The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-06-10
A DULUTH EXPLANATION.

The editor of the Duluth Democrat rise.
to explain the "muddle," as he terms it
"which has existed between Duluth ant
Superior" and very mudded explanation
he makes of it to be sure
1t taxes to the utmost our charity, tC
suppose that he is so innocent as to believe
the statements he makes; but as he is q
new conner at the head of the Lake, and
the atmosphere of his locality is thick with
the fog of misrepresentation concerning
Superior, we are willing to concede that he
may be still ignorant Of the facts in the
case. We proceed therefore as patiently
as possible, to enlighten him and all Others
similarly deceived.
First. Superior has not-as he asserts it
has-"from time almost immemorial been
vainly attempting to make the outlet OF
the St. Louis river, between Minnesota and
Wisconsin Points, "a navigable entry for
shipping" From time immemorial that
entry has been navigable for shipping.
Second. The sand barr at the mouth OF
this entry characterized by him as an ''insur-
mountable obstacle" has it is true some
times impeded the passage of the largest
steamers when deeply laden, but it consists
of formation which is inseparable from
any entry to the Bay of Superior, whether
by Duluth Canal through Minnesota
Point, or otherwise, unless it shall be pre-
vented by works precl Sc y similar to those
which the government is now constructing
at the natural ersry.-
Third. "The knowing ones'' who accord
ing to the Denaocrat "give it as their unbi-
ased opinion that the harbor now is in a
worse condition than before the Govern
ment commenced tampering with it," have
indisputably more zeal for Duluth, than
knowledge Of the harbor. Their opinion is
entirely erroneous, unless very recently, the
diversion ota portion OF the current of the st.
Louis river through the Duluth canal, has, by
diminishing the securing force at the entry,
left an unusual accumulation on the bar,
and thus justified the conclusions of the
government engineers, who predicted such
a result from such a cause But is it pos
sible that the people Of Duluth are inpu-
dent enough to claim benefit from that
state of the case--AN ADVANTAGE FROM
THEIR OWN WRONG?
Fourth. But the silliest observation of
the Democrat-and it is not original with
that paper; it is the standing text of the
Duluth press-is that which in substance
charges that the Government, though it has
been for some time engaged on the entry
Improvements, has not yet effected the re-
moval of the bar. Here is wisdom for you,
in chunks, laying all around loose! Why,
most sap ent critics, let us tell you again as
we have told you in effect before; that nei
ther the United States engineers, the peo-
pie of superior nor any one else, not dazed
by constant owl-like blinking at the Zenith,
expects any structure or instrument what
ever, to accomplish the purpose for which
it may be designed, until it is organically
complete. Tie piers at the entry, when
they shall be extended according to the
plans of the engineers-and that is the
work now in progress-to, or nearly to, the
bar, oiU then and not before, begin to have
their designed effect, VIZ: to increase the
force of the river by confining its volume
and to direct its current against, and SC
remove and prevent forever, the bar form
atlou. If it requires time to finish these
piers, so it would require time to finish any
piers, such as would be essential to the en-
tire efficiency of any channel between th,
the lake and the bay
Fifth. Here is couple of conundrums
| Why is it not just as we'll for Dulu h com
merce to pass through a natural entry nea
fSuperior, as for Superior commerce to pas
through an artificial entry near Duluth
1t Superior'S preference for thr natural en-
try, and maintenance OF her own natura
rights pertaining thereto, is to be impute,
to Jealousy" about which Duluth paper
so constantly harp, to what lovely diSposi
ton shall we attribute Duluth's high-hand
ed invasion of those rights? We give zen
lup.