Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-05-22
A New State.

| The pubic mind has been so engrossed
with California interests and Kansas emf
grafton schemes that one of the wealthest
and most interesting sections OF territory
within the jurisdiction OF the United States
has failed have that prominence which its
Importance demands.
How little do we, who live within u few
!. hundred miles of Lake Superior, know OF
that vast inland seattle largest body Of
! fresh water in the world---or OF the country
contiguous to il. We read occasionally t.
bout copper mines, and now and then ge-
| ologist makes an excursion TO that region
and comes back loaded with specimens of
mineral wealth. And at long intervals
| little party Of pedestrians turn their backs
upon the hot city and plunge into the will
derness circling the shores Of the great
Lake and return with strange (and some
| times tishy) tales ofthe wonders Of that un-
known country. Beyond this we have but
little reliable information.
The vast territory On the south shores of
Lake Superior belongs, in great part. t. the
State of Michigan, the remainder to Wis
consin. II is separated from the former
State by Lake Huron and Michigan; and
this want OF eoDtguity has made its con-
neetion with Michigan unnatural and o. late
undesred.
Two years ago the Legislature of Wis
consin passed an act glaating the northern
part of its territory to the Ir,posed State
Of Superior. Recently the Legislature OF
Michigan passed an act providing for the
ceding OF hand 10 TIL " Territory or State
Of Superior. For som, years before Mich
igan refused to enact any law favorable to
4 4 a Thasn tGup Statae hnu
consented TO the formation OF Territory
or State from lands within their jurisdir-
ton, it remains for Congress, by virtue. Of
the power vested in it by the constitution,
to clothe this vast region with the author
y and privileges Of Territory, or even to
adm, it as State into the Union.
This territory now contains population
OF about 1900. In 1853 the copper ex
ported was valued at over "a million .. do
lars. In 1884 the value of copper taken
from the same region was estimated al f.
teen hundred thousand dollars. And it is
believed that the produce OF the same metal
IN 1855 will not fall much short of two mill
ion.
The Ship Canal Of the Saut St Mary
connecting Lake Superior with the great
chain Of lakes below, and indeed with the
Atlantic Ocean, will be completed in the
early part Of the present summr.
III mineral wealth the new State of Su
perior viii b. the richest State in the u
non-Caiiorna no. excepted. Besides
Sih iaeNhaustabie mines of copper ore, the
n 81 anu most extensive in the wor!T,
tb,r are almost limilless beds oil IRON ore o.
+, purity believed 70 be unequlllgd on The
Continent. There is also silver and Co, ]
hut the extent OF these minerals is UNI
known. Farther exploration will doubtless
bring 10 light other minerals OF hich we
know nothing. The Lake also will fur
nish immense supplies OF fish and not
,ast magnificent field for future com
merce.
Heretofore a few canoes of Indians or
parties Of explorers have fitted along lis
shores, and now and then an adventurous
propeller or steamer has yentured cut upon
this hall.unknown sea, hardly losing sight
of the shore and floating cautiously over
the my sterous depths bearing the wander
ing tourist along the great silcn: waste, |
whose inc d,nts and perils-are they no
households words" Marvellous stories |
are told OF the terrible storms before which |
the lake craft fly like frightened birds--of |
the waves that thunder along the shores |
and cello from cayernous rocks--ol the HI /
erogyphics OF lost race--of rivers with |
cal records, OF mines worked by unknown |
men centuries ego Hail 10 the RS ng |
State OF SuperiUr.- Superior