New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-17
HOME CORRESPONDENCE.
THE LAKE SUPERIOR TRADE.


SUPERIOR. Douglas County, Wis, July T.
The 81 Louis River and tributaries, after draining an
area OF 6OOO square miles, comes in at the nc@o VI
Lake SUPERIOR through q bay seven miles long Que
mile wide and twelve feet deep To Utilize TINS bay VI
superior the General Government Is protecting the
points which bound it-one seven miles In lehglh Iro
tho Minnesota shore and the other. from the Wisconsin
aide Eve miles leaving the entrance to the bay between
200 and 400 feet in width, through which now the uniteo
volume OF the ST. Louis and Semadj Rivers enptyng III
ordinary times less than 2o0O cubic rect OF water
er bour and at Spring flood, five tunes as much, cntting
dnv deeper and srraghter the channel from the lake
into this narbor so that now after but seasons action
steamers and san craft come in and 80 out without ha
or check The Bay Of Superior is at the western eA
tremity Of the great lakes at the geographical center VI
the grain producing section OF the country 80 mics iro
the head Of steamboat navigation the st. Crox River
40 from Minneapolis st. Anthony and ST. Paul IKE ais
lance from ST. Cloud and Grow Wing Upper Mississippi
and $50 miles from the Red River OF the north. Inc
country between the bay and the places haeu ABOVE 10
all highly favorable for railway construction AVhougn
the coast range Lake Superior atans an average eo
walton Of nj least 600 above the lake. within three OF
four miles of the shore the valley between the 81 LOUIS
and Nemadu Rivers nowhere more than 40 feet 70
the mile and reaches the level the land near the lake
at distance Of 80 miles from the Bay OF Superior anu
this point be the eastern terminus o. the hortn Ia
cifc Railroads trunk line, while from II win uVerss
branches 70 BAYFIELD, and Duluth. The Bayfield, line VIII
hore and thence form Eastern connections at Saut SE
Marie, Macknaw and Detroit. The Duluth route WIN
open up the region OF the slate quarres ana e1enuhs
down the north shore Of the ST. Louis River and the lake.
touch copper region of Minnesota the SILVER mines "a
Fort william and the gold fields Of Vermllon.
WHERE THE ELEVATORS MUST De.
The construction OF the Mississippi and Lake superior
Railroad now under contract and to be built unuer tne
auspices Of the Pennsylvania Central will secure the
agricultural traffic Of Minnesota and North Wis
consin, including section Of country when now pro
duces surplus Of 100000 bushels of grain though not
oneourth OF It is as yet under CIVILIZATIONS this grain bY
the new route win be subject 70 railway tarn on 2V
miles or less while distance is 800 miles and over trom
Lake Michigan Add TO the above the products OF the
Upper Mississippi and Red River valleys and the corn
exchange Of Superior must compete with that OF
Chicago and Milwaukee. aud ia ten years there will be
elevated aud traushipped there annually more wheat
than any other place in the world The surface OF
Lake Superior feet above the ocean, while its bottom
averages 200 below, making its depth 200 feet IL is
400 miles long, and has Of $4,000 square miles It's
temperature, 46o In Summer and 4to in Winter Heavy
winds cause fall Of only foot and half or
less at either of the lake. The coast survey ana
other records show average OF 265 days annual naV
cation from the Bay of Superior, which is above the
average harbors like ths having no large streansi
the force OF the through the entry and as now
eonhned by the piers disodges the ice that wheat
elevator at the mouth the Nemad at the ends Of
Minnesota and Wisconsin Points, will discharge to ves
ses often month later in the Fall and earlier in Spring
than from harbors destitute Of such nlets.
The distance from Superior to Buffalo is practically the
same as from Chicago 90 miles moro tho saut Canal
locks AID the river below may, however increase the
cost OF transportation mill per bushel over that OF
Chicago shippers The mining districts around Lake su-
peror afford constant market for many commodities
such as potatoes oats hay, and coarse feed, winch Will
not bear transportation through Lake Michigan, and
home market beeves and pork not enjoyed on the lat
ter lake.
The opening Of the Mississippi and Superior Railway
already draws amount Of Summer travel second only
20 that Of the Pacific; and already emigration from
Canada TO the British settlements Red River takes the
route through Superior and thence TO their destination
with teams. the 5th Of July INST. without concert
there were collected there beside hundreds Of strangers
celebrating the day. riding the lake and its
tributaries Gems. Dent Walbrdge, and breckenridge
Col Knight Capt Cuyer, and Others from Canada, New
England Now-York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, and
elsewhere all Joined in declaring that the opening OF
this thOrOughare nauguraes an era in North American
commerce not less important than Dewitt Clnton's
achievements That brought into commercial inter
course with NewYork territory northwest Of the Ohio
equal five times that OF the State Of Oho this Bay OF
superoris outlet OF arabic field equal in extent
90 that Of Pennsylvania rich In lumber, iron'
sae copper silver, and gold This Development so soon
10 be appreciated has champions Of the best
OF railway aud financial ability Edgar Thompson and
Jay Cooke-who have made themselves familiar with all
the facts above stated and the subordinate details No
better guarantee Of progress and early completion could
be desired They have on the other hand, guarantee
in elements Of traffic which insure TO them paying in
yestmen beside land Of II sections Of land per
mile covered with groves Of pine, and containing rich
deposits of mineral iron copper, and States while but
fraction Of it is poor land They will begin with an an
nual exporaOn equivalent to 100000 bushels OF grain
and Will do the importing half million OF popula-
ton their grain and cattle will always return to the
Mississippi loaded with lumber states, and iron. This
business will amount fret year TO not less than one
mutton fns once the road. TO which add reasona
bic Of travel and they have the best paying 100
miles Of railway in the new States.