The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-10
THE GREAT NORTHWEST.
a Friend in Duluth TO n Friend in Ma.sn-


h. DULUTH, Minn., Aug. 16, 1906. ID. r.,
ssspringheld, Massachusetts. Dear Sir:-Your
IlaVor OF August Z, from Winona, is at hand
ana IL VIII afford me much pleasure to answer
your inquiries in regard to the prospects, both
present and for the future, of this young city,
winch seems to be attracting considerable
Sattention throughout the country; and will
kDreface by saying that / have no peculiar
hterest to promote (having no corner lots or
Iwater-fronts to dispose of, but will give you
ksny opinion after looking over the ground and
patching the indications personally more than
| year, and the last two months here on the
6pot. will therefore answer your questions
n their order, as near as possible.
lst Has it good surrounding country?
For agricultural purposes it is not first
GLASS, the soil being of strong clayey char
acter-not so good as the warmer soils of the
central and western portion of Minnesota for
grain raising-but a soil upon which the
grasses. clover, etc, do very well wherever
fhey have been tried to any extent The land
ks covered with dense forest of timber the
klherent qualities of pine mostly predomi-
3nating, interspersed with goak maple, ash,
&plrch, etc: and am informed that in the
ear of the ranges of mountains that approach
he lake; there are valleys of considerable ex-
tent having some very good soil
I'd. Has it good location on the lake for
building purposes?
Yes Where the city of Duluth is laid out,
he main or front street runs parallel with the
Bhore at an elevation of from fifteen to twenty
feet above the water level-the streets num-
9ered 1st, 3D. Sd, and so on, each above the
Jther, ascending by an easy grade to dis
lance of more than a mile. Other avenues
erossing these at right angles ascend the
Eslope, having as their base the front of Supe-
1or street; SO that at any point on the slope
I'VE have a complete view of the different har-
1ors and the open lake, the whole forming
bne of the finest sights in the world. On the
shore of the lake and the bay of Superior, the
site for building docks and warehouses, ele-
vators, etc, will be only limited by the de-
mands of commerce.
Sd. What business is overdone
None, as yet; the business so far having
been more of a preparatory nature than
&otherwise-more in the way of building than
&anything else. We have four stores in ope-
ration doing general dry goods and grocery
i rade suitable to the wants of the place. two
hardware stores, with few grocery and provi-
sion stores, and these branches will probably
not be crowded until the railroad is completed
next year, or near that time.
4th Do banking real estate. and milling
pfer any inducements?
am but little conversant with the banking
business. There is one here, however, which
seems to be doing considerable business, but
should suppose it was sufficient for present
heeds When the railroad is completed. and
this becomes the depot for the receiving and
shipping of grain, no doubt more capital of
that kind could be proftably employed AS
to real estate there is of course considerable
speculation, and of course a fair chance of
making money
In regard to milling, my opinion is that
here is not a better situation in the West for
that business The st. Louis river affords an
unlimited amount of water power, about
twenty miles from Duluth and Immediately
pm the railroad; and if numbering was the
object the almost inexhaustible pine forests
on that river and its tributaries would furnish
the material forsthat; for that which would
hot be needed here would find a ready market
II Southwestern and Western Minnesota,
with which you would have connection via
he railroad. But the easiest and l think the
most profitable would be f1ouring the railroad
giving you ready access to the great growing
regions of Minnesota and the lake route fur
hishing cheap transportation to the Atlantic
ports, and the numbering, mining, and
bther branches of business on the Lake bor-
Her. giving a market for all kinds of mil
feed or otherwise all surplus offal could be
burned to good account by feeding stock, as
fhere will always be good demand for all
kinds of meat. At present l think that a saw
hill located at Duluth would be a first rate
investment for person having from five to
Ten thousand dollars. They would find 8
market for all kinds of lumber, shingles, etc
1T the mill, with the advantage Of being righ
n the market, as there are no other mills
carer than four miles and on the other side
of the Bay Timber can be brought by wate
fom any direction.
5th. Duluth is the terminus of the Lake
Superior and Mississippi Railroad, and tn
terminus of the Northern Pacific will be de
termined within the next month. The sup
position is that it will strike this road thirt
miles from here, and pass in to Duluth on tn
inc of this road
9th. As yet there is no arrangement be
tween the railroad and steamship companie
for a through line, nor will there be any ca
for it until the completion of the railroa
VI next spring, when no doubt there will b
arrangements for through freight and pa
sage. -,
In regard to canals for improving tn
harbor, there is one contemplated to unl'
he waters of the main lake with the Bay
Superior, across Minnesota Point, narro
peninsula extending a distance OF seven mile
and dividing the main lake from Super'
Bay. The point, where the canal would eros
s only twenty rods across.
Your last question is what are the reason
for supposing that Duluth will continue
grow to great city?
Its geographical position warrants such
conclusion, and precedent warrants 1t. Z
east along the great chain of lakes and we 81
b Toledo at the head of Lake Erie. Go to II
head of Lake Michigan and you see a Chicae
and Milwaukee, none of which places are in
mediately surrounded by fine agricultur
countrV but NV baino tho cantres tO Whi(