The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-03-18
A HIGH-HANDED OUTRAGE.

and two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
In cash that were asked tor to substitute
artificial har bors for natural ones at the
head of Lake Superior Congress did, how
ever, it is claimed, grant the sum OF 500
600 for the improvement OF Duluth har-
bor.' This, according to the construc lion
naturally given to those words by L. S.
Engineers, in view OF past government
work on the St. Louis river entry-the cone
mon property Of Minnesota and Wisconsin
and OF the official report to Congress of a
special board Of engineers concerning this
very subject of " "onproci,sg Duluth harbor"
would, by the most partial action legally
possible, only be spent in dredging from
the St. Louis river channel at or near Con
ners point to the bay front of Duluth
1t is certainly very singular proceeding
on the part Of persons interested at Duluth
to constrUe this appropriation as having any
reference whatever to their so-called ship
canal through the head of Minnesota point
Three plans were laid before the Board of
Engineers who reported to Congress on
this subject The first plan was for an out
side harbor merely. The second was for
canal through Minnesota Point, opposite
tie entrance to ST. Louis Bay, (not at the
head of the Point. The third plan was for
"UsING THE PRESENT ENTRANCE to the Bay
Of Superior, and dredging for an interior
harbor," and this third plan was ADOPTED;
and duly reported through offcial channels
the persons having management at Duluth
can have the cool impudence to assume
that the L. S. Engineers will or can neg
lect the work legally provided for them to
do, and turn aside at the high behest of
the Duluth common council to ditch iol Jay
Cooke, is amystery to all persons who have
not yet lost their senses.
Does Duluth own the United States gov
ernment2 And does that committee of her
wise men seriously propose TO go and see
Gen. Houston according to their absurd
plan, and order and instruct him to spend
Government money in defiance of Govern
ment authority?
When the Board of Engineers recon-
mended the Government to adopt the third
plan, and use the present entrance, namely
the NATURAL entry did they mean and in
tend to recommend the entirely different
plan (and, one in fact not considered at all
by Meia) Of constructing an ARTIFICIAL en-
try at the very head of Minnesota Point?
1t is high time for Mr. Cooke to assume
the Presidency at once, and appoint his
Duluth famillars to distribute government
funds.
Where are al these high handed pro-
ceedings to end? Has the State Of Wis
consin no rights? Can private citizens of
other states change her boundaries, divert
her lavigable streams, and destroy her
harbors at pleasure? 1t is none too early
that our State has appointed her Governor
to look INTO this matter, and it would be
keep an eye on this outrageous piece of
business. The lordly gentlemen at Duluth
even give as their only reason for not put
ting the 500, 900 into the Lake cribbng be-
fore their town that it would g only add a
few sections to the breakwater" and so they
turn aside to the canal! Why not expend
it in filling up the natural entry, or grading
the streets of Duluth it would be just as
legal to dig in one part of Minnesota Point
as another; for the appropriation cannot
rightfully touch Minnesota Point at all.
And the question arises tor the consider
alton of Congress, if $50, 900, By the Duluth
estimate, would only "add few sections
to the breakwater," and but "neary finish
the canal how many millions of dollars
from the National Teasury will be requisite
yet to complete an artificial breakwater,
artificial entry and harbor that will satisfy
a town of such great expectations, and en-
able the poverty stricken fnanciers who
are asking this government aid continually,
in behalf of their speculating schemes, to
dispense altogether with the harbors al
ready planned by nature and prepared by
tie U. S. Government for MINNESOTA and
Wisconsin?
CONGRESS- has recently passed a bill to
the effect that the pensions of all officers,
soldiers. marines, and sailors, of the land