit
us, we think none will deny, and we hope there.
fore, that the subject will receive that considera
ton its merits demand.