The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-09-22
AS VIEWED By AN EXCUR-
SIONIST

SIONIsT.
The Polk County Press recently had two
very well written articles, giving an ac-
count of the Editors trip on the Lake SUI
perior & Mississippi Railway, and his visit
to Duluth and Superior; we give below
what he says Of Superior:
Being sBadger," we naturally had a
desire to tread home soiP' and atters' see
ing the sights" in Duluth, we took passage
on the swift little tug Zero and crossed the
bay to Superior
Here we had abundant opportunity to
look over the far famed city of Superior,
and examine its fine town site, and its nat
ural advantages, which stamp it as the
place where the great city at the head of
fhe Lake should be located The town
was built in speculative times and collapsed
ST. 1t lies stretched along the Bay for
four miles, its buildings weather-beaten and
located at magifcent distances. Every
thing about Superior is on the broad gauge
plan. Its town plot covers at least six
miles square, located from far beyond
the Nemadji to the St. Louis river The
townslte is level, rising just sufficient
to give proper drainage and most beauti-
fully situated. The Nemadii river is nav
igable for vessels drawing eight feet for
four miles, and the St. Louis for sixteen.
The position of Superior is in every res
pect far better than that of Duluth. There
is over tWenty-one miles Of water frontage
to the town, and all securely sheltered from
heavy storms b. the natural brealwaters
afforded by Minnesota and Wisconsin
Points, between which the delta of the
81. Louis forms natural entrance to the Bay
and IIarbor.
The water in the Bay is not deep, and in
the event Of a great commercial city being
built along It's shore, the dredging machines
and engineers must playa prominent part
III finishing what the Creator commenced.
The Government has appropriated over
sixty thousand dollars towards the improve
ment OF the entrance and the contractors
have put IN two long piers which render
good service, and when completed, it is
claimed the entrance will be all that is need-
ed. channel from the entrance to the
docks contains twelve feet of water, and the
largest propellers on the lake have but little
If any trouble in making the town.
W e have not space, nor could we with
out the aid ola map with which to Illustrate
the position, give an intelligent description
Of the situation; but after thoroughly III
specting both Duluth and Superior, we
could not but concede that Superior had
greatly tire advantage Of position, and that
with railroad and capital, she would soon
outstrip the ''Zenith," turning it from the
''seCond Chicago" to suburb Of Superior
City.
Superior is dull compared with Duluth,
just now; but her people are not dead by
any means. Quite a number Of substantial
improvements are being made this season,
which are an honor TO the place.
During our visit we were shown every
attention by Judge Cough, Isaac Moore,
Col. J. H. Knight, Thomas Hogan, E. G.
Clarke, Thomas Clark, Ii. n. Setter, and a
number of other gentlemen, who made it so
pleasant for us, that they will not soon be
forgotten.
We hope that Congress will extend the
Land Grant and that the next time we visit
Superior, work on a railroad will be pro-
crossing, and that orr friends will realize
all their fond expectations. Wisconsin
must awake to the importance of its Lake
Superior coast, and, now that q route is
open by rail, so that her business men and
men of capital can visit and see for them
selves the great in terests at stake, we believe
she will, as it is not too late yet, grasp the
prize. But work must be DONE The real
estate owners must open their purse and
bid high. The Northern Pacific Railroad
must be tapped from Wisconsin soil The
people are powerless unless the speculatars
who own the TOWNSHIP and adjoining prop
erty will do what is just and right Tie
State Line Road should be built immpdiatlv.
They are able to build it, if they DO not lack
the nerve. With the right management
we believe all the lost ground can be re-
gained, and Superior be .Snperi0r still