Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-06-23
FROM DULUTH.


And still they come. Such is the cry and
such is the fact Every day. and almost ey-
cry hour in the day. NAV be seen fresh
crowd Of immigrants, with teams Of horses
and cattle. and with droves of beeves and
mich cows. The demand fer beef holds
good, but the market for horses and cows is
overdone. There is but little food to sup
port the latter. and none for the former ex-
eept what is shipped here. Oats are worth
one dollar i busbel. and hay thirty dollars
per ton. This is doubtless the best and most
extensively advertised town on the American
continent, hence the unprecedented influx of
population from all parts of the world. The
renowned Thaddeus Stevens once prOphesied
that. at the western extremity Of Lake Supe-
flor there would ultimately spring into exis-
tence one of the largest cities on this conti-
nent, and it is among the things possible that
his prophetic vision foresaw this very place.
1t may be true that exterior points, places
and cities now take the lead and, it may be
equally true that, like London, Paris. Berlin,
Pekin and Vienna. in their respective coun-
tries. this. or some other inland city, may
eclipse in future greatness. brightness, wealth
and beauty. ever the yet unrivalled cities of
New York or Chicago. That nearly or quite
every advantage that belongs to any city or
point on the great lakes. belongs to this place.
is a fact beyond successful contradiction and
that it is economically" nearer the great
cities Of the continent, aud. of course. of the
world, is another fact too plain to be denied.
confess that. as / further contemplate the
prospects Of Duluth. am convinced, even
against my will. that it has future of which
its founders and pioneers will at no distant
day. have ample reason to be proud. 1t will
be readily seen that the Lake Superior and
Mississippi Railroad connects. or soon will
connect. the head Of navigation on the river
at ST. Paul with the extreme west end of the
Lake system at Duluth. The work is being
pushed forward as fast as men and money can
be successfully applied. and it is confidently
predicted that the connecting rail will be laid
as early as the first day of August. Then
the Northwest will be commercially indie
pendent of Chicago and. produce 10 the
channel via Lake Michigan. Freight natu-
rally and necessarily gathers at St. Paul. as
IL is. and ever must be. in fact. the great rail-
road center of the Northwest. But let Us
continue our trade, as doubtless we shall. with
Chicago, and our freigh. to very great ex-
tent, must come via Duluth. AS soon as this
railroad is in operation. three-fourths of the
trade OF Minnesota, and large share, if not
all OF Northwestern Wisconsin must pass
over it. From these facts we can readily dis.
cover the vast importance TO Pierce. st. Croix
and Polk counties OF the St. Croix & Supe
Tior Railroad. II would bear away our sur
plus produce TO a much nearer and better
market. and return goods at cheaper rates and
less number of profits We have never fairly
contemplated or estimated the value of rail-
rOad connecting Prescott with Lake Superb
or. II requires but little study or reflection
TO discover the yet unappreciated value of
such an enterprise, and there should be no
cessation of " hOstilities"-no abatement of
effort upon Congress by the united voice of
our people till a land grant for that purpose
Is obtained and then no lack OF effort to
find the men with backbone, muscle and
money 10 build the road 1t would put
new soul into an old body and renovate, cleo
trify aud revive now seemingly. defunct
country. l would not disparage my own
adopted home, or discourage my neighbors.
or in any way induce them To abandon SO
lOvely-so magnificent country. But the
life, the vigor, the business that would neces-
sarilY be ergendered by the constr uction of
railroad like that contemplated from Prescott
to the Lake. can hardly be imagined. And
then the impulse that would OF necessity be
given to every department of industry aud
business. would fairly make our old founda-
lions shake. The fact is, we are behind the
times-behind the lighthouse, and Behind al
most every thing that naturally belongs 10
this western country. We must wake up to
our real eonoitiOn, grid on our armor and
march forth to victory. The real power lies
within us and we have only to use il, aud We
shall soon be IS far IN advance as we are now
behind our neighbors.
But heve digresscd. Yet such thoughts
come over me as sit in this wilderness and
listen TO the rolling lOcomotive-to the rat
ting of irOn-tO the tumbling Of timbers-
the elamOr of hammers and the Babel of
tongues.
There are many. very many minor things
OF interest-scenery 10 describe, incidents 10
relate. and news items about which to write.
but all seem to dwindle into comparative in
significance when behold these great public
enterprises, and then turn and contemplate
upon our aatqral advantages, facilities and
necessities at bone. May the time soon ar
rive when We shall enjoy in participation
what we have so long but seemingly enjoyed
in anticipation. An.